Circuit protector monitoring assembly

• US 8,169,331 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2007
• Issued: 05/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Darr, Matthew R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lieu, Julie
• Application Number:
  US11/668,987
• Publication Number:
  US 20070257807A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,918 Days
• Field of Search: 340/635, 340/638, 340/644, 340/572.1, 340/572.7, 337/206, 337/241, 337/243, 337/265, 439488-491
• US Class Current: 340/635
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2085/0266 Structural association with a measurement device, e.g. a shunt
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2085/0275 Structural association with a printed circuit board
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2085/0291 Structural association with a current transformer
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/042 combined with means for locating the fault locating faults in cables G01R31/08

Abstract

Monitoring assemblies for determining an operational state of a circuit protector in an electrical circuit.

Claims

1. A circuit protector monitoring assembly comprising:

at least one circuit protector defining an interruptible current path therethrough upon an occurrence of specified current conditions through the interruptible current path;

a status element connected in parallel with the circuit protector and adapted to sense an operating state of the current path and wirelessly transmit information regarding the operating state of the current path, the information including a circuit protector identifier and a circuit protector location; and

the status element comprising a housing and an antenna projecting from the housing.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the status element occupies a clearance above the circuit protector that is generally less than one inch.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the antenna comprises a helical antenna.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the circuit protector has a longitudinal axis, the antenna extending generally parallel to the longitudinal axis.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the circuit protector is located in an enclosure having a lid, the status element fitting between the circuit protector and the lid.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the circuit protector has a longitudinal axis and the status element comprises multiple batteries connected in parallel, the batteries generally positioned in a plane extending parallel to the longitudinal axis.

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the status element further comprises a battery tab preventing electrical connection of the batteries.

8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the status element comprises a housing and a hinged cover mounted to the housing.

9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a fin increasing a surface area of the housing.

10. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the status element comprises a touch safe cover portion extending from the housing.

11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the cover portion comprises at least one ventilation opening.

12. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a DIN rail slot.

13. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the status element comprises a monitoring module mechanically and electrically connected to terminal elements of the circuit protector at a location exterior to the circuit protector, the module adapted for retrofit installation to the circuit protector.

14. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one circuit protector comprises a fuse, the status element transmitting data related to operation of the fuse, the data comprising a plurality of data bits selected from the group comprising a unique radio identifier, a manufacturer serial number for the status element, a device type code for the circuit protector, a location or address code for the circuit protector, a power/control code, an equipment identification code, a testing code, a fault code, a customer code, a temperature code, a vibration code, a displacement code, a mechanical stress code, a mechanical strain code, an acoustical emission code, a noise code, a thermal imagery code, an electrical resistance code, a pressure code, a humidity code and a video code.

29. The assembly of claim 1, the status element comprising a circuit board interfacing a high voltage portion and a low voltage portion, and silicon caulking insulating and isolating the high voltage portion from the low voltage portion.

15. A circuit protector monitoring assembly comprising:

an enclosure and a lid collectively defining a closeable container for at least one circuit protector;

at least one circuit protector situated within the enclosure and defining an interruptible current path therethrough upon an occurrence of specified current conditions through the interruptible current path;

a status element connected in parallel with the circuit protector and adapted to sense an operating state of the current path and wirelessly transmit information regarding the operating state of the current path, the information including a circuit protector identifier and a circuit protector location; and

the status element occupying a clearance between the circuit protector and the lid.

16. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the clearance between the circuit protector and the lid is generally less than one inch.

17. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the status element comprises a housing and an antenna projecting from the housing.

18. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the antenna comprises a helical antenna.

19. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the circuit protector has a longitudinal axis, the antenna extending generally parallel to the longitudinal axis.

20. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the circuit protector has a longitudinal axis and the status element comprises multiple batteries connected in parallel, the batteries generally positioned in a plane extending parallel to the longitudinal axis.

21. The assembly of claim 20, wherein the status element further comprises a battery tab preventing electrical connection of the batteries.

22. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the module comprises a housing and a hinged cover mounted to the housing.

23. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the housing comprises a fin increasing a surface area of the housing.

24. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the status element comprises a touch safe cover portion extending from the housing.

25. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the cover portion comprises at least one ventilation opening.

26. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the status element comprises a monitoring module mechanically and electrically connected to terminal elements of the circuit protector at a location exterior to the circuit protector, the module adapted for retrofit installation to the circuit protector.

27. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the at least one circuit protector comprises a fuse, the status element transmitting data related to operation of the fuse, the data comprising a plurality of data bits selected from the group comprising a unique radio identifier, a manufacturer serial number for the status element, a device type code for the circuit protector, a location or address code for the circuit protector, a power/control code, an equipment identification code, a testing code, a fault code, a customer code, a temperature code, a vibration code, a displacement code, a mechanical stress code, a mechanical strain code, an acoustical emission code, a noise code, a thermal imagery code, an electrical resistance code, a pressure code, a humidity code and a video code.

28. The assembly of claim 15, the status element comprising a circuit board interfacing a high voltage portion and a low voltage portion, and silicon caulking insulating and isolating the high voltage portion from the low voltage portion.

30. A circuit protector monitoring assembly comprising:

at least one circuit protector defining an interruptible current path therethrough upon an occurrence of specified current conditions through the interruptible current path;

a status element connectable in parallel with the circuit protector and adapted to sense an operating state of the current path and wirelessly transmit information regarding the operating state of the current path, the information including a circuit protector identifier and a circuit protector location; and

the status element comprising a housing defining a DIN rail slot, and a sensor board extending generally parallel to the DIN rail slot.

31. The assembly of claim 30, the sensor board comprising a high voltage portion and a low voltage portion, and silicon caulking insulating and isolating the high voltage portion from the low voltage portion.

32. The assembly of claim 30, wherein the status element further comprises a radio board, the radio board extending generally parallel to the sensor board.

33. The assembly of claim 32, wherein the antenna extends generally parallel to the DIN rail slot.

34. The assembly of claim 30, wherein the status element comprises multiple batteries arranged in a plane extending generally parallel to the DIN rail slot.

35. The assembly of claim 30, further comprising a hinged cover mounted to the housing of the status element.

36. The assembly of claim 30, wherein the status element further comprises an antenna projecting outwardly from the housing.