Clamp meter capable of realizing opening and closing of jaw through mechanical connecting rod mechanism

Abstract

The invention discloses a clamp meter device. The clamp meter device is provided with a meter body and a measurement area. The measurement region includes a fixed jaw having a first jaw arm and a second jaw arm extending from the meter body. The movable jaw is rotatably coupled to the first jaw arm of the fixed jaw at an axis of rotation and is rotatably movable between a closed position and an open position. When the movable jaw is in the open position, the measurement area can clamp a to-be-measured live conductor between the first clamp arm and the second clamp arm of the fixed jaw. When the movable jaw is in the closed position, the movable jaw extends from the first jaw arm to the second jaw arm to form a closed measurement loop for measuring electrical properties of a live conductor without making electrical contact with the electrical conductor. The invention also provides a method of using the clamp meter for electrical measurement.

Description

Background Art Technical Field

[0001] The present application discloses a clamp meter that realizes the opening and closing movement of the jaws by introducing a mechanical linkage mechanism, and a measurement method for measuring current using the clamp meter.

[0002] Description of Related Technologies

[0003] Conventional clamp meters, as electronic tools for current measurement, are widely used in industrial, commercial, and / or residential environments. Clamp meters, as tools for troubleshooting current faults and electrical maintenance of operating equipment, are crucial for engineers and / or technicians. Conventional clamp meters typically include a pair of jaws extending from the clamp meter body. The pair of jaws can be half movable and half fixed, or both halves can be movable, and a rotatable trigger positioned on one or both sides of the clamp meter body. The rotatable trigger can open the movable-side jaws. The jaws can hold a wire, cable, or other conductor for current measurement without disconnecting the equipment to be tested.

[0004] Conventional current transformer clamp meters can measure alternating current (AC) without directly contacting the live conductor. Some variants of clamp meters, such as Hall effect clamp meters, can be used for both alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) measurements. The measurement circuit part in the clamp meter can detect the magnetic field generated by the current flow and convert it into an accurate measurement of the current value. Although various types of clamp meters already exist on the market, there is still a demand for clamp meters that can be conveniently used for measurement operations in narrow and restricted spaces. For example, in a measurement environment where the space adjacent to the conductor to be measured for the jaws to open, enter, and clamp the object to be measured is very narrow. In addition, there is also a great demand for measuring large AC / DC currents in the market. For example, in the photovoltaic energy storage industry, in these application scenarios, the conductors transmitting large currents have very narrow adjacent areas for the clamp meter to probe due to shape or space limitations, making it difficult to use traditional clamp meters for current measurement operations. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Disclosed herein is a clamp meter that realizes the rotational opening and closing movement of the jaws by introducing a mechanical linkage mechanism, where the mechanical linkage mechanism enables the clamp meter to open, hold the conductor to be measured, and close, even in a situation where there is extremely limited lateral clearance around the conductor to be measured for accommodating the clamp meter to clamp.

[0006] Embodiments of the present disclosure include a clamp meter that includes a meter body and a measurement area. The measurement area includes a fixed jaw having a first jaw arm and a second jaw arm extending from the meter body. The measurement area also includes a movable jaw rotatably coupled to the first jaw arm of the fixed jaw. The movable jaw swings between a closed position and an open position about a rotation axis.

[0007] When the movable jaw is in the open position, the measurement area can accommodate a live conductor between the first and second arms of the fixed jaw. Thereafter, the movable jaw can be rotated to the closed position to measure the current in the electrical conductor. When the movable jaw is in the closed position, the movable jaw extends from the first arm to the second arm of the fixed jaw, and the fixed jaw and the movable jaw together form an electrical characteristic measurement circuit for measuring the live conductor without having direct electrical contact with the live conductor.

[0008] As will be discussed in more detail herein, embodiments of the clamp meter may include any combination of the following features or characteristics: wherein the total width of the measurement area remains constant, or substantially the same, as the movable jaw rotates open until fully open; wherein the axis of rotation is provided at the first end of the movable jaw, and when the movable jaw is in the closed position, the second end of the movable jaw abuts the second arm of the fixed jaw; wherein the movable jaw is rotatably coupled to the first arm at the distal end of the first arm of the fixed jaw; and wherein the movable jaw is normally closed.

[0009] Also as discussed herein, embodiments of the clamp meter may arbitrarily combine one or more of the following features or characteristics: the clamp meter further includes an actuator that enables the movable jaw to move between a closed position and an open position, wherein the movable jaw is rotationally connected to the first jaw arm of the fixed jaw via a rotating pair, the rotating pair defining the axis of the movable jaw, and a cam pair that connects the movable jaw and the brake together and can convert the linear motion of the actuator into the rotational motion of the movable jaw; wherein the rotating pair connects the movable jaw to the distal end of the first jaw arm of the fixed jaw, and when in the closed position, the movable jaw The movable jaw traverses the first jaw arm and the second jaw arm of the fixed jaw; wherein the cam pair together with the rotating pair converts the linear movement of the actuator into the rotation of the movable jaw around the rotating axis; wherein the cam pair includes a pin shaft for connecting the movable jaw with the linkage mechanism on the actuator, and the mechanical linkage mechanism can drive the pin shaft to move in conjunction during the movement of the actuator; wherein the actuator includes a sliding switch, and the movement trajectory of the pin shaft of the cam pair is limited by the groove on the mechanical linkage mechanism, therefore, the linear movement of the sliding switch will drive the linkage mechanism to generate a component force acting on the pin shaft, causing it to move relative to the rotating pair. The clamp meter also includes a spring, which is connected to the actuator and keeps the movable jaw in a normally closed state; the clamp meter also includes a sliding pair, which is composed of a pin shaft and a corresponding slide groove. The sliding pair connects the fixed jaw and the mechanical linkage mechanism together and guides the actuator to perform linear movement along the fixed jaw; wherein the first clamp arm and the second clamp arm of the fixed jaw are separated from each other and form a fork shape, and when the movable jaw is in an open state, the size of the fork is sufficient to accommodate the charged conductor to be measured; wherein the first clamp arm and the second clamp arm of the fixed jaw form a U-shaped fork; wherein the first end of the movable jaw is rotatably connected to one end of the first clamp arm of the fixed jaw, and the second end of the movable jaw is close to the end of the second clamp arm of the fixed jaw, so that the movable jaw bridges the first clamp arm and the second clamp arm of the fixed jaw.

[0010] The present disclosure also provides a method for performing electrical measurements using a clamp meter as described herein. For example, one of the methods includes driving the movable jaw of the clamp meter to open a measurement area of ​​the clamp meter, the measurement area including a first and second clamp arms of a fixed jaw extending from a meter body, wherein the movable jaw is driven to rotate around a rotation axis between a fully closed position and a fully open position, and when the movable jaw is driven to an open state, it can clamp a live conductor to be tested so that it is placed in the test area. In some instances, the rotation axis can be placed in the clamp meter away from the meter body. When the movable jaw is in a closed position, the movable jaw bridges the first and second clamp arms of the fixed jaw, so that the fixed jaw and the movable jaw together form a closed loop surrounding the live conductor, thereby achieving the function of non-contact measurement of the electrical characteristics of the live conductor. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] The above and other features of the present application will be more fully and clearly understood by the following description and the appended claims in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It can be understood that these drawings only depict several embodiments of the present application, and thus should not be considered as limiting the scope of the present application. By using the drawings, the present application will be described more clearly and in detail. Additionally, different features in the legends may not necessarily be drawn to scale.

[0012] Figure 1 A front view of a prior art clamp meter is shown.

[0013] Figure 2 A front view of a clamp meter according to the present disclosure is shown, wherein the movable jaws of the clamp meter are shown in the open position.

[0014] Figure 3 Shows Figure 2 a front view of the clamp meter in

[0015] Figure 4 Shows Figure 2 a rear view of the clamp meter in

[0016] Figure 5 Shows Figure 2 a front view of the clamp meter in

[0017] Figure 6 Shows Figure 2 a partial cross-sectional view of the clamp meter in Detailed Description

[0018] Electrical measuring devices, such as clamp ammeters, are widely used in the daily maintenance and fault repair of electrical equipment in industrial sites. In particular, there is also a great demand for measuring large direct current and large alternating current with a clamp meter. For example, in the photovoltaic energy storage industry, technicians may need to measure a 2000A three-phase copper busbar, the width of these copper busbars reaches 80mm, and the spacing between the copper busbar components is only about 40mm. In this special scenario, it is very difficult for a traditional laterally rotating and opening / closing clamp meter to enter the narrow area between the copper busbars and clamp the copper busbars. When the jaws are in the open state, the self-width of the single-sided jaw plus the shape makes its equivalent width greater than the spacing between the copper busbars. As a result, the traditional jaws cannot pass through the narrow area to clamp the energized conductor to be measured, especially the middle-phase copper busbar.

[0019] In addition, traditional clamp meters with rigid jaws and a rotatable trigger provided on the side of the meter body for opening the rigid jaws are inconvenient to operate in narrow and crowded spaces. Flexible coil sensors, although they can be easily slipped over a live conductor for current measurement, can only be used for measuring alternating current. Therefore, in a photovoltaic energy storage system, measuring large currents, especially direct current large currents, is a difficult task. The present disclosure solves these problems by providing a clamp meter with a rigid movable jaw that can be opened and clamped onto a live conductor with limited side space, and then the jaws are closed for current measurement of the live conductor. Next, the examples disclosed herein will be described in detail in conjunction with FIGS. 2-6. In at least one example shown herein, the clamp meter includes a mechanical linkage mechanism that can drive the movable jaw to open and close about a rotation axis. The movable jaw can be rotatably opened or closed. When the movable jaw is in the open position, a live conductor to be tested can be accommodated between the first and second jaw arms of the fixed jaw of the clamp meter. When the movable jaw is in the closed position, the movable jaw extends from the first jaw arm to the second jaw arm of the fixed jaw, whereby the fixed jaw and the movable jaw together form a closed measurement loop that can be used for non-contact electrical parameter measurement of a live conductor. Based on these configurations, the clamp meter can be used for current measurement of a live conductor in a narrow space.

[0020] In some cases, the movable jaw is rotatably connected to the fixed jaw outside the main body part of the clamp meter. When the movable jaw is in the open position, the movable jaw and the first jaw arm of the fixed jaw have an equivalent width that is narrow enough such that the movable jaw and the first jaw arm of the fixed jaw can easily pass through the lateral space of the conductor. At the same time, the second jaw arm of the fixed jaw is also narrow enough so that the second jaw arm can also easily enter the space on the other side of the conductor to be measured. Once the conductor to be measured is incorporated into the measurement area between the first jaw arm and the second jaw arm of the fixed jaw, the movable jaw (now located on the back of the conductor) can be rotated to the closed position, thereby forming a measurement loop, and at this time the clamp meter can be applied to measure the electrical parameters of the conductor. In some cases, the clamp meter can maintain the width of the measurement area unchanged during the rotation of the movable jaw for opening and closing. In other words, in some cases, the total width of the measurement area hardly changes or only changes slightly, such as less than 10% change, during the opening and closing of the movable jaw. The following overview may involve simplification, generalization, and omission of details. Therefore, those skilled in the art should recognize that this part is only illustrative and not intended to limit the scope of the present application in any way. This overview section is neither intended to identify the key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter nor intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. Additionally, throughout this specification, the reference to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that the specific features, structures, or characteristics described in connection with that embodiment are included in at least one embodiment and may also be included in other embodiments. Moreover, the occurrence of the phrase "in at least one embodiment" in this specification does not necessarily refer to only one embodiment. The specific features, structures, or characteristics of the various embodiments described herein can be combined in any suitable manner in additional embodiments. Unless the context otherwise requires, the term "embodiment" can be interpreted similarly to the term "example".

[0021] For the purposes of this disclosure, unless otherwise indicated, the phrase "A and B" is non - restrictive and means one or more of (A) and one or more of (B); the phrase "A or B" is non - exclusive and means one or more of (A), one or more of (B), or one or more of (A and B); the phrase "A and / or B" means one or more of (A), one or more of (B), or one or more of (A and B); the phrases "at least one of A and B" and "one or more of A and B" both mean one or more of (A) and one or more of (B); the phrases "at least one of A or B" and "one or more of A or B" both mean one or more of (A), one or more of (B), or one or more of (A and B). Above, A and B represent any form or type of element, feature, arrangement, component, structure, aspect, action, step, etc.

[0022] Figure 1 An example of a conventional clamp meter known in the prior art is shown. Figure 1 The depicted clamp meter includes laterally opening rigid jaws extending from the clamp meter body and a trigger positioned on one side of the clamp meter body. When the trigger is pressed, the jaws can be rotated open, as Figure 1 shown. The laterally opening jaws rotate about an axis arranged within the meter body. In particular, Figure 1 the device in includes a movable jaw in close contact with a fixed jaw. The device also includes a jaw rotation axis constructed within the clamp meter body. When the trigger is pressed towards the clamp meter body, the hinged movable jaw rotates within the clamp meter body about the jaw rotation axis from a closed position to an open position. The distal ends of the hinged movable jaw and the fixed jaw are hook-shaped, and when moved to the open position, the hook-shaped portion is wider than the available lateral space on one side of the conductor to be measured. In this case, a conventional clamp meter cannot reach in and clamp the conductor to be measured.

[0023] Therefore, as Figure 1 shown, a conventional clamp meter is not suitable for opening, reaching in, and clamping a conductor in a limited space. Figure 1 The clamp meter of the described type may conveniently clamp a conductor in some situations, but in situations with limited space, this type of clamp meter is not suitable because it is difficult to pass through the limited lateral space of the conductor. On the other hand, the clamp meter described herein is suitable for measuring the current in a conductor in a limited space environment, and its advantages will be described in detail in the following text.

[0024] Figure 2 A clamp meter 100 according to an embodiment of the present application is shown. The clamp meter 100 can reach in and clamp a conductor with limited lateral space. The clamp meter 100 includes a meter body 101 that encapsulates all the electronic devices for implementing the electrical parameter measurement of the clamp meter 100 in this example. For example, the meter body 101 may include a conventional electrical measurement circuit. For the sake of simplicity, the electrical measurement circuit is not shown in the figure..

[0025] The clamp meter 100 also includes a measurement area having a fixed jaw and a movable jaw. Although the fixed jaw is typically (although not necessarily) a single element, for example, having a single magnetic core 145 as Figure 4 shown, for the sake of convenient description, the fixed jaw is considered to have a first jaw arm 105 extending from the meter body 101 and a second jaw arm 137 extending from the meter body 101. The first jaw arm 105 and the second jaw arm 137 of the fixed jaw and the outer layer of the movable jaw 107 are generally protected by a plastic housing, and generally also contain a magnetic core made of magnetic material inside. In Figure 2In it, the first jaw arm 105 of the fixed jaw extends upward from one side of the meter body 101. The first jaw arm 105 includes a proximal end 117a and a distal end 117b that is away from the meter body 101 and opposite to the proximal end 117a. The second jaw arm 137 of the fixed jaw also extends upward from one side of the meter body 101. The second jaw arm 137 of the fixed jaw is parallel to the first jaw arm 105 but is spatially spaced apart by a certain distance.

[0026] The first jaw arm 105 and the second jaw arm 137 of the fixed jaw, as Figure 2 shown, extend out from the meter body 101 in parallel. Of course, if necessary, their relative positional relationship with the meter body 101 can also appear in other forms. The second jaw arm 137 of the fixed jaw includes a first end 141 that is away from the meter body 101. When the movable jaw 107 is in the closed position, the first end 141 can structurally wrap the second end 119b of the movable jaw 107, as described in detail later.

[0027] The movable jaw 107 includes a rotation axis 109 that connects the movable jaw 107 and the first jaw arm 105 of the fixed jaw. Figure 2 The rotation axis 109 shown is connected to the first jaw arm 105 at the end 117b of the first jaw arm 105. Its position is away from the meter body 101, rather than inside the meter body 101. The rotation axis 109 enables the movable jaw 107 to rotate around the rotation axis 109 from Figure 3 the closed position 113 shown to Figure 2 the open position 111 shown. When in the fully open position 111, the movable jaw 117 is in an upright state. At this time, it is basically flush with the first jaw arm 105 of the fixed jaw. The connection of the rotation axis 109 on the movable jaw 107 and the first jaw arm 105 of the fixed jaw in the area away from the meter body 101 reduces the space required to insert the clamp meter 100 into the energized conductor to be measured for electrical measurement. As described below, an opening is designed on the first jaw arm 105 of the fixed jaw so that the shaft on the movable jaw 107 can extend out therefrom. This opening and the shaft form a revolute pair 110, which provides the rotation axis 109 for the rotation of the movable jaw 107.

[0028] The clamp meter 100 further includes an actuator. For example, the actuator may include a slide switch 131. This slide switch 131 is assembled on one side of the first cantilever 105 of the fixed jaw. In different instances, the slide switch 131 may also be located on the left side, right side, front side, or back side of the meter body 101. The position of the slide switch 131 needs to be convenient for user operation. As we will learn from the following description, the movable jaw 107 and the actuator (slide switch) 131 include the components required to form a cam pair 123. The cam pair 123 connects the movable jaw 107 and the slide switch 131, thereby converting the linear motion of the slide switch 131 into the rotational motion of the movable jaw around the rotation axis 109.

[0029] The clamp meter 100 further includes a sliding pair 130, which is composed of the components on the first jaw arm 105 of the fixed jaw and the slide switch 131. The slide switch 131 is guided by a guide rib 133 and linearly moves along a vertically placed chute 134 as shown in the figure. The guide rib 133, which may be located on the first jaw arm 105, depending on the operation and construction of the slide switch 131, guides the slide switch 131 to linearly slide up and down. Figure 2 and Figure 3 In [instances], the guide rib 133 is located within a guide groove 134, which also belongs to the mechanical linkage mechanism 125. This linkage mechanism is connected to or integrated into the slide switch 131. The guide groove 134 is located between the proximal end 117a and the distal end 117b of the first jaw arm of the fixed jaw. Of course, in other instances, the guide rib 133 may be located at other positions of the clamp meter 100 to achieve the guiding effect on the slide slider 131.

[0030] The movable jaw has a positioning pin shaft 127, which is limited by a groove 120. The pin shaft 127 may pass through a hole or groove 129 at the distal end of the first jaw arm 105 of the fixed jaw. When the slide switch is driven, the pin shaft 127 will rotate around the rotation axis 109; the pin shaft 127 can exist in any shape that can achieve the above functions. The pin shaft 127 together with the groove 120 (forming the cam pair 123), under the drive of the slide switch 131, enables the movable jaw to simply and reliably rotate and swing from the closed position 113 to the open position 111; and vice versa. The function of the groove 129 is to avoid the above movement of the shaft 127. Although the groove 129 is arc-shaped here, as long as the groove 129 can ensure that the shaft 127 does not interfere with the fixed jaw during the movement process, it can appear in any shape.

[0031] The sizes of the movable jaw 107 and the clamp meter 100 can vary differently, and the size ratios of the various parts in the illustration may not exactly match those of the actual product. For example, in some cases, due to the structure of the first and second jaw arms of the fixed jaw, the movable jaw 107 may be narrower than shown in the illustration. The size of the movable jaw 107 is also related to the current measurement range of the clamp meter 100. Generally, in order to minimize the overall weight of the clamp meter 100 and make it more portable, the movable jaw 105 and the first jaw arm 105 and the second jaw arm 137 of the fixed jaw are made as small as possible while meeting the performance requirements. Therefore, the sizes of the first jaw arm 105, the second jaw arm 137 of the fixed jaw, and the movable jaw 107 depend on the target application scenario of the clamp meter 100.

[0032] The movable jaw 107 includes a first end 119a and a second end 119b opposite thereto. In at least one example, the movable jaw 107 further includes a mating tongue 143 located at the second end 119b of the movable jaw 107. The tongue 143 is shaped to mate with a corresponding slot 142 on the first end 141 of the second jaw arm 137. When the clamp meter 100 is in the fully open position 111, the movable jaw 107 is flush with the first jaw arm 105 of the fixed jaw. When the movable jaw 107 is flush with the first jaw arm 105, the widths of the movable jaw 107 and the first jaw arm 105 can be easily inserted into one side gap of the conductor to be measured, and at the same time, the width of the second jaw arm 137 of the fixed jaw can also be inserted into the other side gap of the conductor to be measured. In this way, the clamp meter 100 can open and clamp a conductor with limited space on either side, and then close the jaws to form a measurement circuit to achieve non-contact measurement of electrical characteristics (such as current).

[0033] When the clamp meter 100 is in the closed position 113, the movable jaw 107 is perpendicular to the first jaw arm 105, and at the same time, the tongue 143 on the movable jaw 107 mates with the slot 142 on the first end 141 of the second jaw arm 137. The fixed jaw (including the first jaw arm 105 and the second jaw arm 137) and the movable jaw 107 together form a measurement area 115. Together with the meter body 101, it is possible to measure the electrical characteristic quantities of the conductor clamped in the measurement area 115. The measurement area 115 is within the area covered by the first jaw arm 105 and the second jaw arm of the fixed jaw. The measurement area 115 is surrounded by the upper boundary of the meter body 101 and the movable jaw 107 in the closed position 113 (as Figure 3 shown). The measurement area 115 covers the range where the test live conductor can be placed. In Figures 2 to 4 the example shown, the fixed jaw (including the first jaw arm 105, the second jaw arm 137) forms a fork 139 that can accommodate the live conductor to be measured. In the example shown in the illustration, the fixed jaw 145 forms a U-shaped fork 139, as Figure 4 and Figure 5 shown.

[0034] When the movable jaw 107 is in the closed position 113 (as Figure 3 ), the total width of the U-shaped fork 139 remains the same as when the movable jaw 107 is in the fully open position 111 (as Figure 2 ). In other words, during the entire process of the movable jaw 107 swinging to a position where the U-shaped fork 139 can accommodate the live conductor, the total width of the U-shaped fork 139 remains substantially unchanged or only changes slightly, thereby maintaining the total width of the measurement area.

[0035] The movable jaw 107 is rotatably connected to the distal end 117b of the first jaw arm 105 of the fixed jaw. The fixed jaw is designed as the U-shaped fork 139 shown in the figure. Such a design enables the clamp meter 100 to clamp a live conductor with a very narrow side gap, thereby achieving accurate measurement of the current in the live conductor. When the clamp meter 100 is opened, it can be inserted on both sides of the conductor with a narrow side gap, thereby incorporating the conductor to be measured into the measurable area. When the clamp meter 100 is closed, the measurement area is closed, and non-contact measurement of the current in the conductor to be measured can be performed.

[0036] Figure 3 Depicts the clamp meter 100 as shown in Figure 2 the closed position 113.

[0037] In the closed position 113, the movable jaw 107 bridges the first jaw arm 105 and the second jaw arm 137 of the fixed jaw. The tongue 143 on the second end 119b of the movable jaw 107 cooperates with the corresponding groove 141 on the first end 141 of the second jaw arm 137 of the fixed jaw. The end 119b of the movable jaw 107 is in close contact with or wrapped in the second jaw arm 137 of the fixed jaw. The movable jaw spans between the first jaw arm 105 and the second jaw arm 107 of the fixed jaw, thereby closing the measurement loop of the measurement area 115.

[0038] The movable switch 131 is usually designed to be normally closed, that is, it can keep the movable jaw 107 in the closed state 113. In this position, the measurement area 115 includes the U-shaped fork 139, and the electrical characteristic quantity of the live conductor clamped inside the U-shaped fork 139 can be obtained.

[0039] Figure 4 An internal parts diagram of the clamp meter 100 in the closed position 113 is provided. Among them, there is a sliding switch 131 on the actuator 121, which can drive the movable jaw to swing from the closed position 113 to the open position 111, and vice versa. The sliding switch 131 is combined or integrated with the actuator 121. As Figure 2As shown, the movable jaw 107 and the first jaw arm of the fixed jaw are rotationally connected together by a revolute pair 110 about a rotation axis 109. The actuator 121 and the cam pair are assembled together such that the movement of the actuator 121 can drive the cam pair 123 to move relative to the rotation axis 109. Based on this arrangement, the linear motion of the actuator 121 is converted into the rotational motion of the movable jaw.

[0040] The actuator includes a linkage mechanism 125 ( Figure 3 ), and the above-mentioned cam pair 123 (including a pin shaft 127) that can convert the linear motion of the actuator 121 into the rotational motion of the movable part 107 about the rotation axis 109. The linkage mechanism 125 in this example has a horizontally placed narrow slot 120 that houses the pin shaft 127 of the cam pair 123. Applying a linear external force to the sliding switch 131 causes the sliding switch 131 to move downward, and the linkage mechanism 125 connected to the sliding switch 131 pulls the pin shaft 127 to move downward as Figure 5 shown, thereby driving the movable jaw to swing from the closed position to the open position about the rotation axis 109. The actuator 121 (including the sliding switch 131) may be designed to move from bottom to top or from top to bottom. In some examples, based on the structure of the sliding switch 131, the actuator 121 can drive the movable jaw 107 to reciprocally swing between the closed and open positions. The revolute pair 110, the cam pair 123 that rotates about the rotation axis 109, and the sliding pair including the guiding rib 133 together form a reliable linkage mechanism 125 that converts the linear motion of the actuator 121 into the rotational motion of the movable jaw 107.

[0041] The clamp meter 100 also includes a biasing element, which may be a spring element 135 installed inside the meter body 101. In at least one example, the spring element 135 is connected to the actuator 121. For example, in a certain example, the spring element 135 is assembled in the housing of the meter body 101 and is connected to the actuator 121 at the same time. Unless the movement of the sliding switch 131 causes the actuator 121 to apply a downward compressive force to the spring element 135, the movable jaw 107 always remains in the closed position 113. Applying a downward force to the sliding switch 131 causes the actuator 121 to move downward and compress the spring element 135. The compression of the spring element 135 generates a reverse force inside the spring element that resists deformation. When the downward force applied to the sliding switch 131 is released, this reverse force will act on the actuator 121 to cause it to move upward.

[0042] As described above, the movable jaw 107 in the closed position 113 bridges the first and second jaw arms of the fixed jaw, and the movable jaw 107 and the fixed jaw together form the measurement circuit of the clamp meter 100. More specifically, in the closed position 113, the permeable material 145 in the U-shaped fork 139 together with the permeable material 146 in the movable jaw 107 form the electronic measurement circuit of the clamp meter 100. In addition, as Figure 4 shown, the tongue 143 on the second end 119b of the movable jaw 107 is flush with the corresponding groove on the first end 141 of the second jaw arm 137 of the fixed jaw.

[0043] Figure 5 shows the open or closed state of the measurement area 115 of the clamp meter 100. Figure 5 The relevant features of the clamp meter 100 are as described above for Figures 2 to 4 the description.

[0044] In at least one example, the slide switch 131 acts in cooperation with the spring element 135. When the slide switch 131 is in the static switch first position 147, the movable jaw 107 is in the closed position 117. Operating the clamp meter 100, pressing the slide switch 131 down to the switch second position 149, at this time the movable jaw swings to the open position 111. When the slide switch 131 is driven to slide from the first position 147 to the second position 149, the movable jaw 107 will swing through the intermediate position 112 as shown in the figure. As long as the downward force applied to the slide switch 131 is not released, the movable jaw 107 can be held in the fully open position 111. When the downward force acting on the slide switch 131 is released, the upward force generated by the compressed spring element 135 ( Figure 4 ) will drive the slide switch 131 to move upward, so that the movable jaw 107 swings to the closed position 113. In some other examples, the slide switch 131 may drive the movable jaw 107 to swing between the above-mentioned closed position 113 and open position 111 by moving upward.

[0045] Figure 6 Describes a cross-sectional view of the clamp meter 100 in the closed position 113. For ease of description, Figure 6 only the second jaw arm 137 of the fixed jaw and the movable jaw 107 are shown. As shown before, the tongue 143 is designed on the second end 119b of the movable jaw 107. When the movable jaw 107 is in the closed position 113, the tongue 143 cooperates with the groove 142 on the first end 141 of the second cantilever 137 of the fixed jaw. The tongue 143 and the groove 142 align the movable jaw 107 with the first end 141 of the second jaw arm of the fixed jaw, which is crucial for the measurement accuracy and consistency of the measurement circuit formed by the fixed jaw and the movable jaw in the closed position.

[0046] AsFigure 6 As shown, the width of the tongue 143 on the movable jaw 107 is slightly narrower than the width of the second clamping arm 137 of the fixed jaw, so that the tongue 143 on the movable jaw 107 can slide into the guide groove 142 at the first end 141 of the second clamping arm 137 of the fixed jaw. Corresponding to different configurations of the mating tongue 143, the shape of the concave groove 142 also changes accordingly to ensure that the movable jaw 107 and the second clamping arm 137 of the fixed jaw are always aligned. In some instances, the first end 141 of the second clamping arm 137 may be formed by a protruding rib or boss, and these protruding structures cooperate with the corresponding grooves on the second end 119b of the movable jaw 107. In either case, the second clamping arm 137 is always aligned with the movable jaw, closing the electronic measurement circuit, and enabling the electronic measurement circuit of the clamp meter to accurately collect and measure the electrical characteristic readings of the conductor under test.

[0047] The above different instances can also be combined with each other to form new instances. Based on the above detailed description, these instances can be changed in one way or another. Generally, in the following statements, the terms used should not be construed as limiting the statement content to the specific instances disclosed in the specification and claims, but should be construed as including all possible application instances within the entire scope equivalent to the claim. Accordingly, the claims are not limited to the present disclosure text.

Claims

1. A clamp meter, the clamp meter comprises: a meter body; and a measuring area, the measuring area comprising: a fixed jaw, wherein the fixed jaw comprises a first jaw arm and a second jaw arm extending from the meter body; and a movable jaw, the movable jaw being rotatably coupled to the first jaw arm of the fixed jaw, wherein the movable jaw is configured to rotate between a closed position and an open position about a rotation axis, and when the movable jaw is in the open position, the measuring area is capable of receiving a live conductor between the first jaw arm and the second jaw arm of the fixed jaw, and when the movable jaw is in the closed position, the movable jaw extends from the first jaw arm to the second jaw arm, wherein the fixed jaw and the movable jaw together form an electrical measurement loop for measuring electrical characteristics of the electrical conductor without making electrical contact with the electrical conductor.

2. The clamp meter according to claim 1, wherein when the movable jaw is in the closed position, the measuring area has a total width, and when the movable jaw rotates to the open position, the total width of the measuring area is maintained.

3. The clamp meter according to claim 1, wherein the rotation axis is defined at a first end of the movable jaw, and when the movable jaw is in the closed position, a second end of the movable jaw bridges the second jaw arm of the fixed jaw.

4. The clamp meter according to claim 1, wherein the movable jaw is rotatably coupled to the first jaw arm at a distal end of the first jaw arm of the fixed jaw.

5. The clamp meter according to claim 1, wherein the movable jaw is urged towards the closed position.

6. The clamp meter according to claim 1, the clamp meter further comprising an actuator configured to move the movable jaw between the closed position and the open position, wherein: the movable jaw and the first jaw arm of the fixed jaw are rotationally connected by a revolute pair located on the movable jaw through a rotating shaft, and a cam pair couples the movable jaw to the actuator to convert a linear motion of the actuator into a rotation of the movable jaw about the rotation axis.

7. The clamp meter according to claim 6, wherein the revolute pair rotationally couples the movable jaw to the first jaw arm at a distal end of the first jaw arm of the fixed jaw, and in the closed position, the movable jaw traverses the first jaw arm and the second jaw arm of the fixed jaw.

8. The clamp meter according to claim 6, wherein the cam pair cooperates with the revolute pair to convert a linear motion of the actuator into a rotation of the movable jaw about the rotation axis.

9. The clamp meter according to claim 8, wherein the cam pair comprises a pin shaft that connects the movable jaw to a mechanical linkage mechanism of the actuator, and the mechanical linkage mechanism drives the pin shaft to move when the actuator moves.

10. The clamp meter according to claim 9, wherein the actuator includes a slide switch, and the pin shaft of the cam pair is positioned in the slot of the mechanical linkage mechanism, such that when the slide switch moves linearly, it drives the mechanical linkage mechanism to apply a force on the pin shaft, and the force causes the pin shaft to move relative to the rotary pair.

11. The clamp meter according to claim 6, further comprising a spring element, which is connected to the actuator and drives the movable jaw towards the closed position.

12. The clamp meter according to claim 6, further comprising a sliding pair, which consists of a pin shaft and a corresponding slot, and the sliding pair guides the linear movement of the actuator relative to the fixed jaw.

13. The clamp meter according to claim 1, wherein the first and second jaw arms of the fixed jaw are spaced apart from each other and form a fork-shaped member, and the size of the fork-shaped member is such that when the movable jaw is in the open position, it can completely accommodate the energized conductor to be measured.

14. The clamp meter according to claim 13, wherein the first and second jaw arms of the fixed jaw form a U-shaped fork-shaped member.

15. The clamp meter according to claim 13, wherein the first end of the movable jaw is rotatably coupled to one end of the first jaw arm of the fixed jaw, and when the movable jaw is in the closed position, the second end of the movable jaw abuts against one end of the second jaw arm of the fixed jaw, such that the movable jaw bridges the first and second jaw arms of the fixed jaw.

16. A method for performing electrical measurements using a clamp meter, the method comprises: driving the movable jaw of the clamp meter to open the measurement area of the clamp meter, the measurement area including the first and second jaw arms of the fixed jaw extending from the meter body of the clamp meter, wherein driving the movable jaw includes rotating the movable jaw about a rotation axis on the movable jaw between the closed position and the open position; when the movable jaw is driven to the open position, incorporating an electrical conductor into the measurement area; driving the movable jaw to the closed position, at which the movable jaw bridges the first and second jaw arms of the fixed jaw and forms a measurement loop for the electrical conductor in the measurement area together with the fixed jaw; and non-contact measuring the electrical characteristics of the energized conductor.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising sliding the actuator along a linear path to drive the movable jaw, wherein the movable jaw is rotatably connected to the fixed jaw through a rotary pair located on the movable jaw by the rotation axis, and in addition, the cam pair connects the movable jaw and the actuator, thereby converting the linear movement of the actuator into the rotational movement of the movable jaw.

18. According to the method of claim 17, when the actuator slides along the linear path, the mechanical connection mechanism connected to the cam pair drives the linear motion of the actuator to be converted into the rotation of the movable jaw around the rotation axis. The cam pair includes the pin shaft, and the pin shaft connects the movable jaw to the link mechanism. The link mechanism can drive the pin shaft to move relative to the rotary pair when the driver slides along the linear path.

19. According to the method of claim 17, wherein the rotary pair rotatably couples the movable jaw to the first jaw arm at the distal end of the first jaw arm of the fixed jaw, and when the movable jaw rotates from the open position to the closed position, the movable jaw traverses the first jaw arm and the second jaw arm of the fixed jaw.

20. According to the method of claim 16, the method further includes driving the movable jaw to the closed position to close the measurement area of the clamp meter. wherein the first jaw arm and the second jaw arm of the fixed jaw are spaced apart from each other and form a fork-shaped member, and the size of the fork-shaped member is set to accommodate the energized conductor when the movable jaw is in the open position, and when the movable jaw is driven to close the measurement area, the movable jaw rotates around the rotation axis to the closed position, and in the closed position, the movable jaw is in close contact with the second jaw arm of the fixed jaw and closes the measurement circuit.

Images