Power monitoring system

• US 7,330,022 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2005
• Issued: 02/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Veris Industries LLC (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Veris Industries LLC (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Bruno, David, Bowman, Marc, Mauney, Marshall
• Primary Examiner(s): HOLLINGTON, JERMELE M
• Application Number:
  US11/180,803
• Publication Number:
  US 20050248896A1
• Time in Patent Office: 944 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 324/117.00R
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 11/04 Housings; Supporting racks; Arrangements of terminals
• 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 21/006 Measuring power factor
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/06 by measuring current and voltage G01R21/08 - G01R21/133 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 22/00 Arrangements for measuring time integral of electric power or current, e.g. electricity meters
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 22/065 related to mechanical aspects

Abstract

A power monitoring system for electrical panels providing power, received from one or more power sources, to multiple current conductors. The power monitoring system preferably includes a plurality of sensors affixed to a support. A portion of each sensor defines an opening through which a current conductor may be extended.

Claims

1. A device for sensing electricity in the ones of a plurality of conductors each connected to a respective circuit breaker in a power panel, said device comprising:

(a) a support securable to said power panel adjacent a plurality of circuit breakers; and

(b) a plurality of sensors affixed to said support, each sensor having an output connectible to an instrument and a portion defining an opening, a sensor producing a signal at said sensor'"'"'s output in response to an electric current in a conductor extended through said opening in said sensor.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein each sensor includes a wire wound toroidal core.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein a conductive trace affixed to said support conductively connects an output of a sensor to a connector, said instrument connectible to said connector.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said connector is affixed to said support.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said sensors are spaced apart along a longitudinal axis of said support and said openings are arranged substantially perpendicular to and spaced apart along said longitudinal axis to substantially align said opening in each sensor with a circuit breaker connection for a conductor extendible through said opening in said sensor.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said sensors are spaced apart along a longitudinal axis of said support and said openings of said sensors are substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein a first plurality of sensors are spaced apart along a first longitudinal axis of said support and a second plurality of sensors are spaced apart along a second longitudinal axis of said support, said first longitudinal axis being substantially parallel to and spaced apart from said second longitudinal axis.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein sensors of said first plurality are spaced apart along said first longitudinal axis such that a housing of a sensor of said first plurality will not interfere with extension of a conductor through an opening in a sensor of said second plurality.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein a cross-section of a housing of at least one sensor of said first plurality overlaps a projected portion of a cross-section of a housing of a sensor of said second plurality when said cross-section of said sensor of said second plurality is projected normal to said first longitudinal axis.

10. The device of claim 7 wherein sensors of said first plurality are spaced apart along said first longitudinal axis such that a housing of a sensor of said first plurality will not interfere with extension of a conductor through an opening in a sensor of said second plurality, said conductor having a cross-section approximating a cross-section of said opening in said sensor of said second plurality.

11. The device of claim 7 wherein said sensors of said first and said second pluralities are spaced apart along said respective first and second longitudinal axes so as to substantially align said opening in each of a plurality of said sensors with a circuit breaker connection for a conductor extendible through said opening in said respective sensor.

12. The device of claim 7 wherein a cross-section of a housing of at least one sensor of said first plurality overlaps a portion of a housing of a sensor of said second plurality when said cross-section is projected normal to said first longitudinal axis.

13. The device of claim 7 wherein said sensors of said first and said second pluralities are spaced apart along said respective first and second axes so as to substantially align said opening in each of a plurality of said sensors with a circuit breaker connection for a conductor extendible through said opening in said respective sensor.