Monitoring accessory for an electrical apparatus provided with a connection terminal

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11056868-B2
Application number	US-201815933058-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 22, 2018
Priority date	Mar 24, 2017
Publication date	Jul 6, 2021
Grant date	Jul 6, 2021

Abstract

A monitoring accessory for an electrical apparatus provided with a connection terminal capable of being connected to an electric cable, the monitoring accessory comprising a frame provided with a cooperation system configured to cooperate with the electrical apparatus in a mounted position, a current sensor arranged to measure a current intensity passing through the electric cable, when the electric cable is connected to the connection terminal, the current sensor comprising a measuring portion forming a loop capable of surrounding a section of the electric cable, the measuring portion being provided with a closing system capable of holding the loop in a closed position and forming a passage space for said section of the electric cable inside the loop in the open position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electrical assembly comprising an electrical apparatus provided with a connection terminal to an electric cable and a monitoring accessory, the monitoring accessory comprising:
a frame provided with a cooperation system configured to cooperate with the electrical apparatus in a mounted position, the cooperation system comprising at least one snap-fitting element configured to cooperate with a complementary element of the electrical apparatus in the mounted position,
a current sensor arranged to measure a current intensity passing through the electric cable, when the electric cable is connected to the connection terminal, the current sensor comprising a measuring portion forming a loop capable of surrounding a section of the electric cable, the measuring portion being provided with a closing system capable of holding the loop in a closed position and of forming a passage space for said section of the electric cable inside the loop in an open position.

2. The electrical assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the monitoring accessory further comprises a temperature sensor arranged to measure a temperature at a determined location relative to the connection terminal.

3. The electrical assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the monitoring accessory further comprises a monitoring unit provided with a processor, the monitoring unit being capable of obtaining measured values coming from the temperature sensor and/or the current sensor.

4. The electrical assembly according to claim 3 , wherein the frame has an inner housing in which the monitoring unit is disposed, the frame comprises a closing portion of said inner housing.

5. The electrical assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the measuring portion of the current sensor comprises a Rogowski winding.

6. The electrical assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the monitoring accessory further comprises a monitoring unit provided with a processor, the monitoring unit being capable of obtaining measured values coming from the temperature sensor and/or the current sensor.

7. The electrical assembly according to claim 6 , wherein the frame has an inner housing in which the monitoring unit is disposed, the frame comprises a closing portion of said inner housing.

8. The electrical assembly according to claim 7 , wherein the measuring portion of the current sensor comprises a Rogowski winding.

9. The electrical assembly according to claim 6 , wherein the measuring portion of the current sensor comprises a Rogowski winding.

10. The electrical assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the measuring portion of the current sensor comprises a Rogowski winding.

11. The electrical assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the monitoring accessory further comprises a linking element of the measuring portion of the current sensor with the frame, the linking element being configured to allow a displacement of the measuring portion relative to the frame.

12. The electrical assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the monitoring accessory further comprises a warning device arranged to be triggered when at least one value measured by the temperature sensor and/or the current sensor exceeds a corresponding limit value.

13. The electrical assembly according to claim 12 , wherein the warning device comprises a light element disposed on or formed in the frame.

14. The electrical assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the monitoring accessory further comprises a communication element configured to transmit pieces of information to a remote receiver device.

15. The electrical assembly according to claim 14 , wherein the communication element comprises a connection socket to a linking cable to the remote receiver device.

16. The electrical assembly according to claim 14 , wherein the communication element further comprises a transmitter configured to transmit pieces of information according to a wireless communication protocol.

17. The electrical assembly according to claim 16 , wherein the communication element further comprises a receiver configured to receive pieces of information according to the wireless communication protocol.

18. A supervision method of an electrical apparatus by an electrical assembly according to claim 1 , the electrical apparatus being provided with a connection terminal connected to an electric cable, the supervision method comprising the following steps:
(E mes I) measuring a current intensity passing through the electric cable and obtaining a measured value of the current intensity,
(E comp I) comparing the measured value of the current intensity with a current intensity limit value,
(E avert I) establishing a warning piece of information of exceedance of a limit value of the current intensity when the measured value of the current intensity is greater than the current intensity limit value.

19. The supervision method of an electrical apparatus according to claim 18 , further comprising the following steps:
(E mes T) measuring a temperature at a determined location relative to the connection terminal and obtaining a measured value of the temperature,
(E comp T) comparing the measured value of the temperature with a temperature limit value,
(E avert T) establishing a warning piece of information of exceedance of a limit value of the temperature when the measured value of the current intensity is greater than the current intensity limit value.

Assignees

• TE Connectivity Services Gmbh

Inventors

• Escoffier Anna-Line
• Virlouvet Annie
• Pionchon Laurence

Classifications

• G01R15/181 Primary

  using coils without a magnetic core, e.g. Rogowski coils · CPC title

• G01K7/00

  Measuring temperature based on the use of electric or magnetic elements directly sensitive to heat (giving results other than momentary value of temperature G01K3/00) {; Power supply therefor, e.g. using thermoelectric elements} · CPC title

• G01R19/0092 Primary

  Measuring current only · CPC title

• H01R13/533

  Bases, cases made for use in extreme conditions, e.g. high temperature, radiation, vibration, corrosive environment, pressure (H01R13/52 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H02G3/16 Primary

  structurally associated with support for line-connecting terminals within the box · CPC title