Shock hazard warning device

• US 4,983,954 A
• Filed: 09/29/1989
• Issued: 01/08/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
• Original Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
• Inventors: Huston, Steven W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wooden, Donald O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery A.
• Application Number:
  US07/414,813
• Time in Patent Office: 466 Days
• Field of Search: 340/657, 340/660, 340/661, 340/662, 324/457, 361/78
• US Class Current: 340/657
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/182 Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold

Abstract

A warning device (10) is provided for use by electrical technicians or the like to indicate the presence of an electrical shock hazard. The warning device is adapted to be worn on the wrists or the like and includes a filtered detection circuit (32,34) for sensing a target signal such as an ac noise signal emitted from an electrical source. When the target signal magnitude exceeds a selected threshold (40), such as when the wearer moves into close proximity with the signal source, the warning device (10) activates an alarm (42,44) to indicate the presence of a shock hazard.

Claims

1. A shock hazard warning device for detecting and indicating the presence of electrical shock hazard in connection with electrical equipment, said device comprising:

detection means for detecting an electrical signal generated by the electrical equipment, said detection means including a pair of electrodes, means for mounting said electrodes onto a person'"'"'s body, and means for combining signals detected by said electrodes to provide a composite detected signal;

comparison means for comparing said composite detected signal relative to a selected reference signal representing a selected threshold level representative of an unacceptable shock hazard; and

alarm means activated by said comparison means when an unacceptable shock hazard is present.

2. The shock hazard warning device of claim 1 wherein said detection means includes filter means tuned for receiving and passing a selected target signal.

3. The shock hazard warning device of claim 1 wherein said mounting means comprises a pair of wrist straps.

4. The shock hazard warning device of claim 1 wherein said alarm means comprises an audio alarm.

5. The shock hazard warning device for indicating the presence of a shock hazard associated with electrical equipment, said device comprising:

a relatively compact casing including means for mounting onto a person'"'"'s body at a selected location;

a first electrode carried by said casing;

a second electrode;

means for mounting said second electrode onto the person'"'"'s body at a selected location spaced apart from said casing;

bandpass filter means coupled to said electrodes and tuned for receiving and passing selected target signals generated by the electrical equipment at a magnitude proportional to the distance of said electrodes from the electrical equipment;

means for combining the outputs of said bandpass filter means to provide a composite detected signal;

comparison means for comparing said composite detected signal with a selected reference signal representing an unacceptable shock hazard; and

alarm means carried by said casing and activated by said comparison means for indicating when an unacceptable shock hazard is present.

6. The shock hazard warning device of claim 5 wherein bandpass filter means and said comparison means are carried by said casing.

7. The shock hazard warning device of claim 5 wherein said mounting means for said casing and for said second electrode respectively comprise a pair of wrist straps.

8. The shock hazard warning device of claim 5 wherein said alarm means comprises an audio alarm.

9. A method of indicating the presence of an unacceptable shock hazard associated with electrical equipment, said method comprising the steps of:

mounting a pair of electrodes onto a person'"'"'s body in spaced relation to each other;

using the electrodes to detect target signals generating by the electrical equipment at a magnitude which is proportional to distances of the electrodes from the electrical equipment;

combining the signals detected by the electrodes to a selected reference signal having a magnitude representative of an unacceptable shock hazard; and

activating an alarm when an unacceptable shock hazard is detected.