Wall Socket Face Plate With Rogowski Coil Overcurrent Warning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Circuit breakers in electrical systems often malfunction, failing to interrupt excess current loads, leading to overheating and fire risks due to inadequate protection against current exceeding 15 amps.
Innovation Solution
A current signaling wall socket face plate with a Rogowski coil and light emitting diode (LED) system that illuminates a warning light when excess current is detected, providing visual feedback to users to disconnect appliances and prevent overheating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If circuit breakers are used to protect against excess current, then overheating protection is provided, but the circuit breakers may malfunction and fail to actuate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism by installing a Rogowski coil around the hot wire that continuously monitors current flow and provides visual feedback through an LED indicator. When excess current exceeds 15 amps, the LED illuminates to warn users of the dangerous condition, creating a direct feedback loop that alerts users to circuit breaker malfunctions or excessive load conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The Rogowski coil acts as an intermediary device between the electrical circuit and the user. Instead of relying solely on the circuit breaker to protect against overheating, the coil monitors current flow and translates electrical information into a visible warning signal, mediating the protection function by providing early warning before dangerous overheating occurs.
2Measurement precision
If Rogowski coil and LED system are added to face plate, then excess current detection capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the current monitoring function from the internal circuit breaker system and places it on the external face plate. The Rogowski coil and LED indicator are mounted on the face plate surface, separating the detection function from the socket's internal wiring and allowing the monitoring system to be added without modifying the socket's core structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The face plate serves multiple functions: it provides the standard electrical connection interface for plugs, and simultaneously houses the Rogowski coil for current monitoring and the LED indicator for warning. This multi-functionality allows the face plate to act as both a connector and a monitoring device, reducing the need for separate components.
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 face plate effectively warns users of excess current, allowing them to disconnect appliances and prevent overheating and potential fires by illuminating a warning light in case of circuit breaker malfunctions.
Implementation Method 1
A specialized wire coil is integrally associated with the face plate and with the light emitting diode, such wire coil activating the warning light in response to an excess current load
Implementation Method 2
illuminating a light emitting diode to emit an excess current warning light
Data Source
AI summary
A current signaling electric wall socket face plate including a rigid panel having a frontside and a backside; at least a first terminal face exposing opening, extending through the rigid panel; a light emitting diode having a pair of electric terminals, the light emitting diode being fixedly mounted upon the rigid panel, the light emitting diode being positioned for emitting light forwardly from the rigid panel and; an electrically conductive wire having a pair of ends, the ends of the electrically conductive wire being electrically connected to the light emitting diode pair of electric terminals, wherein the electrically conductive wire forms a coil, and wherein the coil forms a conductor encircling loop.