Power line indicator accessory for fusible circuit protection device array

• US 9,170,293 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2012
• Issued: 10/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Funcheon, Austin J., McKinney, Patrick Thomas, Dunlap, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Vortman, Anatoly
• Application Number:
  US13/491,132
• Publication Number:
  US 20130329332A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,237 Days
• Field of Search: 337/79, 337/376, 361/104, 324/539
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/58 Testing of lines, cables or conductors testing of electric windings G01R31/72
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 23/025 Light-emitting indicators
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 23/10 Adaptation for built-in fuse
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/0452 with parallel side contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/32 Indicating lamp structurally associated with the protective device
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 5/048 additionally responsive to excess current due to heating of the switch

Abstract

A power line indicator accessory configured to simultaneously determine an operating state of a plurality of conductors establishing a circuit connection to a plurality of circuit protection devices such as a fusible switch disconnect devices or modular fuse holders arranged side-by-side in an array. The accessory includes an onboard power supply and a thin, elongated body facilitating its use in tight spaces.

Claims

1. A power line status indicator accessory for a plurality of power line conductors connected to an array of circuit protection devices, the power line status indicator accessory comprising:

a portable elongated body;

a plurality of sensors attached to the portable elongated body, wherein each of the plurality of sensors respectively corresponds to one of the plurality of power line conductors and wherein each of the plurality of sensors is configured to detect an operating status of the respective one of the plurality of power line conductors when the portable elongated body is slipped over and spans the plurality of power line conductors;

a power supply attached to the portable elongated body;

an actuator associated with the power supply, the actuator configured to electrically connect the power supply to at least one of the plurality of sensors only when activated;

a plurality of indicators attached to the portable elongated body, wherein each of the plurality of indicators respectively corresponds to one of the plurality of sensors and is operable to indicate the operating status of the respective power line conductor;

wherein the portable elongated body comprises a first major surface and a second major surface opposing the first major surface; and

wherein all of the actuator, the power supply, the plurality of sensors, and the plurality of indicators are attached to the same one of the first and second major surfaces.

2. The power line status indicator accessory of claim 1, wherein the portable elongated body defines a first elongated edge and plurality of power line connection recesses formed along the first elongated edge.

3. The power line status indicator accessory of claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of sensors is located proximate one of the plurality of power line connection recesses.

4. The power line status indicator accessory of claim 2, wherein the portable elongated body further defines a second elongated edge opposing the first elongated edge, each of the plurality of indicators arranged along the second elongated edge.

5. The power line status indicator accessory of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensors comprise Hall Effect sensors configured to detect current in the respective power line conductors.

6. The power line status indicator accessory of claim 1, wherein the plurality of indicators comprise light emitting diodes.

7. The power line status indicator accessory of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a pushbutton.

8. The power line status indicator accessory of claim 1, wherein the power supply comprises a battery.

9. The power line status indicator accessory of claim 8, wherein the battery comprises a 9V battery.

10. The power line indicator accessory of claim 1, wherein the power line status indicator accessory is configured to simultaneously indicate the operating state of the plurality of power line conductors.

11. The power line status indicator of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensors comprises a plurality of non-contact sensors.

12. The power line status indicator of claim 11, wherein the portable elongated body defines a first edge, and plurality of power line connection recesses are formed in a row along the first edge and in communication with the first edge, wherein the first edge may be slipped over the power line conductors while the power line conductors are connected to external circuitry, and wherein the first edge may be removed from the power line conductors without disturbing the power line conductors or the external circuitry.

13. A circuit protection device array comprising:

a plurality of fusible circuit protection devices each having a housing and a replaceable fuse inserted at least partly into each respective housing, each housing of the respective plurality of fusible circuit protection devices arranged side-by-side and each housing including at least one terminal for receiving a conductor associated with one of line side and load side circuitry; and

a portable indicator accessory comprising;

a plurality of sensors each respectively corresponding to a respective conductor connected to the at least one terminal in each fusible circuit protection device, and each of the plurality of sensors configured to detect an operating status of each respective conductor;

a power supply separate from the line side and load side circuitry;

an actuator associated with the power supply, the actuator configured to electrically connect the power supply to the plurality of sensors only when activated;

an elongated body, the elongated body separately supplied from the housings of the plurality of fusible circuit protection devices, the elongated body having a first elongated edge and a plurality of recesses formed along and in communication with the first edge, each of the recesses receiving a respective conductor of each circuit protection device when the portable indicator accessory is slipped over a plurality of the respective conductors of the plurality of circuit protection devices;

a plurality of indicators, wherein each of the plurality of indicators corresponds to a respective one of the plurality of sensors and is independently operable to indicate the operating status of the respective conductor when the actuator is operated to connect the power supply to the plurality of sensors;

wherein the elongated body comprises a first major surface and a second major surface opposing the first major surface; and

wherein all of the actuator, the power supply, the plurality of sensors, and the plurality of indicators are attached to the same one of the first and second major surfaces.

14. The circuit protection device array of claim 13, wherein the plurality of fusible circuit protection devices comprises fusible switch disconnect devices.

15. The circuit protection device array of claim 13, wherein the plurality of circuit protection devices comprises modular fuse holders.

16. The circuit protection device array of claim 13, wherein the replaceable fuse comprises a rectangular fuse module having plug-in terminal blades.

17. The circuit protection device array of claim 13, wherein each of the plurality of sensors is located proximate one of the recesses.

18. The circuit protection device array of claim 13, wherein the elongated body further includes a second elongated edge opposing the first elongated edge, each of the plurality of indicators arranged along the second elongated edge.

19. The circuit protection device array of claim 13, wherein the plurality of sensors comprise Hall Effect sensors configured to detect current in the respective conductors.

20. The circuit protection device array of claim 13, wherein the plurality of indicators comprise light emitting diodes.

21. The circuit protection device array of claim 13, wherein the actuator comprises a pushbutton.

22. The circuit protection device array of claim 13, wherein the power supply comprises a battery.

23. The circuit protection device array of claim 22, wherein the battery comprises a 9V battery.

24. The circuit protection device array of claim 13, wherein the plurality of sensors comprises a plurality of non-contact sensors.

25. The circuit protection device array of claim 24, wherein the elongated body defines a first edge, and plurality of power line connection recesses are formed in a row along the first edge and in communication with the first edge, wherein the first edge may be slipped over the conductors while the conductors are connected to external circuitry, and wherein the first edge may be removed from the conductors without disturbing the conductors or the external circuitry.

26. A circuit protection device assembly comprising:

a plurality of circuit protection devices each having a housing, a circuit path defined in the housing, and a fuse completing the circuit path between line side and load side circuitry;

the housings of the plurality of circuit protection devices arranged side-by-side in a row and including a power line connection; and

a portable indicator accessory;

comprising;

a plurality of sensors each respectively corresponding to one of the power line connections and each of the plurality of sensors configured to detect an operating status of one of the respective power line connections;

a power supply separate from the line side and load side circuitry;

an actuator associated with the power supply, the actuator configured to electrically connect the power supply to the plurality of sensors when activated; and

a plurality of indicators, wherein each of the plurality of indicators corresponds to a respective one of the plurality of sensors and is operable to indicate the operating status of the respective power line connection,

wherein the power supply, the plurality of sensors and the plurality of indicators are configured to determine an operating state of the power line connection to each of the plurality of circuit protection devices when the portable indicator accessory spans the plurality of power line connections of the circuit protection devices;

wherein the plurality of sensors comprises a plurality of non-contact sensors; and

wherein the portable elongated body defines a first edge, and a plurality of power line connection recesses are formed in a row along the first edge and in communication with the first edge, wherein the first edge may receive the input power line connections while the power line connections are connected to the line and load side circuitry, and wherein the first edge may be removed from the power line connections without disturbing the power line connection and the line and load side circuitry.

27. The circuit protection device assembly of claim 26, wherein the circuit protection devices comprise fusible circuit protection devices.

28. A status indicator accessory for an array of circuit protection devices connectable to a plurality of conductors, the status indicator accessory comprising:

an elongated body;

a plurality of sensors attached to the elongated body, wherein each of the plurality of sensors corresponds to one of the plurality of conductors and each of the plurality of sensors is configured to detect an operating status of the respective conductor when the elongated body spans the plurality of conductors;

a power supply attached to the elongated body;

an actuator associated with the power supply, the actuator configured to electrically connect the power supply to the plurality of sensors when activated; and

a plurality of indicators attached to the elongated body, wherein each of the plurality of indicators corresponds to a respective one of the plurality of sensors and is independently operable to indicate the operating status of one of the conductors;

wherein the elongated body comprises a first major surface and a second major surface opposing the first major surface; and

wherein all of the actuator, the power supply, the plurality of sensors, and the plurality of indicators are attached to the same one of the first and second major surfaces.

29. The status indicator accessory of claim 28, wherein the accessory is movable relative to the conductors without disturbing the conductors.

30. The status indicator accessory of claim 28, wherein the plurality of sensors are non-contact sensors.

31. A circuit protection device array comprising:

a plurality of circuit protection devices each having a housing, the housings of the respective devices arranged side-by-side and each housing including at least one terminal for receiving a conductor associated with one of line side and load side circuitry;

a plurality of sensors each respectively corresponding to one of the plurality of conductors and each of the sensors configured to detect an operating status of one of the respective conductors;

a power supply separate from the line side and load side circuitry;

an actuator associated with the power supply, the actuator configured to electrically connect the power supply to the plurality of sensors when activated;

a plurality of indicators, wherein each of the plurality of indicators corresponds to a respective one of the plurality of sensors and is independently operable to indicate the operating status of the respective conductor;

wherein the plurality of circuit protection devices comprises a plurality of replaceable fuses inserted at least partly into the respective housings; and

an elongated body, the elongated body separately supplied from the housings and having a plurality of recesses arranged to receive one of the respective conductors for each circuit protection device;

wherein the elongated body comprises a first major surface and a second major surface opposing the first major surface; and

wherein all of the actuator, the power supply, the plurality of sensors, and the plurality of indicators are attached to the same one of the first and second major surfaces.

32. The circuit protection device array of claim 31, wherein the plurality of sensors comprises a plurality of non-contact sensors.

33. The circuit protection device array of claim 32, wherein the portable elongated body defines a first edge, and plurality of power line connection recesses are formed in a row along the first edge and in communication with the first edge, wherein the first edge may receive the conductors while the conductors are connected to external circuitry, and wherein the first edge may be removed from the conductors without disturbing the power line conductors or the external circuitry.

34. A power line status indicator for a circuit protection device assembly including a plurality of circuit protection devices each respectively having a housing, wherein the housings of the plurality of circuit protection devices are arranged side-by-side in a row and wherein each of the plurality of circuit protection devices includes an electrical connection to one of line and load side circuitry;

a portable accessory, separately provided from the circuit protection device assembly, configured to simultaneously determine an operating state of the electrical connections to the plurality of circuit protection devices, wherein the portable accessory comprises;

a portable body;

a plurality of sensors coupled to the portable body, each of the plurality of sensors respectively corresponding to the electrical connections corresponding to each of the plurality of circuit protection devices and each of the plurality of sensors configured to detect an operating status of each respective one of the electrical connections;

a power supply coupled to the portable body;

an actuator associated with the power supply and coupled to the portable body, the actuator configured to electrically connect the power supply to the plurality of sensors when activated; and

a plurality of indicators coupled to the portable body, wherein each of the plurality of indicators corresponds to a respective one of the plurality of sensors and is operable to indicate the operating status of the respective electrical connections;

wherein the portable body defines a first edge, and plurality of electrical connection recesses are formed in a row along the first edge and in communication with the first edge, wherein the first edge may be slipped over the electrical connections to each of the plurality of circuit protection devices while the electrical connections are connected to external circuitry, and wherein the first edge may be removed from the electrical connections to each of the plurality of circuit protection devices without disturbing the electrical connections.

35. The power line status indicator of claim 34, in combination with the circuit protection device assembly.

36. The power line status indicator of claim 35, wherein the circuit protection device assembly includes at least one fusible switch disconnect device.

37. The power line status indicator of claim 35, wherein the circuit protection device assembly includes at least one fuse holder.

38. The power line status indicator of claim 34, wherein the plurality of sensors comprises a plurality of non-contact sensors.

39. The power line status indicator of claim 34, wherein the portable body includes a first major surface and a second major surface opposing the first major surface.

40. The power line status indicator of claim 39, wherein all of the actuator, the power supply, the plurality of sensors, and the plurality of indicators are attached to the same one of the first and second major surfaces.