Power line indicator accessory for fusible circuit protection device array

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9170293-B2
Application number	US-201213491132-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 7, 2012
Priority date	Jun 7, 2012
Publication date	Oct 27, 2015
Grant date	Oct 27, 2015

Abstract

A power line indicator accessory configured to simultaneously determine an operating state of a plurality of conductors establishing a circuit connection to a plurality of circuit protection devices such as a fusible switch disconnect devices or modular fuse holders arranged side-by-side in an array. The accessory includes an onboard power supply and a thin, elongated body facilitating its use in tight spaces.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A power line status indicator accessory for a plurality of power line conductors connected to an array of circuit protection devices, the power line status indicator accessory comprising:
a portable elongated body;
a plurality of sensors attached to the portable elongated body, wherein each of the plurality of sensors respectively corresponds to one of the plurality of power line conductors and wherein each of the plurality of sensors is configured to detect an operating status of the respective one of the plurality of power line conductors when the portable elongated body is slipped over and spans the plurality of power line conductors;
a power supply attached to the portable elongated body;
an actuator associated with the power supply, the actuator configured to electrically connect the power supply to at least one of the plurality of sensors only when activated;
a plurality of indicators attached to the portable elongated body, wherein each of the plurality of indicators respectively corresponds to one of the plurality of sensors and is operable to indicate the operating status of the respective power line conductor;
wherein the portable elongated body comprises a first major surface and a second major surface opposing the first major surface; and
wherein all of the actuator, the power supply, the plurality of sensors, and the plurality of indicators are attached to the same one of the first and second major surfaces.

2. The power line status indicator accessory of claim 1 , wherein the portable elongated body defines a first elongated edge and plurality of power line connection recesses formed along the first elongated edge.

3. The power line status indicator accessory of claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of sensors is located proximate one of the plurality of power line connection recesses.

4. The power line status indicator accessory of claim 2 , wherein the portable elongated body further defines a second elongated edge opposing the first elongated edge, each of the plurality of indicators arranged along the second elongated edge.

5. The power line status indicator accessory of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sensors comprise Hall Effect sensors configured to detect current in the respective power line conductors.

6. The power line status indicator accessory of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of indicators comprise light emitting diodes.

7. The power line status indicator accessory of claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises a pushbutton.

8. The power line status indicator accessory of claim 1 , wherein the power supply comprises a battery.

9. The power line status indicator accessory of claim 8 , wherein the battery comprises a 9V battery.

10. The power line indicator accessory of claim 1 , wherein the power line status indicator accessory is configured to simultaneously indicate the operating state of the plurality of power line conductors.

11. The power line status indicator of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sensors comprises a plurality of non-contact sensors.

12. The power line status indicator of claim 11 , wherein the portable elongated body defines a first edge, and plurality of power line connection recesses are formed in a row along the first edge and in communication with the first edge, wherein the first edge may be slipped over the power line conductors while the power line conductors are connected to external circuitry, and wherein the first edge may be removed from the power line conductors without disturbing the power line conductors or the external circuitry.

13. A circuit protection device array comprising:
a plurality of fusible circuit protection devices each having a housing and a replaceable fuse inserted at least partly into each respective housing, each housing of the respective plurality of fusible circuit protection devices arranged side-by-side and each housing including at least one terminal for receiving a conductor associated with one of line side and load side circuitry; and
a portable indicator accessory comprising:
a plurality of sensors each respectively corresponding to a respective conductor connected to the at least one terminal in each fusible circuit protection device, and each of the plurality of sensors configured to detect an operating status of each respective conductor;
a power supply separate from the line side and load side circuitry;
an actuator associated with the power supply, the actuator configured to electrically connect the power supply to the plurality of sensors only when activated;
an elongated body, the elongated body separately supplied from the housings of the plurality of fusible circuit protection devices, the elongated body having a first elongated edge and a plurality of recesses formed along and in communication with the first edge, each of the recesses receiving a respective conductor of each circuit protection device when the portable indicator accessory is slipped over a plurality of the respective conductors of the plurality of circuit protection devices;
a plurality of indicators, wherein each of the plurality of indicators corresponds to a respective one of the plurality of sensors and is independently operable to indicate the operating status of the respective conductor when the actuator is operated to connect the power supply to the plurality of sensors;
wherein the elongated body comprises a first major surface and a second major surface opposing the first major surface; and
wherein all of the actuator, the power supply, the plurality of sensors, and the plurality of indicators are attached to the same one of the first and second major surfaces.

14. The circuit protection device array of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of fusible circuit protection devices comprises fusible switch disconnect devices.

15. The circuit protection device array of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of circuit protection devices comprises modular fuse holders.

16. The circuit protection device array of claim 13 , wherein the replaceable fuse comprises a rectangular fuse module having plug-in terminal blades.

17. The circuit protection device array of claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of sensors is located proximate one of the recesses.

18. The circuit protection device array of claim 13 , wherein the elongated body further includes a second elongated edge opposing the first elongated edge, each of the plurality of indicators arranged along the second elongated edge.

19. The circuit protection device array of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of sensors comprise Hall Effect sensors configured to detect current in the respective conductors.

20. The circuit protection device array of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of indicators comprise light emitting diodes.

21. The circuit protection device array of claim 13 , wherein the actuator comprises a pushbutton.

22. The circuit protection device array of claim 13 , wherein the power supply comprises a battery.

23. The circuit protection device array of claim 22 , wherein the battery comprises a 9V battery.

24. The circuit protection device array of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of sensors comprises a plurality of non-contact sensors.

25. The circuit protection device array of claim 24 , wherein the elongated body defines a first edge, and plurality of power line connection recesses are formed in a row along the first edge and in communication with the first edge, w

Assignees

• Funcheon Austin J
• Mckinney Patrick Thomas
• Dunlap Daniel
• Cooper Technologies Co

Inventors

• Funcheon Austin J
• Mckinney Patrick Thomas
• Dunlap Daniel

Classifications

• H01H23/025

  Light-emitting indicators · CPC title

• H01H85/0452

  with parallel side contacts · CPC title

• H01H23/10

  Adaptation for built-in fuse · CPC title

• H01H85/32

  Indicating lamp structurally associated with the protective device · CPC title

• H02H5/048

  additionally responsive to excess current due to heating of the switch · CPC title