Current sensing using panel plane
AssigneeSchneider Electric USA, Inc.
InventorChad R. Mittelstadt
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for sensing current on a conductor of an electrical panel includes at least one sensing system, which comprises a ferromagnetic body and a sensor. The body can be formed of a ferro-magnetic material, such as for example steel. The ferromagnetic body can have two legs, which when placed on a load-side of the electrical panel, is configured to form, together with a back plane of the electrical panel, a magnetic path around the conductor. The ferromagnetic body comprises at least two parts with a first air gap therebetween along the magnetic path. The sensor, which is arranged in the first air gap, is configured to measure a current or other electrical property representative of current on the conductor based on the magnetic field across the first air gap.
Claims16
An apparatus for sensing current on a conductor in an electrical panel, comprising:
- at least one sensing system comprising:
- a ferromagnetic body having two legs, which when placed on a load-side of the electrical panel is configured to form, together with at least a plane of the electrical panel, a magnetic path around the conductor, the ferromagnetic body comprising at least two parts with a first air gap therebetween along the magnetic path, wherein the plane of the electrical panel comprises ferromagnetic part of a wall of a housing for the electrical panel or part of a ferromagnetic plate installed below the conductor on the electrical panel, and
- a sensor, arranged in the first air gap, to measure a current or other electrical property representative of current on the conductor based on the magnetic field across the first air gap.
A method of sensing current on a conductor in an electrical panel, comprising:
- providing a ferromagnetic body having two legs, which when placed on a load-side of the electrical panel is configured to form, together with at least a plane of the electrical panel, a magnetic path around the conductor, the ferromagnetic body comprising at least two parts with a first air gap therebetween along the magnetic path, wherein the plane of the electrical panel comprises ferromagnetic part of a wall of a housing for the electrical panel or part of a ferromagnetic plate installed below the conductor on the electrical panel;
- and
- measuring, via a sensor arranged in the first air gap, a current or other electrical property representative of current on the conductor based on the magnetic field across the first air gap.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.