Electronic meter having anti-tampering magnetic shield

• US 5,486,755 A
• Filed: 12/27/1994
• Issued: 01/23/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Legere, Joseph R., Elmore, David D., Balch, Richard A., Horan, Patrick J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wieder, Kenneth A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BOWSER, BARRY
• Application Number:
  US08/364,109
• Time in Patent Office: 392 Days
• Field of Search: 324/110, 324/127, 324/143
• US Class Current: 324/110
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 22/066 Arrangements for avoiding or indicating fraudulent use

Abstract

An electronic meter for measuring electricity includes a magnetic shield positioned adjacent each outermost toroidal coil of electrical current sensors to thereby resist tampering by a magnetic field applied from outside the meter housing. The magnetic shield has an arcuate cross-sectional shape corresponding to the outermost coil portion and has a predetermined arc length covering only a predetermined portion of the outermost coil portion. The shield preferably has a semicylindrical cross-section shape thereby covering only half the toroidal coil.

Claims

1. An electronic meter for measuring electricity and being resistant to tampering by an externally applied magnetic field, said electronic meter comprising:

a housing comprising a base and a cover connected thereto;

a plurality of electrical current sensors positioned within said housing, each of said electrical current sensors comprising a toroidal coil defining a coil axis aligned transverse to the base, outermost ones of said toroidal coils having respective outermost coil portions positioned in closely spaced relation from an adjacent interior surface of said housing; and

a magnetic shield positioned adjacent each outermost toroidal coil to thereby resist tampering by a magnetic field applied from external to said housing, said magnetic shield having an arcuate cross-sectional shape corresponding to the outermost coil portion and having a predetermined arc length covering only a predetermined portion of the outermost coil portion.

2. An electronic meter according to claim 1 wherein the predetermined arc length of said magnetic shield defines a semicylindrical shape for said magnetic shield and covers the outermost coil portion in a range of about 150°

to 180°

.

3. An electronic meter according to claim 1 wherein said magnetic shield comprises cold-rolled carbon strip steel having a relatively low temper.

4. An electronic meter according to claim 1 wherein each of said electrical current sensors comprises:

an electrically conductive plate having an opening in a medial portion thereof defining first and second current branches adjacent respective opposite sides of the opening; and

means for generating a voltage between the first and second current branches and comprising an electrical conductor extending between the first and second current branches and through a central opening of said toroidal coil.

5. An electronic meter according to claim 4 further comprising a retainer clip surrounding said magnetic shield and having first and second end portions engaging said electrically conductive plate at the opening thereof for securing said magnetic shield to said current sensor.

6. An electronic meter according to claim 5 wherein said retainer clip has an arcuate cross-sectional shape and an opening in a medial portion thereof.

7. An electronic meter according to claim 4 wherein each of said current sensors comprises first and second electrical terminals extending outwardly from said base and electrically connected to said electrically conductive plate.

8. An electronic meter according to claim 4 wherein said plurality of electrical current sensors are arranged in side-by-side relation.

9. An electronic meter for measuring electricity and being resistant to tampering by an externally applied magnetic field, said electronic meter comprising:

a housing comprising a base and a cover connected thereto;

at least three electrical current sensors positioned within said housing arranged in side-by-side relation, each of said electrical current sensors comprising a toroidal coil defining a coil axis aligned transverse to said base, outermost ones of said toroidal coils having respective outermost coil portions positioned in closely spaced relation from an adjacent interior surface of said housing; and

a magnetic shield positioned adjacent only each outermost toroidal coil to thereby resist tampering by a magnetic field applied from external to said housing, said magnetic shield having an arcuate cross-sectional shape corresponding to the outermost coil portion and having a predetermined arc length covering only a predetermined portion of the outermost coil portion.

10. An electronic meter according to claim 9 wherein the predetermined arc length of said magnetic shield defines a semicylindrical shape for said magnetic shield and covers the outermost coil portion in a range of about 150°

to 180°

.

11. An electronic meter according to claim 9 wherein said magnetic shield comprises cold-rolled carbon strip steel having a relatively low temper.

12. An electronic meter according to claim 9 wherein each of said electrical current sensors comprises:

an electrically conductive plate having an opening in a medial portion thereof defining first and second current branches adjacent respective opposite sides of the opening; and

means for generating a voltage between the first and second current branches and comprising an electrical conductor extending between the first and second current branches and through a central opening of said toroidal coil.

13. An electronic meter according to claim 12 further comprising a retainer clip surrounding said magnetic shield and having first and second end portions engaging said electrically conductive plate at the opening thereof for securing said magnetic shield to said current sensor.

14. An electronic meter according to claim 13 wherein said retainer clip has an arcuate cross-sectional shape and an opening in a medial portion thereof.

15. An electronic meter according to claim 13 wherein each of said current sensors comprises first and second electrical terminals extending outwardly from said base and electrically connected to said electrically conductive plate.

16. An electronic meter for measuring electricity and being resistant to tampering by an externally applied magnetic field, said electronic meter comprising:

a housing comprising a base and a cover connected thereto;

a plurality of electrical current sensors positioned within said housing, each of said electrical current sensors comprising a toroidal coil defining a coil axis aligned transverse to said base, outermost ones of said toroidal coils having respective outermost coil portions positioned in closely spaced relation from an adjacent interior surface of said housing; and

a magnetic shield positioned adjacent each outermost toroidal coil to thereby resist tampering by a magnetic field applied from external to said housing, said magnetic shield comprising cold-rolled carbon strip steel having a relatively low temper, said magnetic shield having a semicylindrical cross-sectional shape corresponding to the outermost coil portion and having an arc length covering the outermost coil portion in a range of about 150°

to 180°

.

17. An electronic meter according to claim 16 wherein each of said electrical current sensors comprises:

an electrically conductive plate having an opening in a medial portion thereof defining first and second current branches adjacent respective opposite sides of the opening; and

means for generating a voltage between the first and second current branches and comprising an electrical conductor extending between the first and second current branches and through a central opening of said toroidal coil.

18. An electronic meter according to claim 17 further comprising a retainer clip surrounding said magnetic shield and having first and second end portions engaging said electrically conductive plate at the opening thereof for securing said magnetic shield to said current sensor.

19. An electronic meter according to claim 16 wherein said housing comprises a base and a cover connected thereto, and wherein each of said current sensors comprises first and second electrical terminals extending outwardly from said base and electrically connected to said electrically conductive plate.

20. An electronic meter according to claim 16 wherein said plurality of electrical current sensors are arranged in side-by-side relation.