High density metering system

• US 7,493,222 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2006
• Issued: 02/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Veris Industries LLC (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Veris Industries LLC (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Bruno, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): TSAI, CAROL S W
• Application Number:
  US11/521,994
• Publication Number:
  US 20070069715A1
• Time in Patent Office: 887 Days
• Field of Search: 702/79, 702/91, 324/117.R, 324/142, 324/76.11, 363/20, 340/870.28, 340/870.02, 320/109
• US Class Current: 702/64
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/133 by using digital technique

Abstract

A modular metering system comprises a data processing module, a current module and a voltage module. The current and voltage modules include sensor memories characterizing the respective current and voltage sensors facilitating assembly and repair of the metering system.

Claims

1. A power meter comprising:

(a) a data processing module including a data processing unit to calculate a current from an output of a current transducer and a datum characterizing said current transducer; and

(b) a current module including;

(i) a current transducer comprising;

(1) a current transformer affixed to a support;

(2) a conductor affixed to said support;

(3) a connector to conductively connect said current transformer and said conductor, said connector removable to disconnect said current transformer from said conductor; and

(4) if said first current transformer is disconnected from said conductor, a socket conductively connected to said conductor, said socket arranged to receive a conductor of another current transformer; and

(ii) a current sensor memory storing a datum characterizing said current transducer, said datum readable by said data processing unit, said current module being separate from said data processing module.

2. The power meter of claim 1 wherein said datum characterizing said current transducer comprises a current transformer turns ratio.

3. The power meter of claim 1 wherein said datum characterizing said current transducer comprises a correction for a magnetization induced error.

4. The power meter of claim 1 wherein said current sensor memory is attached to a body of said current transducer.

5. The power meter of claim 1 wherein said data processing module further comprises a power supply providing power to said data processing unit and said current module.

6. The power meter of claim 1 further comprising a voltage module separate from said data processing module and including:

(a) a voltage transducer; and

(b) a voltage sensor memory storing a datum characterizing said voltage transducer, said datum readable by said data processing unit and used by said data processing unit to calculate a voltage.

7. The power meter of claim 6 wherein said data processing module further comprises a power supply providing power to said data processing unit, said current module and said voltage module.

8. A power meter comprising:

(a) a current module including;

(i) a current sensor memory storing a current sensor characterization datum; and

(ii) a current transducer comprising;

(1) a current transformer affixed to a support;

(2) a conductor affixed to said support;

(3) a connector to conductively connect said current transformer and said conductor, said connector removable to disconnect said current transformer from said conductor; and

(4) if said current transformer is disconnected from said conductor, a socket conductively connected to said conductor, said socket arranged to receive a conductor of another current transformer;

(b) a voltage module including;

(i) a voltage sensor memory storing a voltage sensor characterization datum; and

(ii) a voltage transducer; and

(c) a data processing unit communicatively connected to but separate from said current module and said voltage module to calculate at least one of a current, voltage and power from an output of said current transducer, an output of said voltage transducer, and at least one of said current sensor characterization datum and said voltage sensor characterization datum.

9. The power meter of claim 8 wherein said current sensor characterization datum comprises a current transformer turns ratio.

10. The power meter of claim 8 wherein said current sensor characterization datum comprises a correction for a magnetization induced error.

11. A current sensing apparatus comprising:

(a) a current transformer affixed to a support;

(b) a conductor affixed to said support;

(c) a connector to conductively connect said current transformer and said conductor, said connector removable to disconnect said current transformer from said conductor; and

(d) if said first current transformer is disconnected from said conductor, a socket conductively connected to said conductor, said socket arranged to receive a conductor of another current transformer.