Electrical sensor and method of molding an insulator around an electrical sensor
AssigneeG & W Electric Company
InventorsBrian Nault, Blair Kerr, Stefan Micic, Foster Pyle
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electrical sensor includes a conductor and an electrical sensor surrounding the conductor to monitor the conductor. An insulating body is molded around the conductor and the electrical sensor. A conductive insert is coupled to the electrical sensor to support the screen around the conductor during molding of the insulating body. After molding, the conductive insert remains coupled to the electrical sensor as an electrical terminal.
Claims19
An electrical sensor comprising:
- a conductor;
- a voltage measurement screen surrounding the conductor to monitor the conductor;
- an insulating body molded around the conductor and the voltage measurement screen;
- and
- a conductive insert coupled to the voltage measurement screen to support the voltage measurement screen around the conductor as a cantilever during molding of the insulating body, wherein after the molding, the conductive insert remains coupled to the voltage measurement screen and extends through the insulating body to define an electrical terminal accessible from an exterior of the insulating body.
An electrical sensor comprising:
- a conductive member configured to monitor a conductor, the conductive member having an inside surface and an outside surface, the inside surface positioned to face toward the conductor, the conductive member configured to be encased in a molded insulating body;
- and
- a conductive insert coupled to the outside surface of the conductive member, the conductive insert configured to be gripped by a gripping tool to support the conductive member as a cantilever during molding of the insulating body, wherein the conductive insert remains coupled to the conductive member following completion of the molding of the insulating body and extends through the insulating body to define an electrical terminal accessible from an exterior of the insulating body.
A method of molding an insulating body over an electrical sensor positioned around a conductor, the method comprising:
- coupling a conductive insert to the electrical sensor prior to molding;
- gripping the conductive insert with a gripping tool to support the electrical sensor around the conductor as a cantilever;
- closing a mold around the electrical sensor and the conductor such that the gripping tool is positioned outside the mold;
- molding the insulating body around the electrical sensor and the conductor to insulate the electrical sensor and the conductor;
- opening the mold;
- and
- releasing the gripping tool from the conductive insert following the molding such that the conductive insert remains coupled to the electrical sensor and extends through the insulating body such that the conductive insert is accessible from an exterior of the insulating body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.