System for monitoring electrical circuit operation

• US 6,631,063 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2001
• Issued: 10/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Horsepower Electric, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Horsepower Electric, Inc.
• Inventors: Ortiz, Hector P., Oliver, Jose
• Primary Examiner(s): Berhane, Adolf D.
• Application Number:
  US09/874,707
• Publication Number:
  US 20020181178A1
• Time in Patent Office: 854 Days
• Field of Search: 361/78, 361/79, 361/83, 361/86, 361/87, 361/88, 361/93, 361/94
• US Class Current: 361/79
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/338 also responsive to wiring error, e.g. loss of neutral, break
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/38 responsive to both voltage and current; responsive to phase angle between voltage and current
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 5/105 responsive to deterioration or interruption of earth connection for preventing switching-on H02H11/001
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/2851 for protecting the circuit against abnormal operating conditions

Abstract

A system for supplementing existing safety devices in light circuits by real-time monitoring of current and voltage levels in light circuits to diagnose and pinpoint problems in the circuit, and to activate a safety disconnect in the event hazardous conditions are detected. The system includes a monitor device electrically coupled to a light circuit service panel. The monitor device includes a switching means complementary to an existing disconnect means operable to independently disconnect a light circuit from a power source, and input means for collecting real-time data from a plurality of circuits. The input means includes a means for detecting unequal current levels in the light circuits, a means for continuous surveillance of ground wire continuity for each light circuit, and means for continuous sensing of the current and voltage levels in each light circuit. A processor coupled to the input means is operable to perform the steps of analyzing the current and voltage levels in each light circuit in real time by comparing the data with known parameters. The system can include a plurality of ground wire test circuits for continuous surveillance of ground wire continuity. A communication means coupled to the processor allows data to be transmitted to a remotely located external processor.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring and providing a safety disconnect for a plurality of light circuits, comprising:

a monitor device electrically coupled to a light circuit service panel, said monitor device comprising;

a switching means complementary to an existing disconnect means operable to independently disconnect a light circuit from a power source;

input means for collecting real-time data, said input means including;

means for detecting unequal current levels in said plurality of light circuits;

means for continuous surveillance of ground wire continuity for the light circuit;

means for continuous sensing of the current level in a light circuit;

means for continuous sensing of the voltage level in the light circuit; and

a processor coupled to said input means, said processor operable to perform the steps of;

analyzing said current level in each light circuit in real time by comparing the current level with known parameters;

analyzing said voltage level in each circuit in real time by comparing the voltage level with known parameters;

computing power usage in each circuit and analyzing said power usage by comparison with known parameters;

determining if disconnect conditions exist in each circuit; and

disconnecting the circuit from a power source if said disconnect conditions exist.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said means for continuous surveillance of ground wire continuity comprises:

a plurality of ground wire test circuits corresponding to each of said plurality of light circuits,

a test signal generator, wherein said test signal generator is operable to transmit a known test signal through said plurality of ground wire test circuits; and

means for continuous sensing of the current level from said known test signal in each of the plurality of ground wire test circuits.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said processor is further operable to perform the steps of:

analyzing said current level in each ground wire test circuit by comparing the current level with known parameters;

determining if disconnect conditions exist for a light circuit;

and disconnecting the light circuit from a power source if said disconnect conditions exist.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein said disconnect conditions comprise a decrease in said ground wire test circuit current level due to a discontinuity in the ground wire.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein means for continuous sensing of the current level is a current measuring transducer.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein means for continuous sensing of the voltage level is a voltage measuring transducer.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein means for continuous sensing of the current level is a current measuring transducer.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said processor is further operable to perform the step of:

determining the number of non-functional lamps on each circuiting by comparing said current level and said voltage level with known parameters.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said processor is further operable to perform the steps of:

detecting a short circuit in a light circuit by comparing said current level and said voltage level with known parameters; and

disconnecting said light circuit if a short circuit exists.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said processor is further operable to perform the steps of:

detecting a ground fault in a light circuit by comparing said current level and said voltage level with known parameters; and

disconnecting said light circuit if a ground fault exists.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

communication means coupled to said processor; and

a remotely located external processor, wherein said processor of said monitor device is in communication with said external processor.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein said processor is further operable to perform the step of:

determining if proper size components are installed in a light circuit by comparing said current level and said voltage level with known parameters.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein said processor is further operable to perform the step of:

detecting non-functional components in a light circuit by comparing said current level and said voltage level with known parameters.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein said communications means is a modem coupled to a telephonic communication system.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein said communications means is a radio transceiver system.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein said communications means is a satellite communication system.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein said data is transmitted to said external processor via said communication means.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein said external processor is in communication with coupled to a plurality of said monitor devices via said communication means.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein each the plurality of light circuits are operable by a photocell, and the monitoring device further comprises means to bypass a photocell coupled to a light circuit to independently connect and disconnect each of the plurality of lights to and from a power source.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein said external processor is operable to perform the step of:

analyzing said current level in each light circuit in real time by comparing the current level with known parameters;

analyzing said voltage level in each light circuit in real time by comparing the voltage level with known parameters;

computing power usage in each light circuit and analyzing said power usage by comparison with known parameters;

determining if disconnect conditions exist in each circuit; and

disconnecting the circuit from a power source if said disconnect conditions exist.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein said external processor is operable to perform the step of:

actuating said switching means of said monitoring device to connect and disconnect a light circuit to a power source.

12. The system of claim 12, wherein said processor is further operable to perform the steps of:

detecting a power failure in a plurality of light circuits by comparing said current level and said voltage level with known parameters; and

transmitting an indication of said power failure via said communication means to said external processor.

13. The system of claim 12, further including the step of:

transmitting an indication of said power failure via said communication means.