Fuse having an integrated measuring function, and fuse body
11508541 · 2022-11-22
Assignee
Inventors
Cpc classification
H01H2085/0275
ELECTRICITY
H01H2085/0266
ELECTRICITY
H01H85/30
ELECTRICITY
International classification
Abstract
A fuse includes an integrated measuring function. In an embodiment, the fuse includes a fuse housing which in turn has a first receiving space delimited by a pressure body and a second receiving space which is spatially separated from the first receiving space and is delimited by a protective body, the first and second receiving spaces being arranged one behind the other in a direction of longitudinal extent. A fusible conductor is accommodated and mounted in the first receiving space and a measuring device is accommodated and mounted in the second receiving space. The measuring device has a current transformer and an electronic assembly which is electrically conductively connected to the current transformer. The current transformer and the electronic assembly are arranged one behind the other in the direction of longitudinal extent.
Claims
1. A fuse including an integrated measuring function, comprising: a fuse housing, including a pressure body, the pressure body including a first receiving space bounded by the pressure body and a second receiving space, physically delimited from the first receiving space and bounded by a protective body, the first and second receiving spaces being arranged one behind another in a direction of longitudinal extent; a fusible element, accommodated and mounted in the first receiving space; and a measuring device, accommodated and mounted in the second receiving space, including a current transformer and an electronics assembly electrically conductively connected to the current transformer, the current transformer and the electronics assembly being arranged one behind another in the direction of longitudinal extent.
2. The fuse of claim 1, wherein the electronics assembly is arranged between the current transformer and a closure element of the fuse.
3. The fuse of claim 1, wherein the current transformer almost completely fills the second receiving space in a radial direction oriented orthogonally in relation to the direction of longitudinal extent.
4. The fuse of claim 1, wherein the electronics assembly includes a printed circuit board.
5. The fuse of claim 1, wherein the electronics assembly is designed in a disk-like manner such that height of the electronics assembly, together with a height of the current transformer, corresponds substantially to a height of the second receiving space.
6. The fuse of claim 1, wherein the electronics assembly is designed in a ring-like shape including an outer radius and an inner radius and including an opening, configured to receive a connection element of the fuse through the opening.
7. The fuse of claim 6, wherein the ring-like shape of the electronics assembly is not closed.
8. The fuse of claim 1, wherein the electronics assembly includes a transmission device to transmit a measurement signal detected by the measuring device to a reception device arranged outside the fuse.
9. The fuse of claim 8, wherein the measurement signal is transmitted by the transmission device to the reception device in a wireless manner.
10. The fuse of claim 1, wherein an overall installation space required for the fuse corresponds to an installation space of a standardized NH fuse.
11. The fuse of claim 1, further comprising: a fuse body having a first section, designed as the pressure body bounding the first receiving space, to receive the fusible element; and a second section, designed as a protective body bounding the second receiving space, to receive the measuring device, the first receiving space and the second receiving space being arranged physically delimited from one another, one behind another in a direction of longitudinal extent in the fuse body.
12. The fuse of claim 11, wherein the fuse body is designed in one piece.
13. The fuse of claim 11, wherein the fuse body is formed from a ceramic material or a thermostable plastic.
14. The fuse of claim 11, wherein the fuse body is designed in multiple parts, and wherein the pressure body is fixedly but detachably connected to the protective body.
15. The fuse of claim 14, wherein the pressure body and the protective body are formed from different materials.
16. The fuse of claim 11, wherein the pressure body and the protective body are surrounded by an additional sleeve.
17. The fuse of claim 11, wherein the overall installation space required for the fuse corresponds to an installation space of a standardized NH fuse.
18. The fuse of claim 2, wherein the current transformer almost completely fills the second receiving space in a radial direction oriented orthogonally in relation to the direction of longitudinal extent.
19. The fuse of claim 2, wherein the electronics assembly includes a printed circuit board.
20. The fuse of claim 2, wherein the electronics assembly is designed in a disk-like manner such that height of the electronics assembly, together with a height of the current transformer, corresponds substantially to a height of the second receiving space.
21. The fuse of claim 2, further comprising: a fuse body having a first section, designed as the pressure body bounding the first receiving space, to receive the fusible element; and a second section, designed as a protective body bounding the second receiving space, to receive the measuring device, the first receiving space and the second receiving space being arranged physically delimited from one another, one behind another in a direction of longitudinal extent in the fuse body.
22. The fuse of claim 21, wherein the fuse body is designed in one piece.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) Two example embodiments of the fuse are explained in more detail below with reference to the appended figures. In the figures:
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5) In the various figures of the drawing, identical parts are always provided with the same reference sign. The description applies to all of the drawing figures in which the corresponding part can likewise be seen.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS
(6) The fuse according to at least one embodiment of the invention has an integrated measuring function has a fuse housing which, for its part, has a first receiving space bounded by a pressure body and a second receiving space physically delimited from the first receiving space and bounded by a protective body, which first and second receiving spaces are arranged one behind the other in a direction of longitudinal extent. In this case, a fusible element is accommodated and mounted in the first receiving space and a measuring device is accommodated and mounted in the second receiving space. The measuring device has a current transformer and an electronics assembly electrically conductively connected to the current transformer, wherein the current transformer and the electronics assembly are arranged one behind the other in the direction of longitudinal extent.
(7) With the aid of the measuring device, it becomes possible to identify the electric current flowing through the fuse directly at the fuse. In this case, the first and the second receiving space are arranged one behind the other in a direction of longitudinal extent L of the fuse, that is to say in an axial direction. In this case, the pressure body serves to absorb the pressure occurring when the fuse is heated or tripped. Stringent requirements are therefore placed on the mechanical strength and stability of the protective housing. In contrast thereto, only one protective housing is necessary to delimit the second receiving space in order to receive and to fasten the measuring device and to protect it against external disruptions such as moisture and/or dirt. Considerably less stringent requirements are therefore placed on the mechanical stability of this housing.
(8) In this case, the current transformer arranged in the second receiving space serves firstly as a current sensor which forwards the detected current measurement values to the electronics assembly, where the measurement values are processed further. Secondly, the energy required for this is likewise generated with the aid of the current transformer by electromagnetic induction from the primary current, that is to say the operating current of the fuse. The current transformer therefore also serves as an energy source for the electronics assembly. In order to provide sufficient energy for the electronics assembly even in the case of low operating currents of the fuse and therefore to ensure the reliability of the measuring device, the current transformer has to be dimensioned to be relatively large for this purpose.
(9) At the same time, the fuse has to be kept compact in order to also be able to be used for retrofit applications in the context of retrofitting in or modernizing existing systems, in which a conventional fuse without a measuring apparatus is replaced. Since the fuse ideally has the dimensions of a standardized NH fuse in this case, the second receiving space in which the measuring device is received and mounted, in particular in the axial direction, that is to say in the direction of longitudinal extent L, is severely limited. The second receiving space can be kept compact owing to the arrangement of the current transformer and the electronics assembly one behind the other in the axial direction, that is to say in the direction of longitudinal extent.
(10) In an advantageous development of the fuse, the electronics assembly is arranged between the current transformer and a closure element of the fuse.
(11) In principle, there are two options for arranging the current transformer and the electronics assembly one behind the other in the direction of longitudinal extent: either the electronics assembly is arranged between the current transformer and the pressure housing or between the current transformer and the closure element. The latter option has the advantage that the electronics assembly that is sensitive in comparison to the current transformer is arranged further remote from the pressure housing of the fuse, so that when the fuse is tripped, the associated increase in pressure and temperature does not have a direct effect on the electronics assembly. As a result, the probability of the electronics system failing can be reduced.
(12) In a further advantageous development of the fuse, the current transformer almost completely fills the second receiving space in a radial direction oriented orthogonally in relation to the direction of longitudinal extent.
(13) In order to be able to arrange a current transformer that is as large as possible in the second receiving space, the electronics assembly and the current transformer are arranged one behind the other in the axial direction, that is to say in the direction of longitudinal extent. In this way, the current transformer can be dimensioned such that it almost completely fills the available second receiving space in the radial direction. The volume of the current transformer can therefore be optimized to the effect that the energy provided for the electronics assembly is as high as possible. In this way, it is possible to construct a fuse having an integrated measuring function which does not require an external energy source for supplying energy to the measuring device.
(14) In a further advantageous development of the fuse, the electronics assembly has a printed circuit board. In order to meet the requirements of a design of the measuring apparatus in as compact a manner as possible together with as large a current transformer volume as possible, it is necessary for the electronics assembly to be designed in as compact a manner as possible too. This is possible by means of a printed circuit board that is kept compact, for example by way of using integrated circuits.
(15) In a further advantageous development of the fuse, the electronics assembly is designed in a disk-like manner in such a way that the height of the electronics assembly together with the height of the current transformer corresponds substantially to the height of the second receiving space.
(16) The disk-like construction allows a flat design of the electronics assembly, as a result of which the measuring device—and therefore the second receiving space and the protective housing surrounding it—can be kept as compact as possible in the axial direction. In a radial direction which is oriented orthogonally in relation to the axial direction, the electronics assembly can in this case take up the entire width of the second receiving space as far as the bounding inner wall of the protective housing.
(17) In a further advantageous development of the fuse, the electronics assembly is designed in a ring-like manner, with an outer radius and with an opening with an inner radius for leading a connection element of the fuse through. Owing to the ring-like design, the electronics assembly can be adapted to the outline of the current transformer. In this case, the outer radius can be selected such that it corresponds substantially to the radius of the current transformer. A compact construction of the measuring device can be realized in this way.
(18) In a further advantageous development of the fuse, the ring-like shape of the electronics assembly (122) is not closed. If the electronics assembly can be designed in a correspondingly compact manner, an open construction—for example in the form of a C or a semicircle—is likewise possible.
(19) In a further advantageous development of the fuse, the electronics assembly has a transmission device in order to transmit a measurement signal detected by the measuring device to a reception device arranged outside the fuse.
(20) With the aid of the transmission device, the ascertained measurement data or else further-processed data based on said measurement data can be transmitted to an external unit, for example a data collection device or a control station. In this way, it is possible to be able to ascertain the operating state of the fuse at any time, without a technician or installer who inspects the fuse on site being required for this purpose.
(21) In a further advantageous development of the fuse, the measurement signal is transmitted by the transmission device to the reception device in a wireless manner.
(22) Wireless transmission of the data to the external reception device significantly simplifies the expenditure on installation of the fuse. For the wireless transmission of the data—measurement values or preprocessed data based on measurement values—by the transmission device to the reception device, common transmission methods such as Bluetooth, RFID (both active and passive), Zigbee, etc. come into consideration, for example. The energy required for the transmission is advantageously obtained here again with the aid of the current transformer by electromagnetic induction from the primary current.
(23) In a further advantageous development of the fuse, the overall installation space required for the fuse corresponds to the installation space of a standardized NH fuse.
(24) By virtue of the fuse according to the invention having an integrated measuring function corresponding in terms of its installation size to the size of a conventional NH fuse, said fuse can also be used for retrofit applications in the context of retrofitting in or modernizing existing systems in which a conventional fuse without a measuring apparatus is replaced with a fuse having an integrated measuring function.
(25) The fuse body according to at least one embodiment of the invention, for a fuse of at least one embodiment, has a first section which is designed as a pressure body which bounds the first receiving space for receiving the fusible element, and a second section which is designed as a protective body which bounds the second receiving space for receiving the measuring device. In this case, the first receiving space and the second receiving space are arranged physically delimited from one another and one behind the other in a direction of longitudinal extent in the fuse body.
(26) In this case, the first section of the fuse body is designed in a pressure-stable manner, that is to say to receive the pressure occurring when the fuse is tripped and therefore constitutes the actual pressure body of the fuse, while the second section merely constitutes a protective function for the measuring apparatus with significantly less stringent requirements being placed on the mechanical stability and strength thereof. The different mechanical strength properties of the two sections can be realized by means of a suitable manufacturing method, for example a 3D printing method. In this case, the first and the second section form one structural unit, that is to say the two sections do not have to be assembled first upon exchange or assembly of the fuse but they are already fixedly connected to one another, as a result of which the expenditure on assembly is significantly simplified.
(27) In an advantageous development, the fuse body is designed in one piece. In particular with respect to the production of the fuse body with the aid of an additive manufacturing process, colloquially also referred to as “3D printing”, a one-piece design of the fuse body is advantageous since this avoids subsequent assembly steps. The assembly costs can be further reduced as a result.
(28) In a further advantageous development, the fuse body is formed from a ceramic material or a thermostable plastic. Ceramic materials are particularly suitable for producing a fuse body on account of their high pressure resistance. Thermostable plastics, provided that they are sufficiently thermally stable, are distinguished by contrast by their simplified processability with comparatively low production costs at the same time.
(29) In a further advantageous development, the fuse body is the fuse body is designed in multiple parts, wherein the pressure body is fixedly but detachably connected to the protective body. This results in the advantage that, after the fuse has tripped, the second receiving space in which the measuring apparatus is received can potentially be reused. This is of particular interest when the material costs and manufacturing costs of the measuring device are comparatively high in comparison with the rest of the fuse.
(30) In a further advantageous development of the fuse body, the pressure body and the protective body are formed from different materials. The two receiving spaces can be adapted to the different requirements respectively placed on them by selecting suitable materials for the pressure body and the protective body.
(31) In a further advantageous development of the fuse body, the pressure body and the protective body are surrounded by an additional sleeve. With the aid of the additional sleeve, which may also consist of paper or a plastic coating for example, the structural unit of the fuse body is accentuated. Furthermore, in multiple-part constructions, the disassembly by unauthorized third parties is prevented or at least indicated.
(32) In a further advantageous development of the fuse body, the overall installation space required for the fuse corresponds to the installation space of a standardized NH fuse. As a result, the fuse body can also be used for retrofit fuses, that is to say as a replacement for a conventional fuse without a measuring function.
(33)
(34) The rest of the cavity is for the most part completely filled with an extinguishing medium 6 that serves to extinguish and cool the fuse 1 when it is tripped and completely surrounds the fusible element 5. The extinguishing medium 6 used is, for example, quartz sand. Instead of the one fusible element 5 illustrated in
(35) The fusible element 5 generally includes a highly conductive material, such as copper or silver, and has a plurality of rows of narrow points 7 and one or more solder deposits 8—what are known as solder points—over its length, that is to say in its direction of longitudinal extent L. The trip characteristic curve of the fuse 1 can likewise be influenced and adapted to the respective application by means of the rows of narrow points 7 and the solder points 8. In the case of currents that are lower than the rated current of the fuse 1, only so much power loss is converted in the fusible element 5 that said power loss can be quickly output to the outside in the form of heat by way of the extinguishing sand 6, the protective housing 2 and the two connection elements 3. The temperature of the fusible element 5 in this case does not increase beyond its melting point. If a current that lies in the overload range of the fuse 1 is flowing, then the temperature inside the fuse 1 continuously further increases until the melting point of the fusible element 5 is exceeded and this melts through one of the rows of narrow points 7. In the case of high fault currents—as occur for example due to a short circuit—so much power is converted in the fusible element 5 that this is heated practically over the entire length and consequently melts at all of the rows of narrow points 7 at the same time.
(36) Since liquid copper or silver still has good electrically conductive properties, the flow of current is not yet interrupted at this time. The melt formed from the fusible element 5 is therefore heated further until it finally transitions into the gaseous state, as a result of which a plasma forms. An arc occurs in the process so as to further maintain the current flow across the plasma. In the last stage of a fuse disconnection, the conductive gases react with the extinguishing medium 6, which for the most part includes quartz sand in the case of conventional fuses 1. This is melted due to the extremely high temperatures, brought about due to the arc, in the environment of the arc, which leads to a physical reaction of the molten fusible element material with the surrounding quartz sand 6. Since the reaction product occurring in this case is not electrically conductive, the current flow between the two connection elements 3 quickly drops to zero. In this case, however, it should be borne in mind that a specific mass of fusible element material also requires a corresponding mass of extinguishing medium. Only in this way is it possible to ensure that there is still enough extinguishing medium 6 present at the end of the fuse disconnection to effectively bind all of the conductive plasma.
(37)
(38) The fuse 100 has two connection elements 103, which are designed as blade contacts and which are fixedly and tightly mechanically connected to the fuse housing 110, for the purpose of electrical contact-connection. However, the design of the two connection elements 103 is not essential to the invention. Inside the fuse 100, more specifically: in the first receiving space 115, the fusible element 105 is electrically conductively connected to the two connection elements 103. If the fuse according to the invention is a fuse solidified with sand, the remaining volume of the first receiving space 115 is filled with sand, generally quartz sand, which completely surrounds the fusible element 105 and serves as extinguishing medium for extinguishing and cooling the fusible element 105 when the fuse 100 is tripped.
(39) The second section 112 is designed as a protective body 114 which serves to receive a measuring device 120 and bounds a second receiving space 116 provided for this purpose to the outside. Since the protective body 114 only serves to receive and to fasten the measuring device 120 and to protect it against external disruptions such as moisture and/or dirt, considerably less stringent requirements are placed on the mechanical stability of the protective body 114 than on that of the pressure body 113. In this case, the protective body 114 is fixedly connected to the pressure body 113, wherein the first receiving space 115 and the second receiving space 116 are physically delimited from one another by a partition wall 117. The partition wall 117 may be a separate component; however, it is likewise possible to design the partition wall 117 as a constituent part of the pressure body 113 or of the protective body 114. The second receiving space 116 is closed by a further closure element 104 counter to the direction of longitudinal extent L. The lower connection element 103 designed as a blade contact is inserted through the second receiving space 116 into the first receiving space 115 and is electrically conductively connected there to the fusible element 105 by the further closure element 104.
(40) The measuring device 120 has a current transformer 121 and an electronics assembly 122 which is connected to the current transformer 121. The current transformer 121 is designed in a ring-like or toroidal manner and arranged around the lower connection element 103: if a primary current flows through the fuse 100, an induction current (secondary current), the magnitude of which can be inferred from the magnitude of the primary current, is generated in the current transformer 121. These measurement values can be processed with the aid of the electronics assembly 122 connected to the current transformer 121. For this purpose, the electronics assembly 122 has a microprocessor for processing or preprocessing the ascertained measurement data. Furthermore, the electronics assembly 122 can also have a transmission device in order to transmit the measurement data or the processed data to a reception device (not illustrated)—for example a control station or a data collection device—arranged outside the fuse 100.
(41) In order to be able to dispense with an additional energy source for the data processing transmission, the quantity of energy required for the electronics assembly 122 is likewise obtained from the secondary current generated by the current transformer 121. In order to be able to provide sufficient energy in this case, a current transformer volume that is as large as possible is required. Therefore, the current transformer 121 is designed such that its width in the radial direction R is maximized, that is to say the current transformer 121 utilizes the width of the installation space, available in the protective body 114, of the second receiving space 116 as completely as possible. In the direction of longitudinal extent L, the height of the current transformer 121 corresponds to the height of the second receiving space 116 minus the height of the electronics assembly 122. In other words: in the direction of longitudinal extent L, the second receiving space 116 is utilized as completely as possible by the current transformer 121 and the electronics assembly 122. In this way, the volume of the current transformer 121 can be optimized, that is to say can be increased in size to such an extent that reliable measurement and transmission of the measurement data can be ensured even in the case of a low primary current.
(42) Upon close consideration of the sectional illustration shown in
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LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS
(46) 1 Fuse 2 Protective housing/pressure body 3 Connection element 4 Closure cap 5 Fusible element 6 Extinguishing medium/extinguishing sand 7 Row of narrow points 8 Solder deposit 100 Fuse 103 Connection element 104 Closure element 105 Fusible element 110 Fuse housing 111 First section 112 Second section 113 Pressure body 114 Protective body 115 First receiving space 116 Second receiving space 117 Partition wall 120 Measuring device 121 Current transformer 122 Electronics assembly/printed circuit board 123 Opening r.sub.a Outer radius r.sub.i Inner radius L Direction of longitudinal extent R Radial direction
(47) While the present disclosure has been described above by reference to several specific embodiments, it should be understood that embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed. Embodiments of the present disclosure are intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. The scope of the claims conforms to the broadest interpretation, thus including all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.