CLAMPING APPARATUS AND A SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING DEFECTS IN ELECTRICAL WIRING

• US 20080231289A1
• Filed: 03/19/2007
• Published: 09/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Bulumulla, Selaka Bandara, Ganesh, Meena
• Application Number:
  US11/687,870
• Publication Number:
  US 20080231289A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/539
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/186 using current transformers with a core consisting of two or more parts, e.g. clamp-on type G01R15/142 - G01R15/16 take precedence; tong testers G01R1/22
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/008 on air- or spacecraft, railway rolling stock or sea-going vessels
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/1272 of cable, line or wire insulation, e.g. using partial discharge measurements locating faults in cables G01R31/083

Abstract

A wire diagnostic clamp including a clamp body configured to receive multiple electrical wires is provided. The wire diagnostic clamp also includes a sensor disposed within the clamp body and being configured to detect a defect in the multiple electrical wires. The wire diagnostic clamp further includes a mounting component configured to mount the wire diagnostic clamp to a substrate.

Claims

1. A wire diagnostic clamp, comprising:

a clamp body configured to receive a plurality of electrical wires;

a sensor disposed within the clamp body and being configured to detect a defect in the plurality of electrical wires; and

a mounting component configured to mount the wire diagnostic clamp to a substrate.

2. The wire diagnostic clamp of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a flexible coil sensor.

3. The wire diagnostic clamp of claim 1, wherein a thickness of the sensor comprises a range between about 5 mils and about 10 mils.

4. The wire diagnostic clamp of claim 1, wherein the sensor is disposed around the plurality of electrical wires within the clamp body.

5. The wire diagnostic clamp of claim 1, wherein the clamp body comprises a metal or a plastic.

6. The wire diagnostic clamp of claim 5, wherein the metal comprises aluminum or steel.

7. The wire diagnostic clamp of claim 1, comprising a connector configured to provide electrical connection to the sensor.

8. The wire diagnostic clamp of claim 1, wherein the defect comprises an electrical discharge in the plurality of wires.

9. The wire diagnostic clamp of claim 1, comprising a hinge disposed on the clamp body.

10. A system for detecting defects in electrical wiring, comprising:

a wire diagnostic clamp having a clamp body and being configured to receive a plurality of electrical wires;

a sensor disposed within the clamp body and being configured to detect a defect in the plurality of electrical wires;

a mounting component configured to mount the wire diagnostic clamp to a substrate, and

a connector configured to provide an electrical connection between the sensor and a data acquisition system.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the sensor comprises a flexible coil sensor.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein a thickness of the sensor comprises a range between about 5 mils and about 10 mils.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the sensor is disposed around the plurality of electrical wires within the clamp body.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the clamp body comprises a metal or a plastic.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the metal comprises aluminum or steel.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the defect comprises an electrical discharge in the plurality of wires.

17. The system of claim 10, further comprising a hinge disposed on the clamp body.

18. A method for detecting defects in electrical wiring, comprising:

disposing a sensor within a wire diagnostic clamp body of the wire diagnostic clamp and around a plurality of electrical wires within the wire diagnostic clamp;

providing an electrical connection between the sensor and a data acquisition system via a connector; and

mounting the wire diagnostic clamp body to a substrate.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said providing an electrical connection comprises coupling the sensor with a center conductor of the connector.

20. The method of claim 18, comprising monitoring and analyzing an electrical signal from the sensor via the data acquisition system.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising inserting the wire diagnostic clamp around the plurality of electrical wires.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said inserting the wire diagnostic clamp comprises opening the wire diagnostic clamp via a hinge.