Transformer apparatus and monitoring system

Claim 2

Transformer apparatus for remote monitoring and controlling systems, comprising an enclosure, a magnetic core disposed within said enclosure, primary and secondary windings disposed in inductive relationship with said magnetic core, first current sensing means which detects the amount of current flowing through said primary winding, second current sensing means which detects the amount of current flowing through said secondary winding, temperature sensing means which detects temperature within the transformer enclosure, said temperature sensing means being connected for transmitting information indicative of the instant detected temperature to the outside of the enclosure, and switching means connected in series circuit relationship with said primary winding for opening and closing the primary winding circuit.

Claim 3

The transformer apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first current sensing means comprises a first current transformer connected in series circuit relationship with the primary winding, the second current sensing means comprises second and third current transformers connected in series circuit relationship with the secondary winding, and the temperature sensing means comprises a thermocouple located within the structure of the primary and secondary windings.

Claim 4

The transformer apparatus of claim 1 wherein the switching means comprises a vacuum switch which may be activated by signals originated from outside of the transformer enclosure.

Claim 5

The transformer apparatus of claim 1 including protective means which limits the flow of current through the primary winding to an amount which is below a predetetermined value.

Claim 6

The transformer apparatus of claim 4 wherein the protective means comprises a protective link.

Claim 7

The transformer apparatus of claim 4 wherein the protective means comprises activating means responsive to current flowing through a primary winding, said activating means opening the switching means when the flow of current through the primary winding equals a predetermined value.

Claim 8

Transformer apparatus for remote monitoring and controlling systems, comprising an enclosure, a primary winding having two leads, a magnetic core disposed within said enclosure, a secondary winding having two end leads and a tap lead, said windings being disposed in inductive relationship with said magnetic core, a first current transformer suitably disposed to sense the amount of current flowing through one of the leads of said primary winding, a second current transformer suitably disposed to sense the amount of current flowing through one of the end leads of said secondary winding, a third current transformer suitably disposed to sense the amount of current flowing through the other of the end leads of said secondary winding, a thermocouple embedded within the structure of said primary and secondary windings, switching means connected in one of the leads of said primary winding for opening and closing the primary winding circuit, said switching means including means for activating the switching means by signals originated from outside of the transformer enclosure, and protective means connected in one of the leads of said primary winding to limit the current which may flow through said primary winding.

Claim 9

Transformer apparatus for remote monitoring and controlling systems, comprising an enclosure, a primary winding having two leads, a magnetic core disposed within said enclosure, a secondary winding having two end leads and a tap lead, said windings being disposed in inductive relationship with said magnetic core, a first current transformer suitably disposed to sense the amount of current flowing through one of the leads of said primary winding, a second current transformer suitably disposed to sense the amount of current flowing through one of the end leads of said secondary winding, a third current transformer suitably disposed to sense the amount of current flowing through the other of the end leads of said secondary winding, a thermocouple embedded within the structure of said primary and secondary windings, switching means connected in one of the leads of said primary winding for opening and closing the primary winding circuit, said switching means including means for activating the switching means by signals originated from outside of the transformer enclosure, and protective means connected in one of the leads of said primary winding to limit the current which may flow through said primary winding.

Claim 10

A transformer monitoring system comprising a transformer, means for sensing information about currents in primary and secondary windings of said transformer, means for sensing information about the temperature of said primary and secondary windings, switching means for de-energizing said transformer by disconnecting said primary winding from an energizing voltage, means for transferring the sensed information to a remote monitor, identification means for identifying the sensed information as being sensed at said transformer, said remote monitor including means which processes the sensed information and which originates a signal to activate saiD switching means when the sensed information corresponds to a predetermined program.

Claim 11

A transformer monitoring system comprising a transformer, means for sensing information about currents in primary and secondary windings of said transformer, means for sensing information about the temperature of said primary and secondary windings, switching means for de-energizing said transformer by disconnecting said primary winding from an energizing voltage, means for transferring the sensed information to a remote monitor, identification means for identifying the sensed information as being sensed at said transformer, said remote monitor including means which processes the sensed information and which originates a signal to activate saiD switching means when the sensed information corresponds to a predetermined program.

Claim 12

The transformer monitoring system of claim 8 wherein the means which processes the sensed information comprises means for determining when current in the secondary winding exceeds a predetermined value, and means for determining when the ratio of the currents in the primary and the secondary windings does not correspond to the turns ratio of the primary and the secondary windings.

Claim 13

A transformer monitoring system comprising at least one transformer, said transformer including an enclosure, a primary winding having two leads, a magnetic core, a secondary winding having two end leads and a tap lead, a first current transformer suitably disposed to sense information about the amount of current flowing through one of the leads of said primary winding, a second current transformer suitably disposed to sense information about the amount of current flowing through one of the end leads of said secondary winding, a third current transformer suitably disposed to sense information about the amount of current flowing through the other of the end leads of said secondary winding, temperature sensing means which senses information about the temperature of said primary and secondary windings, switching means connected in one of the leads of said primary winding, said switching means being controllable from a remote monitor, means for transferring the sensed information to said remote monitor identification means for identifying the sensed information as being sensed at said transformer, said remote monitoring station including means for processing the sensed information to determine when current in said secondary winding exceeds a predetermined value, means for processing the sensed information to determine when the ratio of the currents in said primary and secondary windings does not correspond to the turns ratio of said primary and secondary windings, means for processing the sensed information to determine when the temperature of said primary and secondary windings exceeds a predetermined value, and means for activating a disconnect signal to open said switching means when the sensed information corresponds to a predetermined program.

Claim 14

A transformer monitoring system comprising at least one transformer, said transformer including an enclosure, a primary winding having two leads, a magnetic core, a secondary winding having two end leads and a tap lead, a first current transformer suitably disposed to sense information about the amount of current flowing through one of the leads of said primary winding, a second current transformer suitably disposed to sense information about the amount of current flowing through one of the end leads of said secondary winding, a third current transformer suitably disposed to sense information about the amount of current flowing through the other of the end leads of said secondary winding, temperature sensing means which senses information about the temperature of said primary and secondary windings, switching means connected in one of the leads of said primary winding, said switching means being controllable from a remote monitor, means for transferring the sensed information to said remote monitor identification means for identifying the sensed information as being sensed at said transformer, said remote monitoring station including means for processing the sensed information to determine when current in said secondary winding exceeds a predetermined value, means for processing the sensed information to determine when the ratio of the currents in said primary and secondary windings does not correspond to the turns ratio of said primary and secondary windings, means for processing the sensed information to determine when the temperature of said primary and secondary windings exceeds a predetermined value, and means for activating a disconnect signal to open said switching means when the sensed information corresponds to a predetermined program.