PANEL FOR AUDIBLE MONITORING OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS AND THE DETECTION OF ELECTRICAL FAULTS

• US 20200132747A1
• Filed: 04/24/2018
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Iriss Holdings, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Iriss Holdings, Inc.
• Inventors: ROBINSON, Martin
• Granted Patent: US 10,983,156 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/086 in power transmission or distribution networks, i.e. with interconnected conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 1/0023 sensing non electrical parameters, e.g. by optical, pneumatic, thermal or sonic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/02 Details

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure may enable an electrical component within an electrical distribution equipment cabinet to be audibly monitored via an electrical fault detection device mounted on the housing of the cabinet. The electrical fault detection device may comprise a sensor to detect a signal emitted from an electrical fault within the cabinet, a transducer to convert the detected signal into an electrical audio signal, and an output socket adapted for an external device that may generate an audible sound based on the detected signal. The detected sensor may be an ultrasound sensor and the detected signal may be an ultrasound emitted from the electrical fault.

Claims

1. An electrical fault detection device for audible monitoring of electrical components located within an electrical distribution equipment cabinet, comprising:

a sensor mounted on an interior side of a housing for the electrical distribution equipment cabinet, the housing enclosing the electrical components located within the electrical distribution equipment cabinet, the sensor adapted to detect a signal emitted from an electrical fault within the electrical distribution equipment cabinet; and

,

an output socket mounted on the housing for the electrical distribution equipment cabinet, the output socket operably connected to the sensor, the output socket having a front side defining an opening, the output socket being mounted on an exterior side of the housing, the opening of the output socket adapted to receive a cable plug for a cable connected to an external device.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the external device is adapted to generate an audible sound based on the detected signal, whereby the electrical fault may be audibly monitored by an user of the external device.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the external device is selected from a group consisting of:

a headphone, a headset, and a speaker.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein the external device is adapted to connect to an audio device, whereby the audible sound is generated by the audio device.

5. The device of claim 2, wherein the external device comprises a screen monitor, the external device adapted to generate a visual representation on the screen monitor based on the detected signal, whereby the electrical fault may be visually monitored by the user of the external device.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the visual representation comprises information selected from a group consisting of:

partial discharge readings, voltage readings, electrical current readings, sound level readings, and sinusoidal wave representations.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the electrical fault is selected from a group consisting of:

corona, arcing, surface tracking and partial discharge of the electrical components.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is an ultrasound sensor, and wherein the detected signal is an ultrasound emitted from the electrical fault.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a partial discharge detector, and wherein the detected signal is a pulse change emitted from the electrical fault.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a transducer adapted to convert the detected signal to an electrical audio signal, the transducer connected to the output socket via electrical wires, the transducer adapted to transmit the electrical audio signal to the output socket.

11. The device of claim 1, furthering comprising:

a transducer connected to the sensor via electrical wires, the transducer adapted to convert the detected signal to an electrical audio signal, the transducer connected to the output socket via electrical wires, the transducer adapted to transmit the electrical audio signal to the output socket.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is connected to the output socket via electrical wires, the sensor adapted to transmit the detected signal to the output socket, the external device adapted to convert the transmitted signal to an electrical audio signal.

13. The device of claim 1, furthering comprising:

a panel mounted on the housing for the electrical distribution equipment cabinet via a retaining mechanism, the retaining mechanism securing the panel to the electrical distribution equipment cabinet, the housing defining an opening in the electrical distribution equipment cabinet, the panel adapted to be mounted over the opening, the sensor mounted on a first side of the panel, the first side of the mounted panel positioned on the interior side of the electrical distribution equipment cabinet, a second side of the mounted panel positioned on the exterior side of the electrical distribution equipment cabinet.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the opening on the front side of the output socket is mounted on the second side of the panel.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein the panel is transparent to radiation emitted from the electrical components, the external device adapted to detect the emitted radiation, the external device comprises a screen monitor, the external device adapted to generate a visual representation on the screen monitor based on the detected radiation, the visual representation comprising a thermogram, whereby the electrical fault may be visually monitored by an user of the external device.

16. A method for audible monitoring of electrical components located within an electrical distribution equipment cabinet, comprising:

detecting, via a sensor, a signal emitted from an electrical fault within the electrical distribution equipment cabinet, wherein the sensor is mounted on an interior side of a housing for the electrical distribution equipment cabinet, wherein the housing encloses the electrical components located within the electrical distribution equipment cabinet;

converting, via a transducer, the detected signal into an electrical audio signal; and

,

transmitting, via an output socket, the electrical audio signal to an external device, wherein a front side of the output socket defines an opening mounted on an exterior side of the housing for the electrical distribution equipment cabinet, wherein the output socket is operably connected to the sensor, wherein the opening of the output socket is adapted to receive a cable plug for a cable connected to the external device; and

,

generating, via the external device, an audible sound based on the detected signal, whereby the electrical fault may be audibly monitored by an user of the external device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the electrical fault is selected from a group consisting of:

corona, arcing, surface tracking and partial discharge of the electrical components.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the sensor is an ultrasound sensor, and wherein the detected signal is an ultrasound emitted from the electrical fault.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the sensor is a partial discharge detector, and wherein the detected signal is a pulse change emitted from the electrical fault.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the external device is selected from a group consisting of:

a headphone, a headset, and a speaker.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the external device is adapted to connect to an audio device, whereby the audible sound is generated by the audio device.

22. The method of claim 16, furthering comprising:

generating, via the external device, a visual representation based on the detected signal, wherein the external device comprises a screen monitor, wherein the external device is adapted to generate the visual representation on the screen monitor, whereby the electrical fault may be visually monitored by the user of the external device.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the visual representation comprises information selected from a group consisting of:

partial discharge readings, voltage readings, electrical current readings, sound level readings, and sinusoidal wave representations.

24. The method of claim 16, wherein the output socket is mounted on a panel, the panel mounted on the housing for the electrical distribution equipment cabinet via a retaining mechanism, the retaining mechanism securing the panel to the electrical distribution equipment cabinet, the housing defining an opening in the electrical distribution equipment cabinet, the panel adapted to be mounted over the opening.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the opening on the front side of the output socket is mounted on the panel.

26. The method of claim 24, furthering comprising:

detecting, via the external device, radiation emitted from the electrical components, wherein the panel is transparent to the emitted radiation, the external device adapted to detect the emitted radiation, the external device comprises a screen monitor, the external device adapted to generate a visual representation on the screen monitor based on the detected radiation, the visual representation comprising a thermogram, whereby the electrical fault may be visually monitored by an user of the external device.

27. An electrical fault detection device for audible monitoring of electrical components located within an electrical distribution equipment cabinet, comprising:

a sensor mounted on an interior side of a housing for the electrical distribution equipment cabinet, the housing enclosing the electrical components located within the electrical distribution equipment cabinet, the sensor adapted to detect a signal emitted from an electrical fault within the electrical distribution equipment cabinet, wherein the sensor comprises a transducer adapted to convert the detected signal to an electrical audio signal; and

,

an output connector mounted on the interior side of the housing for the electrical distribution equipment cabinet, the output connector operably connected to the transducer, the transducer adapted to transmit the electrical audio signal to the output connector, the output connector adapted to wirelessly transmit the electrical audio signal to an external device.