Method and apparatus for the sonic detection of high pressure conditions in a vacuum switching device

• US 20070089521A1
• Filed: 09/30/2005
• Published: 04/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thomas & Betts International LLC (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: Thomas & Betts International Incorporated (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Lei, Li, Mosely, Roderick, Randazzo, Steven, Bestel, Ernest
• Granted Patent: US 7,383,733 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/702
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 3/00 Methods or apparatus specially adapted for transmitting mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic frequency
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2033/6686 by emitting and receiving reflected sound or ultrasound signals
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 33/668 Means for obtaining or monitoring the vacuum

Abstract

A method and apparatus for detecting a high pressure condition within an interrupter includes introducing high intensity ultrasonic sound into the outer wall of a vacuum interrupter through a sonic wave guide, then listening for the reflected and retransmitted response signals. The characteristics of the response signals are utilized to determine the pressure within the interrupter, and to determine when an unwanted high pressure condition exists.

Claims

1. An apparatus for detecting a high pressure condition within an electrical device, comprising:

a sonic wave guide having proximal and distal ends, said sonic wave guide having a first surface at said proximal end, said sonic wave guide having a second surface at said distal end, said first surface having an area greater than said second surface, and said second surface being sonically coupled to said electrical device;

a sonic transmitting device sonically coupled to said first surface; and

,

a sonic receiving device sonically coupled to said first surface.

2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said sonic wave guide consists essentially of an electrically insulating material.

3. An apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said sonic wave guide is chosen from among the group consisting of rigid plastics, plastic composites, ceramics, quartz, and glass.

4. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said sonic wave guide comprises a metal.

5. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said first surface and said second surface have a rectangular shape.

6. An apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein said first surface and said second surface have a square shape.

7. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said first surface and said second surface have an elliptical shape.

8. An apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein said first surface and said second surface have a circular shape.

9. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said electrical device comprises a vacuum interrupter, enclosed within an electrical insulating layer having an outer surface, said second surface of said sonic wave guide being sonically coupled to said outer surface of said insulating layer.

10. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said electrical device comprises a vacuum interrupter having an outer surface, said second surface of said sonic wave guide being sonically coupled to said outer surface of said vacuum interrupter.

11. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 further comprising an electronics interface module, said electronics interface module being electrically coupled to said sonic transmitting device and said sonic receiving device.

12. An apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein said electronics interface module derives power from electrical current flowing through said electrical device, said electronics interface module supplying power to said sonic transmitting and said sonic receiving devices.

13. An apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein said electronics interface module comprises communications means for transmitting pressure status of said electrical device.

14. A method for determining a high pressure condition within an electrical device, comprising:

transmitting an excitation sonic signal, through a sonic wave guide, into said electrical device;

receiving a response sonic signal from said electrical device, through said sonic wave guide, subsequent to transmission of said excitation sonic signal;

determining a pressure within said electrical device based on said response sonic signal; and

,

issuing an alarm signal if said pressure within said electrical device is above a predetermined value.

15. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein said sonic wave guide comprises an elongated member having proximal and distal ends, said proximal end having a first surface, said distal end having a second surface, said first surface having a surface area greater than said second surface, and said second surface sonically coupled to said electrical device.

16. A method as recited in claim 15, wherein said excitation sonic signal is amplified when transmitted through said sonic wave guide.

17. A method as recited in claim 15, wherein said response sonic signal is amplified when received through said sonic wave guide.

18. A method as recited in claim 15, wherein said electrical device comprises a vacuum interrupter, enclosed within an electrical insulating layer having an outer surface, said second surface of said sonic wave guide being sonically coupled to said outer surface of said insulating layer.

19. A method as recited in claim 15, wherein said electrical device comprises a vacuum interrupter having an outer surface, said second surface of said sonic wave guide being sonically coupled to said outer surface of said vacuum interrupter.

20. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein said transmitted sonic signal is between 20 and 5000 kilocycles/second.

21. A method as recited in claim 20, wherein said transmitted sonic signal is between 80 and 200 kilocycles/second.

22. A method as recited in claim 23, wherein comparing said response signal to said reference signal further comprises comparing the number and amplitude of signal components of said response signal to the number and amplitude of signal components of said reference signal.

23. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein determining said pressure within said electrical device comprises comparing said response signal to a reference signal.

24. A method for determining an alarm condition within a vacuum-type electrical device, comprising:

transmitting an excitation sonic signal into said electrical device;

receiving a response sonic signal from said electrical device, subsequent to transmission of said excitation sonic signal;

comparing said response sonic signal to a reference; and

,

issuing an alarm signal if said comparison of said response signal to said reference signal indicates a high pressure in said electrical device.

25. A method as recited in claim 24, wherein said transmitted sonic signal is between 20 and 5000 kilocycles/second.

26. A method as recited in claim 24, wherein said transmitted sonic signal is between 80 and 200 kilocycles/second.

27. A method as recited in claim 24, wherein said reference is a reference signal.

28. A method as recited in claim 27, wherein comparing said response signal to said reference signal further comprises comparing the number and amplitude of signal components of said response signal to the number and amplitude of signal components of said reference signal.

29. An apparatus for determining a high pressure condition within an electrical device, comprising:

components for transmitting an excitation sonic signal, through a sonic wave guide, into said electrical device;

components for receiving a response sonic signal from said electrical device, through said sonic wave guide, subsequent to transmission of said excitation sonic signal;

components for determining a pressure within said electrical device based on said response sonic signal; and

,

components for issuing an alarm signal if said pressure within said electrical device is above a predetermined value.

30. The apparatus as recited in claim 29, wherein said sonic wave guide comprises an elongated member having proximal and distal ends, said proximal end having a first surface, said distal end having a second surface, said first surface having a surface area greater than said second surface, and said second surface sonically coupled to said electrical device.

31. The apparatus as recited in claim 30, wherein said excitation sonic signal is amplified when transmitted through said sonic wave guide.

32. The apparatus as recited in claim 30, wherein said response sonic signal is amplified when received through said sonic wave guide.

33. The apparatus as recited in claim 30, wherein said electrical device comprises a vacuum interrupter, enclosed within an electrical insulating layer having an outer surface, said second surface of said sonic wave guide being sonically coupled to said outer surface of said insulating layer.

34. The apparatus as recited in claim 30, wherein said electrical device comprises a vacuum interrupter having an outer surface, said second surface of said sonic wave guide being sonically coupled to said outer surface of said vacuum interrupter.

35. The apparatus as recited in claim 29, wherein said transmitted sonic signal is between 20 and 5000 kilocycles/second.

36. The apparatus as recited in claim 35, wherein said transmitted sonic signal is between 80 and 200 kilocycles/second.

37. The apparatus as recited in claim 29, wherein said components for determining said pressure within said electrical device compare said response signal to a reference signal.

38. The apparatus as recited in claim 37, wherein said components for determining said pressure within said electrical device compare the number and amplitude of signal components of said response signal to the number and amplitude of signal components of said reference signal.