# US 11,909,193 B2 · Busway joint integral temperature sensor

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- Number: US 11,909,193 B2
- Document ID: US11909193B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/163,090
- Filed: 2021-01-29
- Published: 2022-08-04
- Granted: 2024-02-20
- Earliest claimed: 2021-01-29
- Assignees: Schneider Electric USA, Inc.
- Applicants: Schneider Electric USA, Inc.
- Inventors: Timothy O'leary
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11909193B2

## CPC

- G01K 1/14: Supports; Fastening devices; Arrangements for mounting thermometers in particular locations
- H02G 5/007: {Butt joining of bus-bars by means of a common bolt, e.g. splice joint (electrically conductive connections characterised by contacting members H01R4/58)}
- G01K 1/16: Special arrangements for conducting heat from the object to the sensitive element
- G01K 7/22: the element being a non-linear resistance, e.g. thermistor (G01K7/26 takes precedence)
- H02G 5/08: Connection boxes therefor
- G01K: MEASURING TEMPERATURE; MEASURING QUANTITY OF HEAT; THERMALLY-SENSITIVE ELEMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (radiation pyrometry G01J5/00)
- H02G: INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES

## Abstract

A busway joint for coupling two segments of an electrical distribution busway to each other comprising, a busway joint including a plurality of fins, a central body connecting each of the plurality of fins, and a bolt within the central body, wherein the bolt includes a cavity housing a sensor lead and an epoxy potting.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A busway joint for coupling two segments of an electrical distribution busway to each other, the busway joint comprising:
a plurality of fins;
a central body connecting each of the plurality of fins; and
a bolt within the central body, wherein the bolt includes a cavity extending through a bolt head and into a shaft of the bolt and housing a sensor lead, and wherein the bolt further includes an epoxy potting surrounding the sensor lead and filling the cavity along substantially an entire longitudinal length of the cavity.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The joint of claim 1, wherein the bolt includes an outer diameter and a cavity diameter, wherein the cavity diameter is greater than half of the outer diameter.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The joint of claim 2, wherein the cavity diameter is at least ¼ inches.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The joint of claim 1, wherein the bolt includes a first end and a second end, the first end having the bolt head, the second end having a threaded portion.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The joint of claim 4, further comprising a torque limiting nut threaded to the second end.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The joint of claim 4, wherein the bolt head includes a hole passing therethrough.

### Claim 7 (depends on 4)

The joint of claim 4, wherein the sensor is fully immersed within the bolt.

### Claim 8 (depends on 4)

The joint of claim 4, further comprising a bolt retainer plate connected to a plate head.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The joint of claim 1, wherein the epoxy potting includes a thermal conductivity of at least 0.68 W/(mK).

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The joint of claim 1, wherein the bolt includes a steel material.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The joint of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a thermistor.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The joint of claim 11, wherein the thermistor has an operating range of −30 c to 150 C inclusive.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The joint of claim 11, wherein the thermistor includes a temperature tolerance of +/−0.5 C.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The joint of claim 1, wherein the sensor is electrically isolated.

### Claim 15

A method of measuring health of a busway comprising;
securing a thermistor within epoxy within a cavity of a bolt of a busway joint, wherein the cavity extends through a bolt head and into a shaft of the bolt and the epoxy surrounds the thermistor and fills the cavity along substantially an entire longitudinal length of the cavity;
operating the busway;
measuring an electrical resistance of the thermistor; and
pausing operation of the busway or taking correcting action if the electrical resistance reaches a known threshold.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the threshold is 105 degrees C.