Device comprising elements for measuring current and process for manufacturing such a device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016178661-A1
Application number	US-201514972282-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 17, 2015
Priority date	Dec 23, 2014
Publication date	Jun 23, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A device comprises elements for measuring current, the elements being housed in a casing. The casing includes a first portion and a second portion made of plastic, welded to each other, which together define a housing for receiving the measuring elements. The first portion is opaque in order to absorb a laser beam for welding the portions, and the second portion is transparent in order to let the laser beam pass. The process for manufacturing the device includes a fitting step in which the measuring elements are fitted into the casing and an assembly step in which the portions of the casing are joined together using a laser welding process.

First claim

1 . A device comprising current measuring elements housed in a casing, the casing comprising a first portion and a second portion made of plastic, welded to each other, which together delimit a housing for receiving the measuring elements, wherein the first portion is opaque so as to absorb a laser beam for welding the portions and in that the second portion is transparent so as to allow the laser beam to pass through.

2 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the first portion absorbs at least 60%, preferably at least 90%, of the power of a laser beam having a wavelength lying between 625 and 1100 nm, the material of the first portion being in particular of black colour.

3 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the second portion allows through at least 30% of the power of a laser beam having a wavelength lying between 625 and 1100 nm.

4 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the first portion delimits the housing and in that the second portion is plane.

5 . The device according to claim 4 , wherein the thickness of the second portion lies between 0.5 and 3 mm, preferably lying between 0.8 and 1.6 mm.

6 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the portions of the casing are manufactured from a polymeric composition with an organophosphorus flame retardant.

7 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the edges of at least one of the portions of the casing are provided with tabs, preferably sectile.

8 . A process for manufacturing a device comprising current measuring elements housed in a casing comprising a first portion and a second portion which together delimit a housing for receiving the measuring elements, the process comprising a fitting step in which the measuring elements are fitted into the casing, it wherein an assembly step in which the portions of the casing are assembled together by a laser welding process.

9 . The process according to claim 8 , wherein an intermediate step between the fitting step and the assembly step, in which the housing is depressurized, for example a depressurization greater than 60 kPa, preferably greater than 80 kPa.

10 . Process The process according to claim 9 , characterized in that wherein the edges of at least one of the portions of the casing are provided with pressing tabs and in that, during the intermediate step, a pressing on the tabs reinforces the mechanical contact between the portions of the casing.

Assignees

• Schneider Electric Ind Sas

Inventors

• Olivier Audrey
• Loglisci David
• Rapeaux Michel

Classifications

• B23K26/21

  by welding · CPC title

• G01R1/04 Primary

  Housings; Supporting members; Arrangements of terminals · CPC title

• G01R15/181 Primary

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

• B29C66/53461

  joining substantially flat covers and/or substantially flat bottoms to open ends of container bodies · CPC title

• B29C65/1612

  Infrared [IR] radiation, e.g. by infrared lasers · CPC title