Insulator support current sensor

• US 6,555,999 B1
• Filed: 04/04/2000
• Issued: 04/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lindsey Manufacturing Co.
• Original Assignee: Lindsey Manufacturing Co.
• Inventors: Serocki, Richard J., Lindsey, Keith E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Vincent Q.
• Application Number:
  US09/542,752
• Time in Patent Office: 1,120 Days
• Field of Search: 324/117.H, 324/117.R, 324/127, 324/96, 324/76.11
• US Class Current: 324/76.11
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/04 Voltage dividers
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/14 Adaptations providing voltage or current isolation, e.g. for high-voltage or high-current networks
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/146 Measuring arrangements for current not covered by other subgroups of G01R15/14, e.g. using current dividers, shunts, or measuring a voltage drop if no voltage isolation is involved G01R1/203 or G01R19/0092
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/16 using capacitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/202 using Hall-effect devices Hall elements in arrangements for measuring electrical power G01R21/08
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/0092 measuring current only all subgroups of G01R19/00 take precedence

Abstract

A system and method for measuring at least one characteristic of a power line supported by a power line pole includes a pin having a first end coupled to the pole and a second end adapted to engage a sensor, wherein the sensor measures at least one characteristic of the power line and an insulator coupled to the second end of the pin supports the power line. The close proximity of the sensing element to the conductor immerses the sensor in the strong magnetic field close to the current carrying conductor to provide low cost accurate current measurement capability.

Claims

1. A system for measuring characteristics of a power line supported by a power line pole comprising:

a pin having a first end coupled to the pole and a second, threaded end, adapted to engage a sensor, wherein said sensor measures at least one characteristic of the power line; and

an insulator having a threaded aperture coupled to the second thread end of said pin, wherein said power line is supported by said insulator and said pin.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said sensor comprises a current sensor that measures the current on said power line.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said current sensor is a Hall effect sensor.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said insulator comprises commercial grade porcelain, glass, polymer or epoxy.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said pin is adapted to indicate the direction of current flow on the power line.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising a control unit which displays the output of said sensor.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said control unit calibrates the sensor.

8. The system of claim 6 further comprising a remote terminal unit in communication with said control unit, wherein said remote terminal unit communicates the measured power line characteristic to a remote control center.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said insulator further comprises:

support surface adapted to support said power line.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said insulator support surface and aperture are treated with a semiconductive material and wherein said treated support surface and aperture form a capacitor.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said sensor comprises a voltage sensor coupled to said treated aperture, wherein output of said voltage sensor is proportional to voltage on said power line.

12. The sensor of claim 11 wherein said voltage sensor comprises a voltage divider.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein said voltage sensor comprises:

an electrical conductor coupled to said treated aperture;

a capacitor electrically coupled between said electrical conductor and a first output; and

a second output electrically coupled to said electrical conductor, wherein the output voltage across said first and second outputs is proportional to the voltage on said power line.

14. The system of claim 11 whereon said voltage sensor comprises;

a conductive molding coupled to said treated aperture;

a capacitor electrically coupled between said conductive molding and a first output; and

a second output electrically coupled to said conductive molding, wherein the output voltage across said first and second outputs is proportional to the voltage on said power line.

15. The system of claim 10 wherein said sensor comprises a current sensor housed in the second end of said pin and a voltage sensor coupled to the treated aperture.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein said current sensor is a Hall effect sensor.

17. The sensor of claim 15 wherein said voltage sensor comprises a voltage divider.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein said voltage sensor comprises:

an electrical conductor coupled to said treated aperture;

a capacitor electrically coupled between said electrical conductor and a first output; and

a second output electrically coupled to said electrical conductor, wherein the output voltage across said first and second outputs is proportional to the voltage on said power line.

19. The system of claim 15 wherein said voltage sensor comprises:

a conductive molding coupled to said treated aperture;

a capacitor electrically coupled between sand conductive molding and a first output; and

a second output electrically coupled to said conductive molding, wherein the output voltage across said first and second outputs is proportional to the voltage on said power line.

20. A method of measuring at least one characteristic of a power line supported by a power line pole, comprising:

engaging a sensor with a first, threaded end of a pin;

coupling an insulator, having a threaded aperture to the first end of said pin;

coupling a second end of the pin to said pole;

coupling the power line to said insulator such that said power line is supported by said insulator, pin and pole; and

measuring a characteristic of said power line.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

measuring a characteristic of said power line with a secondary measurement device; and

calibrating said sensor as a function of said secondary measurement.

22. The method of claim 20 further comprising communicating the measured characteristic to a remote control center.

23. The method of claim 20 wherein the insulator further comprises:

a support surface adapted to support said power line and an aperture adapted to engage said pin, wherein said support surface and aperture are treated with a semiconductive material; and

wherein the step of coupling said pin to said insulator further comprises coupling said sensor to said treated aperture.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the step of measuring a characteristic of said power line comprises outputting a voltage that is proportional to the voltage on said power line.

25. A system for measuring characteristics of a power line supported by a power line pole comprising:

a pin having a first end coupled to the pole and a second threaded end adapted to engage a voltage sensor that measures voltage on said power line; and

an insulator coupled to the second threaded end of said pin, wherein said power line is supported by said insulator and said pin.

26. The sensor of claim 25 wherein said voltage sensor comprises a voltage divider.

27. The system of claim 25 further comprising a current sensor housed in the second end of said pin.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein said current sensor is a Hall effect sensor.

29. The system of claim 25 wherein said insulator further comprises:

a support surface adapted to support said power line; and

an aperture adapted to engage said pin.

30. The system of claim 29 wherein said insulator support surface and aperture are treated with a semiconductive material and wherein said treated support surface and aperture form a capacitor.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein said voltage sensor comprises:

an electrical conductor coupled to said treated aperture;

a capacitor electrically coupled between said electrical conductor and a first output; and

a second output electrically coupled to said electrical conductor, wherein the output voltage across said first and second outputs is proportional to the voltage on said power line.

32. The system of claim 30 wherein said voltage sensor comprises:

a conductive molding coupled to said treated aperture;

a capacitor electrically coupled between said conductive molding and a first output; and

a second output electrically coupled to said conductive molding, wherein the output voltage across said first and second outputs is proportional to the voltage on said power line.