Energy harvest split core design elements for ease of installation, high performance, and long term reliability

Abstract

A power line sensing device is provided that can include a number of features. In one embodiment, a power line sensing device includes a split-core transformer comprising a first core half having a first core face and a second core half having a second core face. The first core face and/or the second core face are covered with a protective film. The power line sensing device further includes a mechanism that, when the power line sensing device is installed, removes the protective film and joins the first core face to the second core face around a power line conductor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A power line sensing device, comprising
 a split-core transformer comprising a first core half having a first core face and a second core half having a second core face, at least one of the first core face or the second core face being covered with a protective film; and   a mechanism that, when the power line sensing device is installed, removes the protective film and joins the first core face to the second core face around a power line conductor.   
     
     
         2 . The power line sensing device of  claim 1 , wherein the first core face is covered with a first protective film, and the second core face is covered with a second protective film, and the mechanism is configured to remove both the first protective film and the second protective film. 
     
     
         3 . The power line sensing device of  claim 1 , wherein the protective film comprises a paper sheet or a plastic sheet. 
     
     
         4 . The power line sensing device of  claim 1 , wherein the protective film is attached to the first core face or the second core face by an adhesive. 
     
     
         5 . The power line sensing device of  claim 1 , wherein the mechanism comprises a screw that when rotated winds up the protective film and joins the first core face to the second core face. 
     
     
         6 . The power line sensing device of  claim 1 , wherein the protective film comprises a proximal portion through which a guide passes or is attached, and the mechanism pulls the guide to remove the protective film. 
     
     
         7 . The power line sensing device of  claim 1 , wherein the mechanism comprises an external band clamp wrapped around an external perimeter of the split-core transformer. 
     
     
         8 . A power line sensing device, comprising:
 a split-core transformer comprising a first core half having a first core face and a second core half having a second core face;   a clamping mechanism that, when the power line sensing device is installed, joins the first core face to the second core face around a power line conductor;   a first perimeter seal around an entire perimeter of the first core face; and   a second perimeter seal around an entire perimeter of the second core face.   
     
     
         9 . The power line sensing device of  claim 8 , wherein the first perimeter seal comprises a recess, and the second perimeter seal comprises an o-ring. 
     
     
         10 . The power line sensing device of  claim 8 , wherein the first perimeter seal and the second perimeter seal comprise semi-permanent adhesive seals. 
     
     
         11 . The power line sensing device of  claim 8 , wherein the first perimeter seal and the second perimeter seal comprise gel sealing pads. 
     
     
         12 . The power line sensing device of  claim 8 , wherein the clamping mechanism comprises an external band clamp wrapped around an external perimeter of the split-core transformer. 
     
     
         13 . The power line sensing device of  claim 8 , wherein the first core face is covered by a first protective film, and the second core face is covered by a second protective film, and the power line sensing device further comprises a mechanism to remove the first protective film and the second protective film when the power line sensing device is installed. 
     
     
         14 . The power line sensing device of  claim 13 , wherein the clamping mechanism comprises a screw that when rotated causes the first protective film and the second protective film to be removed. 
     
     
         15 . The power line sensing device of  claim 13 , wherein the first protective film and the second protective film comprise a respective proximal portion through which a guide passes or is attached, and the mechanism pulls the guide to remove the first protective film and the second protective film. 
     
     
         16 . The power line sensing device of  claim 13 , wherein the first protective film and the second protective film comprises a single length of protective film. 
     
     
         17 . A method for installing a power line sensing device around a power line conductor, the power line sensing device comprising a split-core transformer comprising a first core half having a first core face and a second core half having a second core face, at least one of the first core face or the second core face being covered with a protective film, the method comprising:
 joining the first core face to the second core face around the power line conductor via a rotational motion of a hot stick; and   removing the protective film via the rotational motion of the hot stick.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the protective film comprises a proximal portion through which a guide passes or is attached, and the rotational motion of the hot stick pulls the guide to remove the protective film. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the rotational motion of the hot stick secures an external band clamp wrapped around an external perimeter of the split-core transformer. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the rotational motion of the hot stick rotates a screw that winds up the protective film and clamps the first core face to the second core face.