IP Library Granted Patent US 12,352,785
Granted Patent B2
US 12,352,785 · App. 17/946,965 · Granted Jul 8, 2025

Safe harness with voltage and current detection

Inventor: Micheal M. Austin (South Jordan, UT)
Assignee: Vutility, Inc.
G01R15/181H02J7/0047H02J50/10
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,352,785
App. No.
17/946,965
Granted
Jul 8, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Electrical current and/or voltage monitoring powered by induction and/or conductive spike, and related devices, apparatuses, systems, and methods are disclosed. An electricity monitoring device can include a measuring conductor electrically coupled to a monitored energy source to detect/read voltage of the monitored energy source. The electricity monitoring device can include an electrical component in which a fluctuating magnetic field is induced from a fluctuating flow of electrical current in the monitored energy source, the fluctuating magnetic field to produce an electromotive force to provide electrical energy. The electricity monitoring device can include a controller that can further include processing circuitry to be powered by the provided electrical energy, the controller coupled to the measuring conductor to determine a present run-time electrical voltage of the monitored energy source based on a reading of the measuring conductor. In some embodiments, the electrical component can be a Rogowski coil.

Claims (31)

1. An electricity monitoring device, comprising:

a measuring conductor to electrically couple to a monitored energy source to read voltage of the monitored energy source;

an electrical component in which a fluctuating magnetic field is induced from a fluctuating flow of electrical current in the monitored energy source, the fluctuating magnetic field to produce an electromotive force to provide electrical energy;

a controller configured to determine a present electrical voltage of the monitored energy source based on the reading of the measuring conductor; and

a coupling cable having a wire shield, the coupling cable configured to provide electrical energy to the controller absent of reading distortion.

2. The electricity monitoring device of claim 1 , wherein the electrical component detects the rate of current flowing through the monitored energy source while the fluctuating magnetic field is induced, and

wherein the controller is further to determine a present run-time electrical current of the monitored energy source.

3. The electricity monitoring device of claim 1 , wherein the coupling cable is to electrically couple the measuring conductor and the electrical component to the controller.

4. The electricity monitoring device of claim 3 , wherein the coupling cable is configured to power the controller without causing reading distortion simultaneous with the controller determining the present run-time electrical voltage and the present run-time electrical current via the coupling cable.

5. The electricity monitoring device of claim 3 , wherein coupling cable is coupled to the measuring conductor and the electrical component at a first end and coupled to the controller at a second end, wherein the controller determines the voltage and current as passed through the coupling cable.

6. The electricity monitoring device of claim 1 , wherein the electrical component comprises a Rogowski coil.

7. The electricity monitoring device of claim 6 , wherein the measuring conductor is disposed in at least one of connecting end portions of the Rogowski coil and extends radially inward from to the monitored energy source.

8. The electricity monitoring device of claim 1 , further comprising a securement mechanism to physically couple the electricity monitoring device and the monitored energy source with the measuring conductor radially toward a center of the monitored energy source cross-section.

9. The electricity monitoring device of claim 1 , wherein the measuring conductor is configured to pierce an insulation material surrounding the monitored energy source.

10. The electricity monitoring device of claim 9 , wherein an aperture that is formed in the insulation material in response to the piercing of the insulation material by the measuring conductor is such that the monitored energy source is inaccessible to be electrically coupled with a user.

11. The electricity monitoring device of claim 9 , wherein the measuring conductor is formed such that, in response to the measuring conductor being removed, the insulation material surrounding the monitored energy source is configured to elastically recover such that an aperture in the insulation material from piercing by the measuring conductor is substantially closed in response to the measuring conductor being removed.

12. The electricity monitoring device of claim 1 , further comprising a housing from which the measuring conductor extends.

13. The electricity monitoring device of claim 12 , wherein the housing is formed such that a shape of the housing guides the measuring conductor radially toward a cross-section center of the monitored energy source.

14. The electricity monitoring device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a protector to guard the conductor, wherein the measuring conductor in an inoperative position is configured to be disposed at least partially inside the protector.

15. The electricity monitoring device of claim 14 , wherein the protector is sufficiently flexible to be deformed for piercing it by the measuring conductor.

16. The electricity monitoring device of claim 14 , wherein the protector is sufficiently flexible to substantially return to its original shape in response to the measuring conductor being released from its coupling with the monitored energy source.

17. The electricity monitoring device of claim 1 , wherein the electrical component provides a first portion and a second portion of the electrical energy obtained from the monitored energy source.

18. The electricity monitoring device of claim 17 , wherein the first portion of the electrical energy is (i) sufficient to power the controller and (ii) insufficient to interfere with voltage measurement of the second portion of the electrical energy obtained from the monitored energy source.

19. A method for monitoring electricity in an energy source, the method comprising:

electrically coupling, through a measuring conductor, a monitored energy source to a controller comprising a processing circuitry;

producing electrical energy within an electrical component by induction, including driving an electromotive force in the electrical component from a fluctuating magnetic field generated from a fluctuating flow of electrical current in the monitored energy source to provide power to the processing circuitry;

performing one or more operations by the processing circuitry, including measuring present run-time electrical voltage in the monitored energy source in response to the monitored energy source providing the electrical energy to power the processing circuitry.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the measuring conductor is configured to pierce an insulation material surrounding the monitored energy source.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein an aperture that is formed in the insulation material in response to the piercing of the insulation material by the measuring conductor is such that the monitored energy source is inaccessible to be electrically coupled with a user.

22. The method of claim 20 , wherein the measuring conductor is formed such that, in response to the measuring conductor being removed, the insulation material surrounding the monitored energy source is configured to elastically recover such that an aperture in the insulation material from piercing by the measuring conductor is substantially closed in response to the measuring conductor being removed.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 23, 2022
From: AUSTIN, MICHEAL M.
To: VUTILITY, INC.
Reel/Frame 061192/0873 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63245130 · Sep 16, 2021
Related Publication 20230079938A1 · Mar 16, 2023
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