Aligning structure for a power line and sensor

• US 8,342,494 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2007
• Issued: 01/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Power Measurement Ltd. (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Schneider Electric USA, Inc. (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Ricci, Marc A., Gunn, Colin, Gaib, Sam, Harding, Stewart
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson, Lee D
• Assistant Examiner(s): DANIEL, JAMAL D
• Application Number:
  US11/938,613
• Publication Number:
  US 20080129314A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,877 Days
• Field of Search: 269/217, 269/103, 269/249, 174/140.CR, 174/140.R, 174/144, 174/127
• US Class Current: 269/86
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 1/22 Tong testers acting as secondary windings of current transformers
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/186 using current transformers with a core consisting of two or more parts, e.g. clamp-on type G01R15/142 - G01R15/16 take precedence; tong testers G01R1/22
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/2513 Arrangements for monitoring electric power systems, e.g. power lines or loads; Logging

Abstract

An apparatus includes a first jaw (108) coupled to a second jaw (110) to form an opening (114) when the first jaw (108) and the second jaw (110) are closed. An aligning structure couples to at least one of the first jaw (108) and the second jaw (110). A portion of the aligning structure may be disposed within the opening (114) and aligns a power line (128) to a sensor (418) disposed within the first jaw (108) and the second jaw (110).

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a first jaw coupled to a second jaw to form an opening when the first jaw and the second jaw are closed around a power line; and

an aligning structure having at least two alignment members axially spaced with respect to a longitudinal axis of the power line, a first of the alignment members being coupled to the first jaw and a second of the alignment members being coupled to the second jaw,

wherein a portion of the aligning structure is disposed within the opening and aligns the power line to a sensor disposed within the first jaw and the second jaw, said coupling between the first and second alignment members to the first and second jaws, respectively, permitting relative movement between the first alignment member and the first jaw such that the first alignment member moves relative to the first jaw during closing movement of said jaws for engaging said power line as said jaws are closed.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a corona ring operably coupled to at least one of the first jaw and the second jaw, wherein the corona ring comprises:

a partial ring having a circular cross-section of a first diameter; and

a pair of substantially spherical ends having a second diameter and each disposed at a respective end of the partial ring.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the aligning structure adjusts to align to various diameters of power lines.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor is coupled to an electronics assembly.

5. An apparatus comprising:

a first jaw coupled to a second jaw to form an opening when the first jaw and the second jaw are closed; and

an aligning structure coupled to at least one of the first jaw and the second jaw,

wherein a portion of the aligning structure is disposed within the opening and aligns a power line to a sensor disposed within the first jaw and the second jaw,

and said aligning structure comprises a first set and a second set of alignment members that are axially-spaced with respect to a longitudinal axis of the power line, and wherein the first set brings the apparatus to a voltage potential of the power line and the second set is electrically insulated from the first set.

6. An apparatus comprising:

a first jaw and a second jaw coupled together to form an opening when the first jaw and the second jaw are closed;

a corona ring operably coupled to one of the first jaw and the second jaw;

a sensor, a part of which is disposed in the first jaw and consistently positioned with respect to the opening;

an electronic assembly operably coupled to the sensor; and

an aligning structure attached to at least one of the first jaw and the second jaw;

wherein the aligning structure aligns a power line to the sensor and comprises a first set and a second set of alignment members that are axially-spaced with respect to a longitudinal axis of the power line, and wherein the first set brings the apparatus to a voltage potential of the power line and the second set is electrically insulated from the first set.

7. An apparatus comprising:

a first jaw and a second jaw that are coupled together to form an opening when the first jaw and the second jaw are closed;

a corona ring operably coupled to one of the first jaw and the second jaw;

a sensor disposed within the first and the second jaw and consistently positioned with respect to the opening;

an electronic assembly operably coupled to the sensor; and

an aligning structure attached to at least one of the first jaw and the second jaw;

wherein the aligning structure aligns a power line to the sensor and comprises;

a fixed member having a hook and coupled to the first jaw; and

an opposing member slidably coupled to the fixed member and pivotally coupled to a pivoting member that pivots with respect to the second jaw;

wherein the power line is secured between the hook and the opposing member.

8. An apparatus comprising:

a first jaw and a second jaw that are coupled together to form an opening when the first jaw and the second jaw are closed;

an aligning structure coupled to at least one of the first jaw and the second jaw, wherein the aligning structure aligns a power line to a sensor, said coupling permitting automatic relative movement between said aligning structure and at least one of said jaws during closing movement of said jaws for engaging said power line as said jaws are closed, the aligning structure including a fixed member coupled to the first jaw and having a plurality of adjustment holes for adjusting the aligning structure to different power line sizes, the fixed member being at least partially disposed within the opening, the aligning structure further including an opposing member slidably coupled to the fixed member at one end of the opposing member, the other end of the opposing member being coupled to a pivoting member coupled to the second jaw.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

a corona ring operably coupled to the first jaw or to the second jaw, the corona ring including;

a partial ring having a circular cross-section of a first diameter; and

a pair of substantially spherical ends having a second diameter and disposed at each end of the partial ring, wherein the second diameter is substantially larger than the first diameter, and wherein the apparatus temporarily hangs from the power line by the corona ring.