Spiral core current transformer for energy harvesting applications

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11657959-B2
Application number	US-201916556319-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 30, 2019
Priority date	Aug 31, 2018
Publication date	May 23, 2023
Grant date	May 23, 2023

Abstract

A current transformer assembly for harvesting power from a primary conductor, such as a power line, for operating electronics, where the assembly is secured to the conductor while the conductor is connected. The assembly includes a current transformer having a transformer structure with a central opening that accepts the primary conductor and a spindle member for accepting a current transformer magnetic tape operating as the core of the current transformer. The assembly also includes a tape carrier secured to the structure on which the transformer tape is wound, and a winding device operable to unwind the transformer tape from the tape carrier and wind the tape onto the spindle member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A current transformer assembly for harvesting power from a primary conductor, the current transformer assembly comprising:
a current transformer including a transformer structure having a central opening that accepts the primary conductor and a spindle member for accepting a current transformer magnetic tape or lamination operating as a core of the current transformer;
a tape carrier secured to the transformer structure on which the current transformer magnetic tape is wound; and
a winding device operable to unwind the current transformer magnetic tape from the tape carrier and wind the current transformer magnetic tape onto the spindle member, wherein the winding device is a crank removably coupled to the tape carrier, the crank being operable to rotate the tape carrier to unwind the current transformer magnetic tape therefrom.

2. The current transformer assembly according to claim 1 wherein the transformer structure is a split housing having a first housing half and a second housing half coupled by a hinge so as to allow the primary conductor to be inserted between the housing halves and into the central opening.

3. The current transformer assembly according to claim 2 wherein the tape carrier is positioned within a cartridge having a cartridge housing that is coupled to the split housing, the current transformer magnetic tape being fed through a slot in the cartridge housing and a slot in the split housing.

4. The current transformer assembly according to claim 3 wherein the cartridge housing and the split housing are cylindrical.

5. The current transformer assembly according to claim 3 wherein the cartridge housing and the split housing are magnetically and removable coupled together.

6. The current transformer assembly according to claim 1 wherein the winding device includes a plunger attached to the tape carrier, the plunger including a rod and a compression spring positioned on the rod, the rod engaging the tape carrier and the compression spring being operable to spring load the tape carrier for rotation when the spring is released.

7. The current transformer assembly according to claim 1 wherein the transformer structure is an outer housing having a slot and that encloses the winding device and the tape carrier, the spindle member being a rotatable tube having a slot that defines the central opening, where the primary conductor slides through the slot in the outer housing and the tube and where one end of the magnetic tape is secured to the tube, wherein the winding device is operable to rotate the tube to unwind the current transformer magnetic tape from the tape carrier and wind the current transformer magnetic tape onto the tube.

8. The current transformer assembly according to claim 1 wherein the primary conductor is a power line.

9. A current transformer assembly for harvesting power from a power line and powering electronics in the current transformer assembly, the assembly comprising:
a current transformer including a cylindrical split housing, a housing slot and a central opening, the cylindrical split housing including a first housing half and a second housing half coupled by a hinge so as to allow the power line to be inserted between the first and second housing halves and into the central opening, the current transformer further including a spindle member for accepting a current transformer magnetic tape operating as a core of the current transformer; and
a cylindrical cartridge including a cartridge housing that is coupled to the split housing and includes a cartridge slot and a tape carrier on which the current transformer magnetic tape is wound, where the current transformer magnetic tape is fed through the cartridge slot and the housing slot and onto the spindle member; and
a winding device coupled to the cartridge and being operable to unwind the current transformer magnetic tape from the cartridge and wind the current transformer magnetic tape onto the spindle member, wherein the winding device is a crank removably coupled to the cartridge, the crank being operable to unwind the current transformer magnetic tape from the tape carrier.

10. The current transformer assembly according to claim 9 wherein the winding device includes a plunger attached to the tape carrier, the plunger including a rod and a compression spring positioned on the rod, the rod engaging the tape carrier and the compression spring being operable to spring load the tape carrier for rotation when the spring is released.

Assignees

• S & C Electric Co

Inventors

• Montenegro Alejandro
• Guio Raphael
• Schauble Claire

Classifications

• H01F27/04

  Leading of conductors or axles through casings, e.g. for tap-changing arrangements · CPC title

• Y10T29/4902

  Electromagnet, transformer or inductor · CPC title

• H01F41/125

  Other insulating structures; Insulating between coil and core, between different winding sections, around the coil · CPC title

• H01F41/022 Primary

  by winding the strips or ribbons around a coil · CPC title

• H01F27/06

  Mounting, supporting or suspending transformers, reactors or choke coils {not being of the signal type} · CPC title