# US 9,500,684 B1 · Line-mounted electrical energy measurement device with integrated voltage pickup and clamp

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- Number: US 9,500,684 B1
- Document ID: US9500684B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 14/463,555
- Filed: 2014-08-19
- Granted: 2016-11-22
- Earliest claimed: 2013-08-19
- Assignees: Sensorlink Corporation
- Applicants: Sensorlink Corporation
- Inventors: Robert Pendergrass; Nathanial Roth; Scott Bretvick; Zhijiang Guo
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9500684B1

## CPC

- H01R 4/2408: actuated by clamping screws
- H01R 4/2433: one part of the base being movable to push the cable into the slot
- H01R 4/42: Clamping area to one side of screw only
- H01R 2201/20: for testing or measuring purposes
- H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS

## Abstract

A tap assembly for a measurement device has a clamp base, a main assembly, a piercing member, a clamp member defining an anchor surface, and a bolt member defining a shaft portion and a head portion. The clamp base has a brace portion defining a bolt opening. The piercing member is supported by a contact plate of the main assembly. The clamp base is attached to the main assembly to define a clamp notch. The contact plate is adjacent to the clamp notch. The shaft portion of the bolt member extends through the bolt opening and engages the anchor surface. At least a portion of the conductor is arranged within the clamp notch between the clamp member and the piercing member such that axial rotation of the bolt member displaces the clamp member towards the piercing member to cause the piercing member to engage the conductor.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A measurement device for generating measurement data associated with at least first and second conductors of an electrical distribution system comprising:
at least first and second tap assemblies each comprising a clamp assembly comprising
a main housing,
a clamp base is secured to the main housing,
a brace defining a bolt opening, the brace is formed on the clamp base,
a piercing member supported by the clamp base relative to the brace,
a clamp member defining an anchor surface, and
a bolt member defining a shaft portion and a head portion, where the shaft portion of the bolt member extends through the bolt opening and engages the anchor surface such that axial rotation of the bolt member displaces the clamp member towards and away from the piercing member; and
at least one cable operatively connecting the first and second tap assemblies; whereby
at least portions of the first and second conductors are arranged between the clamp member and the piercing member of the first and second tap assemblies, respectively, such that
displacement of the clamp member of the first tap assembly towards the piercing member of the first tap assembly causes the piercing member of the first tap assembly to engage the first conductor, and
displacement of the clamp member of the second tap assembly towards the piercing member of the second tap assembly causes the piercing member of the second tap assembly to engage the second conductor.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A measurement device as recited in claim 1, in which:
the shaft portion of the bolt member is externally threaded; and
the anchor surface is internally threaded.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A measurement device as recited in claim 1, further comprising an electrical circuit operatively connected to the piercing members of the first and second tap assemblies.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A measurement device as recited in claim 1, further comprising an electrical circuit comprising a current sensor mounted in each of the first and second tap assemblies for sensing a current associated with the first and second conductors, respectively.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A measurement device as recited in claim 1, in which each of the first and second tap assemblies further comprises an anchor insert secured to the clamp member, where the anchor insert defines the anchor surface.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A measurement device as recited in claim 1, in which:
the first and second tap assemblies each define a clamp notch for receiving the first and second conductors, respectively; and
the first and second tap assemblies each comprise a contact plate adjacent to the clamp notch; and
the first and second tap assemblies each further comprises an attachment screw; whereby
the piercing members are detachably attached to the contact plates using the attachment screws.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A measurement device as recited in claim 1, further comprising an electrical circuit, where the electrical circuit is:
operatively connected to the piercing members of the first and second tap assemblies; and
comprises a current sensor mounted in each of the first and second tap assemblies for sensing a current associated with the first and second conductors, respectively.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

A measurement device as recited in claim 7, in which the electrical circuit comprises a radio module for transmitting and receiving data.

### Claim 9

A tap assembly for a measurement device for generating measurement data associated with at least one conductor of an electrical distribution system comprising:
a clamp base comprising a brace portion defining a bolt opening;
a main assembly comprising a contact plate;
a piercing member supported by the contact plate;
a clamp member defining an anchor surface; and
a bolt member defining a shaft portion and a head portion; whereby
the clamp base is attached to the main assembly to define a clamp notch, where the contact plate is adjacent to the clamp notch;
the shaft portion of the bolt member extends through the bolt opening and engages the anchor surface such that axial rotation of the bolt member displaces the clamp member towards and away from the piercing member; and
at least a portion of the conductor is arranged within the clamp notch between the clamp member and the piercing member such that displacement of the clamp member towards the piercing member causes the piercing member to engage the conductor.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

A tap assembly as recited in claim 9, in which:
the shaft portion of the bolt member is externally threaded; and
the anchor surface is internally threaded.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

A tap assembly as recited in claim 9, further comprising an electrical circuit operatively connected to the piercing member.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

A tap assembly as recited in claim 9, further comprising an electrical circuit comprising a current sensor mounted at least partly within the main assembly.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

A tap assembly as recited in claim 9, further comprising an anchor insert secured to the clamp member, where the anchor insert defines the anchor surface.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

A tap assembly as recited in claim 9, further comprising an attachment screw, where the piercing member is detachably attached to the contact plate using the attachment screw.

### Claim 15 (depends on 9)

A tap assembly as recited in claim 9, further comprising an electrical circuit, where the electrical circuit is:
operatively connected to the piercing member; and
comprises a current sensor arranged to sense a current associated with the conductor.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

A tap assembly as recited in claim 15, in which the electrical circuit comprises a radio module for transmitting and receiving data.

### Claim 17

A method of generating measurement data associated with at least one conductor of an electrical distribution system, comprising the steps of:
providing a clamp base comprising a brace portion defining a bolt opening;
providing a main assembly comprising a contact plate;
supporting a piercing member supported on the contact plate;
providing a clamp member defining an anchor surface;
providing a bolt member defining a shaft portion and a head portion;
attaching the clamp base to the main assembly to define a clamp notch, where the contact plate is adjacent to the clamp notch;
extending the shaft portion of the bolt member through the bolt opening;
engaging the shaft portion of the bolt member with the anchor surface;
arranging at least a portion of the conductor within the clamp notch between the clamp member and the piercing member; and
axially rotating the bolt member to displace the clamp member towards the piercing member to cause the piercing member to engage the conductor.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

A method as recited in claim 17, further comprising the steps of:
operatively connecting an electrical circuit to the piercing member;
arranging a current sensor to sense a current associated with the conductor; and
operatively connecting the electrical circuit to the current sensor.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

A method as recited in claim 17, further comprising the step of detachably attaching the piercing member to the contact plate using an attachment screw.