Intelligent electronic device with expandable functionality

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9897461-B2
Application number	US-201615056537-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 29, 2016
Priority date	Feb 27, 2015
Publication date	Feb 20, 2018
Grant date	Feb 20, 2018

Abstract

An intelligent electronic device (IED) is provided. The IED includes a metering sub-assembly and an input base module sub-assembly. The metering sub-assembly is hinged to the input base module sub-assembly, where when in an open position, various cables, connectors, and input/output cards/modules are accessible. Various input/output cards/modules are interchangeable to add/change functionality and/or communication capabilities to the IED.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An intelligent electrical device (IED) comprising:
an input base module sub-assembly including a base having a plurality of apertures, a first current input blade disposed through a first aperture of the base and a second current input blade disposed through a second aperture of the base;
a metering sub-assembly including a first current plate disposed on a first surface of the metering sub-assembly and a second current plate disposed on a second surface of the metering sub-assembly opposite to the first surface, the first current plate hingedly coupled to the first current input blade and the second current plate hingedly coupled to the second current input blade such that the input base module sub-assembly is configured to be pivoted about the first current plate and first current input blade and the second current plate and second current input blade to achieve an open position and a closed position relative to the metering sub-assembly,
wherein the first current plate is coupled to the second current plate such that the first current input blade, the first current plate, the second current input blade, and the second current plate form a first current input path; and
at least one current sensor that senses current flowing through the first current input path.

2. The IED of claim 1 , wherein the input base module sub-assembly includes a third, fourth, fifth, and sixth current input blade, each disposed through a respective aperture in the base, and the metering sub-assembly includes a third, fourth, fifth, and sixth current plate, the third and fourth current plates disposed on the first surface of the metering sub-assembly and the fifth and sixth current plates disposed on the second surface of the metering sub-assembly, wherein the third current plate is coupled to the fifth current plate and the fourth current plate is coupled to the sixth current plate, and wherein when the input base module sub-assembly is in a closed position relative to the metering sub-assembly, the third current plate is coupled to the third current input blade, the fourth current plate is coupled to the fourth current input blade, the fifth current plate is coupled to the fifth current input blade, and the sixth current plate is coupled to the sixth current input blade, such that, the third current input blade, the third current plate, the fifth current plate, and the fifth current input blade form a second current input path and the fourth current input blade, the fourth current plate, the sixth current plate, and the sixth current input blade form a third current input path.

3. The IED of claim 2 , wherein a combined width of the first, third, and fourth current plates substantially covers the first surface of the metering sub-assembly and a combined width of the second, fifth, and sixth current plates substantially covers the second surface of the metering sub-assembly, wherein each of the current plates are configured to act as heat sinks to draw heat away from the metering sub-assembly.

4. The IED of claim 1 , wherein the first current input path further includes a first current bar that couples the first current plate to the second current plate, the at least one current sensor coupled to the first current bar to sense current flowing through the first current input path.

5. The IED of claim 4 , wherein the first current bar is disposed through an aperture of the metering sub-assembly and the first current bar is configured to provide structural strength to the metering sub-assembly.

6. The IED of claim 1 , wherein the first current input path further includes a first conducting wire that couples the first current plate to the second current plate, the at least one current sensor coupled to the first conducting wire to sense current flowing through the first current input path.

7. The IED of claim 1 , wherein each current input blade includes a first end and a second end, the first end of each current input blade being configured in a perpendicular plane relative to the second end of each current input blade, the first end of the first current input blade disposed through the first aperture of the base and the first end of the second current input blade disposed through the second aperture of the base.

8. The IED of claim 1 , wherein the metering sub-assembly includes at least one digital signal processing (DSP) board.

9. The IED of claim 8 , wherein the DSP board includes a battery receptacle configured to receive a removable battery.

10. The IED of claim 9 , wherein the metering sub-assembly includes a bezel disposed over the DSP board.

11. The IED of claim 10 , wherein the bezel includes a battery window configured to provide access to the battery receptacle.

12. The IED of claim 11 , further comprising a battery detection circuit coupled to the battery receptacle, the battery detection circuit configured to detect if a removable battery is coupled to the battery receptacle and if the removable battery is currently holding a charge below a predetermined charge.

13. The IED of claim 12 , wherein the battery detection circuit is configured to output a signal indicating the removable battery needs to be replaced if the battery detection circuit determines that the removable battery is currently holding a charge below the predetermined charge.

14. The IED of claim 1 , further comprising a housing including a first half and a second half, the first half of the housing coupled to the second half of the housing, wherein the metering sub-assembly and the input base module sub-assembly are disposed in the housing.

15. The IED of claim 14 , wherein the first half and the second half of the housing each include a plurality of louvers to allow heat generated in the interior of the housing to escape.

16. The IED of claim 1 , wherein the first current input blade is coupled to the first current plate by a first spring loaded screw and the second current input blade is coupled to the second current plate by a second spring loaded screw.

17. The IED of claim 1 , further comprising a filter board coupled to the base that filters sensed voltage.

18. The IED of claim 17 , further comprising at least one voltage input blade for sensing voltage, the voltage input blade including a spring contact that couples the voltage input blade to the filter board.

19. The IED of claim 17 , wherein the filter board includes a suppressor circuit configured to provide surge protection at transient conditions of the sensed voltage.

20. The IED of claim 17 , wherein the filter board includes a current limiter.

21. The IED of claim 17 , further comprising a filter box cover coupled to the filter board such that the filter box cover protects the filter board and routes at least one wire from the input base module sub-assembly to the metering sub-assembly.

22. The IED of claim 8 , wherein the metering sub-assembly includes at least one slot that is accessible when the metering sub-assembly is in the open position relative to the input base module sub-assembly, the at least one slot configured to receive a first card to be coupled to the DSP board, the card configured to expand the functionality of the IED.

23. The IED of claim 22 , wherein the metering sub-assembly includes at least one second slot configured to receive a second card.

24. The IED of claim 22 , further comprising a patch cable including a plug, a first connector, and a first multiconductor cable, the plug coupled to

Assignees

• Electro Industries/Gauge Tech

Inventors

• Banhegyesi Tibor
• Zhu Hai
• Kagan Erran

Classifications

• G01D4/002 Primary

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