US 12,066,464 B2
Sensored insulation plug
Gunther A. J. Stollwerck, Krefeld (DE); and Mark Gravermann, Erkelenz (DE)
Assigned to 3M Innovative Properties Company, St. Paul, MN (US)
Filed by 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY, St. Paul, MN (US)
Filed on Oct. 4, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/937,847.
Claims priority of application No. 21201460 (EP), filed on Oct. 7, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0115600 A1, Apr. 13, 2023
Int. Cl. G01R 15/06 (2006.01); G01R 15/16 (2006.01); H01B 17/56 (2006.01)
CPC G01R 15/16 (2013.01) [H01B 17/56 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. Sensored insulation plug for being inserted into a rear cavity of a medium voltage or high-voltage separable connector in a power distribution network of a national grid, and operable to insulate a connection element of the separable connector on an elevated voltage and to sense the elevated voltage,
the sensored insulation plug comprising:
a) a plug body formed by a solidified insulating material and rotationally symmetric about a plug axis defining axial directions and radial directions orthogonal to the axial directions;
b) an electrically conductive contact piece, mechanically and conductively connectable with the connection element on elevated voltage;
c) a discrete coupling capacitor, operable to harvest energy from the elevated voltage of the contact piece and operable to superimpose a communication voltage signal over the elevated voltage of the contact piece, wherein the coupling capacitor is embedded in the insulating material and comprises a coupling electrode, electrically connected to the contact piece, and an opposed harvesting electrode;
d) an integrated sensing capacitor, operable as a high-voltage capacitor in a sensing voltage divider for sensing the elevated voltage, the sensing capacitor comprising:
i) a high-voltage electrode, wherein the high-voltage electrode comprises the coupling electrode and the contact piece;
ii) a tubular sensing electrode, embedded in the insulating material and arranged around an axial section of the high-voltage electrode,
iii) a dielectric comprising a portion of the insulating material arranged between the sensing electrode and the coupling capacitor.