Hall effect conductor/core method and apparatus
AssigneeRockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
InventorsRichard Marasch, Jeff Annis, Bob Rushmer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for configuring a current carrying and current sensing configuration using a rigid magnetically permeable guide core extending between facing first and second guide ends, the first and second ends of the core defining a sensing gap having a sensing dimension therebetween, an internal surface of the core forming a core space, the method including sliding a segment of a conductor through the sensing gap and into the core space such that the conductor extends through the core space, attaching a flux sensor to a clip member and mounting the clip member within the sensing space such that the sensor is within the sensing space.
Claims20
An apparatus for passing current and sensing magnetic field flux formed by the current, the apparatus comprising:
- a current conductor having a length that extends between first and second conductor ends and first and second edges that extend substantially along the entire conductor length, the edges forming first and second notches at a central conductor segment such that the central segment has a central width dimension that is less than the width dimensions of conductor segments adjacent thereto;
- and
- a rigid magnetically permeable guide core extending between facing first and second core ends and an internal surface formed about a core space, the first and second core ends defining a sensing gap having a gap dimension therebetween that is greater than the conductor thickness and less than the conductor width, the core including first and second member segments on opposite sides of the core space;
- wherein the central conductor segment is moveable through the gap and substantially into the core space with the conductor width aligned substantially perpendicular to the gap dimension and the core space is configured to allow the conductor, once substantially in the core space, to be moved into an operating position with the second member segment passing at least partially through the second notch and one of the first member segment and the gap passing at least partially through the first notch.
A method for passing current and sensing magnetic field flux formed by the current, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a current conductor having a length that extends between first and second conductor ends and first and second edges that extend substantially along the entire conductor length, the edges forming first and second notches at a central conductor segment such that the central segment has a central width dimension that is less than the width dimensions of conductor segments adjacent thereto;
- and
- providing a rigid magnetically permeable guide core extending between facing first and second core ends and an internal surface formed about a core space, the first and second core ends defining a sensing gap having a gap dimension therebetween that is greater than the conductor thickness and less than the conductor width, the core including first and second member segments on opposite sides of the core space;
- moving the central conductor segment through the gap and substantially into the core space with the conductor width aligned substantially perpendicular to the gap dimension;
- and
- moving the central segment into an operating position with the second member segment passing at least partially through the second notch and one of the first member segment and the gap passing at least partially through the first notch.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.