Electricity: conductors and insulators – Conduits – cables or conductors – Insulated
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-25
2001-04-17
Reichard, Dean A. (Department: 2831)
Electricity: conductors and insulators
Conduits, cables or conductors
Insulated
Reexamination Certificate
active
06218622
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
THE PRESENT INVENTION relates to an electric power distribution line and, more particularly, relates to a power distribution line suitable for distributing a high frequency alternating current electric power supply.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
It has been found desirable to power a number of devices, which may be at spaced locations within a specific locality or area, from a single high frequency alternating current power supply. Such a system possesses various advantages including the advantage that one power supply can power many devices, thus reducing cost, and the power supply itself may be sited away from the particular devices which are powered by the electricity. This avoids the need for bulky power supplies to be located at the point of use.
Further advantages are that one power supply can power many devices which have different voltage and/or current requirements, by using different coupling transformers between the power distribution line and the various devices which are supplied with power. Other advantages also exist.
In a relatively low voltage alternating current power distribution system which operates at a voltage of up to 100 volts or even up to 1 kv, with a frequency of between 20 kHz and 2 MHz, a major problem that is experienced is the broadcast interference that derives from the “H” field or magnetic field that is generated as a result of the relatively high level of current in the system.
It is understood that the total value of the flux of the H field produced by a sinusoidal alternating current in a circuit depends upon the total area created by the circuit loop. The larger the loop the greater the total flux.
It has been proposed to distribute high frequency power using different types of power distribution line.
It has been proposed to use a wire pair, where the wires are kept parallel to and adjacent to each other by a common insulating sheath. This minimises the loop area defined between the wires and thus minimises the flux. Whilst this is a cheap expedient, with only a medium flux, there is a very high local field. A twisted wire pair, in which two separate insulated wires are kept adjacent each other by twisting one wire around the other, is also very cheap and has the advantage of a low distant field, since the effectively “rotating” field cancels at a distance. However, a very high local field is still experienced.
More expensive prior proposed distribution lines include screened wires where, for example, a twisted pair is provided with a magnetic foil screen wrapping, or a co-axial cable. These expedients are more expensive, but may be more difficult to establish electrical connections.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention seeks to provide an improved power distribution line.
According to this invention there is provided a distribution line for distributing high frequency alternating electric current which comprises a first substantially flat conductor and a second substantially flat conductor, the two conductors being located in spaced parallelism and being separated by an insulator, at least one of the conductors being associated with a further element formed of a material of high relative permeability.
Preferably a second element of high permeability is provided associated with the other conductor.
In one embodiment the or each element of high permeability is connected directly to the, or the respective, conductor.
Alternatively an insulator is located between the or each element of high permeability and the associated conductor.
Preferably the or each element of high relative permeability extends laterally beyond the associated flat conductor.
Conveniently each conductor is formed of copper or a copper alloy.
Advantageously the or each element of high permeability is formed of a amorphous or nano-crystalline metal.
Preferably the metal forming the high permeability element or elements is steel or a cobalt/steel alloy.
Conveniently the or each element of high permeability has a relative permeability of the order of 10
5
.
Preferably the or each element formed of a material of high relative permeability is a foil.
Conveniently the or each first conductor comprises a core and, on each side of the core, a plurality of portions of the conductor extending in parallelism with the core.
The distribution line may be provided with an outer insulating sleeve.
The distribution line may be associated with a clip, the clip having two arms, the arms being in electrical contact, respectively, with the two conductors.
The invention also relates to a method of making a component for a distribution line, as described above, comprising the steps of passing a copper tape around a cooled rotating drum and spraying on to the copper tape a material, which, when cooled in contact with the drum, forms a foil of material of high permeability.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2060913 (1936-11-01), Weaver
patent: 3671675 (1972-06-01), Ress
patent: 4540224 (1985-09-01), Maros
patent: 4894124 (1990-01-01), Walsh et al.
patent: 5172310 (1992-12-01), Deam et al.
patent: 5847324 (1998-12-01), Farquhar et al.
patent: 0 407 167 (1991-01-01), None
patent: 1-213916 (1989-08-01), None
E.J. Rymaszewski et al.: “D.C. Power distribution System”, IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, vol. 5, No. 2, Jul. 1962, p. 29 XP002053387.
Armstrong Westerman Hattori McLeland & Naughton LLP
Nguyen Chau N.
Reichard Dean A.
Tunewell Technology LTD
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