POWER LINE INDICATOR ACCESSORY FOR FUSIBLE CIRCUIT PROTECTION DEVICE ARRAY

• US 20130329332A1
• Filed: 06/07/2012
• Published: 12/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Funcheon, Austin J., McKinney, Patrick Thomas, Dunlap, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 9,170,293 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/104
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/58 Testing of lines, cables or conductors testing of electric windings G01R31/72
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 23/025 Light-emitting indicators
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 23/10 Adaptation for built-in fuse
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/0452 with parallel side contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/32 Indicating lamp structurally associated with the protective device
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 5/048 additionally responsive to excess current due to heating of the switch

Abstract

A power line indicator accessory configured to simultaneously determine an operating state of a plurality of conductors establishing a circuit connection to a plurality of circuit protection devices such as a fusible switch disconnect devices or modular fuse holders arranged side-by-side in an array. The accessory includes an onboard power supply and a thin, elongated body facilitating its use in tight spaces.

Claims

1. A power line status indicator accessory for an array of circuit protection devices, the accessory comprising:

an elongated body configured to span a plurality of power line conductors connectable to a respective one of the circuit protection devices in the array;

a plurality of sensors attached to the elongated body, wherein each of the plurality of sensors corresponds to one of the plurality of conductors and each of the sensors is configured to detect an operating status of the respective conductor;

a power supply attached to the elongated body;

an actuator associated with the power supply, the actuator configured to electrically connect the power supply to the plurality of sensors when activated; and

a plurality of indicators attached to the elongated body, wherein each of the plurality of indicators corresponds to a respective one of the plurality of sensors and is independently operable to indicate the operating status of the respective conductor.

2. The power line indicator accessory of claim 1, wherein the elongated body defines a first elongated edge and plurality of power line connection recesses formed along the first elongated edge.

3. The power line indicator accessory of claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of sensors is located proximate one of the power line connection recesses.

4. The power line indicator accessory of claim 2, wherein the elongated body further defines a second elongated edge opposing the first elongated edge, each of the plurality of indicators arranged along the second elongated edge.

5. The power line indicator accessory of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensors comprise Hall Effect sensors configured to detect current in the respective conductors.

6. The power line indicator accessory of claim 1, wherein the plurality of indicators comprise light emitting diodes.

7. The power line indicator accessory of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a pushbutton.

8. The power line indicator accessory of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a first major surface and a second major surface opposing the first major surface, and wherein all of the actuator, the power supply, the sensors, and the indicators are attached to the same one of the first and second major surfaces.

9. The power line indicator accessory of claim 1, wherein the power supply comprises a battery.

10. The power line indicator accessory of claim 9, wherein the battery comprises a 9V battery.

11. The power line indicator accessory of claim 1, wherein the accessory is configured to simultaneously indicate the operating state of the conductors.

16. The array of claim 11, wherein the plurality of circuit protection devices comprises a plurality of replaceable fuses inserted at least partly into the respective housings.

17. The array of claim 16, wherein the plurality of replaceable fuses comprises rectangular fuse modules having plug-in terminal blades.

18. The array of claim 16, further comprising an elongated body, the elongated body separately supplied from the housings and having a plurality of recesses each receiving one of the respective conductors for each circuit protection device.

19. The array of claim 18, wherein each of the plurality of sensors attached to the elongated body and is located proximate one of the power line connection recesses.

20. The array of claim 18, wherein the elongated body further defines a second elongated edge opposing the first elongated edge, each of the plurality of indicators arranged along the second elongated edge.

21. The array of claim 18, wherein the elongated body comprises a first major surface and a second major surface opposing the first major surface, and wherein all of the actuator, the power supply, the sensors, and the indicators are attached to the same one of the first and second major surfaces.

25. The array of claim 1, wherein the power supply comprises a battery.

26. The array of claim 9, wherein the battery comprises a 9V battery.

12. A circuit protection device array comprising:

a plurality of circuit protection devices each having a housing, the housings of the respective devices arranged side-by-side and each housing including at least one terminal for receiving a conductor associated with one of line side and load side circuitry;

a plurality of sensors each respectively corresponding to one of the plurality of conductors and each of the sensors configured to detect an operating status of one of the respective conductors;

a power supply separate from the line side and load side circuitry;

an actuator associated with the power supply, the actuator configured to electrically connect the power supply to the plurality of sensors when activated; and

a plurality of indicators, wherein each of the plurality of indicators corresponds to a respective one of the plurality of sensors and is independently operable to indicate the operating status of the respective conductor.

13. The array of claim 12, wherein the plurality of circuit protection devices comprises fusible circuit protection devices.

14. The array of claim 13, wherein the plurality of circuit protection devices comprises fusible switch disconnect devices.

15. The array of claim 13, wherein the plurality of circuit protection devices comprises modular fuse holders.

22. The array of claim 12, wherein the plurality of sensors comprise Hall Effect sensors configured to detect current in the respective conductors.

23. The array of claim 12, wherein the plurality of indicators comprise light emitting diodes.

24. The array of claim 12, wherein the actuator comprises a pushbutton.

27. A fusible circuit protection device assembly comprising:

a plurality of circuit protection devices each having a housing, a circuit path defined in the housing, and a fuse completing the circuit path;

the housings of the plurality of circuit protection devices arranged side-by-side in a row; and

an indicator spanning the plurality of circuit protection devices and simultaneously determining an operating state of an input power line connection to each of the plurality of circuit protection devices;

a plurality of sensors each respectively corresponding to one of the plurality of conductors and each of the sensors configured to detect an operating status of one of the respective conductors;

a power supply separate from the line side and load side circuitry;

an actuator associated with the power supply, the actuator configured to electrically connect the power supply to the plurality of sensors when activated; and

a plurality of indicators, wherein each of the plurality of indicators corresponds to a respective one of the plurality of sensors and is independently operable to indicate the operating status of the respective conductor.