Circuit condition monitor with integrally molded test point socket and capacitive coupling

Claim 2

A connector for establishing an electrical connection between the electrical terminals of components of an electrical distribution system, said connection being monitored by a removable circuit condition monitoring module requiring simultaneous electrical coupling to said electrical connection and to electrical ground, said connector comprising: a connector body portion formed of electrically non-conductive material; first and second terminal means for electrically and mechanically engaging the electrical terminals of said components; electrical conductor means extending within said body portion between said first and second terminal means for providing an electrical current path therebetween, said conductor means being substantially surrounded by said body portion; an electrically grounded sheath layer formed of an electrically-conductive material overlying the surface of said body portion; means defining on the surface of said connector a recess forming a test point socket for receiving the circuit condition monitoring module, at least a portion of the bottom of said test point socket being formed of said electrically non-conductive material of said body portion said test point socket further being complementarily dimensioned to the circuit condition monitoring module whereby the monitoring module, when received in said socket, is fixedly positioned and simultaneously electrically coupled through said non-conductive body portion to said monitored conductor means and through said sheath layer to electrical ground.

Claim 3

A connector as defined in claim 1 wherein the circuit condition monitoring module and said test point socket are generally cylindrical in form and aligned generally radially relative to said conductor means.

Claim 4

A connector as defined in claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said test point socket is formed of said electrically conductive material and the circuit condition monitoring module is coupled through said conductive portion to ground.

Claim 5

A connector as defined in claim 3 wherein said conductive portion comprises at least a portion of the sidewall of said test point socket.

Claim 6

A connector as defined in claim 3 wherein the circuit condition monitoring module includes a capacitive coupling electrode for establishing electrical coupling to electrical ground, and said electrically conductive portion of said test point socket is capacitively coupled thereto when the module is seated in said test point socket.

Claim 7

A connector as defined in claim 5 wherein said electrically conductive portion of said test point socket comprises a portion of the sidewall of said socket.

Claim 8

A connector as defined in claim 5 wherein the bottom of said test point socket is flat and formed substantially of said non-conductive material of said body portion, and the monitoring module has a complementary flat end surface.

Claim 9

A connector as defined in claim 1 wherein said test point socket includes around the open end thereof a rim portion formed at least partially of said electrically conductive material of said sheath layer, said rim portion being dimensioned to mechanically engage the circuit condition monitoring module when seated in the test point socket whereby an ohmic connection is established between said module and ground.

Claim 10

A connector as defined in claim 8 wherein the circuit condition monitoring module includes an electrically conductive housing, and said rim portion is dimensioned to mechanically and electrically engage said housing.

Claim 11

A connector as defined in claim 8 including a removable plug member formed of an electrically conductive material dimensioned when seated in said test point socket to extend from the bottom of said socket to the open end thereof in mechanical and electrical engagement with said sheath layer whereby the electric field of said conductor means is contained within the connector.

Claim 12

A connector as defined in claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the exterior surface of the circuit condition monitoring module received in said test point socket is electrically conductive and in ohmic contact with said sheath layer when the module is seated in said socket.

Claim 13

A connector as defined in claim 11 wherein at least a portion of the sidewall of said test point socket is formed by said sheath layer, and said conductive portion of said exterior surface of said module is in ohmic electrical communication therewith.

Claim 14

A connector for an electrical power distribution system for establishing an electrical connection between terminals of components of the system said connection being monitored by a removable circuit condition monitoring module requiring capacitive coupling at one end thereof to said electrical connection and ohmic electrical connection between an electrically conductive portion along the side thereof and electrical ground, said connector comprising: a connector body portion formed of electrically non-conductive material; first and second terminal means for electrically and mechanically engaging the component terminals; electrical conductor means extending within said connector body portion between said first and second terminal means for providing an electrical current path therebetween, said conductor means being surrounded by said body; an electrically grounded sheath layer formed of electrically-conductive material overlying said body; means defining on the surface of said connector a recess defining a test point socket extending from said surface in a generally radial direction relative to said conductor means for receiving the circuit condition monitoring module; and at least a portion of the bottom of said test point socket being formed of said electrically non-conductive material of said connector body portion, said test point socket further being complementarily dimensioned to the circuit condition monitoring module whereby said module when received within said test point socket is fixedly positioned relative to said body portion, capacitively coupled to said conductor means and ohmically connected to said sheath layer.

Claim 15

A connector for an electrical power distribution system for establishing an electrical connection between terminals of components of the system said connection being monitored by a removable circuit condition monitoring module requiring capacitive coupling at one end thereof to said electrical connection and ohmic electrical connection between an electrically conductive portion along the side thereof and electrical ground, said connector comprising: a connector body portion formed of electrically non-conductive material; first and second terminal means for electrically and mechanically engaging the component terminals; electrical conductor means extending within said connector body portion between said first and second terminal means for providing an electrical current path therebetween, said conductor means being surrounded by said body; an electrically grounded sheath layer formed of electrically-conductive material overlying said body; means defining on the surface of said connector a recess defining a test point socket extending from said surface in a generally radial direction relative to said conductor means for receiving the circuit condition monitoring module; and at least a portion of the bottom of said test point socket being formed of said electrically non-conductive material of said connector body portion, said test point socket further being complementarily dimensioned to the circuit condition monitoring module whereby said module when received within said test point socket is fixedly positioned relative to said body portion, capacitively coupled to said conductor means and ohmically connected to said sheath layer.

Claim 16

A connector as defined in claim 13 wherein said test point socket includes around the open end thereof a rim portion formed at least partially of said electrically conductive material of said sheath layer, said rim portion being dimensioned to mechanically engage the circuit condition monitoring module when seated in the test point socket.

Claim 17

A connector as defined in claim 14 wherein the circuit condition monitoring module includes an electrically conductive housing, and said rim portion is dimensioned to mechanically and electrically engage said housing.

Claim 18

A circuit condition monitoring system for an electrical power distribution system providing a monitored connection between the terminals of electrical components within the distribution system, said system comprising: a connector including a body portion formed of electrically non-conductive material; first and second terminal means for electrically and mechanically engaging the component terminals; electrical conductor means extending within said body portion between said first and second terminal means for providing an electrical current path therebetween, said conductor means being substantially surrounded by said body portion; said connector further including an electrically grounded sheath layer formed of an electrically-conductive material overlying the surface of said body portion; a circuit condition monitoring module including a monitoring circuit operable from a capacitive coupling to said conductor means and an electrical coupling to electrical ground; means defining on the surface of said connector a recess forming a test point socket for receiving said circuit condition monitoring module, at least a portion of the bottom of said test point socket being formed of said electrically non-conductive material of said connector body portion, said test point socket being complementarily dimensioned to said circuit condition monitoring module whereby said monitoring module when received within said test point socket is fixedly positioned and simultaneously capacitively coupled to said monitored conductor and electrically coupled to electrical ground.

Claim 19

A circuit condition monitoring system for an electrical power distribution system providing a monitored connection between the terminals of electrical components within the distribution system, said system comprising: a connector including a body portion formed of electrically non-conductive material; first and second terminal means for electrically and mechanically engaging the component terminals; electrical conductor means extending within said body portion between said first and second terminal means for providing an electrical current path therebetween, said conductor means being substantially surrounded by said body portion; said connector further including an electrically grounded sheath layer formed of an electrically-conductive material overlying the surface of said body portion; a circuit condition monitoring module including a monitoring circuit operable from a capacitive coupling to said conductor means and an electrical coupling to electrical ground; means defining on the surface of said connector a recess forming a test point socket for receiving said circuit condition monitoring module, at least a portion of the bottom of said test point socket being formed of said electrically non-conductive material of said connector body portion, said test point socket being complementarily dimensioned to said circuit condition monitoring module whereby said monitoring module when received within said test point socket is fixedly positioned and simultaneously capacitively coupled to said monitored conductor and electrically coupled to electrical ground.

Claim 20

A monitoring system as defined in claim 16 wherein said circuit condition monitoring module includes an internal capacitive coupling element at one end for establishing said capacitive coupling to said conductor when said module is seated in said test point socket, and ground return means for establishing electrical coupling between said monitoring module and ground, said test point socket is dimensioned to receive said monitoring module with said one end thereof extending toward said conductor means and said ground return means being operable through said sheath layer, whereby in the presence of an alternating current voltage on said conductor a voltage is induced within said module.

Claim 21

A monitoring system as defined in claim 16 wherein the circuit condition monitoring module and said test point socket are generally cylindrical in form and aligned generally radially relative to said conductor means.

Claim 22

A monitoring system as defined in claim 16 wherein at least a portion of said test point socket is formed of said electrically conductive material and the circuit condition monitoring module is coupled through said conductive portion to ground.

Claim 23

A monitoring system as defined in claim 19 wherein said conductive portion comprises at least a portion of the sidewall of said test point socket.

Claim 24

A monitoring system as defined in claim 19 wherein the circuit condition monitoring module includes a capacitive coupling electrode for establishing electrical coupling to electrical ground, and said electrically conductive portion of said test point socket is capacitively coupled thereto when the module is seated in said test point socket.

Claim 25

A monitoring system as defined in claim 21 wherein said electrically conductive portion of said test point socket comprises a portion of the sidewall of said socket.

Claim 26

A monitoring system as defined in claim 22 wherein said capacitive coupling electrode comprises a metallic ring within said module.

Claim 27

A monitoring system as defined in claim 19 wherein said test point socket includes around the open end thereof a rim portion formed at least partially of said electrically conductive material of said sheath layer, said rim portion being dimensioned to mechanically engage the circuit condition monitoring module when seated in the test point socket whereby an ohmic connection is established between said module and ground.

Claim 28

A monitoring system as defined in claim 24 wherein the circuit condition indicating module includes an electrically conductive housing, and said rim portion is dimensioned to mechanically and electrically engage said housing.

Claim 29

A monitoring system as defined in claim 24 including a removable plug member formed of an electrically conductive material dimensioned when seated in said test point socket to extend from the bottom: of said socket to the open end thereof in mechanical and electrical engagement with said sheath layer whereby the electric field of said conductor means is contained within the connector.

Claim 30

A monitoring system as defined in claim 16 wherein at least a portion of the exterior surface of the circuit condition monitoring module received in said test point socket is electrically conductive and in ohmic contact with said sheath layer when the module is seated in said socket.

Claim 31

A connector as defined in claim 27 wherein at least a portion of the sidewall of said test point socket is formed by said sheath layer, and said conductive portion of said exterior surface of said module is in ohmic electrical communication therewith.

Claim 32

A monitoring system as defined in claim 16 wherein the bottom of said test point socket is flat and formed substantially of said non-conductive material of said body portion, and the monitoring module has a complementary flat end surface.

Claim 33

A monitoring system providing a monitored connection between the terminals of electrical components within an electrical power distribution system, said system comprising: a connector including a body portion formed of electrically non-conductive material; first and second terminal means for electrically and mechanically engaging the component terminals; electrical conductor means extending generally axially within said body portion between said first and second terminal means for providing an electrical current path therebetween, said conductor means being surrounded by said body portion; said connector further including an electrically grounded sheath layer formed of electrically-conductive material overlying said body portion; a circuit condition monitoring module operable from a capacitive coupling to said conductor means, and an ohmic electrical connection to ground; means defining on the surface of said connector a recess forming a test point socket aligned in a generally radial direction relative to said conductor means for receiving said circuit condition monitoring module, at least a portion of the bottom of said recess being formed of said electrically non-conductive material of said connector body portion, said test point socket further being complementarily dimensioned to said circuit condition monitoring module whereby said monitoring module when received within said test point socket is fixedly positioned relative to said body portion, capacitively coupled to said conductor means and ohmically coupled to said sheath layer.

Claim 34

A monitoring system providing a monitored connection between the terminals of electrical components within an electrical power distribution system, said system comprising: a connector including a body portion formed of electrically non-conductive material; first and second terminal means for electrically and mechanically engaging the component terminals; electrical conductor means extending generally axially within said body portion between said first and second terminal means for providing an electrical current path therebetween, said conductor means being surrounded by said body portion; said connector further including an electrically grounded sheath layer formed of electrically-conductive material overlying said body portion; a circuit condition monitoring module operable from a capacitive coupling to said conductor means, and an ohmic electrical connection to ground; means defining on the surface of said connector a recess forming a test point socket aligned in a generally radial direction relative to said conductor means for receiving said circuit condition monitoring module, at least a portion of the bottom of said recess being formed of said electrically non-conductive material of said connector body portion, said test point socket further being complementarily dimensioned to said circuit condition monitoring module whereby said monitoring module when received within said test point socket is fixedly positioned relative to said body portion, capacitively coupled to said conductor means and ohmically coupled to said sheath layer.

Claim 35

A monitoring system as defined in claim 30 wherein said test point socket includes around the open end thereof a rim portion formed at least partially of said electrically conductive material of said sheath layer, said rim portion being dimensioned to mechanically engage the circuit condition monitoring module when seated in the test point socket.

Claim 36

A monitoring system as defined in claim 31 wherein the circuit condition monitoring module includes an electrically conductive housing, and said rim portion is dimensioned to mechanically and electrically engage said housing.

Claim 37

A circuit condition monitoring module for installation on a connector having an electric conductor, a non-conductive body portion over the conductor, an electrically conductive sheath layer overlying the body portion and a test point socket formed in the sheath layer, the test point socket having a bottom end within the electric field of the conductor and being formed at least in part of the electrically non-conductive material forming the connector body portion, said module comprising: a circuit condition monitoring circuit operable from an applied alternating voltage; a housing for containing said circuit, said housing being dimensioned to fit within said test point socket with an interior end thereof adjacent the bottom end of the socket; first electrical coupling means comprising a capacitive coupling element within said housing at said interior end thereof for electrically coupling said monitoring circuit to the monitored conductor; and second electrical coupling means for electrically coupling said monitoring circuit to the sheath layer whereby said monitoring circuit is powered by alternating current on the monitored conductor when seated in the test point socket.

Claim 38

A circuit condition monitoring module for installation on a connector having an electric conductor, a non-conductive body portion over the conductor, an electrically conductive sheath layer overlying the body portion and a test point socket formed in the sheath layer, the test point socket having a bottom end within the electric field of the conductor and being formed at least in part of the electrically non-conductive material forming the connector body portion, said module comprising: a circuit condition monitoring circuit operable from an applied alternating voltage; a housing for containing said circuit, said housing being dimensioned to fit within said test point socket with an interior end thereof adjacent the bottom end of the socket; first electrical coupling means comprising a capacitive coupling element within said housing at said interior end thereof for electrically coupling said monitoring circuit to the monitored conductor; and second electrical coupling means for electrically coupling said monitoring circuit to the sheath layer whereby said monitoring circuit is powered by alternating current on the monitored conductor when seated in the test point socket.

Claim 39

A circuit condition monitoring module as defined in claim 33 wherein said capacitive coupling element comprises a metallic plate positioned at the interior end of said housing.

Claim 40

A circuit condition monitoring module as defined in claim 33 wherein at least a portion of the sidewall of said housing is electrically conductive, and said second electrical coupling means comprise a capacitive coupling element for coupling said circuit to said electrically conductive portion of said sidewall of the test point socket.

Claim 41

A circuit condition monitoring module as defined in claim 33 wherein said second electrical coupling means comprise an ohmic electrical connection between said monitoring circuit and said electrically conductive portion of said sidewall of the test point socket.

Claim 42

A circuit condition monitoring module for installation on a connector having an electric conductor, a non-conductive body portion overlying the conductor, an electrically conductive sheath layer overlying the body portion, and a test point socket formed in the sheath layer, the socket having a bottom end within the electric field of the conductor and being formed at least in part of the electrically non-conductive material forming the connector housing, said module comprising: a circuit condition monitoring circuit operable from an applied alternating voltage; a housing formed of electrically non-conductive material for containing said circuit, said housing being dimensioned to fit within said test point socket with the interior end of said housing adjacent said bottom end of the test point socket; a first capacitive coupling plate within said housing adjacent said interior end thereof for electrically coupling said monitoring circuit to the monitored conductor; and ground return coupling means comprising a capacitive coupling ring around the inside surface of said housing at an axially-spaced location relative to said capacitive coupling plate for coupling said monitoring circuit to he electrically conductive sheath layer of said connector when the module is seated in said test point socket whereby said circuit is powered by alternating current on the monitored conductor.

Claim 43

A circuit condition monitoring module for installation on a connector having an electric conductor, a non-conductive body portion overlying the conductor, an electrically conductive sheath layer overlying the body portion, and a test point socket formed in the sheath layer, the socket having a bottom end within the electric field of the conductor and being formed at least in part of the electrically non-conductive material forming the connector housing, said module comprising: a circuit condition monitoring circuit operable from an applied alternating voltage; a housing formed of electrically non-conductive material for containing said circuit, said housing being dimensioned to fit within said test point socket with the interior end of said housing adjacent said bottom end of the test point socket; a first capacitive coupling plate within said housing adjacent said interior end thereof for electrically coupling said monitoring circuit to the monitored conductor; and ground return coupling means comprising a capacitive coupling ring around the inside surface of said housing at an axially-spaced location relative to said capacitive coupling plate for coupling said monitoring circuit to he electrically conductive sheath layer of said connector when the module is seated in said test point socket whereby said circuit is powered by alternating current on the monitored conductor.