Patent ID: 6940266

Claim:
An apparatus for measuring current applied to a power device, said apparatus comprising: a power device including an electrically conductive terminal region and a threaded aperture within the confines of said terminal region, for receiving current to be controlled; a bolt including a threaded male portion corresponding to said threaded aperture; a conductive cable terminal lug for receiving current to be applied to said power device, said conductive cable terminal lug defining an aperture at least large enough to clear said threaded male portion; an electrical conductor arrangement defining first and second ends, said first end of said electrical conductor arrangement being in electrical contact with said conductive cable terminal lug, and said second end of said electrical conductor arrangement being in electrical contact with said electrically conductive terminal region of said power device; a current sensing device coupled to said electrical conductor arrangement, for generating a signal representative of the current flowing in said electrical conductor arrangement; an insulating spacer defining a clearance aperture for said male portion of said bolt; said bolt extending through said aperture of said terminal lug and said clearance aperture of said insulating spacer, in the stated order, and having its male portion threaded into said threaded aperture of said power device, to thereby define a first path for the flow of current through said terminal lug, said bolt, and said threaded aperture and terminal region of said power device, and a second path for the flow of current through said terminal lug, through said electrical conductor arrangement to said terminal region of said power device, whereby the current sensed by said current sensing device is less than the whole current flowing from said terminal lug to said power device.