Apparatus with storage for measuring stray currents from subway rails and power lines

• US 7,221,137 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2004
• Issued: 05/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute
• Inventors: Lee, Hyun Goo, Ha, Yun Cheol, Bae, Jeong Hyo, Kim, Dae Kyeong, Ha, Tae Hyun
• Primary Examiner(s): Hirshfeld; Andrew H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ZHU, JOHN X
• Application Number:
  US10/989,553
• Publication Number:
  US 20050127891A1
• Time in Patent Office: 916 Days
• Field of Search: 324/72, 324/71.2
• US Class Current: 324/72
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 17/02 Electrochemical measuring systems for weathering, corrosion or corrosion-protection measurement

Abstract

A measuring apparatus with storage that measures and analyzes both stray currents from subway rails or power lines and the pipe-to-soil voltage of a buried metallic structure simultaneously is disclosed. The data measuring apparatus with storage for measuring stray currents from subway rails or power lines and the pipe-to-soil voltage of a buried metallic structure in accordance with the present invention comprises measuring means, which is a portable module that allows easy installation at one or multiple measurement points of the buried metallic structure, for measuring stray currents from the subway rails or power lines and the pipe-to-soil voltage of a buried metallic structure simultaneously and for storing and transmitting the measurement data and analytic computing means for receiving the measurement data transmitted from the measuring means and for databasing and graphically displaying the received measurement data for time-synchronous data analysis.

Claims

1. A data measuring apparatus with storage for measuring stray currents from subway rails or power lines and the pipe-to-soil voltage of a buried metallic structure, comprising:

measuring means, which is a portable module that allows easy installation at one or multiple measurement points of the buried metallic structure, for measuring stray currents from the subway rails or power lines and the pipe-to-soil voltage of the buried metallic structure simultaneously and for storing and transmitting the measurement data, said measuring means comprising a clamp-on type current sensor (114) that can be attached to a power feeder cable connected to said subway rails; and

analytic computing means for receiving the measurement data transmitted from the measuring means and for databasing and graphically displaying the received measurement data for time-synchronous data analysis.

2. The data measuring apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein the measuring means comprises:

a function input unit for receiving a function input for performing the measurement of the stray currents and pipe-to-soil voltage;

an A/D converter for digitizing stray currents detected by current sensors installed at the subway rails and power lines and for digitizing the pipe-to-soil voltage measured from a test box installed at the buried metallic structure;

a main processor unit for controlling the process of storing the digitized stray current data and pipe-to-soil voltage data and transmitting the digital data to the analytic computing means;

a memory for storing the digitized stray current data and pipe-to-soil voltage data; and

a communication port, controlled by the main processor unit, for performing communication with the analytic computing means to transmit the digitized stray current data and pipe-to-soil voltage data.

3. The data measuring apparatus set forth in claim 2, wherein the measuring means further comprises a DC/DC converter for providing power required for the operation of the measuring means and the current sensors by DC/DC converting an input DC power from an external source.

4. The data measuring apparatus set forth in claim 2, wherein each of the current sensors is equipped with a battery pack for a long-time measurement operation.

5. The data measuring apparatus set forth in claim 2, wherein the communication port is either a wired communication port or a wireless communication port.

6. The data measuring apparatus set forth in claim 1, further comprising a charging and communication module, which is connected between the measuring means and the analytic computing means and powered by the analytic computing means, for powering the measuring means and for acting as a communication interface between the measuring means and the analytic computing means.

7. The data measuring apparatus set forth in claim 6, wherein the charging and communication module comprises a wireless or wired communication port, which is connected between the measuring means and the analytic computing means, for performing wireless or wired communication with the measuring means and the analytic computing means.

8. The data measuring apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein the analytic computing means is equipped with an application program for databasing and storing the measurement data of stray currents and pipe-to-soil voltage provided from the measuring means so that the measurement data may be searched based on the measurement date and the station at which the measuring means is installed and for graphically displaying the databased measurement data so that time-synchronous analysis of the waveforms of the stray currents and pipe-to-soil voltage may be conducted.

9. The data measuring apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein if multiple measuring means are installed at multiple subway stations, the analytic computing means can identify the multiple measuring means based on the ID of each measuring means and the databased measurement data is stored in such a way that a search for the measurement data of each measuring means can be performed based on the ID of the measuring means.

10. The data measuring apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein the analytic computing means further comprises an output port for data communication with an external apparatus and allows the measurement data to be printed by an external printer, to be displayed by LED or LCD, to be stored in an external storage device, or to be displayed by an external displaying apparatus through the output port.

11. The data measuring apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein the measuring means detects current changes in the power feeder cable using the current sensor attached to selected positions of the power feeder cable and conducting measurement at an impedance bond of the rails and a converter negative feeder.

12. The data measuring apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein the measuring means further measure stray currents using voltage across a shunt resistor connect to the power feeder cable from a converter.