Data collecting connection

• US 8,475,219 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2011
• Issued: 07/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hubbell, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hubbell, Inc.
• Inventors: Crutcher, Bernard C., Chadbourne, Christopher G.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, THANH TAM T
• Application Number:
  US13/136,493
• Publication Number:
  US 20110287662A1
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• Field of Search: 439/488, 439/489, 439783-785, 439/825, 439/851, 439/913, 324/117.H, 324/117.R, 174/845, 174/945, 340/635, 340/870.07, 340/870.11
• US Class Current: 439/783
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/142 Arrangements for simultaneous measurements of several parameters employing techniques covered by groups G01R15/14 - G01R15/26
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/22 using light-emitting devices, e.g. LED, optocouplers G01R31/31901 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/665 with built-in electronic circuit H01R13/70, H01R13/719 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/5083 using a wedge
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

Disclosed herein is an apparatus. The apparatus includes a first body, a second body, and an electronic circuit. The first body includes a first end, a second end, and a middle section. The first body further includes a first conductor receiving area and a recessed cavity. The first receiving area extends from the first end to the second end. The cavity is at the middle section. The second body is adapted to be removably connected to the first body. The second body includes a first end, a second end, and a second conductor receiving area. The second conductor receiving area extends from the first end to the second end. The apparatus is adapted to receive an electrical conductor between the first receiving area and the second receiving area. The electronic circuit is at the cavity. The electronic circuit is configured to receive reference information corresponding to the electrical conductor.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a first member comprising a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a middle section between the first end and the second end, wherein the first member is adapted to receive a conductor;

a second member adapted to be removably connected to the first member, wherein the second member is adapted to contact the conductor; and

an electronic circuit at the first member, wherein the electronic circuit is configured to receive reference information corresponding to the conductor, wherein the electronic circuit is configured to sense a voltage of the conductor in a range greater than about 5,000 volts, and wherein the apparatus is configured to removably receive the conductor.

2. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the first member comprises an outer sleeve adapted to be connected to the conductor.

3. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the second member comprises a wedge member.

4. An apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising an electronic sensing package connected to the first member, and wherein the electronic sensing package comprises an electronic component.

5. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the apparatus comprises an electrical dead-end connector.

6. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the apparatus comprises a splice electrical connector.

7. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the first member comprises an electrical wedge connector wedge member, and wherein the second member comprises an electrical wedge connector shell member.

8. An apparatus as in claim 7 wherein the electrical circuit comprises at least one electronic component at a middle section of the electrical wedge connector wedge member, and wherein the at least one electronic component is configured to monitor an electronic parameter of the conductor.

9. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the first member comprises a suspension clamp upper body section, and wherein the second member comprises a suspension clamp lower body section.

10. An apparatus as in claim 9 wherein the electrical circuit comprises at least one electronic component proximate a cavity of the suspension clamp upper body section, and wherein the at least one electronic component is configured to monitor an electronic parameter of the conductor.

11. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the apparatus comprises an electrical wedge connector, wherein the electrical wedge connector is configured to be connected to an electrical conductor carrying voltages ranging from about 5,000 to about 35,000 volts.

12. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the apparatus comprises a conductor suspension clamp, wherein the conductor suspension clamp is configured to be connected to a transmission conductor carrying voltages ranging from about 69,000 to about 765,000 volts.

13. An electrical dead-end connector comprising:

an outer sleeve adapted to be connected to a transmission conductor, wherein the outer sleeve comprises a sleeve section and a pad section;

a mechanical terminating section, wherein the sleeve section receives at least a portion of the mechanical terminating section, and wherein an end of the mechanical terminating section is adapted to be connected to a transmission tower; and

an electronic component connected to the outer sleeve, wherein the electronic component is configured to monitor a parameter of the transmission conductor.

14. An electrical dead-end connector as in claim 13 wherein the electronic component substantially surrounds at least a portion of the outer sleeve.

15. An electrical dead-end connector as in claim 13 further comprising a sensing package at the pad section of the electrical dead-end connector, wherein the sensing package is configured to monitor a parameter of the transmission conductor.

16. An electrical dead-end connector as in claim 13 wherein the electronic component further comprises a non-conductive fiber optic link configured to be connected to a utility Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) system.

17. A splice electrical connector comprising:

a sleeve section comprising a general tube shape, wherein the sleeve section is adapted to connect one transmission conductor to another transmission conductor; and

an electronic component connected to the sleeve section, wherein the electronic component is configured to monitor a parameter of at least one of the transmission conductors connected to the splice electrical connector.

18. A splice electrical connector as in claim 17 wherein the splice electrical connector further comprises a first wedge and a second wedge, wherein the electronic component is between the first wedge and the second wedge, and wherein the electronic component substantially surrounds at least a portion of the sleeve section.

19. A splice electrical connector as in claim 17 further comprising a shield adapted to substantially surround the electronic component.

20. A splice electrical connector as in claim 17 wherein the electronic component further comprises a non-conductive fiber optic link configured to be connected to a utility Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) system.