Unshielded air-coupled current transformer

• US 5,521,572 A
• Filed: 11/14/1994
• Issued: 05/28/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Industries Incorporated (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Roberts, Charles W., Goodwin, R. Wendell
• Primary Examiner(s): Kozma, Thomas J.
• Application Number:
  US08/337,910
• Time in Patent Office: 561 Days
• Field of Search: 336/178, 336/175, 336/174, 336/176, 336/184, 336/212, 336/234
• US Class Current: 336/178
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/30 Constructions

Abstract

An air-coupled current transformer is provided with a primary current conductor and two secondary coils connected such that the emf induced in each coil by an external disturbing magnetic flux is subtractive, whereas the emf induced by the current in the primary is additive. Two ferromagnetic core pieces enhance the rejection of the emf induced by the disturbing flux. Ceramic spacers are inserted into air gaps between the core pieces for maintaining the gaps fixed to keep the scale factor of the transformer independent of temperature.

Claims

1. An unshielded air-coupled current transformer for transforming an input current flowing in an input line into an output signal comprising:

(a) a primary circuit means responsive to an input current on an input line;

(b) a first secondary circuit means adjacent said primary circuit means for inducing a first electromotive force (emf) in response to the input current and for inducing a second emf in response to an external disturbing magnetic flux;

(c) a second secondary circuit means adjacent said primary circuit means for inducing a third emf in response to the input current and for inducing a fourth emf in response to the external disturbing magnetic flux;

(d) said first and said second secondary circuit means being coupled so as to form the output signal corresponding to the sum of the first and the third emf and to the difference between the second and the fourth emf;

(e) magnetic coupling means for providing a coupling magnetic flux between said primary circuit means and said first and said second secondary circuit means to minimize the difference between the second and the fourth emf; and

(f) said magnetic coupling means comprising a pair of plates, said plates being substantially flat, substantially rectangular, and substantially parallel, said plates being made of magnetic material and having at least a pair of air gaps therebetween, said primary circuit means and said first and said second secondary circuit means being between said pair of plates with said first and said second secondary circuit means surrounding no magnetic core material.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said magnetic coupling means comprises at least a pair of ferromagnetic pieces with the air gaps between said ferromagnetic pieces.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said first and second secondary circuit means are interposed between said pair of ferromagnetic pieces.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein at least a pair of spacers made of material with a low coefficient of thermal expansion are within the air gaps.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein each of said first and second secondary circuit means comprises a coil, and each of said spacers comprises a ceramic spacer within said coil.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein each of said ferromagnetic pieces comprises a rectangular plate rigidly fastened to said ceramic spacer.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said primary circuit means comprises a current conductor interposed between said ferromagnetic pieces and said coils so as to be perpendicular to a window formed by said ferromagnetic pieces and said coils

8. An unshielded air-coupled transformer for transforming an input current flowing in an input line into an output signal comprising:

(a) a primary circuit coupled to said input line for supplying the input current;

(b) a first secondary circuit adjacent said primary circuit;

(c) a second secondary circuit adjacent said primary circuit;

(d) said first and said second secondary circuits being coupled so as to form the output signal in response to the input current and to reduce a disturbing magnetic flux from an external source;

(e) a magnetic circuit magnetically coupling said primary circuit and said first and said second secondary circuits to further reduce the disturbing magnetic flux;

(f) said magnetic circuit comprising a pair of plates, said plates being substantially flat, substantially rectangular, and substantially parallel, said plates being made of magnetic material and having at least a pair of air gaps therebetween, said primary circuit and said first said said second secondary circuit being between said of plates with said first and said second secondary circuit surrounding no magnetic core material.

9. The air-coupled transformer of claim 8, wherein said magnetic circuit comprises at least a pair of ferromagnetic pieces with the air gaps between said ferromagnetic pieces.

10. The air-coupled transformer of claim 9 wherein said first and second secondary circuits are interposed between said pair of ferromagnetic pieces.

11. The air-coupled transformer of claim 10, wherein at least a pair of spacers made of material with a low coefficient of thermal expansion are within said air gaps.

12. The air-coupled transformer of claim 11, wherein each of said first and second secondary circuits comprises a coil, and each of said spacers comprises a ceramic spacer within said coil.

13. The air-coupled transformer of claim 12, wherein each of said ferromagnetic pieces comprises a rectangular plate rigidly fastened to said ceramic spacer.

14. The air-coupled transformer of claim 13, wherein said primary circuit comprises a current conductor interposed between said ferromagnetic pieces and said coils so as to be perpendicular to a window formed by said ferromagnetic pieces and the coils.

15. An unshielded air-coupled transformer for transforming an input current flowing in an input line into an output signal comprising:

(a) a primary circuit coupled to said input line for supplying the input current;

(b) a first secondary circuit adjacent said primary circuit;

(c) a second secondary circuit adjacent said primary circuit;

(d) said first and said second secondary circuits being coupled so as to form the output signal in response to the input current and to reduce a disturbing magnetic flux from an external source;

(e) a magnetic circuit magnetically coupling said primary circuit and said first and said second secondary circuits to further reduce the disturbing magnetic flux; and

(f) said magnetic circuit comprising a pair of plates, said plates being substantially flat, substantially rectangular, and substantially parallel, said plates having at least a pair of air gaps therebetween, and including at least a pair of ceramic spacers inserted into said air gaps to make the scale factor of said transformer independent of temperature, said primary circuit and said first and said second secondary circuits being between said pair of plates with said first and said second secondary circuits surrounding no magnetic core material.