Metering apparatus, system and distribution system including same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10529520-B2
Application number	US-201815988099-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 24, 2018
Priority date	Oct 29, 2015
Publication date	Jan 7, 2020
Grant date	Jan 7, 2020

Abstract

A metering apparatus includes a support; a connection apparatus disposed on the support and structured to be electrically connected with a circuit interrupter; a detection apparatus disposed on the support and structured to detect a first operational aspect of the circuit interrupter; a communication apparatus in communication with the detection apparatus, the communication apparatus being disposed on the support; a first bidirectional communications port disposed on a first side of the support and in communication with the communication apparatus; and a second bidirectional communications port disposed on a second side, opposite the first side, of the support and in communication with the communication apparatus. The communication apparatus is structured to communicate to another device via at least one of the first communications port or the second communications port at least a first parameter of the circuit interrupter based at least in part upon the first operational aspect.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A metering system comprising:
a computing device; and
a plurality of metering apparatuses, each metering apparatus comprising:
a support;
a connection apparatus disposed on the support and structured to be electrically connected with a circuit interrupter;
a detection apparatus disposed on the support and structured to detect at least a first operational aspect of the circuit interrupter;
a first bidirectional communications port disposed on a first side of the support;
a second bidirectional communications port disposed on a second side, opposite the first side, of the support; and
a communication apparatus disposed on the support and in communications with the detection apparatus, the first bidirectional communications port and the second bidirectional communications port, the communication apparatus being structured to communicate to another device via at least one of the first communications port or the second communications port at least a first parameter of the circuit interrupter based at least in part upon the at least first operational aspect,

wherein one of the first bidirectional communications port or the second bidirectional communications port of a first metering apparatus of the plurality of metering apparatuses is in direct communication with the computing device, and
wherein the other of the first bidirectional communications port or the second bidirectional communications port of the first metering apparatus of the plurality of metering apparatuses is in direct communication with one of the first bidirectional communications port or the second bidirectional communications port of a second metering apparatus of the plurality of metering apparatuses.

2. The metering system of claim 1 , wherein the first metering apparatus comprises an auxiliary power input through which the first metering apparatus is powered and wherein the second metering apparatus is powered via power received via the one of the first bidirectional communications port or the second bidirectional communications port of the second metering apparatus.

3. The metering system of claim 1 , wherein the first metering apparatus is powered via the one of the first bidirectional communications port or the second bidirectional communications port which is in direct communication with the computing device and wherein the second metering apparatus is powered via power received via the one of the first bidirectional communications port or the second bidirectional communications port thereof.

4. The metering system of claim 1 , wherein the first bidirectional communications port and the second bidirectional communications port of each metering apparatus of the plurality of metering apparatuses are disposed generally opposite from each other.

5. The metering system of claim 1 , wherein, for each metering apparatus, the first communications port is disposed in a first alcove formed on the first side of the support and the second communications port is disposed in a second alcove formed on the second side of the support,
wherein the first alcove opens to the first side of the support and to a top face of the support, and
wherein the second alcove opens to the second side of the support and to the top face of the support.

6. The metering system of claim 5 , wherein the first metering apparatus and the second metering apparatus are disposed such that the second side of the first metering apparatus is adjacent the first side of the second metering apparatus such that second alcove of the first metering apparatus and the first alcove of the second metering apparatus together generally form a wireway;
wherein the first bidirectional communications port of the first metering apparatus is in direct communication with the computing device;
wherein the second bidirectional communications port of the first metering apparatus is in direct communication with the first bidirectional communications port of the second metering apparatus; and
wherein the direct communication between the second bidirectional communications port of the first metering apparatus and the first bidirectional communications port of the second metering apparatus is provided by a jumper cable disposed completely within the wireway.

7. An electrical distribution system comprising:
an enclosure;
a computing device disposed outside of the enclosure;
a plurality of circuit interrupters disposed in the enclosure; and
at least two metering apparatuses disposed in the enclosure adjacent two adjacent circuit interrupters of the plurality of circuit interrupters, each metering apparatus comprising:
a support;
a connection apparatus disposed on the support and electrically connected with a circuit interrupter;
a detection apparatus disposed on the support and structured to detect at least a first operational aspect of the circuit interrupter;
a first bidirectional communications port disposed on a first side of the support;
a second bidirectional communications port disposed on a second side, opposite the first side, of the support; and
a communication apparatus disposed on the support and in communications with the detection apparatus, the first bidirectional communications port and the second bidirectional communications port, the communication apparatus being structured to communicate to another device via at least one of the first communications port or the second communications port at least a first parameter of the circuit interrupter based at least in part upon the at least first operational aspect,

wherein one of the first bidirectional communications port or the second bidirectional communications port of one metering apparatus of the at least two metering apparatuses is in direct communication with the computing device, and
wherein the other of the first bidirectional communications port or the second bidirectional communications port of the one metering apparatus is in direct communication with one of the first bidirectional communications port or the second bidirectional communications port of another one of the at least two metering apparatuses.

Assignees

• Eaton Intelligent Power Ltd

Inventors

• Sisley James Patrick
• Walsh Patrick Thomas
• Merck Paul Alan

Classifications

• G01R21/007

  Adapted for special tariff measuring (G01R21/01, G01R21/02, G01R21/08, G01R21/10, G01R21/1278 and G01R21/1333 take precedence) · CPC title

• H01H9/167

  Circuits for remote indication · CPC title

• H01H2071/086

  Low power connections for auxiliary switches, e.g. shunt trip · CPC title

• H01H71/04 Primary

  Means for indicating condition of the switching device {(by means of an auxiliary contact H01H71/46)} · CPC title

• H01H71/08

  Terminals; Connections · CPC title