WO2005119851A1 - Terminal block and current sensor integration - Google Patents

Terminal block and current sensor integration Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2005119851A1
WO2005119851A1 PCT/CA2005/000803 CA2005000803W WO2005119851A1 WO 2005119851 A1 WO2005119851 A1 WO 2005119851A1 CA 2005000803 W CA2005000803 W CA 2005000803W WO 2005119851 A1 WO2005119851 A1 WO 2005119851A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
terminal block
terminal
current sensor
circuit board
terminals
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/CA2005/000803
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Philippe NOËL
Martin Houle
Original Assignee
Tm4 Inc.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Tm4 Inc. filed Critical Tm4 Inc.
Publication of WO2005119851A1 publication Critical patent/WO2005119851A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01R—MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES
    • G01R1/00—Details of instruments or arrangements of the types included in groups G01R5/00 - G01R13/00 and G01R31/00
    • G01R1/02—General constructional details
    • G01R1/04—Housings; Supporting members; Arrangements of terminals
    • G01R1/0408—Test fixtures or contact fields; Connectors or connecting adaptors; Test clips; Test sockets
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01R—MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES
    • G01R15/00—Details of measuring arrangements of the types provided for in groups G01R17/00 - G01R29/00, G01R33/00 - G01R33/26 or G01R35/00
    • G01R15/14—Adaptations providing voltage or current isolation, e.g. for high-voltage or high-current networks
    • G01R15/20—Adaptations providing voltage or current isolation, e.g. for high-voltage or high-current networks using galvano-magnetic devices, e.g. Hall-effect devices, i.e. measuring a magnetic field via the interaction between a current and a magnetic field, e.g. magneto resistive or Hall effect devices
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/66—Structural association with built-in electrical component
    • H01R13/665—Structural association with built-in electrical component with built-in electronic circuit
    • H01R13/6683—Structural association with built-in electrical component with built-in electronic circuit with built-in sensor
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/73—Means for mounting coupling parts to apparatus or structures, e.g. to a wall
    • H01R13/74—Means for mounting coupling parts in openings of a panel
    • H01R13/748—Means for mounting coupling parts in openings of a panel using one or more screws
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R9/00—Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, e.g. terminal strips or terminal blocks; Terminals or binding posts mounted upon a base or in a case; Bases therefor
    • H01R9/22—Bases, e.g. strip, block, panel
    • H01R9/24—Terminal blocks
    • H01R9/2425—Structural association with built-in components
    • H01R9/245—Structural association with built-in components with built-in fuse
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/66—Structural association with built-in electrical component
    • H01R13/665—Structural association with built-in electrical component with built-in electronic circuit
    • H01R13/6691—Structural association with built-in electrical component with built-in electronic circuit with built-in signalling means

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to current sensors. More specifically, the present invention is concerned with a current sensor mounted to a terminal block.
  • Terminal blocks are well known in the art. They are generally used to interconnect various electric and/or electronic components.
  • terminal blocks are used to get signals or power in and out of enclosures.
  • These terminal blocks usually include a body made of insulating material that can be mounted to the enclosure and straight terminals so mounted to the body as to be insulated from one another and from the enclosure.
  • the terminals include an inner end facing inside the enclosure and an outer end facing outside the enclosure. Electric wires or cables may be mounted to either ends, for example via connectors.
  • Hall-effect sensors are also well known in the art. Different technologies may be used to detect and measure current carried by a wire. Such technologies include Hall-effect sensors and current sensing transformers, for example. Hall-effect sensors are often found associated with a toroid element that encloses the wire carrying the current to be measured.
  • An object of the present invention is therefore to provide an improved terminal block provided with a current sensor.
  • Figure 1 is a front elevation of a terminal block provided with a current sensing circuit mounted thereto, the terminal block is shown mounted to an enclosure, as viewed from the inside thereof; and
  • Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1.
  • the terminal block 10 is configured and sized to be mounted to an enclosure 12 to supply power from an outside source (not shown) to an electric circuit (not shown) located in the enclosure 12.
  • an outside source not shown
  • an electric circuit not shown
  • the terminal block 10 could be used to supply power to an outside charge (not shown).
  • the terminal block 10 includes a body 14 made of insulating material such as, for example plastic, three straight terminals 16, 18 and 20 made of electrically conductive material such as copper and a current sensing assembly 22.
  • the body 14 is mountable to a wall of the enclosure 12 and is secured thereto via fasteners 24.
  • the body includes an outside surface 15 and an inside surface 17. When the body 14 is mounted to the enclosure 12, the outside surface 15 is outside and the inside surface 17 is inside.
  • the straight terminals 16-20 include an inner threaded end portion 26 to which the electric circuit (not shown) enclosed in the enclosure 12 can be connected and an outer threaded end portion 28 to which the external power source (not shown) can be connected.
  • the outer ends 28 of the terminals 16-20 are separated by intermediate walls 29 (only one shown) to prevent electric arcing between the terminals.
  • the current sensing assembly 22 includes a circuit board 30 to which are mounted three Hall-effect current sensor assemblies 32, 34 and 36, an electronic circuit 38 (shown schematically in dashed lines in Figure 1 ) and a multi-pin connector 40.
  • the circuit board 30 is so configured and sized as to be mountable to the inside surface 17 of the body 14 via fasteners 42 and includes three apertures 44 ( Figure 2) through which the terminals 16-20 are inserted.
  • Each of the Hall-effect current sensor assemblies 32-36 typically includes a Hall-effect sensor (not shown) mounted to a toroid-shaped ferrite and are so mounted to the circuit board 30 that the central aperture 46 thereof is aligned with a corresponding aperture 44 of the circuit board. Accordingly, the terminals 16-20 traverse the circuit board 30 and a corresponding Hall-effect current sensor assembly when the circuit board 30 is mounted to the inside surface 17 of the body 14.
  • the electronic circuit 38 is designed and configured to condition the signals coming from the sensor assemblies 32-36.
  • One skilled in the art will have no problem designing or selecting such an electronic circuit depending on the requirements of the particular application. Accordingly, and since Hall-effect sensor assemblies are believed well known in the art, the Hall-effect sensor assemblies and the electronic circuit 39 will not be further described herein.
  • the connector 40 is used to interconnect the electronic circuit 38 to the electronic circuit (not shown) enclosed in the enclosure 12. This interconnection enables current related data to be supplied to the electronic circuit (not shown).
  • the connector 40 could interconnect the electronic circuit 38 to the outside world to supply current related data to other electronic circuits (not shown), that would monitor the current usage of the circuit contained in the enclosure, for example.
  • the current sensors could use a different technology than the Hall- effect technology disclosed hereinabove; • the electronic circuit 38 could be absent from the circuit board 30 and be part of the electronic circuit (not shown) enclosed in the enclosure 12; • the number of terminals could vary; • the number of current sensor assemblies could vary and be different from the number of terminals; • other types of terminals, such as, for example, communication terminals, could be added; • the current sensors could be fixedly mounted to the body; • the body of the terminal block could be so designed that it could be used for other functions than interconnecting the enclosure to the outside world; and • the configuration of the terminal block and/or of the terminals could be different, as long as the inner portion of the terminals is straight.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
  • Measuring Instrument Details And Bridges, And Automatic Balancing Devices (AREA)
  • Connections Arranged To Contact A Plurality Of Conductors (AREA)

Abstract

A terminal block is provided with straight terminals that traverse a circuit board mounted to a surface of the terminal block. The circuit board includes current sensors having a toroid shape that are traversed by the straight terminals. The current sensors therefore sense and measure the current that pass through the terminals.

Description

TITLE OF THE INVENTION
Terminal block and current sensor integration
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to current sensors. More specifically, the present invention is concerned with a current sensor mounted to a terminal block.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Terminal blocks are well known in the art. They are generally used to interconnect various electric and/or electronic components.
[0003] Some terminal blocks are used to get signals or power in and out of enclosures. These terminal blocks usually include a body made of insulating material that can be mounted to the enclosure and straight terminals so mounted to the body as to be insulated from one another and from the enclosure. The terminals include an inner end facing inside the enclosure and an outer end facing outside the enclosure. Electric wires or cables may be mounted to either ends, for example via connectors.
[0004] Current sensors are also well known in the art. Different technologies may be used to detect and measure current carried by a wire. Such technologies include Hall-effect sensors and current sensing transformers, for example. Hall-effect sensors are often found associated with a toroid element that encloses the wire carrying the current to be measured.
[0005] These two technologies, while being often used in the same enclosure, are spaced apart and mounted at different locations thereby increasing the space used. OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0006] An object of the present invention is therefore to provide an improved terminal block provided with a current sensor.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] More specifically, in accordance to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a terminal block including: a body having an inside surface; at least one terminal mounted to said body; said terminal having an outer end and a straight inner end; a circuit board so configured and sized as to be mounted to said inside surface of the body; said circuit board having at least one aperture so sized and positioned as to allow said at least one terminal through; and at least one current sensor mounted to said circuit board in the vicinity of said at least one aperture; wherein said at least one current sensor senses current going through said at least one terminal.
[0008] Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following non-restrictive description of preferred embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] In the appended drawings:
[0010] Figure 1 is a front elevation of a terminal block provided with a current sensing circuit mounted thereto, the terminal block is shown mounted to an enclosure, as viewed from the inside thereof; and [0011] Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0012] Turning now to the appended figures, a terminal block 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. The terminal block 10 is configured and sized to be mounted to an enclosure 12 to supply power from an outside source (not shown) to an electric circuit (not shown) located in the enclosure 12. Of course, in other applications the terminal block 10 could be used to supply power to an outside charge (not shown).
[0013] The terminal block 10 includes a body 14 made of insulating material such as, for example plastic, three straight terminals 16, 18 and 20 made of electrically conductive material such as copper and a current sensing assembly 22.
[0014] The body 14 is mountable to a wall of the enclosure 12 and is secured thereto via fasteners 24. The body includes an outside surface 15 and an inside surface 17. When the body 14 is mounted to the enclosure 12, the outside surface 15 is outside and the inside surface 17 is inside.
[0015] As can be better seen from Figure 2, the straight terminals 16-20 include an inner threaded end portion 26 to which the electric circuit (not shown) enclosed in the enclosure 12 can be connected and an outer threaded end portion 28 to which the external power source (not shown) can be connected. As can be seen from this Figure, the outer ends 28 of the terminals 16-20 are separated by intermediate walls 29 (only one shown) to prevent electric arcing between the terminals.
[0016] The current sensing assembly 22 includes a circuit board 30 to which are mounted three Hall-effect current sensor assemblies 32, 34 and 36, an electronic circuit 38 (shown schematically in dashed lines in Figure 1 ) and a multi-pin connector 40.
[0017] The circuit board 30 is so configured and sized as to be mountable to the inside surface 17 of the body 14 via fasteners 42 and includes three apertures 44 (Figure 2) through which the terminals 16-20 are inserted.
[0018] Each of the Hall-effect current sensor assemblies 32-36 typically includes a Hall-effect sensor (not shown) mounted to a toroid-shaped ferrite and are so mounted to the circuit board 30 that the central aperture 46 thereof is aligned with a corresponding aperture 44 of the circuit board. Accordingly, the terminals 16-20 traverse the circuit board 30 and a corresponding Hall-effect current sensor assembly when the circuit board 30 is mounted to the inside surface 17 of the body 14.
[0019] Alternatively, in applications where the current traversing the terminals is strong, the Hall-effect sensors could be directly mounted to the circuit board 30 without the use of toroid fer tes. Of course, the Hall-effect sensors would advantageously be mounted near the apertures 44 of the circuit board 30 to be near the terminals.
[0020] The electronic circuit 38 is designed and configured to condition the signals coming from the sensor assemblies 32-36. One skilled in the art will have no problem designing or selecting such an electronic circuit depending on the requirements of the particular application. Accordingly, and since Hall-effect sensor assemblies are believed well known in the art, the Hall-effect sensor assemblies and the electronic circuit 39 will not be further described herein.
[0021] The connector 40 is used to interconnect the electronic circuit 38 to the electronic circuit (not shown) enclosed in the enclosure 12. This interconnection enables current related data to be supplied to the electronic circuit (not shown). Alternatively, the connector 40 could interconnect the electronic circuit 38 to the outside world to supply current related data to other electronic circuits (not shown), that would monitor the current usage of the circuit contained in the enclosure, for example.
[0022] Many modifications may be done to the terminal block described above. For example:
• the current sensors could use a different technology than the Hall- effect technology disclosed hereinabove; • the electronic circuit 38 could be absent from the circuit board 30 and be part of the electronic circuit (not shown) enclosed in the enclosure 12; • the number of terminals could vary; • the number of current sensor assemblies could vary and be different from the number of terminals; • other types of terminals, such as, for example, communication terminals, could be added; • the current sensors could be fixedly mounted to the body; • the body of the terminal block could be so designed that it could be used for other functions than interconnecting the enclosure to the outside world; and • the configuration of the terminal block and/or of the terminals could be different, as long as the inner portion of the terminals is straight.
[0023] Although the present invention has been described hereinabove by way of preferred embodiments thereof, it can be modified, without departing from the spirit and nature of the subject invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. A terminal block including: a body having an inside surface; at least one terminal mounted to said body; said terminal having an outer end and a straight inner end; a circuit board so configured and sized as to be mounted to said inside surface of the body; said circuit board having at least one aperture so sized and positioned as to allow said at least one terminal through; and at least one current sensor mounted to said circuit board in the vicinity of said at least one aperture; wherein said at least one current sensor senses current going through said at least one terminal.
2. The terminal block recited in claim 1 , wherein each said current sensor is mounted to a generally toroid-shaped ferrite to yield a toroid current sensor assembly allowing a corresponding one of said at least one terminal therethrough.
3. The terminal block recited in claim 1 , wherein said circuit board further includes an electronic circuit so configured as to condition signals from said at least one current sensor.
4. The terminal block recited in claim 1 , wherein said circuit board further includes a connector.
5. The terminal block recited in claim 1 , wherein said outer end of said at least one terminal is straight.
6. The terminal block recited in claim 1 , wherein said at least one terminal includes three terminals and wherein said at least one current sensor include at least three current sensors.
7. The terminal block recited in claim 6, wherein said body has an outside surface provided with two intermediate walls generally perpendicular to the outside surface; said two intermediate walls separating said three terminals.
8. The terminal block recited in claim 1 , wherein said at least one current sensor is a Hall-effect current sensor.
PCT/CA2005/000803 2004-06-01 2005-05-26 Terminal block and current sensor integration WO2005119851A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US57539804P 2004-06-01 2004-06-01
US60/575,398 2004-06-01

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2005119851A1 true WO2005119851A1 (en) 2005-12-15

Family

ID=35463155

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/CA2005/000803 WO2005119851A1 (en) 2004-06-01 2005-05-26 Terminal block and current sensor integration

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2005119851A1 (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2782195A4 (en) * 2012-01-05 2015-08-26 Japan Aviation Electron Connector and connector assembly
CN111758305A (en) * 2018-02-22 2020-10-09 Zf腓德烈斯哈芬股份公司 Damping device for power electronics applications

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6283765B1 (en) * 2000-07-07 2001-09-04 New York Air Brake Integrated I.D. module and terminal block for ECP brake application (NY-1084)
US6717396B2 (en) * 2002-03-07 2004-04-06 Visteon Global Technologies, Inc. Housing with retainer tab for positioning a current sensor magnetic field concentrating core

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6283765B1 (en) * 2000-07-07 2001-09-04 New York Air Brake Integrated I.D. module and terminal block for ECP brake application (NY-1084)
US6717396B2 (en) * 2002-03-07 2004-04-06 Visteon Global Technologies, Inc. Housing with retainer tab for positioning a current sensor magnetic field concentrating core

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2782195A4 (en) * 2012-01-05 2015-08-26 Japan Aviation Electron Connector and connector assembly
US9413118B2 (en) 2012-01-05 2016-08-09 Japan Aviation Electronics Industry, Limited Connector and connector assembly
CN111758305A (en) * 2018-02-22 2020-10-09 Zf腓德烈斯哈芬股份公司 Damping device for power electronics applications
CN111758305B (en) * 2018-02-22 2022-02-08 Zf腓德烈斯哈芬股份公司 Damping device for power electronics applications

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US5984729A (en) Connector with protection from radiated and conducted electromagnetic emissions
JP5435825B2 (en) Connector and connector assembly
CN1253719C (en) Current sensor assembly
CN103069283A (en) Current detector
JP2008147030A (en) Branch connector
JP2009506487A (en) Wiring device with electromagnetic switchgear
CN107589687A (en) The interconnection module that breaker and contactor for electric component interconnect
CN107591298A (en) Module for the interconnection of the breaker and contactor of electric component
EP3555895B1 (en) Combination of an electricity conducting element, such as bushing, and a connector cable
JP2017130444A (en) Cable connector
US10403995B2 (en) Electrical connector, electronic component, and assembly method
US20150301087A1 (en) Differential current measuring module
US20220354006A1 (en) Signal transmission circuit and electronic control device
US11796574B2 (en) Integration of current sensor with busbar
US8403685B2 (en) Electrical signal connector
JP2012047564A (en) Current detection apparatus
WO2005119851A1 (en) Terminal block and current sensor integration
JP4462398B2 (en) Antenna device
JP2009146570A (en) Joint connector
KR20170014245A (en) Receptacle
US20070222432A1 (en) Appliance Terminal
CN109839520B (en) Measuring device for an electrical switching device
CN115918273A (en) Electrical connector
US12088318B2 (en) Communication apparatus
US8711577B2 (en) Connector with shielding device and method for manufacturing connector

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AE AG AL AM AT AU AZ BA BB BG BR BW BY BZ CA CH CN CO CR CU CZ DE DK DM DZ EC EE EG ES FI GB GD GE GH GM HR HU ID IL IN IS JP KE KG KM KP KR KZ LC LK LR LS LT LU LV MA MD MG MK MN MW MX MZ NA NG NI NO NZ OM PG PH PL PT RO RU SC SD SE SG SK SL SM SY TJ TM TN TR TT TZ UA UG US UZ VC VN YU ZA ZM ZW

AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): BW GH GM KE LS MW MZ NA SD SL SZ TZ UG ZM ZW AM AZ BY KG KZ MD RU TJ TM AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LT LU MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR BF BJ CF CG CI CM GA GN GQ GW ML MR NE SN TD TG

121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application
NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: DE

WWW Wipo information: withdrawn in national office

Country of ref document: DE

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase