Method and apparatus for the sonic detection of high pressure conditions in a vacuum switching device
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for detecting a high pressure condition within a vacuum electrical device, the apparatus, comprising:
- a sonic wave guide having proximal and distal ends, said sonic wave guide having a first surface at said proximal end, said sonic wave guide having a second surface at said distal end, said first surface having an area greater than said second surface, and said second surface being sonically coupled to said vacuum electrical device and having a shape that conforms to an outer surface of the vacuum electrical device;
a sonic transmitting device sonically coupled to said first surface at the proximal end of the sonic wave guide, the sonic transmitting device being configured to transmit an excitation sonic signal through the sonic wave guide into the vacuum electrical device while the vacuum electrical device is energized; and
,a sonic receiving device sonically coupled to said first surface at the proximal end of the sonic wave guide, the sonic receiving device being configured to receive a response sonic signal from the vacuum electrical device through the sonic wave guide while the vacuum electrical device is energized.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for detecting a high pressure condition within an interrupter includes introducing high intensity ultrasonic sound into the outer wall of a vacuum interrupter through a sonic wave guide, then listening for the reflected and retransmitted response signals. The characteristics of the response signals are utilized to determine the pressure within the interrupter, and to determine when an unwanted high pressure condition exists.
44 Citations
37 Claims
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1. An apparatus for detecting a high pressure condition within a vacuum electrical device, the apparatus, comprising:
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a sonic wave guide having proximal and distal ends, said sonic wave guide having a first surface at said proximal end, said sonic wave guide having a second surface at said distal end, said first surface having an area greater than said second surface, and said second surface being sonically coupled to said vacuum electrical device and having a shape that conforms to an outer surface of the vacuum electrical device; a sonic transmitting device sonically coupled to said first surface at the proximal end of the sonic wave guide, the sonic transmitting device being configured to transmit an excitation sonic signal through the sonic wave guide into the vacuum electrical device while the vacuum electrical device is energized; and
,a sonic receiving device sonically coupled to said first surface at the proximal end of the sonic wave guide, the sonic receiving device being configured to receive a response sonic signal from the vacuum electrical device through the sonic wave guide while the vacuum electrical device is energized. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for determining a high pressure condition within a vacuum electrical device while the vacuum electrical device is energized, the method comprising:
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transmitting an excitation sonic signal, through a sonic wave guide, into the vacuum electrical device while the vacuum electrical device is energized; receiving, subsequent to transmission of the excitation sonic signal, a response sonic signal from said vacuum electrical device, through said sonic wave guide while the vacuum electrical device is energized; determining a pressure within said vacuum electrical device by comparing said response sonic signal to a reference signal; and
,issuing an alarm signal if said pressure within said vacuum electrical device is above a specified value. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for determining an alarm condition within a vacuum electrical device while the vacuum electrical device is operating at high voltage, the method comprising:
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transmitting an excitation sonic signal into the vacuum electrical device through a sonic wave guide while the vacuum electrical device is operating at a voltage greater than 8 kilovolts; receiving, subsequent to transmission of said excitation sonic signal, a response sonic signal from the vacuum electrical device through the sonic wave guide while the vacuum electrical device is operating at the voltage greater than 8 kilovolts; comparing said response sonic signal to a reference; and
,issuing an alarm signal if said comparison of said response sonic signal to said reference signal indicates a high pressure in the vacuum electrical device. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. An apparatus for determining a high pressure condition within a vacuum electrical device, the apparatus comprising:
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components for transmitting an excitation sonic signal, through a sonic wave guide, into the vacuum electrical device while the vacuum electrical device is energized; components for receiving, subsequent to transmission of said excitation sonic signal, a response sonic signal from the vacuum electrical device while the vacuum electrical device is energized through said sonic wave guide; components for determining a pressure within said vacuum electrical device based on said response sonic signal; and
,components for issuing an alarm signal if said pressure within said vacuum electrical device is above a specified value. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. An apparatus for detecting a high pressure condition within a vacuum electrical device while the vacuum electrical device is operating at high voltage, comprising:
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a sonic wave guide having proximal and distal ends, said sonic wave guide having a first surface at said proximal end, said sonic wave guide having a second surface at said distal end, said first surface having an area greater than said second surface, and said second surface being sonically coupled to the vacuum electrical device, the vacuum electrical device operating at a voltage greater than 8 kilovolts; a sonic transmitting device sonically coupled to said first surface at the proximal end of the sonic wave guide, the sonic transmitting device being configured to transmit an excitation sonic signal through the sonic wave guide into the vacuum electrical device while the vacuum electrical device is operating at the voltage greater than 8 kilovolts; and
,a sonic receiving device sonically coupled to said first surface at the proximal end of the sonic wave guide, the sonic receiving device being configured to receive a response sonic signal from the vacuum electrical device through the sonic wave guide while the vacuum electrical device is operating at the voltage greater than 8 kilovolts.
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37. A method for determining a high pressure condition within a vacuum electrical device while the vacuum electrical device is operating at high voltage, comprising:
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transmitting an excitation sonic signal, through a sonic wave guide, into the vacuum electrical device, while the vacuum electrical device is operating at a voltage greater than 8 kilovolts; receiving, subsequent to transmission of said excitation sonic signal, a response sonic signal from the vacuum electrical device through said sonic wave guide while the vacuum electrical device is operating at the high voltage; determining a pressure within said vacuum electrical device by comparing based on said response sonic signal to a reference signal; and
,issuing an alarm signal if said pressure within said vacuum electrical device is above a specified value.
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Specification