US 11,774,481 B2
Electrical sensor assembly
Alberto Bauer, Dubai (AE)
Assigned to G & W ELECTRIC COMPANY, Bolingbrook, IL (US)
Filed by G & W Electric Company, Bolingbrook, IL (US)
Filed on May 27, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/827,181.
Application 17/827,181 is a continuation of application No. 17/414,891, granted, now 11,346,876, previously published as PCT/US2019/066906, filed on Dec. 17, 2019.
Claims priority of application No. 102018000011149 (IT), filed on Dec. 17, 2018; and application No. 202018000003944 (IT), filed on Dec. 17, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0357382 A1, Nov. 10, 2022
Int. Cl. G01R 29/08 (2006.01); G01R 15/14 (2006.01); G01R 29/12 (2006.01); H01B 9/00 (2006.01)
CPC G01R 29/0878 (2013.01) [G01R 15/144 (2013.01); G01R 29/12 (2013.01); H01B 9/006 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A sensor assembly comprising:
an electrode extending along a longitudinal axis;
a flexible tubular section extending along the longitudinal axis and at least partially surrounding the electrode such that the flexible tubular section is spaced in a direction radially outward from the longitudinal axis and from a portion of the electrode, the flexible tubular section including
a support member made of an insulating material,
an electric field sensor comprising a first layer of electrically conductive material disposed on an inner surface of the support member, the electric field sensor configured to detect an electric field produced by the electrode, wherein the first layer includes
a first plurality of cantilevered tabs extending from a first portion of the first layer of electrically conductive material in a first direction parallel to the longitudinal axis, and
a second plurality of cantilevered tabs extending from a second portion of the first layer of electrically conductive material in a second direction parallel to the longitudinal axis opposite the first direction; and
a dielectric material at least partially enclosing the electrode and the flexible tubular section, wherein the dielectric material fills through openings in the flexible tubular section.
 
9. A sensor assembly comprising:
an electrode extending along a longitudinal axis;
a first flexible tubular section extending along the longitudinal axis and at least partially surrounding the electrode such that the first flexible tubular section is spaced radially outward from the axis and from a portion of the electrode, the first tubular section including
a self-supporting member made of an insulating material,
an electric field sensor comprising a first layer of electrically conductive material disposed on an inner surface of the first self-supporting member, the electric field sensor configured to detect an electric field produced by the electrode, and
a first electric screen comprising a second layer of electrically conductive material disposed on an outer surface of the self-supporting member, the first electric screen electrically isolated from the electric field sensor and configured to shield the electric field sensor from outside electric interference,
wherein an axial length of the first layer of electrically conductive material is less than an axial length of the self-supporting member and less than an axial length of the second layer of electrically conductive material;
a second tubular section including a second electric screen positioned axially adjacent an end of the first flexible tubular section; and
a dielectric material at least partially enclosing the electrode, the first flexible tubular section, and the second tubular section, wherein the dielectric material fills through openings in the first flexible tubular section and the second tubular section, and wherein the each through opening in the first flexible tubular section is configured as an elongated slit having an axial length that extends in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis.
 
12. A sensor assembly comprising:
an electrode extending along a longitudinal axis;
a flexible tubular section extending along the longitudinal axis and at least partially surrounding the electrode such that the flexible tubular section is spaced in a direction radially outward from the longitudinal axis and from a portion of the electrode, the flexible tubular section comprising a flexible printed circuit board and including
a first layer of insulating material,
a second layer of electrically conductive material disposed radially inwardly from the first layer of insulating material, and
a third layer of electrically conductive material disposed radially outwardly from the first layer of insulating material; and
a dielectric material at least partially enclosing the electrode and the flexible tubular section, wherein the dielectric material is molded around and through the flexible tubular section to fill through openings in the flexible tubular section.
 
20. A sensor assembly comprising:
an electrode extending along a longitudinal axis;
a tubular section extending along the longitudinal axis and at least partially surrounding the electrode such that the tubular section is spaced in a direction radially outward from the longitudinal axis and from a portion of the electrode, the tubular section comprising a double-sided printed circuit board wrapped into a tube shape, wherein a layer of copper disposed on an inner side of the printed circuit board and a layer of copper is disposed on an outer opposite side of the printed circuit board, the tubular section including
a first layer of insulating material, wherein the first layer of insulating material has a first plurality of through openings that includes a first row of circumferentially spaced through openings and a second row of circumferentially spaced through openings, each through opening of the first row of through openings aligned with a through opening of the second row of through openings in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis,
a second layer of electrically conductive material disposed radially inwardly from the inner side of the first layer of insulating material, wherein the second layer of electrically conductive material has a second plurality of through openings that includes a first row of circumferentially spaced through openings and a second row of circumferentially spaced through openings, each through opening of the first row of through openings aligned with a through opening of the second row of through openings in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis, and
a third layer of electrically conductive material disposed radially outwardly from the outer side of the first layer of insulating material, wherein the third layer of electrically insulating material has a third plurality of through openings that includes a first row of circumferentially spaced through openings and a second row of circumferentially spaced through openings, each through opening of the first row of through openings aligned with a through opening of the second row of through openings in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis,
wherein each through opening of the second plurality of through openings is aligned with a through opening of the first plurality of through openings, and wherein each through opening in the third plurality of through openings is aligned with a through opening in the first plurality of through openings, and
wherein the first layer of electrically insulating material has a first length extending in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis, the third layer of electrically conductive material has a second length extending in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis, and the first length is coextensive with the second length; and
a dielectric material at least partially enclosing the electrode and the flexible tubular section, wherein the dielectric material is molded around and through the tubular section to fill the first plurality of through openings, the second plurality of through openings, and the third plurality of through openings.