Wirelessly powered secondary electrical distribution equipment

• US 7,948,352 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2008
• Issued: 05/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: ABB Research Ltd. (ABB Ltd.)
• Inventors: Tang, Le, Haj-Maharsi, Mohamed Y., Scholtz, Ernst
• Primary Examiner(s): Gandhi; Jayprakash N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thomas; Bradley H
• Application Number:
  US12/246,974
• Publication Number:
  US 20090091416A1
• Time in Patent Office: 959 Days
• Field of Search: 337/171, 337/168, 361/622, 361/626, 340/687
• US Class Current: 337/171
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/22 Power arrangements internal to the switch for operating the driving mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 31/127 Drop-out fuses
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/167 Circuits for remote indication
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/168 making use of an electromagnetic wave communication
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00006 characterised by information or instructions transport means between the monitoring, controlling or managing units and monitored, controlled or operated power network element or electrical equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00036 the elements or equipment being or involving switches, relays or circuit breakers circuits for indication of single switches H01H9/167
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/0004 involved in a protection system
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/005 Mechanical details of housing or structure aiming to accommodate the power transfer means, e.g. mechanical integration of coils, antennas or transducers into emitting or receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/18 using switches, relays or circuit breakers, e.g. intelligent electronic devices [IED]

Abstract

A wireless secondary assembly is disclosed for use in an electrical distribution network. The secondary assembly may include a wireless source electrically connected to a first electric cable and adapted to emit an electromagnetic power signal. A wireless receiver is electrically connected to a secondary device and adapted to receive the electromagnetic power signal and convert the electromagnetic power signal to electricity to power to secondary device.

Claims

1. A cutout assembly for use in an electrical distribution network to electrically connect a first electric cable with a second electric cable, the cutout comprising:

an electrically non-conductive insulator having a first end and a second end;

a first terminal assembly secured to said first end of said insulator;

a second terminal assembly secured to said second end of said insulator;

a fuse assembly pivotally secured to said second terminal assembly and movable between a locked out position and an engaged position;

a motor module secured to said second terminal assembly and adapted to move said fuse assembly from said locked out position to said engaged position;

a wireless source electrically connected to the first electric cable and adapted to emit an electromagnetic power signal; and

a wireless receiver electrically connected to said motor module and adapted to receive said electromagnetic power signal and convert said electromagnetic power signal to electricity to power said motor module.

2. A cutout assembly according to claim 1 wherein said first electric cable is a high voltage line and said wireless source is secured directly thereto.

3. A cutout assembly according to claim 1 wherein said wireless source includes a single-turn transformer adapted to draw power from said first electric cable.

4. A cutout assembly according to claim 1 wherein said wireless source draws power from the first electric cable and emits said electromagnetic power signal at a higher frequency than the frequency of the power drawn from said first electric cable.

5. A cutout assembly according to claim 1 wherein said wireless source includes a first resonator and said wireless receiver includes a second resonator, energy transfer between said first resonator and said second resonator being accomplished by coupling the resonant-field evanescent tails.

6. A cutout assembly according to claim 1 further comprising a reclosing mechanism secured to said first terminal assembly and including an engaging arm that is movable between a contact position and a release position;

wherein said engaging arm, when in said contact position, secures said fuse assembly in said engaged position proximate to said first terminal assembly, thereby conducting electricity between the first and second electric cable, said reclosing mechanism adapted to temporarily interrupt power transmission between the first electric cable and the second electric cable upon detection of a fault condition.

7. The cutout assembly of claim 6 wherein said reclosing mechanism temporarily interrupts power transmission a predetermined number of times, and if after said predetermined number of interruptions, the fault condition remains, said engaging arm moves to said release position.

8. The cutout assembly of claim 6 wherein when said engaging arm moves to said release position, said fuse assembly drops to said locked out position, thereby breaking the electrical connection between the first and second electrical cable.

9. The cutout assembly of claim 6 wherein an electrical load that triggers said fault condition in said reclosing mechanism is lower than an electrical load at which said fuse assembly will blow.

10. The cutout assembly of claim 6 wherein said engaging arm is adapted to pivot between said contact position and said release position.

11. The cutout assembly of claim 6 wherein said engaging arm is adapted to move axially between said contact position and said release position.

12. The cutout assembly of claim 6 wherein said reclosing mechanism includes a solenoid, said solenoid is mechanically interconnected to said engaging arm to selectively move said engaging arm between said contact position and said release position.

13. The cutout assembly of claim 12 wherein said reclosing mechanism includes a movable contact and a stationary contact, the temporary interruption of power being caused by moving said movable contact out of physical engagement from said stationary contact.

14. The cutout assembly of claim 1 wherein the motor module includes a communication system adapted to transmit fault condition alerts and to receive commands to move said fuse assembly from said locked out position to said engaged position.