Elimination of floating potential when mounting wireless sensors to insulated conductors

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10794736-B2
Application number	US-201816227478-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 20, 2018
Priority date	Mar 15, 2018
Publication date	Oct 6, 2020
Grant date	Oct 6, 2020

Abstract

A sensor package includes at least one conductive trace providing a voltage common and a base supporting the at least one conductive trace. A conductive extension extends from the base so as to contact a conductor of an insulated conductor when the sensor package is mounted on an insulator of the insulated conductor and thereby provide an electrical connection between the conductive trace providing the voltage common and the conductor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sensor package comprising:
at least one conductive trace providing a voltage common;
wireless sensor circuitry coupled to the at least one conductive trace configured to sense a parameter of a high voltage electrical power asset;
an antenna coupled to the wireless sensor;
a base supporting the at least one conductive trace configured to mount to an insulator which surrounds a conductor of an insulated conductor of the high voltage electrical power asset which carries an alternating voltage, wherein the alternating voltage induces a voltage differential between the wireless sensor circuitry and the conductor; and
a conductive extension, extending from the base so as to contact the conductor of the insulated conductor when the sensor package is mounted on the insulator of the insulated conductor and thereby provide an electrical connection between the conductive trace providing the voltage common and the conductor to thereby eliminate the voltage differential between the wireless sensor circuitry and the conductor.

2. The sensor package of claim 1 wherein the extension comprises a spike extending from the sensor package and capable of piercing the insulator as the sensor package is mounted on the insulator.

3. The sensor package of claim 1 wherein the base comprises a threaded opening and the extension comprises a threaded screw capable of piercing the insulator as the threaded screw is screwed into the threaded opening.

4. The sensor package of claim 1 wherein the extension comprises a pin extending from the sensor package such that the pin passes through an opening in the insulator when the sensor package is mounted on the insulator.

5. The sensor package of claim 4 wherein the pin comprises a spring-loaded pin having an end that retracts as the sensor package is mounted through an opening in the insulator onto the conductor.

6. The sensor package of claim 4 wherein the base further comprises a top surface and wherein a top of the pin is exposed at the top surface of the base.

7. The sensor package of claim 4 wherein the pin contacts the conductive trace providing the voltage common.

8. The sensor package of claim 1 wherein the extension comprises an arm that contacts a portion of the conductor that extends outside of the insulator when the sensor package is mounted to the insulator.

9. The sensor package of claim 1 wherein the extension comprises a clip having an end that is inserted between the insulator and the conductor at an end of the insulator when the sensor package is mounted to the insulator.

10. The sensor package of claim 1 wherein the insulated conductor comprises a portion of a circuit breaker.

11. The sensor package of claim 1 wherein the extension has a top surface in contact with a surface of the base and a bottom surface in contact with the conductor when the extension is placed in a hole in the insulator and the base is mounted to the insulator.

12. The sensor package of claim 1 further comprising a surface acoustic wave sensor.

13. The sensor package of claim 1 further comprising an RFID sensor.

14. A sensor module comprising:
a conductive trace layer comprising an electrical common conductive trace;
an electrical component connected to the electrical common conductive trace;
a base supporting the conductive trace layer and the electrical component, configured to mount to an insulator which surrounds a conductor of an insulated conductor of a high voltage electrical power asset which carries an alternating voltage, wherein the alternating voltage induces a voltage differential between the electrical component and the conductor; and
a conductive extension configured to extend through an opening in the insulator of the insulated conductor to make a connection between the conductor of the insulated conductor and the electrical common conductive trace to thereby eliminate the voltage differential between the electrical component and the conductor.

15. The sensor module of claim 14 wherein the insulated conductor comprises a portion of a breaker for medium voltage power.

16. The sensor module of claim 14 wherein the conductive extension comprises a spike capable of piercing the insulator as the sensor module is mounted on the insulator to form the opening in the insulator and to make the connection with the conductor.

17. The sensor module of claim 14 wherein the sensor module further comprises a base comprising a threaded opening and the extension comprises a threaded screw capable of piercing the insulator as the threaded screw is screwed into the threaded opening to thereby form the opening in the insulator and make the connection with the conductor.

18. The sensor module of claim 14 wherein the sensor module further comprises a base and the extension comprises a pin extending from a surface of the base such that the pin passes through the opening in the insulator when the base is mounted on the insulator.

19. The sensor module of claim 18 wherein the pin comprises a spring-loaded pin having an end that retracts as the base is mounted through a hole in the insulator and makes the connection with the conductor.

20. The sensor module of claim 18 wherein the base further comprises a top surface and wherein a top of the pin is exposed at the top surface of the base.

21. The sensor module of claim 18 wherein the pin contacts the electrical common conductive trace.

22. The sensor module of claim 14 wherein the opening in the insulator comprises an end of the insulator and the conductive extension comprises an arm configured to extend along an exterior of the insulator and contact a portion of the conductor that extends outside of the end of the insulator.

23. The sensor module of claim 14 wherein the opening of the insulator comprises an end of the insulator and the conductive extension comprises a clip having an end that is inserted between the insulator and the conductor at the end of the insulator.

24. The sensor module of claim 14 further comprising a base wherein the conductive extension has a top surface in contact with a surface of the base and a bottom surface in contact with the conductor when the conductive extension is placed in the opening in the insulator and the base is mounted to the insulator.

25. The sensor package of claim 14 wherein the at least one electrical component comprises a surface acoustic wave sensor.

26. The sensor package of claim 14 wherein the conductive extension comprises a wire.

27. A method comprising:
securing a sensor module to an insulated conductor of a high voltage electrical asset such that a portion of the sensor module makes contact with a conductor of the insulated conductor;
wirelessly transmitting a measured parameter of the high voltage electrical asset using a sensor;
inductively coupling to an alternating voltage carried in the conductor and inducing a voltage differential between the sensor and the conductor; and
eliminating the voltage differential between the sensor and the conductor through the contact between the sensor module and the conductor.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein securing the sensor module comprises:
creating a hole in an insulator of the insulated conductor;
placing a pin of the sensor module in the hole; and
fastening the sensor module to the insulator.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein a

Assignees

• Rosemount Inc

Inventors

• Andle Jeffrey C
• Cunneen Thomas M
• Murray Jonathan P
• Lane David
• Chap Maly
• Barbas Nicholas S
• Song Zhi Hans

Classifications

• G01R1/0466 Primary

  concerning contact pieces or mechanical details, e.g. hinges or cams; Shielding · CPC title

• G01R31/1209

  using acoustic measurements (acoustic measurements G01H3/00) · CPC title

• G01R15/142

  Arrangements for simultaneous measurements of several parameters employing techniques covered by groups G01R15/14 - G01R15/26 · CPC title

• G01R31/085

  in power transmission or distribution lines, e.g. overhead · CPC title

• G01R31/1272

  of cable, line or wire insulation, e.g. using partial discharge measurements (locating faults in cables G01R31/083) · CPC title