Electronic Electricity Meter Conductor Loop Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic electricity meters using current transformers are susceptible to magnetic interference, leading to measurement errors, and shielding with ferromagnetic materials increases weight and cost.
Innovation Solution
Designing the electricity meter with a U-shaped conductor loop as a stamped part, featuring molded-on guide sections, stops, and latching projections to maintain precise conductor loop positioning and accommodate shunt resistors, allowing for accurate current measurement without magnetic influence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If current transformers are used for current measurement, then the meter can measure current, but the meter becomes susceptible to magnetic interference and measurement errors occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful magnetic sensing capability from the current measurement system by replacing current transformers with shunt resistors. The shunt resistors measure current through voltage drop without detecting magnetic fields, thereby eliminating magnetic interference susceptibility while maintaining measurement functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs inexpensive shunt resistors instead of expensive current transformers. The shunt resistors are simple resistive elements that can be easily replaced if needed, providing a cost-effective solution that eliminates magnetic interference problems associated with transformer-based measurement.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If shields against magnetic fields are used to counteract magnetic influence, then magnetic interference is reduced, but the meter becomes heavy and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the need for magnetic shields by extracting the magnetic sensing mechanism (current transformers) from the system. Since shunt resistors do not respond to magnetic fields, no protective shielding is required, thereby eliminating the weight and cost associated with ferromagnetic shield materials.
3Ease of manufacture
If conductor loops are positioned with loose tolerances, then assembly is easier, but measurement accuracy decreases due to position-dependent errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses molded guide sections in the housing that create precise geometric copies or templates for conductor loop positioning. These molded features automatically ensure correct placement without requiring tight manufacturing tolerances on the conductor loops themselves, as the housing features guide them into the correct positions during assembly.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the electricity meter is designed to accommodate both single-phase and three-phase configurations with identical housings, then versatility is improved, but the complexity of accommodating different configurations increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the housing with universal features that can accommodate both single-phase and three-phase configurations. The molded guide sections and mounting structures are configured to support either one or three conductor loops as needed, allowing the same housing to serve multiple functions without requiring different designs for different phase configurations.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables the meter to maintain narrow tolerances and be manufactured at a reasonable price, ensuring accurate current measurement and flexibility between single-phase and three-phase configurations with identical housings, reducing assembly-dependent errors and material costs.
Implementation Method 1
The shunt resistor across which a voltage drops proportional to the measuring current is suitable
Data Source
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AI summary
The electronic electricity meter has the guide sections formed on a base, which is provided in the housing part, where the arms of the conductor loop (30) are guided and limited on the facing side almost vertically to the base. A lower arrester (20) is provided for the bar of the conductor loop and a halt section is formed on a guide section, which overlaps the bar of the conductor loop from above.