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EP-4738421-A2 - SYSTEM AND DEVICE FOR MONITORING ELECTRICAL FUSES

EP4738421A2EP 4738421 A2EP4738421 A2EP 4738421A2EP-4738421-A2

Abstract

A fuse monitoring device for monitoring a fuse supported by a fuse block, the fuse monitoring device including a housing. The housing includes a holder attachment mechanism configured to connect the fuse monitoring device to a fuse block. The housing also includes a mounting attachment mechanism configured to connect the fuse monitoring device to a mounting structure and at least one sensor configured to be operably connected to a fuse and configured to measure fuse data associated with the fuse. The monitoring device further includes at least one processor communicatively coupled to the at least one sensor.

Inventors

  • SCHMITT, THOMAS E.
  • NARCISO, VENANCIO ESTEBAN
  • RAMOS, ARTURO GUTIERREZ
  • LOPEZ, Jacob Nuñez

Assignees

  • Eaton Intelligent Power Limited

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20230509

Claims (11)

  1. A fuse monitoring device (116) for monitoring a fuse (110), the fuse monitoring device comprising: at least one sensor (120; 160) configured to be operably connected to the fuse (110) and configured to measure fuse data associated with the fuse, wherein the at least one sensor includes a current sensor (452) that comprises a frame (482) and a core (481); at least one processor (118) communicatively coupled to the at least one sensor (120; 160), the at least one processor configured to transmit the fuse data; and a housing (304) comprising a mounting block (338), wherein the mounting block comprises an inner opening (316), wherein the frame (482) of the current sensor (452) is configured within the inner opening of the mounting block.
  2. A fuse monitoring system (100) comprising: a fuse monitoring device (116) for monitoring a fuse (110), the fuse monitoring device comprising: at least one sensor (120; 160) configured to be operably connected to the fuse (110) and configured to measure fuse data associated with the fuse, wherein the at least one sensor includes a current sensor (452) that comprises a frame (482) and a core (481); at least one processor (118) communicatively coupled to the at least one sensor (120, 160), the at least one processor configured to transmit the fuse data; and a housing (304) comprising a mounting block (338), wherein the mounting block comprises an inner opening (316), wherein the frame (482) of the current sensor (452) is configured within the inner opening of the mounting block; and a computing device (130) configured to receive the fuse data from the at least one processor (118) that is in communication with at least one memory device (164).
  3. The fuse monitoring device (116) of claim 1 or the fuse monitoring system (100) of claim 2, wherein the frame (482) comprises an upper member (484) that is perpendicular to a lower member (486), wherein the upper member is connected to the core (481).
  4. The fuse monitoring device (116) of claim 1 or the fuse monitoring system (100) of claim 2, wherein the frame (482) is configured to mount the current sensor (452) to the housing (304).
  5. The fuse monitoring device (116) of claim 1 or the fuse monitoring system (100) of claim 2, wherein the frame (482) comprises a frame channel (488) through which one or more wire components of the current sensor (452) is directed through.
  6. The fuse monitoring device (116) or the fuse monitoring system (100) of claim 5, wherein the one or more wire components (480) of the current sensor (452) exits through a lower opening (492) of a lower member (486).
  7. The fuse monitoring device (116) or the fuse monitoring system (100) of claim 5, wherein the one or more wire components electrically connects the core (481) and a circuit board (440) of the housing (304) via the frame channel (488).
  8. The fuse monitoring device (116) or the fuse monitoring system (100) of claim 7, wherein the circuit board (440) is configured within a housing cavity (316).
  9. The fuse monitoring device (116) of claim 1 or the fuse monitoring system (100) of claim 2, wherein the housing (304) comprises a housing cavity (316) for storing the at least one processor (118).
  10. The fuse monitoring system (100) of claim 2, wherein the fuse monitoring device is configured to connect to a plurality of fuse blocks.
  11. The fuse monitoring device (116) of claim 1 or the fuse monitoring system (100) of claim 2, wherein the frame (482) is coupled to the core (481) using screws, pins (494), or adhesives.

Description

BACKGROUND The field of the disclosure relates generally to monitoring systems for electrical power systems, and more particularly to systems, assemblies, and methods for monitoring of electrical circuit protection fuses. Fuses are widely used as overcurrent protection devices to prevent costly damage to electrical circuits. Fuse terminals typically form an electrical connection between an electrical power source or power supply and an electrical component or a combination of components arranged in an electrical circuit. One or more fusible links or elements, or a fuse element assembly, is connected between the fuse terminals, so that when electrical current flowing through the fuse exceeds a predetermined limit, the fusible elements melt and open one or more circuits through the fuse to prevent electrical component damage. In order to complete electrical connections to external circuits, a variety of fuse blocks have been made available that define fuse receptacles or compartments to receive overcurrent protection fuses and are provided with line and load-side fuse contact members to establish electrical connection through the fusible elements in the fuse. Fuse failure may either be a nuisance or result in an emergency. In some applications, electrical enclosures house electrical components such as fuses inside. For example, in hazardous industrial environments such as mines, refineries and petroleum chemical plants, ignitable gas, vapors, dust or otherwise flammable substances are present in the ambient environment of the electrical enclosure, and the electrical enclosures are subject to temperature fluctuations, humidity, potentially causing fuse fatigue and decreasing the service life of the fuse. Known fuse monitoring systems are disadvantaged in some aspect to meet the needs of challenging applications such as those described, they remain disadvantaged and improvements are desired. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments are described with reference to the following FIGs., wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various drawings unless otherwise specified. FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram of an exemplary fuse monitoring system.FIG. 1B is a block diagram of the exemplary fuse monitoring system shown in FIG. 1A.FIG. 1C is a top view of an exemplary fuse for use with monitoring system shown in FIGs. 1A and 1B.FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary fuse monitoring assembly for use with the fuse monitoring system shown in FIGs. 1A and 1B, wherein the fuse monitoring assembly includes a monitoring device connected to a fuse block.FIG. 3A is a top view of the fuse monitoring assembly, shown in FIG. 2.FIG. 3B is a cross-section view of the fuse monitoring assembly along cross-section line 3B-3B, shown in FIG. 3A.FIG. 3C is a cross-section view of the fuse monitoring assembly along cross-section line 3C-3C, shown in FIG. 3A.FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the fuse monitoring assembly showing the monitoring device disconnected from the fuse blocks.FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the fuse monitoring device.FIG. 6A is an exploded view of the fuse monitoring assembly showing a first housing disconnected from a second housing.FIG. 6B is a detailed view of a frame for mounting a current sensor for use with the monitoring assembly.FIG. 6C is a detailed rear view of the frame shown in FIG. 6B.FIG. 6D is a detailed rear view of the current sensor and frame for use with the monitoring assembly.FIG. 6E is a detailed rear view of the current sensor for use with the monitoring assembly.FIG. 6F is a detailed view of the wired connection of the current sensor.FIG. 7A is a top perspective view of the first housing.FIG. 7B is a bottom perspective view of the first housing.FIG. 8A is a top perspective view of the second housing.FIG. 8B is a bottom perspective view of the second housing.FIG. 9 is a plan view of an exemplary circuit board for use with the fuse monitoring device.FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram of a current sensor for use with the monitoring device.FIG. 11 is a circuit diagram of a temperature sensor for use with monitoring device.FIG. 12 illustrates a view of an exemplary user interface used to monitor the fuse for use with the system shown in FIGs. 1A and 1B.FIG. 13A is a perspective view of another exemplary fuse monitoring assembly for use with the fuse monitoring system shown in FIGs. 1A and 1B, wherein the fuse monitoring assembly includes a fuse monitoring device connected to fuse blocks.FIG. 13B is a perspective view of the fuse monitoring device shown in FIG. 13A with two fuse blocks removed therefrom.FIG. 13C is a perspective view of a second housing of the fuse monitoring assembly shown in FIG. 13A.FIG. 14 is a block diagram of an exemplary user computing device.FIG. 15 is a block diagram of an exemplary server computing device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION As system voltages continue to increase in various industrial sectors such as renewable energ