Insulated electrostatic voltage indicator

• US 6,157,184 A
• Filed: 12/12/1997
• Issued: 12/05/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Atherton, John C.
• Original Assignee: Atherton, John C.
• Inventors: Atherton, John C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Metjahic, Safet
• Assistant Examiner(s): Solis, Jose M.
• Application Number:
  US08/990,102
• Time in Patent Office: 1,089 Days
• Field of Search: 324/133, 324/109, 324/770, 324/126
• US Class Current: 324/133
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/155 Indicating the presence of voltage

Abstract

An indicator for mounting on a power cord (FIG. 3) for almost instantaneously indicating the presence or absence of a single-phase AC voltage potential on a monitored power cord for a grounded AC power distribution system. The indicator comprises a housing (16, 18, 20, 26), an electronic display (10), a static suppression resistor (12), a first conductive element (14) in physical proximity to the monitored power cord, and a second conductive element (22) meant to be touched by a human being to provide a visual indication on the electronic display (10) of the presence or absence of a voltage potential on the monitored conductor or power cord. The hot conductor being part of a power cord is capacitively coupled (FIG. 1) to an electronic display (10) in parallel with a static suppression resistor (12). A current flow due to the capacitive coupling between the hot conductor and first conductive element (14) causes a voltage drop across the display (10) and the resistor (12). This voltage drop energizes the electronic display (10). The current flow from the display (10) and the resistor (12) merge together to return to ground through a human being touching a second conductive element (22). The path of current flow is completed by the power source ground connection. The indicator is electrically insulated from the power cord it monitors due to the insulation on the power cord at the location of the indicator.

Claims

1. An AC voltage indicator for mounting on a power cord including an insulated hot conductor for indicating the presence or absence of voltage on a power cord connected to a grounded AC power distribution system comprising:

a housing for mounting on said power cord,

status indicating means comprising a high impedance display device having at least a first and second display electrode connected in parallel with a static suppression resistor, the status indicating means being located in the housing;

a first conductive element in physical proximity to, and electrically insulated from, said power cord, said first conductive element being connected to said first electrode of said display device; and

a second conductive element exposed for touching by a human being and that is connected to said second electrode of said display device;

whereby the presence or absence of voltage on the insulated hot conductor of the power cord is indicated by a change in the appearance of said display device when said second conductive element is connected to ground through a human being,

and wherein said housing is detachable from the power cord.

2. The indicator of claim 1 wherein the said display device is a liquid crystal display with a minimum operating voltage of 2.0 volts.

3. The indicator of claim 1 wherein said resistor has a resistance value of 22 megaohms.

4. The indicator of claim 1 wherein said housing is made of plastic and streamlined.

5. The indicator of claim 1 wherein said display device has a "lightning bolt" indication on it when electrically energized.

6. The indicator of claim 1 wherein said display device has the words "Power On" on it when electrically energized.

7. The indicator of claim 1 wherein the said housing is a hinged housing that closes around the power cord.

8. The indicator of claim 1 wherein the said housing is in the form of a pliers for closing around the power cord.

17. The indicator of claim 1 wherein the first conductive element is a body of conductive foam material which is compressed in the housing.

18. The indicator of claim 1 wherein the housing includes first and second parts and a mechanism for urging the first and second parts together and the first conductive element is a body of conductive foam material which is compressed in the housing.

9. A method of determining the presence or absence of an electrical potential voltage on a power cord including an insulated hot conductor, said method comprising:

providing an AC voltage indicator for mounting on the power cord comprising a housing for mounting on the power cord;

status indicating means comprising a high impedance display device having at least a first and a second display electrode connected in parallel with a static suppression resistor;

a first conductive element in physical proximity to, and electrically insulated from, said power cord, said first conductive element being connected to said first electrode of said display device; and

a second conductive element that is connected to said second electrode of said display device;

capacitively coupling said second conductive element to ground;

viewing said status indicating means to determine the status indicating display appearance,

and wherein the housing is detachable from the power cord and the status indicating means is located in the housing.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the said display device is a liquid crystal display with a minimum operating voltage of 2.0 volts.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein said resistor has a resistance value of 22 megaohms.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein said housing is made of plastic and streamlined.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein said display device has a "lightning bolt" indication on it when electrically energized.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein said display device has the words "Power On" on it when electrically energized.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein the said housing is a hinged housing that closes around the power cord.

16. The method of claim 9 wherein the said housing is in the form of a pliers for closing around the power cord.