Sensor device for an electrical terminal arrangement, electrical terminal arrangement, electrical terminal block, switchgear cabinet and read-out device

Abstract

A sensor device for a terminal block arrangement including at least one sensor for measuring a physical quantity of the terminal block arrangement or of at least one terminal block of the terminal block arrangement.

Claims

1. A sensor device for a terminal block arrangement having terminal blocks, the sensor device comprising: at least one sensor to measure a physical quantity of the terminal block arrangement or of at least one of the terminal blocks of the terminal block arrangement; and an antenna, wherein the sensor device is formed as a lateral end plate of the terminal block arrangement, wherein the at least one sensor is accommodated in a receiving pocket of the lateral end plate, the receiving pocket being a slot that has an open end, and wherein an area of the sensor device comprising the antenna partially protrudes from the open end of the receiving pocket of the lateral end plate of the terminal block arrangement.

2. The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor device is formed as a structural unit that is separate from the terminal block arrangement, wherein the sensor device is fastened on the at least one of the terminal blocks of the terminal block arrangement.

3. The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor device comprises a wireless transmission unit, which is set up for a wireless transmission of measured values from the at least one sensor of the sensor device to a readout device separate from the sensor device.

4. The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor device has a first wireless transmission unit for a transmission of measured values from a current measured by the sensor device and at least one second wireless transmission unit for a wireless transmission of measured values from a voltage or potential measured by the sensor device.

5. The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor device is set up for wireless supply of electrical energy which is necessary for operation of the sensor device.

6. The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor device has an energy harvesting device which is set up to wirelessly receive electrical energy from an environment of the sensor device and to provide electrical energy for an electrical supply of components of the sensor device.

7. The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor device has an RFID transponder.

8. The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the lateral end plate predominantly surrounds the at least one sensor and/or an electronic assembly of the sensor device as a housing.

9. The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor device is formed as a structural unit that is arranged at an end of the terminal block arrangement and is adapted to be snapped onto a support rail carrying the terminal blocks.

10. The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is a current sensor or a contactless current sensor.

11. The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is a voltage sensor, or the sensor device includes a further sensor that is a voltage sensor.

12. The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor device is set up for measuring at least two or at least three voltage potentials of the terminal block arrangement or of at least one of the terminal blocks of the terminal block arrangement.

13. The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor device is set up to measure a phase position of a current measured by the sensor device with respect to a voltage potential measured by the sensor device.

14. A terminal block arrangement comprising: at least two terminal blocks; and at least one sensor device according to claim 1.

15. The terminal block arrangement according to claim 14, wherein each of the at least two terminal blocks of the terminal block arrangement have a sensor device according to claim 1.

16. A control cabinet having at least one terminal block arrangement according to claim 14.

17. The control cabinet according to claim 16, wherein a readout device for reading out the measured values of the at least one sensor device of the terminal block arrangement is disposed in the control cabinet.

18. The control cabinet according to claim 17, wherein the readout device is arranged on an inside of a door of the control cabinet.

19. A readout device for reading out measured values from the at least one sensor device of the terminal block arrangement according to claim 14.

20. The readout device according to claim 19, wherein the readout device comprises an RFID reading device.

21. The readout device according to claim 19, wherein the readout device has a gateway.

22. The readout device according to claim 19, wherein the readout device is set up to determine a power measured value using current and voltage measured values that the readout device has read out from the at least one sensor device of the terminal block arrangement.

23. A terminal block with at least one sensor device according to claim 1 arranged on or in the terminal block.

24. A sensor device for a terminal block arrangement having terminal blocks, the sensor device comprising: at least one sensor to measure a physical quantity of the terminal block arrangement or of at least one of the terminal blocks of the terminal block arrangement wherein the sensor device is formed as a lateral end plate of the terminal block arrangement, and wherein the lateral end plate has a coverage area that is laterally arranged on the terminal block arrangement to cover a lateral opening of the terminal block arrangement, wherein the lateral end plate is formed as an angled end plate which has an angled front area, the angled front area being arranged at an angle to the coverage area of the lateral end plate, and wherein the angled front area, when the lateral end plate is mounted on the terminal block arrangement, covers at least a portion of a front side of the terminal block arrangement.

25. The sensor device according to claim 24, wherein the at least one sensor is arranged at a position on the coverage area of the lateral end plate so that when the lateral end plate is arranged laterally on the terminal block arrangement, the at least one sensor is positioned in area of a busbar of the terminal block arrangement.

26. The sensor device according to claim 25, wherein the at least one sensor is arranged on the coverage area of the lateral end plate so as to be spaced apart from outer edge regions of the lateral end plate.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitive of the present invention, and wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a terminal block arrangement with two terminal blocks arranged side by side;

(3) FIG. 2 is a lateral sectional view of a terminal block of the terminal block arrangement according to FIG. 2;

(4) FIG. 3 is a front view of a terminal block and an end plate;

(5) FIG. 4 is a sensor device;

(6) FIG. 5 shows the arrangement according to FIG. 3, including a sensor device inserted therein according to FIG. 4;

(7) FIG. 6 is a side view of the end plate with the sensor device according to FIG. 5;

(8) FIGS. 7 to 9 show different structural embodiments of sensor devices;

(9) FIG. 10 is a control cabinet having a terminal block arrangement;

(10) FIG. 11 is a block diagram view of a sensor device and a readout device;

(11) FIG. 12 is a further structural embodiment of a sensor device;

(12) FIGS. 13, 14 show a front view of a terminal block;

(13) FIG. 15 is a front view of a terminal block arrangement having 5 terminal blocks; and

(14) FIG. 16 is a schematic view of a terminal block having a sensor device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(15) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a terminal block arrangement 7 with two terminal blocks 8 arranged side by side. These terminal blocks 8 are each mutually adapted in such a way that plug openings designed as jumper slots 9 are aligned in one direction at the top of the insulating material housing 10 of the terminal blocks 8.

(16) It can be seen that the terminal blocks 8 each have at least one busbar 11 with spring clip terminals 12 for clamping electrical conductors to the busbar 11, which are introduced in a conductor insertion opening 13 in the insulating material housing 10. In the busbar 11, a plug-in opening 14 is further provided, wherein the jumper slot 9 introduced in the insulating material housing 10 in the terminal block 8 leads to the plug-in opening 14. In the illustrated embodiment, a clamping spring 15 is additionally installed in the plug-in opening 14 of a terminal block 8 so as to press a plug-in tongue 2 of an adjacent jumper 1 inserted in the plug-in opening 14 onto the plug-in tongue 2 by spring force, thus improving the current transition.

(17) On their side opposite the jumper slot 9, the terminal blocks 8 have a clip base 16, which is provided in the basically known manner for snapping the terminal blocks 8 onto a mounting rail.

(18) It can be seen that the adjacent jumper 1 shown has a web 4 having further plug-in tongues projecting therefrom and laterally extending beyond these two shown terminal blocks 8. The number of plug-in tongues of an adjacent jumper 1 and thus the length of the web 4 is almost arbitrary and depends on the particular need.

(19) The view according to FIG. 2 illustrates that an inventive sensor device 100 can be used on a terminal block 8 of the previously described terminal block arrangement 7, for example to measure the current flowing through the bus bar 11. For this purpose, the sensor device 100 can, for example, be inserted into a jumper slot 9 and be fastened there, for example, by a clamp fastening, latching or adhesive fastening.

(20) The sensor device 100 arranged in the jumper slot 9 has a slender, elongated shape. At one end of the sensor device, which is arranged in the vicinity of the busbar 11, there is a sensor 105 of the sensor device 100, for example a contactless current sensor. At the other end of the sensor device 100 there is an antenna 101 of the sensor device 100. The area of the antenna 101 of the sensor device thus protrudes from the terminal block 8, which is favorable for wirelessly transmitting measured values to the readout device and for wirelessly supplying the sensor device 100 with electrical energy. In addition to the components already described the sensor device 100 generally has further electrical and/or electronic components, which are shown in simplified form in FIG. 2 as an electronic assembly 106. The electronic assembly 106 can be arranged in the sensor device between the sensor 105 and the antenna 101.

(21) On the left, next to the terminal block 8, FIG. 2 shows an alternative embodiment of the sensor device 100, which is set up for mounting in the jumper slot 9 or another slot of the terminal block 8. The embodiment of the sensor device 100 shown on the left is characterized by an angled shape. A region of the sensor device 100 that can be plugged into the jumper slot 9 or another slot of the terminal block 8 in turn includes the at least one sensor 105 and the electronic assembly 106. The antenna 101 is arranged in a top region of the sensor device 100 formed at an angle thereto. This has an advantageous effect on the wireless transmission of the measured values and the energy. The sensor device 100 can have a fixed (rigid) angled shape, for example at an angle of approximately 90 degrees. The sensor device 100 can also have a joint, as will be described below with reference to the embodiment of FIG. 8. The hinge allows for the antenna to be aligned at a desired angle. The angle can then be determined by the user.

(22) FIG. 3 shows a further option for housing a sensor device 100. A terminal 8 of the type previously described can be seen, namely in the viewing direction in which the conductor insertion openings 13 and the jumper slots 9 are viewed. As could already be seen in FIG. 1, the terminal block 8 can be formed in such a way that it has a housing which is open to one side. This housing is then to be sealed with an end plate 30. In one embodiment of the invention, the end plate 30 is used as an option to accommodate a sensor device 100. For this purpose, the sensor device 100 must be constructed relatively flat. FIG. 3 shows an alternative in such a way that the end plate 30 is widened somewhat in contrast to conventional end plates and that it comprises a receiving pocket 31 for receiving the sensor device 100.

(23) FIG. 4 shows such a sensor device 100 in a comparable viewing direction as the components shown in FIG. 3. In this case, the antennas 101 and an intermediate connecting piece 107 can be seen. FIG. 5 shows the sensor device 100 inserted into the receiving pocket 31 of the end plate 30.

(24) So that the arrangement according to FIG. 5 permits good measuring of a current flowing through the terminal block 8, the current sensor 105 of the sensor device 100 must be placed accordingly. This is shown in FIG. 6. Due to the illustrated placement of the current sensor 105, it is arranged approximately at the level of the busbar 11 of the terminal block 8, so that in turn reliable current measuring is possible. The dotted line shows the spatial extent of the connecting piece 107 arranged in the pocket 31, which, for example, can be formed as a printed circuit board.

(25) FIG. 7 shows the sensor device 100 already described with reference to FIG. 2 in a separate view. This embodiment of the sensor device 100 is particularly suitable for insertion into a slot of a terminal block because of its narrow, elongated design.

(26) FIG. 8 shows a variant of a sensor device 100, which also has a narrow, elongated shape. In contrast to the previously described embodiments, the sensor device 100 is divided into a first section 108 and a second section 110. The first section 108 is connected via a joint 109 to the second section 110. The joint 109 can be designed, for example, as a ball joint or a planar joint. This embodiment allows for even greater flexibility when adapting the sensor device 100 to specific installation situations. Thus, for example, the sensor 105 may be located in the second section 110. The antenna 101 may be arranged in the first section 108. The first section 108 may altogether be formed as an antenna. This allows for the sensor device to be well adapted to the conditions of the wireless transmission, in particular by means of a suitable alignment of the antenna 101 to the readout device.

(27) The sensor device may also altogether be formed as an angled sensor module, for example in that a fixed angle of e.g. approximately 60 degrees or approximately 90 degrees is provided between a first region and a second region of the sensor module. In this case, the previously described joint 109 is not absolutely necessary.

(28) FIG. 9 shows a further embodiment of a sensor device 100, which can be applied in various ways. Again, the antenna 101 is visible. The antenna 101 is connected to the sensor 105 by means of the electronic assembly 106 and, where appropriate, by an additional connecting element 111. In this way, a certain longitudinal extension and thus a certain distance is created between the antenna 101 and the sensor 105. This again makes it possible to position the sensor 105 close to the location at which the physical quantity is to be measured. The antenna 101 may, however, be placed closer, in the region of the readout device. Adapting to the particular circumstances required can be achieved by defining a certain length of the connecting element 111, for example.

(29) The sensor device 100 according to FIG. 9, for example, can be arranged in the pocket 31 of the end plate 30, or it may be inserted in a slot of the terminal block. A further possibility to use the sensor device 100 consists in that, for example, it is fixedly integrated in a terminal block, e.g. in a high current terminal. In this case, the sensor device 100 would not be attached to the terminal block by the user, but instead would already be integrated there by the manufacturer in the manufacturing process.

(30) FIG. 10 shows a control cabinet 40 in a perspective view. The control cabinet 40 has a housing body 41 and a door 43. The door 43 is pivotally connected to the housing body 41. FIG. 10 shows the control cabinet 40 with an open door 43. A mounting rail 42 is located at a rear panel in the housing body 41. On the mounting rail 42, a plurality of terminal blocks 8 are attached to form a terminal block arrangement. In the terminal block arrangement, two sensor devices according to the invention are arranged, namely on the one hand the shape of the end plate 30 with the built-in sensor device described using FIGS. 3 to 5, as well as a sensor device designed as a structural unit 35 that is compatible with terminal blocks. This structural unit 35 is arranged between two terminal blocks 8 and, like the terminal blocks, is fastened to the mounting rail 42.

(31) FIG. 10 also shows a readout device 200, which is set up for the wireless readout of measured values from the sensor devices. The readout device 200 may be connected to a wireless data transmission module 300 or contain the latter, for example, a wireless unit. In this way, the measured values of the sensor devices determined by the readout device can be wirelessly transmitted to a remote evaluation device.

(32) Alternatively, the readout device 200 can also be connected via a cable 210 to the evaluation device, for example via a data network.

(33) The readout device 200 and/or the wireless data transmission unit 300 may be arranged in the door 43, that is, on the inside of the door 43. When the door 43 is closed, the readout device 200 is located in the immediate vicinity of the antennas of the sensor devices.

(34) FIG. 11 shows a sensor device 100 and a readout device 200 in a block diagram.

(35) The sensor device 100 comprises the previously described antenna 101. A receiving branch 102 of the sensor device 100 and a transmitting branch 103 of the sensor device are connected with the antenna 101. Via the receiving branch 102, electromagnetic radiation received via the antenna 101, can be converted into electric energy, for example, which is used to supply power for the operation of the sensor device 100. For this purpose, the receiving branch 102 can have a rectifier circuit and a voltage multiplier circuit, for example.

(36) Via the receiving branch 102, the sensor device 100 can also measure and decode data information contained in the electromagnetic waves received via the antenna 101. The measured data are then passed on to an internal control computer 104 of the sensor device 100. The control computer 104 is the central control element of the sensor device 100. The control computer 104 is connected to the sensor 105. The control computer 104 accordingly controls the sensor 105 and measures the desired physical quantity, for example, an electric current, via the sensor 105. In this way, the control computer 104 can output measured values of the physical quantity via the transmitting branch 103. The transmitting branch 103 then provides for a corresponding modulated output of a signal via the antenna 101. The antenna 101 may, for example, be formed as a dipole.

(37) The readout device 200 has a transmitting branch 203 and a receiving branch 204. The transmitting branch 203 and the receiving branch 204 are coupled to an antenna 201 of the reading device 200 via a circulator 202. The antenna 201 can be designed as a dipole, for example.

(38) The readout device 200 generates the corresponding signals in the transmitting branch 203 for the emission of the electromagnetic waves that are to be picked up by the sensor device 100 via the antenna 101. These electromagnetic waves contain the electrical energy needed for supplying the sensor device and may contain data signals.

(39) The readout device 200 receives the data contained in the electromagnetic waves transmitted back by the sensor device 100 via the receiving branch 204 and makes them available at an output interface 205.

(40) The data communication between the sensor device 100 and the readout device 200 can also include the transmission of an identification code from the sensor device 100 to the readout device 200.

(41) FIG. 12 shows an embodiment of the sensor module 100, in which in turn an end plate 30 is used. In contrast to the embodiment of FIGS. 3 to 5, the end plate 30 has a coverage area 35 to be arranged on the side of the terminal block and a front area 32 which is angled relative to the cover area 35. The front area 32 does not necessarily have to extend continuously along the entire longitudinal extension of the cover area 35, but may, for example, as can be seen in FIG. 12, be formed as one or more laterally protruding material tongues.

(42) In this embodiment, the end plate 30 does not necessarily have to include the aforementioned pocket 31; it also does not have to be wider than usual end plates, at least not in the coverage area 35. In this embodiment, the sensor 105 and the electronics assembly 106 can be integrated in the end plate 30, namely in the coverage area 35. In contrast, the antennas 101 can be arranged in the angled front area 32. The tongues of the angled front area 32 can be placed in such a way that certain areas of the front side of the terminal block are not covered, in particular not the label fields, the conductor insertion openings and jumper slots.

(43) For example, an angle of approximately 90 degrees can be present between the coverage area 35 and the front area 32.

(44) FIG. 13 shows an embodiment of a terminal block 8 in which the electrical power is measured by providing two sensor devices, each with its own antenna 101. One sensor device is used to measure the current, the other sensor device to measure the voltage or at least one electrical potential. For example, the sensor devices can each be designed as RFID transponders. The one sensor device can, e.g. comprise a magnetic field sensor used to measure a magnetic field measurement and thus a signal characterizing the current flowing on the busbar.

(45) The other transponder has one or more connections for the potential tap in order to measure potential values. The transponders then transmit the measured magnetic field values and potential values to the readout device 200. There, or in a separate evaluation device, voltage values and current values and from these, a value of electric power, can be determined from the transmitted values.

(46) FIG. 14 shows a terminal block 8, which is equipped in a way that is comparable to that of the terminal block of FIG. 13. In contrast to FIG. 13, where the antennas 101 and accordingly the RFID transponders are arranged one above the other, FIG. 14 shows an arrangement in each case at the sides of the terminal block 8. The respective antennas 101 then extend with their predominant longitudinal extent (greatest longitudinal dimension) parallel to the side walls of the terminal block 8.

(47) The sensor devices for the current measurement and/or the voltage measurement can also be integrated in an end plate 30. In this case, the end plate 30 can be equipped with one or more connections for the potential tap, for example with at least 4 connections for the potential tap. In this case, a terminal block provided with an end plate 30 equipped in this way can serve as a connecting element for an electrical line to be measured, e.g. for the neutral conductor. Then, one of the connections for the potential tap can be connected to the voltage tester slot of the terminal block. The sensor device, e.g. an RFID tag, can then measure the potential value of the connected electrical conductor, for example the neutral conductor, and transmit it to the readout device 200. Another free connection for the voltage tap can be connected with the voltage tap of a different terminal block, for example with a terminal block carrying phase L1. The potential value measured via this connection is also transmitted to the readout device 200. In the readout device 200, the voltage value can then be determined by subtracting the potential values, so that the value of the electric power can be determined along with the measured current value.

(48) FIG. 15 shows a terminal block arrangement having a plurality of terminal blocks 8, in this case, by way of example, 5 terminal blocks, each equipped with sensor devices of the inventive type, wherein only the respective antennas 101 of these sensor devices are visible in FIG. 15. For example, a terminal block can be formed for connecting the neutral conductor, and 3 terminal blocks for connecting the respective phase conductor L1, L2, L3. This allows for the realization of an interconnection for three-phase power measurement on the terminal block arrangement by means of the inventive sensor devices.

(49) FIG. 16 shows an embodiment of a terminal block 8, which is provided with a sensor device 100 for current measurement and a further sensor device for voltage measurement. The sensor device 100 for measuring current can be designed according to one of the previously described embodiments. The sensor device 100 communicates via wireless data transmission 116 with the readout device 200. The sensor device for the voltage measurement is explained in more detail below.

(50) It is assumed that the voltage between the electrical conductors 20, 21 is to be measured. For example, the conductor 21 can be the neutral conductor; the conductor 20 a phase conductor L1, L2 or L3. FIG. 16 shows an embodiment variant with contactless capacitive voltage measuring. A capacitive measuring electrode 112 is arranged in the vicinity of the electrical conductor 21. Another capacitive measuring electrode 113 is arranged in the vicinity of the electrical conductor 20. The measuring electrodes 112, 113 are connected via electrical lines to a circuit 114 or a network for processing the signals of the capacitive measuring electrodes 112, 113. In the circuit 114, for example, the respective voltage value, i.e. the difference between the voltage potentials of the electrical conductors 20, 21 and/or a phase information with respect to the phase position of the voltage, can be directly measured. The quantities determined in this way can be output as analog electrical signals or digital signals to transducer electronics 115. Via the transducer electronics 115, wireless data transmission 117 of the measured values to the readout device 200 is then carried out.

(51) The circuit 114 may have, e.g., a filter circuit or filter networks for filtering the signals picked up via the measuring electrodes 112, 113. The circuit 114 can also comprise a measurement amplifier and/or a high-voltage analog-to-digital converter.

(52) Alternatively, the voltage potentials conducted to the circuit 114 or at least one of these voltage potentials can be directly tapped by means of galvanic coupling with the respective conductor 20, 21.

(53) The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are to be included within the scope of the following claims.