Low-power portable circuit breaker(s) locator

• US 5,422,564 A
• Filed: 11/18/1991
• Issued: 06/06/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Etcon Corporation
• Original Assignee: Etcon Corporation
• Inventors: Rocci, Joseph A., Earle, Kent L.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): EDMONDS, WARREN
• Application Number:
  US07/795,189
• Time in Patent Office: 1,296 Days
• Field of Search: 324/66, 324/67, 324/326, 324/424, 324/508, 324/512, 324/520, 324/527, 324/528, 324/529, 324/537, 324/538, 324/539, 324/542, 324/555
• US Class Current: 324/67
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/67 Testing the correctness of wire connections in electric apparatus or circuits

Abstract

This invention permits one to trace more than one electrical conductor, each of the electrical conductors being associated with both a circuit breaker and an electrical outlet. The invention consists of a receiver and multiple transmitters. Further, in a single transmitter form of the invention, the invention permits the transmitter to continually transmit its signature signal without power dissipation concerns, just like the ability to continually transmit in the multiple transmitter form of the invention. Lastly, the device is able to trace conductors regardless of the load electrically connected to the conductor.

Claims

1. A testing apparatus for identifying a particular conductor among a plurality of conductors, each of said conductors carrying a non-zero voltage and being electrically connected to both an electrical outlet and a common circuit breaker box, comprising, in combination:

a plurality of transmitters, each one of said transmitters transmitting an analog signature signal corresponding to said one of said transmitters and each of said analog signature signals having a different frequency, each of said transmitters further being electrically connectable to said electrical outlets and conductors; and

a receiver for detecting said analog signature signal corresponding to said one of said transmitters and responsively indicating detection of said analog signature signal,

whereby said receiver may be placed in proximity to said conductors at a location remote from said transmitters and indicate which of said electrical conductors is interconnected to said one of said transmitters, even when more than one transmitter is interconnected to a single electrical conductor.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said transmitters further comprises:

means for generating an oscillating signal of a preselected frequency, said oscillating signal having a first cycle and a second cycle;

means for dividing both said first and second cycles of said preselected frequency of oscillating signal into four quarter cycles, said means for dividing electrically connected to said means for generating;

means for cycle selection electrically connected to said means for dividing;

logic circuitry electrically connected to said means for cycle selection, an output signal of said logic circuitry comprising at least four different frequencies; and

output means electrically connected to said logic circuitry.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said receiver further comprises:

sensing means for detecting said analog signature signal corresponding to said one of said transmitters;

processing means for processing said detected preselected analog signature signal, said processing means being electrically connected to said sensing means; and

indicator means for exhibiting the presence and strength of said preselected analog signature signal of said one of said transmitters, said indicator means being electrically connected to said processing means.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said analog signature signals includes both voltage and current components and each said transmitter includes shifting means for phase shifting said current component of said analog signature signal with respect to said voltage component of said analog signature signal, whereby power requirements of said apparatus may be reduced.