Remotely accessible electrical fault detection
First Claim
1. A remotely accessible outdoor electrical fault detection system for a utility cabinet enclosing at least one network for performing an electrical fault detection measurement, the cabinet having an external wall with an aperture, said system comprisinga weather-resistant housing having a mounting fitting adapted for mounting to the aperture of the external wall,a circuit for electrical connection to the fault detection network and mounted inside said weather-resistant housing, said circuit including at least one of a transmitter and a receiver, andan antenna located inside said weather-resistant housing and coupled to said circuit, for communicating between a location outside the cabinet and said circuit.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to a remotely accessible electrical fault detection system. According to one preferred embodiment, the system includes a weather-resistant housing having a mount adapted for mating to an aperture in an outer wall of a utility cabinet containing an electrical network; a circuit adapted for connection to the electrical network, wherein the circuit includes at least one of a transmitter and a receiver; and an antenna located inside the weather-resistant housing and coupled to the circuit. In operation, the transmitter can broadcast a radio frequency fault signal to a remote communication device, in response to the electrical network detecting a fault condition.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A remotely accessible outdoor electrical fault detection system for a utility cabinet enclosing at least one network for performing an electrical fault detection measurement, the cabinet having an external wall with an aperture, said system comprising
a weather-resistant housing having a mounting fitting adapted for mounting to the aperture of the external wall, a circuit for electrical connection to the fault detection network and mounted inside said weather-resistant housing, said circuit including at least one of a transmitter and a receiver, and an antenna located inside said weather-resistant housing and coupled to said circuit, for communicating between a location outside the cabinet and said circuit.
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18. A device for facilitating remote access to an outdoor electrical fault detection network, said device comprising
a weather-resistant housing having a mount adapted for mating to an aperture formed in an outer wall of a utility cabinet containing an electrical network, a circuit adapted for connection to an electrical network and mounted inside said weather-resistant housing, wherein said circuit includes at least one of a transmitter and a receiver, and an antenna located inside said weather-resistant housing and coupled to said circuit for communicating between said circuit and the exterior of said housing.
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20. A method of performing remotely accessible outdoor electrical fault detection comprising the steps of
enclosing at least one network for performing an electrical fault detection measurement in a utility cabinet having an external wall with an aperture, mounting a weather-resistant housing to said aperture of said external wall, electrically connecting a circuit to said network and mounting said circuit inside said weather-resistant housing, said circuit including at least one of a transmitter and a receiver, and coupling an antenna to said circuit and locating said antenna inside said weather-resistant housing, for communicating between said circuit and the exterior of said housing.
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22. A method of converting a non-remotely accessible outdoor electrical fault detection network contained in a utility cabinet into a remotely accessible electrical fault detection network, said method comprising the steps of
removing a fixture from a preexisting aperture in an outer wall of said utility cabinet, providing access to said network by way of said preexisting aperture, electrically connecting a circuit to said network by way of said access, wherein said circuit includes at least one of a transmitter and receiver, coupling an antenna to said circuit, mounting said circuit and said antenna in a substantially weather-resistant housing, and mounting said housing to the preexisting aperture.
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25. Circuit monitoring apparatus for remotely monitoring an operating parameter of an electrical cable, said parameter being detected within a weather resistant outdoor electrical utility cabinet, said apparatus comprising
a first mechanical fitting secured at an opening through a wall in the cabinet with a threaded connection through the cabinet wall, a housing having a weatherproof body with a chamber therein and having a threaded mounting fitting secured to the body and extending along a first axis with a passage through the fitting communicating with the chamber, said mounting fitting being adapted for mounting in the opening through the cabinet wall with a threaded connection in place of the first mechanical fitting, a radio antenna mounted within said chamber, and antenna support means for orienting said antenna for radiating therefrom, outward from said body, radio frequency energy having a polarization axis extending longitudinal to said first axis.
Specification