Method utilizing an automatic resettable circuit breaker for locating ground faults in a vehicle
First Claim
1. A method for locating a grounded fault in a vehicle having a plurality of protected electrical circuits energized by a battery comprising the steps of,first disconnecting the battery hot terminal leaving only the grounded terminal of the battery connected,connecting an automatic resettable circuit breaker across the free hot terminal of the battery and the load side of each of the pluarlity of protected circuits under test individually one by one,selecting a protected circuit under test showing evidence of sparking when connecting the circuit breaker while maintaining the connection of the circuit breaker across the hot terminal and the load side of the protected circuit under test showing evidence of sparking,then moving an induction current measuring ammeter over the selected protected circuit under test showing evidence of sparking without disturbing said circuit and detecting a varying current, andthen locating the grounded fault by noting the immediate absence of detected varying current.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for locating a grounded fault in an electrical circuit. An automatic resettable circuit breaker having two terminals is connected across a source of power and the circuit under test. The grounded fault condition causes the resettable circuit breaker to continually recycle in the presence of the grounded fault. An induction current measuring ammeter is movably positioned over the circuit under test to measure the varying current caused by the resettable circuit breaker. The actual location of the ground is determined by the immediate absence of a measured varying current.
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Citations
1 Claim
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1. A method for locating a grounded fault in a vehicle having a plurality of protected electrical circuits energized by a battery comprising the steps of,
first disconnecting the battery hot terminal leaving only the grounded terminal of the battery connected, connecting an automatic resettable circuit breaker across the free hot terminal of the battery and the load side of each of the pluarlity of protected circuits under test individually one by one, selecting a protected circuit under test showing evidence of sparking when connecting the circuit breaker while maintaining the connection of the circuit breaker across the hot terminal and the load side of the protected circuit under test showing evidence of sparking, then moving an induction current measuring ammeter over the selected protected circuit under test showing evidence of sparking without disturbing said circuit and detecting a varying current, and then locating the grounded fault by noting the immediate absence of detected varying current.
Specification
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Current AssigneeSteven Arkosy
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Original AssigneeSteven Arkosy
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InventorsArkosy, Steven
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Primary Examiner(s)Strecker, Gerard R.
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Application NumberUS05/737,603Time in Patent Office638 DaysField of Search324/51, 324/52, 324/67, 324/133US Class Current324/523CPC Class CodesG01R 31/006 on road vehicles, e.g. auto...G01R 31/086 in power transmission or di...G01R 31/52 Testing for short-circuits,...
