Energy meter for an electrical switch

Abstract

Energy meter (100) for an electrical switch (1000) with a switch underside (1010) on which at least one current path of the electrical switch (1000) runs, wherein the energy meter (100) comprises at least one electronic component (110) and / or at least one sensor (121; 122; 123) for current measurement and an electronic component (130) for voltage measurement, wherein, when the energy meter (100) is mounted on the underside (1010) of the switch, the at least one component (110) and / or the at least one sensor (121; 122; 123) interacts with the at least one current path for current measurement and the electronics (130) are connected to the electrical switch (1000) for voltage measurement, characterized in that the energy meter (100) comprises a drawer (170) on which the electrical switch (1000) can be mounted and into which the energy meter (100) can be inserted.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an energy meter for an electrical switch.

[0002] To save energy, it is necessary to measure current energy consumption. Energy meters are designed for this purpose; these can, for example, be integrated as standard into a circuit breaker within an ETU (electronic trip unit).

[0003] Especially for electrical switches with thermal-magnetic releases (switches with TMTUs) that do not have a built-in energy consumption unit (ETU), it is desirable to be able to install energy meters. There are ways to retrofit energy meters to a circuit breaker or miniature circuit breaker without an ETU.

[0004] To measure energy, current and voltage values ​​are needed. The current state of the art involves using a separate voltage measurement module to directly contact the electrical conductors, and to measure current, passing the conductors through induction coils. Electronics then calculate the power or electrical work from the voltage and current readings and display them directly or transmit them to a control room.

[0005] EP 3 840 008 A1 relates to a multi-measuring device for acquiring and outputting at least one measured value, comprising a current sensor for detecting a current value arranged in series between an input contact and an output contact of a live conductor; an electronic evaluation unit electrically connected to: a first terminal contact of the current sensor, which is electrically connected to the input contact; a second terminal contact of the current sensor, which is electrically connected to the output contact; and a neutral conductor. The energy for operating the evaluation unit is obtained from a voltage difference between the potentials of the live conductor and the neutral conductor in a power supply unit of the evaluation unit.

[0006] DE 10 2017 127 888 A1 discloses a measuring device with a sensor arrangement and with an insulating carrier for use in an electrical switching device, wherein the sensor arrangement has at least one sensor for measuring at least one of the parameters current and voltage of an electric current flowing through a current path and an electrical switching device with at least one current path, wherein a measuring device is provided for each current path.

[0007] The object of the invention is therefore to provide an alternative energy meter for an electrical switch.

[0008] This problem is solved according to the invention by the energy meter for an electrical switch according to claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the energy meter according to the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

[0009] The energy meter for an electrical switch with a switch underside on which at least one current path of the electrical switch runs, according to claim 1, comprises at least one electronic component and / or at least one sensor for current measurement and electronics for voltage measurement, wherein, when the energy meter is mounted on the switch underside, the at least one component and / or the at least one sensor interacts with the at least one current path for current measurement and the electronics are connected to the electrical switch for voltage measurement.

[0010] An advantage of this is that when retrofitting the energy meter according to the invention, a customer does not have to disconnect the wiring of the electrical switch in order to pull connecting cables through induction coils.

[0011] In one embodiment of the energy meter according to the invention, the at least one electronic component and / or the at least one sensor interact with the at least one current path without contact.

[0012] In a further embodiment of the energy meter, the distance between the at least one electronic component and / or the at least one sensor and the at least one current path is less than 10mm.

[0013] In a further embodiment of the energy meter according to the invention, the at least one sensor uses the Hall effect or the GMR effect or is magnetoresistive.

[0014] In a further embodiment of the energy meter according to the invention, the electronics comprise a tap via conductors or spring-loaded contact pins, which directly contact electrical switches with thermal bimetallic releases with current paths accessible from below.

[0015] In a further embodiment of the energy meter according to the invention, it comprises a drawer on which the electrical switch can be mounted and into which the energy meter can be inserted. An advantage of this is that, in confined installation spaces or with heavily sealed devices, installing energy meters above or below the device is generally not possible. In such cases, the energy meter with the drawer can be used as a retrofit solution.

[0016] In a further embodiment of the energy meter according to the invention, it comprises at least one further sensor for measuring physical quantities such as temperature or vibration and / or at least one further sensor for detecting the switch states of the electrical switch.

[0017] In a further embodiment of the energy meter according to the invention, it comprises an evaluation unit and / or a communication unit.

[0018] The properties, features and advantages of this invention described above, as well as the manner in which they are achieved, will become clearer and more easily understood in connection with the following description of the embodiments, which are explained in more detail in relation to the figures.

[0019] This shows: Fig. 1A and Fig. 1B Energy meter according to the invention with spring-loaded contact pins and electrical switch before and after assembly; Fig. 2A and Fig. 2B Energy meters according to the invention with contact pins and leads; Fig. 3A and Fig. 3B Drawer for an energy meter according to the invention and electrical switch before and after assembly; and Fig. 4A and Fig. 4B Drawer for an energy meter according to the invention with mounted electrical switch and energy meter and inserted energy meter.

[0020] In Fig. Figure 1A shows the energy meter 100 according to the invention for an electrical switch 1000, as well as the electrical switch 1000 itself. The electrical switch 1000 has a switch underside 1010, on which at least one current path of the electrical switch 1000 runs.

[0021] For current measurement, the energy meter 100 according to the invention comprises at least one electronic component 110 and / or at least one sensor 121, 122, 123, and for voltage measurement, an electronic circuit 130. When the energy meter 100 according to the invention is mounted on the underside of the switch 1010, the at least one component 110 and / or the at least one sensor 121, 122, 123 interact with the at least one current path for current measurement. Likewise, the electronic circuit 130 is connected to the electrical switch 1000 for voltage measurement.

[0022] In Fig. Figure 1B shows the electrical switch 1000 and the energy meter 100 according to the invention, which is mounted on the underside of the switch 1010.

[0023] The at least one electronic component 110 and / or the at least one sensor 121; 122; 123 interact with the at least one current path without physical contact. As shown in the illustrations in the Fig. 1A and Fig. 1B the electrical switch 1000 is a three-pole switch, so that three sensors 121; 122; 123 are provided which interact with three current paths of the electrical switch 1000.

[0024] The distance between the at least one electronic component 110 and / or the at least one sensor 121; 122; 123 and the at least one current path is less than 10 mm. A small distance is particularly advantageous for contactless interaction with the at least one current path.

[0025] The at least one sensor 121; 122; 123 uses, for example, the Hall effect or the GMR effect or is magnetoresistive.

[0026] In the Fig. 2A and Fig. Figure 2B shows the energy meter 100 according to the invention, with sensors 121, 122, and 123 for measuring current. Fig. 2A includes the electronics 130 for voltage measurement, a tap via spring-loaded contact pins 135; 136; 137, which, in the case of electrical switches 1000 with thermal bimetallic releases and current paths accessible from below, make direct contact with them. In Fig. 2B includes the electronics 130 with a tap via lines 131; 132; 133. These lines 131; 132; 133 are contacted with the switch terminals, for example via auxiliary conductor terminals or via aluminum terminals with auxiliary conductor connection.

[0027] In Fig. Figure 3A shows a drawer 170 for an energy meter 100 according to the invention, as well as an electrical switch 1000. The electrical switch 1000 can be mounted on the drawer 170; the mounted state is shown in Fig. 3B shown.

[0028] The energy meter 100 can be inserted into drawer 170, as shown in the Fig. 4A and Fig. 4B is shown. This shows Fig. 4A the energy meter 100 according to the invention before inserting it into the drawer 170 along the direction of the arrow and Fig. 4B the inserted energy meter 100.

[0029] According to the Fig. 2A and Fig. 2B the energy meter 100 according to the invention can comprise at least one further sensor 190 for measuring physical quantities such as temperature or vibration and / or at least one further sensor 191 for detecting the switch states of the electrical switch 1000.

[0030] The energy meter 100 according to the invention can comprise an evaluation unit 195 and / or a communication unit 196. The evaluation unit 195 can acquire the measured values ​​and generate calculated values ​​for power or energy. The communication unit 196 can be used to connect the energy meter 100 wirelessly or via a wired connection to external devices and to transmit the calculated power or energy values.

[0031] Instead of using typical induction coils, the current is detected using electronic components 110 and / or sensors 121; 122; 123. Possible effects for the sensors 121; 122; 123 include, for example, the Hall effect, the GMR effect, or the magnetoresistive effect.

[0032] For non-contact measurement, the current paths of the electrical switch 1000 do not need to pass through an object; instead, the sensors 121, 122, and 123 are positioned relative to the current path. This is possible for all electrical switches 1000 where corresponding sensors 121, 122, and 123 can be placed at a maximum distance of 10 mm.

[0033] In contrast to conventional retrofit solutions, the energy is measured on the underside of the electrical switch 1010.

[0034] Voltage measurement is also carried out via electronics 130 mounted on the underside of the switch 1010. Here, either the classic tap can be made via lines 131; 132; 133, or the fact that, in devices with thermal bimetallic releases, all current paths are accessible from below and can therefore be contacted via spring-loaded contact pins 135; 136; 137 can be used.

[0035] With the aid of additional sensors 190; 191, further physical quantities such as temperature, vibration, or switch states can be detected, thus expanding the range of functions. Due to the proximity to relevant components, temperature measurement at this point is particularly meaningful, and switching operations can be detected very reliably using vibration or acceleration sensors.

Claims

[1] Energy meter (100) for an electrical switch (1000) with a switch underside (1010) on which at least one current path of the electrical switch (1000) runs, wherein the energy meter (100) comprises at least one electronic component (110) and / or at least one sensor (121; 122; 123) for current measurement and an electronic component (130) for voltage measurement, wherein, when the energy meter (100) is mounted on the underside (1010) of the switch, the at least one component (110) and / or the at least one sensor (121; 122; 123) interacts with the at least one current path for current measurement and the electronics (130) are connected to the electrical switch (1000) for voltage measurement, characterized by , that the energy meter (100) includes a drawer (170) on which the electrical switch (1000) can be mounted and into which the energy meter (100) can be inserted. [2] Energy meter (100) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one electronic component (110) and / or the at least one sensor (121; 122; 123) interact with the at least one current path without contact. [3] Energy meter (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the distance between the at least one electronic component (110) and / or the at least one sensor (121; 122; 123) and the at least one current path is less than 10mm. [4] Energy meter (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one sensor (121; 122; 123) utilizes the Hall effect or the GMR effect or is magnetoresistive. [5] Energy meter (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the electronics (130) comprises a tap via lines (131; 132; 133) or spring-loaded contact pins (135; 136; 137) which directly contact electrical switches (1000) with thermal bimetallic releases with current paths accessible from below. [6] Energy meter (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the energy meter (100) comprises at least one further sensor (190) for measuring physical quantities such as temperature or vibration and / or at least one further sensor (191) for detecting the switch states of the electrical switch (1000). [7] Energy meter (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the energy meter (100) comprises an evaluation unit (195) and / or a communication unit (196).

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