CURRENT SENSING ASSEMBLY EMPLOYING MAGNETIC SENSORS

• US 20150160267A1
• Filed: 12/11/2013
• Published: 06/11/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Eaton Corp. (Wisconsin) (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: JUDS, MARK ALLAN, Hastings, Jerome Kenneth
• Granted Patent: US 9,846,180 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/202 using Hall-effect devices Hall elements in arrangements for measuring electrical power G01R21/08
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/207 Constructional details independent of the type of device used
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 33/027 Integrated apparatus for measuring current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 71/125 characterised by sensing elements, e.g. current transformers for differential protection H01H83/144

Abstract

A current sensing assembly includes a conductor having a first side, a second side opposite the first side, a third side, and a fourth side opposite the third side. The first side has a first notch formed therein and the second side has a second notch formed therein opposite the first notch. The current sensing assembly also includes a sensor assembly including a first magnetic sensor disposed in the first notch or proximate to the third side of the conductor between the first and second notches, and a second magnetic sensor disposed in the second notch or proximate to the fourth side of the conductor between the first and second notches.

Claims

1. A current sensing assembly comprising:

a conductor having a first side, a second side opposite the first side, a third side, and a fourth side opposite the third side, the first side having a first notch formed therein and the second side having a second notch formed therein opposite the first notch; and

a sensor assembly including a first magnetic sensor disposed in the first notch or proximate to the third side of the conductor between the first and second notches, and a second magnetic sensor disposed in the second notch or proximate to the fourth side of the conductor between the first and second notches.

2. The current sensing assembly of claim 1, wherein the first magnetic sensor is disposed in the first notch;

and wherein the second magnetic sensor is disposed in the second notch.

3. The current sensing assembly of claim 1, wherein the first magnetic sensor is disposed proximate to the third side of the conductor between the first and second notches;

and wherein the second magnetic sensor is disposed proximate to the fourth side of the conductor between the first and second notches.

4. The current sensing assembly of claim 1, wherein the conductor includes a horizontal portion and an angled portion;

wherein the angled portion is inclined at an angle with respect to the horizontal portion; and

wherein the first and second notches are formed in the angled portion of the conductor.

5. The current sensing assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second notches are horizontally aligned with each other.

6. The current sensing assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second notches are vertically aligned with each other.

7. The current sensing assembly of claim 2, wherein the sensor assembly further includes a first flux concentrator disposed proximate to one of the third and fourth sides of the conductor.

8. The current sensing assembly of claim 7, wherein the sensor assembly further includes a second flux concentrator disposed proximate to the other of the third and fourth sides of the conductor.

9. The current sensing assembly of claim 7, wherein the first flux concentrator extends over the first and second magnetic sensors.

10. The current sensing assembly of claim 7, wherein the first flux concentrator is disposed between the first and second magnetic sensors.

11. The current sensing assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second magnetic sensors are Hall sensors.

12. A current sensing assembly comprising:

a conductor having a first curled portion and a second curled portion, the first curled portion being arranged such that current flowing in a first direction through the conductor flows through the first curled portion in a clockwise direction and the second curled portion being arranged such that current flowing in the first direction through the conductor flows through the second curled portion in a counter-clockwise direction; and

a sensor assembly including a first magnetic sensor disposed in the first curled portion and a second magnetic sensor disposed in the second curled portion.

13. The current sensing assembly of claim 12, wherein the first and second curled portions each have an arc length of about 180 degrees or less.

14. The current sensing assembly of claim 12, wherein the first and second curled portions each have an are length within a range of about 180 degrees and 360 degrees.

15. The current sensing assembly of claim 12, wherein the first and second curled portions are coils each including a plurality of turns.

16. The current sensing assembly of claim 12, wherein the sensor assembly further includes a flux concentrator assembly, the flux concentrator assembly including first and second metallic elements disposed on opposite sides of the first and second curled portions of the conductor, respectively.

17. The current sensing assembly of claim 12, wherein the conductor further includes a horizontal portion;

and wherein the first and second curled portions are oriented traverse with respect to the horizontal portion.

18. The current sensing assembly of claim 17, wherein the first curled portion includes a first notch formed therein;

wherein the second curled portion includes a second notch formed therein; and

wherein the first and second magnetic sensors are respectively disposed in the first and second notches.

19. The current sensing assembly of claim 12, wherein the first and second magnetic sensors are Hall sensors.

20. An electrical switching apparatus comprising:

a number of first conductors; and

a number of current sensing assemblies, each of the current sensing assemblies including;

a second conductor having a first side, a second side opposite the first side, a third side, and a fourth side opposite the third side, the first side having a first notch formed therein and the second side having a second notch formed therein opposite the first notch; and

a sensor assembly including a first magnetic sensor disposed in the first notch or proximate to the third side of the conductor between the first and second notches, and a second magnetic sensor disposed in the second notch or proximate to the fourth side of the conductor between the first and second notches.

21. The electrical switching apparatus of claim 20, wherein each of the number of first conductors and the second conductor correspond to a pole of the electrical switching apparatus.

22. The electrical switching apparatus of claim 21, wherein the number of first conductors is two.

23. The electrical switching apparatus of claim 21, wherein the conductor includes a horizontal portion and an angled portion;

wherein the angled portion is inclined at an angle with respect to the horizontal portion;

wherein the first and second notches are formed in the angled portion of the conductor; and

wherein the first and second magnetic sensors are respectively disposed in the first and second notches.

24. The electrical switching apparatus of claim 23, wherein each of the number of first conductors is horizontally oriented.