Circuit condition monitor with integrally molded test point socket and capacitive coupling

A connector for an electrical power distribution system for establishing an electrical connection between terminals of components of the system said connection being monitored by a removable circuit condition monitoring module requiring capacitive coupling at one end thereof to said electrical connection and ohmic electrical connection between an electrically conductive portion along the side thereof and electrical ground, said connector comprising:

• a connector body portion formed of electrically non-conductive material;
• first and second terminal means for electrically and mechanically engaging the component terminals;
• electrical conductor means extending within said connector body portion between said first and second terminal means for providing an electrical current path therebetween, said conductor means being surrounded by said body;
• an electrically grounded sheath layer formed of electrically-conductive material overlying said body;
• means defining on the surface of said connector a recess defining a test point socket extending from said surface in a generally radial direction relative to said conductor means for receiving the circuit condition monitoring module;
• and
• at least a portion of the bottom of said test point socket being formed of said electrically non-conductive material of said connector body portion, said test point socket further being complementarily dimensioned to the circuit condition monitoring module whereby said module when received within said test point socket is fixedly positioned relative to said body portion, capacitively coupled to said conductor means and ohmically connected to said sheath layer.

A circuit condition monitoring system for an electrical power distribution system providing a monitored connection between the terminals of electrical components within the distribution system, said system comprising:

• a connector including a body portion formed of electrically non-conductive material;
• first and second terminal means for electrically and mechanically engaging the component terminals;
• electrical conductor means extending within said body portion between said first and second terminal means for providing an electrical current path therebetween, said conductor means being substantially surrounded by said body portion;
• said connector further including an electrically grounded sheath layer formed of an electrically-conductive material overlying the surface of said body portion;
• a circuit condition monitoring module including a monitoring circuit operable from a capacitive coupling to said conductor means and an electrical coupling to electrical ground;
• means defining on the surface of said connector a recess forming a test point socket for receiving said circuit condition monitoring module, at least a portion of the bottom of said test point socket being formed of said electrically non-conductive material of said connector body portion, said test point socket being complementarily dimensioned to said circuit condition monitoring module whereby said monitoring module when received within said test point socket is fixedly positioned and simultaneously capacitively coupled to said monitored conductor and electrically coupled to electrical ground.

A monitoring system providing a monitored connection between the terminals of electrical components within an electrical power distribution system, said system comprising:

• a connector including a body portion formed of electrically non-conductive material;
• first and second terminal means for electrically and mechanically engaging the component terminals;
• electrical conductor means extending generally axially within said body portion between said first and second terminal means for providing an electrical current path therebetween, said conductor means being surrounded by said body portion;
• said connector further including an electrically grounded sheath layer formed of electrically-conductive material overlying said body portion;
• a circuit condition monitoring module operable from a capacitive coupling to said conductor means, and an ohmic electrical connection to ground;
• means defining on the surface of said connector a recess forming a test point socket aligned in a generally radial direction relative to said conductor means for receiving said circuit condition monitoring module, at least a portion of the bottom of said recess being formed of said electrically non-conductive material of said connector body portion, said test point socket further being complementarily dimensioned to said circuit condition monitoring module whereby said monitoring module when received within said test point socket is fixedly positioned relative to said body portion, capacitively coupled to said conductor means and ohmically coupled to said sheath layer.

A circuit condition monitoring module for installation on a connector having an electric conductor, a non-conductive body portion over the conductor, an electrically conductive sheath layer overlying the body portion and a test point socket formed in the sheath layer, the test point socket having a bottom end within the electric field of the conductor and being formed at least in part of the electrically non-conductive material forming the connector body portion, said module comprising:

• a circuit condition monitoring circuit operable from an applied alternating voltage;
• a housing for containing said circuit, said housing being dimensioned to fit within said test point socket with an interior end thereof adjacent the bottom end of the socket;
• first electrical coupling means comprising a capacitive coupling element within said housing at said interior end thereof for electrically coupling said monitoring circuit to the monitored conductor;
• and
• second electrical coupling means for electrically coupling said monitoring circuit to the sheath layer whereby said monitoring circuit is powered by alternating current on the monitored conductor when seated in the test point socket.

A circuit condition monitoring module for installation on a connector having an electric conductor, a non-conductive body portion overlying the conductor, an electrically conductive sheath layer overlying the body portion, and a test point socket formed in the sheath layer, the socket having a bottom end within the electric field of the conductor and being formed at least in part of the electrically non-conductive material forming the connector housing, said module comprising:

• a circuit condition monitoring circuit operable from an applied alternating voltage;
• a housing formed of electrically non-conductive material for containing said circuit, said housing being dimensioned to fit within said test point socket with the interior end of said housing adjacent said bottom end of the test point socket;
• a first capacitive coupling plate within said housing adjacent said interior end thereof for electrically coupling said monitoring circuit to the monitored conductor;
• and
• ground return coupling means comprising a capacitive coupling ring around the inside surface of said housing at an axially-spaced location relative to said capacitive coupling plate for coupling said monitoring circuit to he electrically conductive sheath layer of said connector when the module is seated in said test point socket whereby said circuit is powered by alternating current on the monitored conductor.