Electrical fault detecting device

• US 5,621,397 A
• Filed: 05/08/1995
• Issued: 04/15/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alan J. Mutch, Raymond Sheldon
• Original Assignee: Alan J. Mutch, Raymond Sheldon
• Inventors: Mutch, Alan J., Sheldon, Raymond
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): WONG, ALBERT KANG
• Application Number:
  US08/437,231
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• Field of Search: 324/110, 324/157, 324/127, 340/870.02
• US Class Current: 340/870.02
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 22/066 Arrangements for avoiding or indicating fraudulent use

Abstract

An apparatus for detecting illegal tampering with an electricity meter which is adapted to record the amount of electricity supplied to the meter through cables has a first signal generating sensing coil situated externally of, and upstream of, the meter which generates a first signal representative of the current flowing through one of the supply cables and a second signal generating second sensing coil, located within the meter, which generates a second signal representative of the amount of electricity to be recorded by the meter. A Monitoring device monitors the first and second signals and produces a third actuation signal when one of the first and second signals differs from its correct value as a result of tampering.

Claims

1. Apparatus for continuously detecting illegal tampering with an electricity meter which is adapted to record the amount of electricity supplied to said meter through cables, the apparatus comprising:

a first signal generating means, situated externally of and upstream of said meter and adapted to generate a first signal which is representative of the current flowing through one of said cables at a location outside said meter, in the vicinity of the first signal generating means;

a second signal generating means, situated within said metering device, and adapted to generate a second signal which is representative of the amount of electricity to be recorded by said meter; and

a monitoring means adapted to monitor the first and second signals and to produce a third actuation signal when one of the first and second signals differs from its correct value as a result of tampering.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first signal generating means comprises a first detecting coil through which one of said cables of the electricity supply passes, and the first generated signal comprises the electrical signal induced in the coil by the passage of an alternating electrical current through said cable.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said second signal generating means comprises a second detecting coil through which one of said cables of the electricity supply passes, and the second generated signal comprises the electrical signal induced in the coil by an passage of the alternating electrical current through the cable.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said meter disc is perforated and the second signal generating means comprises a light source on one side of the perforated meter disc and a photosensitive element on the other side of the perforated meter disc adapted to produce a pulsed signal whose pulse frequency thereby varies with the rotational speed of the meter disc.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said meter disc comprises reflective and non-reflective portions and the second signal generating means comprises a light source, and a photosensitive element adapted to receive light reflected by the reflective meter disc portions from the light source, thereby producing a pulsed signal whose pulse frequency varies with the rotational speed of the disc.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a visual tamper-indicating means and an actuating signal which is adapted to control the operation of said tamper-indication means.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the visual tamper-indicating means comprises illumination of a light source which is normally unlit.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the visual tamper-indicating means comprises extinguishing of a a light source which is normally lit.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the visual tamper-indicating means comprises an auxiliary meter which indicates the period of time during which the electricity has been supplied incorrectly.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second signal generating means comprises means for producing a signal which varies with the rotation of an electricity meter disc whose rotational speed is representative of the rate at which said meter records the amount of electricity supplied.

11. An electricity meter adapted to record the amount of electricity supplied to it through cables, fitted with apparatus for detecting illegal tampering comprising:

a first signal generating means, situated externally of and upstream of said meter and adapted to generate a first signal which is representative of the current flowing through one of said cables at a location outside said meter in the vicinity of the first signal generating means;

a second signal generating means, situated within said metering device, and adapted to generate a second signal which is representative of the amount of electricity to be recorded by said meter; and

a monitoring means adapted to monitor the first and second signals and to produce a third actuation signal when one of the first and second signals differs from its correct value as a result of tampering.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11, comprising switch means operable by said actuating means third signal to cut-off the electricity signal.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the switch means comprises a cut-out device which is actuable by the actuating signal.

14. An electricity meter as claimed in claim 11, wherein the second signal generating means comprises means for producing a signal which varies with the rotation of an electricity meter disc whose rotational speed is representative of the rate at which said meter records the amount of electricity supplied.

15. An electricity meter as claimed in claim 14, wherein said meter disc is perforated and the second signal generating means comprises a light source on one side of the perforated meter disc and a photosensitive element on the other side of the perforated meter disc adapted to produce a pulsed signal whose pulse frequency thereby varies with the rotational speed of the meter disc.

16. An electricity meter as claimed in claim 14, wherein said meter comprises reflective and nonreflective portions and the second signal generating means comprises a light source, and a photosensitive element adapted to receive light reflected by the reflective meter disc portions from the light source, thereby producing a pulsed signal whose pulse frequency varies with the rotational speed of the disc.

17. An electricity meter as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a visual tamper indicating means and wherein the actuating signal is adapted to control the operation of said tamper-indicating means.

18. An electricity meter as claimed in claim 17, wherein the visual tamper indicating means comprises illumination of a normally unlit light source.

19. An electricity meter as claimed in claim 17, wherein the visual tamper indicating means comprises the extinguishing of a normally lit light source.

20. An electricity meter as claimed in claim 17, wherein the visual tamper indicating means comprises an auxiliary meter which indicates the period of time for which the electricity has been supplied incorrectly.

21. An electricity meter as claimed in claim 11, comprising switch means operable by the actuating signal to cut-off the electricity supply.

22. An electricity meter as claimed in claim 21, wherein the switch means comprises a cut-off device which is actuable by the actuating signal.

23. An electricity meter as claimed in claim 11, wherein said monitoring means comprises an actuating means adapted to produce said third signal, said first and second signals acting upon the actuating means in opposite senses so that under normal conditions the acuating means does not produce said third signal but that when one of the first and second signals is sufficiently greater than the other of said first and second signals, the third signal is produced.

24. An electricity meter as claimed in claim 11, wherein said first signal generating means comprises a first detecting coil through which one of said cables of the electricity supply passes, and the first generated signal comprises an electrical signal induced in the coil by the passage of an alternating electrical current through said cable.

25. An electricity meter as claimed in claim 24, wherein said second signal generating means comprises a second detecting coil through which one of said cables of the electricity supply passes, and the second generated signal comprises the electrical signal induced in the coil by the passage of an alternating electrical current through the cable.

26. An electricity meter which is adapted to record the amount of electricity supplied to said meter through input cables, fitted with an apparatus for detecting illegal tampering comprising:

a first coil disposed externally of and upstream of said metering device and in relation to one of said input cables so as to have induced therein a first electrical signal upon passage of current through the cable;

a second coil disposed within said metering device and in relation to one of said input cables so as to have induced therein a second electrical signal upon passage of current through the cable;

comparator means for comparing said first and second electrical signals; and

indicator means actuable by an imbalance of said first and second signals.

27. An electricity meter of the type having a meter disc whose rotational speed varies with the current fed to it through input cables, fitted with apparatus for detecting illegal tampering comprising:

a sensing coil located externally of and upstream of said metering device and in relation to one of said input cables so as to have induced therein a signal which varies with the passage of current through the cable;

detecting means located within the metering device adapted to produce a signal resulting from the rotation of said meter disc which varies with the rotational speed of the disc;

tamper indicating means; and

actuating means for actuating the tamper indicating means,

the signals from the coil and from the detecting means acting in opposite senses on the actuating means to render it inoperative under correct operating conditions, but to operate it and actuate the tamper indicating means when the signal received from the detecting means is insufficient to counteract the effect on the actuating means of the signal from the coil.

28. Apparatus for continuously detecting tampering with an alternating current electricity supply fed through input cables to a metering device, comprising:

a first coil disposed externally of and upstream of said metering device and in relation to one of and upstream of said input cables so as to have induced therein a first electrical signal upon passage of current through the cable;

a second coil disposed within said metering device and in relation to one of said input cables so as to have induced therein a second electrical signal upon passage of current through the cable;

comparator means for comparing the first and second electrical signals; and

indicator means actuable by an imbalance of said first and second signals.

29. Apparatus for continuously detecting tampering with an alternating current electricity supply fed through cables to a metering device of the type having a meter disc whose rotational speed varies with the current fed to the metering device, comprising:

a sensing coil located externally of and upstream of said metering device and in relation to one of said input cables so as to have induced therein a signal which varies with the passage of current through the cable,

detecting means located within the metering device adapted to produce a signal resulting from the rotation of the said disc which varies with the rotational speed of the disc;

tamper indicating means; and

actuating means for actuating the tamper indicating means,

the signals from the coil and from the detecting means acting on the actuating means to render it inoperative under correct operating conditions, but to operate it and actuate the tamper detecting means when the signal received from the detecting means is insufficient to counteract the effect on the actuating means of the signal from the coil.