Fault monitoring apparatus and method
First Claim
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1. A fault condition monitoring apparatus for use with a fuse cutout, the apparatus comprising:
- a housing operable to be supported by the fuse cutout while a fuse is being operatively held by the fuse cutout, said housing having first and second contacts operable to make electrical contact with fuse contacts on said fuse cutout when said housing is supported by said fuse cutout;
a current sensor inside said housing and connected to said first and second contacts; and
a signaling device coupled to said current sensor and operable to cause a signal to be produced when current sensed by said current sensor meets a criterion.
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Abstract
A fault condition monitoring apparatus for use with a fuse cutout includes a housing operable to be supported by the fuse cutout. The housing has first and second contacts operable to make electrical contact with fuse contacts on the fuse cutout when the housing is supported by the fuse cutout. A current sensor is mounted inside the housing and is connected to the first and second contacts. A signaling device is coupled to the current sensor and is operable to cause a signal to be produced when current sensed by the current sensor meets a criterion.
40 Citations
45 Claims
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1. A fault condition monitoring apparatus for use with a fuse cutout, the apparatus comprising:
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a housing operable to be supported by the fuse cutout while a fuse is being operatively held by the fuse cutout, said housing having first and second contacts operable to make electrical contact with fuse contacts on said fuse cutout when said housing is supported by said fuse cutout; a current sensor inside said housing and connected to said first and second contacts; and a signaling device coupled to said current sensor and operable to cause a signal to be produced when current sensed by said current sensor meets a criterion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19)
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17. A method of monitoring for a fault condition in a system comprising a fuse cutout connected between a supply conductor and an electrical device, the method comprising:
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connecting to the fuse cutout a housing containing a current sensor, such that the current sensor is electrically connected to fuse contacts on said fuse cutout while a fuse is being operatively held by the fuse cutout; and actuating a signaling device when current sensed by said current sensor meets a criterion.
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20. A fuse cutout apparatus comprising:
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an insulator; first and second fuse contacts on opposite ends of said insulator respectively, for holding a fuse; a current sensor inside said insulator and connected to said first and second fuse contacts while a fuse is being operatively held by said fuse contacts; and a signaling device coupled to said current sensor and operable to cause a signal to be produced when current sensed by said current sensor meets a criterion. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method of monitoring for a fault condition in a system comprising a supply conductor and an electrical device, the method comprising:
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connecting, between said supply conductor and said electrical device, a fuse cutout having fuse contacts, an insulator and a current sensing circuit connected to said fuse contacts while a fuse is connected to said fuse contacts, said current sensing circuit being located inside said insulator; and actuating a signaling device coupled to said current sensing device when current sensed by said current sensing circuit meets a criterion.
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32. A fault condition monitoring apparatus for use with a fuse cutout, the apparatus comprising:
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a housing operable to be supported by the fuse cutout while a fuse is operatively connected to the fuse cutout, said housing having first and second contacts operable to make electrical contact with fuse contacts on said fuse cutout when said housing is supported by said fuse cutout; current sensing means inside said housing and connected to said first and second contacts for sensing current between said first and second contacts; and signaling means coupled to said current sensing means, for causing a signal to be produced when current sensed by said current sensing means meets a criterion. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A fuse cutout apparatus comprising:
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an insulator; means for holding a fuse, including first and second fuse contacts on opposite ends of said insulator respectively; current sensing means inside said insulator and connected to said first and second fuse contacts while a fuse is being operatively held by said means for holding a fuse, for sensing current between said first and second contacts; and signaling means coupled to said current sensing means for causing a signal to be produced when current sensed by said current sensing means meets a criterion. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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Specification