Arc fault detection apparatus, method and system for an underground electrical conductor
First Claim
1. An arc fault detection apparatus for an electrical conductor, said apparatus comprising:
- an electric circuit having an opening for admitting said electrical conductor therethrough, said electric circuit including at least one transducer adapted to output a first signal representative of current flowing in said electrical conductor and a second signal;
an arc fault detection circuit cooperating with said electric circuit to output a third signal derived from said first signal, said third signal being representative of an arc fault of said electrical conductor;
an annunciator cooperating with said arc fault detection circuit to annunciate said third signal; and
a power supply cooperating with said electric circuit, said power supply being adapted to power at least one of said arc fault detection circuit and said annunciator from said second signal,wherein said annunciator is adapted to output an audio signal to annunciate said third signal, andwherein said annunciator is further adapted to modulate said audio signal to indicate amplitude of said arc fault of said electrical conductor or to indicate a count of at least one occurrence of said arc fault.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A non-invasive underground arc fault detection apparatus is for an underground electrical conductor. The apparatus includes an electric circuit having an opening for admitting the electrical conductor therethrough. The electric circuit includes one or two transducers adapted to output a first signal representative of current flowing in the electrical conductor and a second signal. An arc fault detection circuit cooperates with the electric circuit to output a third signal derived from the first signal. The third signal is representative of an arc fault of the electrical conductor. An audible annunciator cooperates with the arc fault detection circuit to annunciate the third signal. A power supply cooperates with the electric circuit and is adapted to power the arc fault detection circuit and the annunciator from the second signal.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. An arc fault detection apparatus for an electrical conductor, said apparatus comprising:
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an electric circuit having an opening for admitting said electrical conductor therethrough, said electric circuit including at least one transducer adapted to output a first signal representative of current flowing in said electrical conductor and a second signal; an arc fault detection circuit cooperating with said electric circuit to output a third signal derived from said first signal, said third signal being representative of an arc fault of said electrical conductor; an annunciator cooperating with said arc fault detection circuit to annunciate said third signal; and a power supply cooperating with said electric circuit, said power supply being adapted to power at least one of said arc fault detection circuit and said annunciator from said second signal, wherein said annunciator is adapted to output an audio signal to annunciate said third signal, and wherein said annunciator is further adapted to modulate said audio signal to indicate amplitude of said arc fault of said electrical conductor or to indicate a count of at least one occurrence of said arc fault. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 21, 22)
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12. A method of detecting and annunciating an arc fault of an electrical conductor, said method comprising:
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employing an electric circuit including an opening; admitting said electrical conductor through the opening of said electric circuit; outputting from said electric circuit a first signal representative of current flowing in said electrical conductor and a second signal; detecting an arc fault of said electrical conductor from said first signal; annunciating said detected arc fault; powering at least one of said detecting and said annunciating from said second signal; employing outputting an audio signal as said annunciating; and modulating said audio signal to indicate amplitude of said arc fault of said electrical conductor or to indicate a count of at least one occurrence of said arc fault. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 23, 24)
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15. An arc fault detection system for an electrical conductor, said system comprising:
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an arc fault detection device comprising; an electric circuit having an opening for receiving said electrical conductor therethrough, said electric circuit including at least one transducer adapted to output a first signal representative of current flowing in said electrical conductor and a second signal, an arc fault detection circuit cooperating with said electric circuit to output a third signal from said first signal, said third signal being representative of an arc fault of said electrical conductor, a first wireless communication device cooperating with said arc fault detection circuit to wirelessly communicate said third signal, and a power supply cooperating with said electric circuit, said power supply being adapted to power at least one of said arc fault detection circuit and said first wireless communication device from said second signal; and an arc fault annunciator device comprising; a second wireless communication device cooperating with said first wireless communication device to wirelessly receive said third signal, and an annunciator cooperating with said second wireless communication device to annunciate said received third signal, wherein said electrical conductor is an underground electrical power conductor, and wherein said arc fault detection device is adapted to be mounted underground with said underground electrical power conductor. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification