Spiral core current transformer for energy harvesting applications
AssigneeS&C Electric Company
InventorsAlejandro Montenegro, Raphael Guio, Claire Schauble
Life of this patent
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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.
Claims10
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.
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.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.