Electrical circuit monitoring device

• US 7,710,069 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2007
• Issued: 05/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marmon Utility, LLC
• Original Assignee: Hendrix Wire & Cable Incorporated (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Inventors: McCollough, Norman D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu; Bao Q
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zhang; Jue
• Application Number:
  US11/844,823
• Publication Number:
  US 20080018307A1
• Time in Patent Office: 984 Days
• Field of Search: 320/108, 320/166, 324/522, 324/127, 340/538, 34053811-53817
• US Class Current: 320/108
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/47 using RFID associated with sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/823 where the data is sent when the measured values exceed a threshold, e.g. sending an alarm
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a method of (1) providing continuous monitoring of various operating and environmental characteristics using RFID technology or similar wireless technology and (2) capturing data on historical events that have occurred on the circuits used for the transmission and distribution of electric power. The invention has the additional capability to communicate the information to operators at the site, in remote locations, or to other equipment (peer to peer). The invention provides a low cost method and apparatus to monitor and store operating characteristics and events on the electric power distribution circuit. The information can be used to reduce the duration of outages, for improving system reliability, to study the impact on the power grid of various environmental factors, to enhance the ability to react to operating conditions such as overloads, etc.

Claims

1. A method of powering a remote monitoring system for a high voltage conductor, the method comprising:

a) providing a high voltage electrical insulator having an insulator portion that prevents phase to phase power line short circuits or phase to ground short circuits, the insulator portion being mounted on a supporting structure, and a moveable jaw portion that is a housing;

b) providing within the housing a super capacitor, a coil for receiving power line energy from a power line, a first diode for rectifying the received power line energy from said coil, a transformer for receiving energy from transmitted radio frequency (rf) energy, a second diode for rectifying the rf energy from said transformer;

c) charging said super capacitor in a normal condition through power line energy transmitted through said coil and rectified by said first diode; and

d) charging said super capacitor in a power loss condition through radio frequency energy transmitted through said transformer and rectified by said second diode.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said remote monitoring system includes an antenna coupled to said transformer for the receipt of radio frequency energy.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the super capacitor stores energy transmitted through said coil during a normal condition, and the super capacitor allows normal operations in a power loss condition until the super capacitor loses its stored energy.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the radio frequency energy is transmitted by a remote data collection device that allows the remote monitoring system to be queried for data.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the data is event data related to line power loss.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the movable jaw portion and the insulator portion are slidably engaged and secured by eye-bolts.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein rotation of the eye-bolts opens and closes the movable jaw portion.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the supporting structure is a pole.