Probe for measuring voltage/current of low voltage power distribution cable

• US 6,624,622 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2002
• Issued: 09/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KEPCO KDN Co., Ltd. (Government of South Korea)
• Original Assignee: KEPCO KDN Co., Ltd. (Government of South Korea)
• Inventors: Noh, Seung-Man
• Primary Examiner(s): Chapman, John E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kerveros, James C.
• Application Number:
  US10/072,146
• Publication Number:
  US 20030080722A1
• Time in Patent Office: 593 Days
• Field of Search: 324/72.5, 324/127, 324/117.R, 324/129, 324/117.H, 702/64, 702/62
• US Class Current: 324/72.5
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 1/067 Measuring probes
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/183 using transformers with a magnetic core

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a probe for measuring voltage/current of a low voltage power distribution cable. A probe has a body having a first opening and a first recess and made of an insulating material. A lower core is inserted into the first recess of the body, and a coil is wound around an insulating material installed at the lower core for detecting an induction current. A capacitor and a resistor are connected between output lines extended from the coil so as to filter out noise components, and a ground line is electrically connected to one end of the lower core. A voltage detection terminal is electrically connected to the low voltage power distribution cable for detecting voltage applied to the low voltage power distribution cable. A voltage output line is used for outputting the detected voltage. A connector is connected to output sides of the output lines extended from the coil, the ground line and the voltage output line. An end plate is attached to the body for covering the first recess and provided with a second opening and a second recess. A top cover is mounted to the top surfaces of the body and the end plate by nuts interlocked with a fixed bolt fixedly mounted to the body and a movable bolt. An upper core is inserted in the top cover to be opposite to the lower core installed in the body.

Claims

1. A probe for measuring voltage/current of a low voltage power distribution cable, comprising:

a body having a first opening upwardly formed therein for receiving a low voltage power distribution cable and a first recess formed in the shape of a U around the first opening, and made of an insulating material;

a lower core inserted into the first recess of the body and formed in the shape of a U;

a coil wound around an insulating material installed at the lower core for detecting an induction current induced by means of current flowing through the low voltage power distribution cable;

a capacitor connected between both end output lines extended from the coil to be parallel with the coil so as to filter out noise components;

a resistor connected between the both end output lines extended from the coil to be parallel with the capacitor;

a ground line electrically connected to one end of the lower core;

a voltage detection terminal electrically connected to the low voltage power distribution cable for detecting voltage applied to the low voltage power distribution cable;

a voltage output line for outputting the voltage detected by the voltage detection terminal;

a connector connected to output sides of the both end output lines extended from the coil, the ground line and the voltage output line;

an end plate attached to the body for covering the first recess, the end plate being provided with a second opening formed therein in approximately the same shape as the first opening formed in the body and a second recess formed therein in an approximate U shape both to cover the coil mounted in the first recess of the body and to receive a nut interlocked with the voltage detection terminal;

a top cover mounted to the top surfaces of the body and the end plate by nuts interlocked with a fixed bolt fixedly mounted to the body and a movable bolt; and

an upper core inserted in the top cover to be opposite to the lower core installed in the body.

2. The probe according to claim 1, wherein the body has a first slot vertically formed and opened at the top surface of the body such that the movable bolt rotatable around a hinge pin is inserted into the first slot.

3. The probe according to claim 1, wherein the top cover includes:

a top cover body in which the upper core is fixedly inserted; and

a top side cover in which screw holes are formed to allow screws to fasten the top side cover to the top cover body together with the screw holes formed in the top cover body.

4. The probe according to claim 3, wherein the top cover body includes:

a groove in which the upper core is inserted;

a via hole through which the fixed bolt fixedly mounted to the body penetrates; and

a second slot formed to be extended from a first slot formed in the body so as to receive the movable bolt to be rotated.

5. The probe according to claim 1, wherein the voltage detection terminal is provided with a pointed front end made of a metal such that the pointed front end is electrically connected to the low voltage power distribution cable by penetrating through the via hole formed in the side of the end plate and the nut inserted into the second U-shaped recess, and a knob formed at the rear end of the voltage detection terminal,

wherein the remaining part of the voltage detection terminal except for the pointed front end is coated with an insulating material externally threaded in order to prevent an electric shock.