Non-contact voltage measurement with adjustable size Rogowski coil

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11662368-B2
Application number	US-202117169123-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 5, 2021
Priority date	Feb 5, 2020
Publication date	May 30, 2023
Grant date	May 30, 2023

Abstract

A sensor probe includes a body having first and second channels that are spaced apart and extend through the body approximately parallel to each other. A first end of a Rogowski coil is fixed within the first channel. The Rogowski coil passes through the second channel and loops back to the first channel where a second end of the Rogowski coil is selectively insertable into the first channel opposite the first end of the Rogowski coil. A non-contact sensor coupled to the body is positioned between the first and second channels to measure a parameter of an insulated conductor situated within the loop formed by the Rogowski coil. The size of an interior region within the loop is selectively adjustable by sliding movement of the Rogowski coil within the second channel.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A sensor probe operative to sense an electrical parameter in an insulated conductor, the sensor probe comprising:
a body having a first channel and a second channel defined therein, wherein the first channel and the second channel each have respective first and second ends that are spaced apart from each other, the first and second channels extending through the body approximately parallel to each other;
a Rogowski coil having first and second ends, wherein the first end of the Rogowski coil is fixed within the first channel of the body, and wherein the Rogowski coil extends out of the first end of the first channel, passes through the first and second ends of the second channel, and loops back to the second end of the first channel where the second end of the Rogowski coil is selectively insertable into the first channel opposite the first end of the Rogowski coil; and
a non-contact sensor coupled to the body and positioned between the respective second ends of the first and second channels,
wherein the second channel of the body is sized and dimensioned to slidably contain a length of the Rogowski coil therein such that a first loop of the Rogowski coil is formed between the respective first ends of the first and second channels, and when the second end of the Rogowski coil is inserted into the second end of the first channel, a second loop of the Rogowski coil is formed between the respective second ends of the first and second channels,
wherein a size of an interior region within the first loop and the second loop is selectively adjustable by sliding movement of the Rogowski coil within the second channel; and
wherein when the insulated conductor is situated within the second loop formed by the Rogowski coil, the non-contact sensor is operative to sense at least one electrical parameter of the insulated conductor without requiring galvanic contact with the insulated conductor.

2. The sensor probe of claim 1 , wherein the second end of the first channel of the body includes a fastener operative to releasably secure the second end of the Rogowski coil within the first channel when the second end of the Rogowski coil is selectively inserted into the first channel.

3. The sensor probe of claim 1 , wherein when the second end of the Rogowski coil is selectively inserted into the second end of the first channel, sidewalls of the first channel abut the Rogowski coil and releasably secure the second end of the Rogowski coil within the first channel by an interference fit.

4. The sensor probe of claim 1 , wherein the Rogowski coil is not removable from the second channel during normal use of the sensor probe.

5. The sensor probe of claim 1 , further comprising a second non-contact sensor coupled to the Rogowski coil, wherein the second non-contact sensor is operative to sense an electrical parameter in the insulated conductor when the insulated conductor is within the second loop formed by the Rogowski coil.

6. The sensor probe of claim 1 , further comprising an interface connector operatively coupled to the non-contact sensor and the Rogowski coil, wherein the interface connector is detachably coupleable to a corresponding interface connector of a measuring device.

7. The sensor probe of claim 1 , wherein the non-contact sensor comprises at least one of a non-contact voltage sensor, a non-contact current sensor, a Hall Effect sensor, a fluxgate sensor, an anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR) sensor, or a giant magnetoresistance (GMR) sensor.

8. The sensor probe of claim 1 , further comprising a locking mechanism operative in an open position to allow the Rogowski coil to freely slide within the second channel, and in a closed position to releasably secure the Rogowski coil and prevent sliding movement of the Rogowski coil within the second channel.

9. The sensor probe of claim 1 , wherein the body includes an interior cavity that is sized to encompass the first loop of the Rogowski coil.

10. A device for measuring an electrical parameter in an insulated conductor, the device comprising:
a sensor probe that includes:
a body having a first channel and a second channel defined therein, wherein the first channel and the second channel each have respective first and second ends that are spaced apart from each other, the first and second channels extending through the body approximately parallel to each other;
a Rogowski coil having first and second ends, wherein the first end of the Rogowski coil is fixed within the first channel of the body, and wherein the Rogowski coil extends out of the first end of the first channel, passes through the first and second ends of the second channel, and loops back to the second end of the first channel where the second end of the Rogowski coil is selectively insertable into the first channel opposite the first end of the Rogowski coil; and
a non-contact sensor coupled to the body and positioned between the respective second ends of the first and second channels,
wherein the second channel of the body is sized and dimensioned to slidably contain a length of the Rogowski coil therein such that a first loop of the Rogowski coil is formed between the respective first ends of the first and second channels, and when the second end of the Rogowski coil is inserted into the second end of the first channel, a second loop of the Rogowski coil is formed between the respective second ends of the first and second channels,
wherein a size of an interior region within the first loop and the second loop is selectively adjustable by sliding movement of the Rogowski coil within the second channel; and
wherein when the insulated conductor is situated within the second loop formed by the Rogowski coil, the non-contact sensor is operative to sense at least one electrical parameter of the insulated conductor without requiring galvanic contact with the insulated conductor; and

control circuitry communicatively coupleable to the non-contact sensor and the Rogowski coil, wherein in operation the control circuitry is configured to:
receive sensor data indicative of signals detected by at least one of the non-contact sensor or the Rogowski coil; and
process the sensor data to determine at least one electrical parameter of the insulated conductor.

11. The device of claim 10 , further comprising a measuring instrument with a main body that contains the control circuitry.

12. The device of claim 11 , wherein the main body includes at least one interface connector, and the sensor probe is detachably connectable to the at least one interface connector of the main body.

13. The device of claim 11 , wherein the main body further includes the body of the sensor probe.

14. The device of claim 10 , wherein the control circuitry, in operation, is configured to process the sensor data to determine a voltage in the insulated conductor.

15. The device of claim 10 , wherein the control circuitry, in operation, is configured to process the sensor data to determine a current in the insulated conductor.

16. The device of claim 10 , further comprising a wireless communication subsystem operatively coupled to the control circuitry, wherein in operation the wireless communication subsystem is configured to wirelessly transmit the at least one electrical parameter to an external system.

17. The device of claim 10 , further comprising a display that, in operation, is configured to visually present the at least one electrical parameter to a user of the device.

18. The device of claim 10 , wherein the non-contact sensor comprises at least one of a

Assignees

• Fluke Corp

Inventors

• Woo Ginger M
• Chun Gloria M
• Rodriguez Ricardo
• Steuer Ronald

Classifications

• G01R15/142 Primary

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

• G01R19/155

  Indicating the presence of voltage · CPC title

• H04Q2209/40

  using a wireless architecture · CPC title

• G01R15/12 Primary

  Circuits for multi-testers {, i.e. multimeters}, e.g. for measuring voltage, current, or impedance at will · CPC title

• G01R15/181 Primary

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