Surge detector having distributed line inductance pickup
First Claim
1. A surge detector for detecting the occurrence of a surge current in a monitored conductor having a distributed inductance along the length thereof and subject to the occurrence of a surge current therein, said detector comprising:
- first connection means for establishing at a first predetermined location along the monitored conductor a first electrical connection;
second connection means for establishing at a second predetermined location along the monitored conductor a second electrical connection;
said first and second predetermined locations being axially spaced along said monitored conductor whereby an inductive reactance is formed therebetween relative to said surge current as a consequence of the distributed inductance of the conductor;
charge storage means comprising a capacitor;
rectifier means comprising at least one diode;
said diode being serially connected with said capacitor between said first and second connection means to provide a capacitively reactive shunt between said locations relative to the surge current whereby a charge is developed in said capacitor upon occurrence of the surge; and
indicator means connected across said capacitor and operable from the charge developed therein for producing an output indicative of the occurrence of the surge current.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A detector for indicating the occurrence of a surge current in the ground return conductor of a lightning arrestor or other monitored conductor includes two clamps which establish electrical connection with the conductor at two spaced locations along its length. A rectifier circuit develops an actuator signal from the voltage induced between the two locations to activate an electromechanical counter or indicator flag. The clamps are installable on the conductor without access to the ends thereof to facilitate installation of the detector on an existing conductor.
34 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A surge detector for detecting the occurrence of a surge current in a monitored conductor having a distributed inductance along the length thereof and subject to the occurrence of a surge current therein, said detector comprising:
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first connection means for establishing at a first predetermined location along the monitored conductor a first electrical connection; second connection means for establishing at a second predetermined location along the monitored conductor a second electrical connection; said first and second predetermined locations being axially spaced along said monitored conductor whereby an inductive reactance is formed therebetween relative to said surge current as a consequence of the distributed inductance of the conductor; charge storage means comprising a capacitor; rectifier means comprising at least one diode; said diode being serially connected with said capacitor between said first and second connection means to provide a capacitively reactive shunt between said locations relative to the surge current whereby a charge is developed in said capacitor upon occurrence of the surge; and indicator means connected across said capacitor and operable from the charge developed therein for producing an output indicative of the occurrence of the surge current. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A surge detector for detecting the occurrence of a surge current in a monitored conductor having a distributed inductance along the length thereof and subject to the occurrence of a surge current therein, said detector comprising:
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first connection means for establishing at a first predetermined location along the monitored conductor a first electrical connection; second connection means for establishing at a second predetermined location along the monitored conductor a second electrical connection; said first and second predetermined locations being axially spaced along said monitored conductor whereby upon occurrence of the surface current in the conductor an inductive-reactive sensing voltage is developed between said locations as a consequence of the distributed inductance therebetween; charge storage means comprising a capacitor; rectifier means comprising a rectifier network having first and second input terminals and first and second outupt terminals; said first and second input terminals being connected to said first and second connection means, respectively, and said first and second output terminals being connected to respective terminals of said capacitor to provide a capacitively reactive shunt between said locations relative to the surge current whereby a charge is developed in said capacitor upon occurrence of the surge; and indicator means connected across said capacitor and operable from the charge developed therein for producing an output indicative of the occurrence of the surge current. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A surge detecting system for detecting the occurrence of a surge current, comprising:
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a monitored conductor having a continuous unbroken ground connection and a distributed inductance along the length thereof, and subject to the occurrence of a surge current therein; first connection means for establishing at a first predetermined location along said monitored conductor a first electrical connection; second connection means for establishing at a second predetermined location along said monitored conductor a second electrical connection; said first and second predetermined locations being axially spaced along said monitored conductor whereby an inductive reactance is formed therebetween relative to said surge current as a consequence of the distributed inductance of said conductor; charge storage means comprising a capacitor; rectifier means comprising at least one diode; said diode being serially connected with said capacitor between said first and second connection means to provide a capacitively reactive shunt between said locations relative to said surge current whereby a charge is developed in said capacitor upon occurrence of the surge; and indicator means connected across said capacitor and operable from the charge developed therein for producing an output indicative of the occurrence of the surge current in said monitored conductor. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification