Underground monitoring system and method

• US 7,701,356 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2007
• Issued: 04/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Power Monitors, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Power Monitors, Inc.
• Inventors: Curt, Walter, Mullins, Christopher, Shomo, Glen K.
• Primary Examiner(s): TWEEL JR, JOHN ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US11/687,453
• Publication Number:
  US 20070229295A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,131 Days
• Field of Search: 340/635, 340/662, 324/522, 324/543, 324/548, 324/555, 700/22, 700/286
• US Class Current: 340/635
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/2513 Arrangements for monitoring electric power systems, e.g. power lines or loads; Logging
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/2829 Testing of circuits in sensor or actuator systems testing of apparatus for measuring electric or magnetic variables G01R35/00; testing of indicating or recording apparatus G01D; in airbag systems B60R21/0173; checking gas analysers G01N33/007; monitoring or fail-safe circuits for electromagnets H01F7/1844
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/042 combined with means for locating the fault locating faults in cables G01R31/08
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 7/228 for covered wires or cables

Abstract

An underground monitoring system includes one or more sensors configured to monitor an underground electrical system, a processor configured to monitor the one or more sensors and an alarm device configured to send an alarm when a condition is detected by the processor.

Claims

1. An underground monitoring system comprising:

one or more sensors configured to monitor an underground electrical system; and

a processor configured to monitor the one or more sensors, and

an alarm device configured to send an alarm if the processor determines that the one or more sensors detects a predetermined condition of the underground electrical system.

2. The underground monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the condition is a cable fault.

3. The underground monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the alarm device is a beacon.

4. The underground monitoring system of claim 3, wherein the beacon is a VLF beacon.

5. The underground monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the alarm device sends the alarm via a power line communications link.

6. The underground monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the alarm device sends the alarm via a WAN link.

7. The underground monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the alarm device sends the alarm via an RF communications link.

8. The underground monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising:

a receiving unit configured to receive an alarm; and

a sending unit configured to relay the alarm.

9. The underground monitoring system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more sensors senses an environmental condition.

10. The underground monitoring system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more sensors configured to monitor is further configured to monitor status, measure or record.

11. The underground monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the alarm device is configured to send the alarm audibly or visibly.

12. A method of monitoring an underground electrical system comprising the steps of:

monitoring an underground electrical system with one or more sensors;

causing a processor to monitor the one or more sensors, and

sending an alarm with an alarm device if the processor determines that the one or more sensors detects a predetermined condition of the underground electrical system.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the condition is a cable fault.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the alarm device is a beacon.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the beacon is a VLF beacon.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the alarm device sends the alarm via a power line communications link.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the alarm device sends the alarm via a WAN link.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the alarm device sends the alarm via an RF communications link.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

providing a receiving unit configured to receive an alarm; and

providing a sending unit configured to relay the alarm.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein at least one of the one or more sensors senses an environmental condition.

21. The method of claim 12, wherein the alarm device is configured to send the alarm audibly or visibly.

22. The method of claim 12, wherein at least one of the one or more sensors configured to monitor is further configured to monitor status, measure or record.