Faulted circuit indicator with fault characteristic detection and display

• US 8,179,273 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2009
• Issued: 05/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Incorporated
• Inventors: Feight, Laurence V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Previl, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US12/394,880
• Publication Number:
  US 20090219164A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,173 Days
• Field of Search: 340/653, 340/654, 340/639, 340/643, 340/635, 340/651, 340/657, 340/664, 340/539.1, 340/650, 340/531, 340/638, 340/539.26, 340/680
• US Class Current: 340/653
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 1/22 Tong testers acting as secondary windings of current transformers
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/142 Arrangements for simultaneous measurements of several parameters employing techniques covered by groups G01R15/14 - G01R15/26
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/14 Indicating direction of current; Indicating polarity of voltage
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/15 Indicating the presence of current

Abstract

A display for a faulted circuit indicator is disclosed. A plurality of light-emitting diodes are arranged so that at least one diode is visible to a person approaching the faulted circuit indicator from a determined angle of approach. When a fault is detected, the faulted circuit indicator flashes the plurality of light-emitting diodes in a predetermined pattern depending on whether a permanent or temporary fault is detected.

Claims

1. A faulted circuit indicator comprising a housing, a current acquisition circuit disposed within the housing and adapted to monitor current within a power line, and a monitor circuit for determining when a fault has occurred on the power line, the monitor circuit in communication with the current acquisition circuit and disposed within the housing, the faulted circuit indicator further comprising:

i) a plurality of lamps coupled to the monitor circuit and disposed on separate faces of a post such that at least one lamp is visible from any angle of approach to the faulted circuit indicator, the monitor circuit adapted to drive the plurality of lamps in a first predetermined flashing pattern upon the monitor circuit determining the presence of a fault on the power line, and in a second predetermined flashing pattern upon the monitor circuit determining clearing of the fault on the power line.

2. The faulted circuit indicator of claim 1 further comprising a clear end cap disposed on an end of the housing that faces downward relative to the power line when said faulted circuit indicator is installed, the plurality of lamps disposed within the clear end cap.

3. The faulted circuit indicator of claim 1 wherein the plurality of lamps is comprised of a plurality of light emitting diodes.

4. The faulted circuit indicator of claim 1 wherein the plurality of lamps are grouped into two separate colors, and the monitor circuit is adapted to terminate the first predetermined flashing pattern and the second predetermined flashing pattern comprising flashing those light-emitting diodes of similar color periodically in unison.

5. A faulted circuit indicator comprising a housing, a coil disposed within the housing and adapted to monitor current within a power line, and a monitor circuit for determining when a fault has occurred on the power line, the monitor circuit coupled to the coil and disposed within the housing, the faulted circuit indicator further comprising:

i) a rotatable display comprising one or more lamps disposed on separate faces of a post, the rotatable display adapted to rotate such that the one or more lamps are viewable from a selected angle of approach when installed.

6. The faulted circuit indicator of claim 5 wherein the monitoring circuit is adapted to flash the one or more lamps in a predetermined pattern upon determining that a fault is present on the power line.

7. The faulted circuit indicator of claim 6 wherein the one or more lamps are comprised of two red light emitting diodes and one yellow light emitting diode.

8. The faulted circuit indicator of claim 7 wherein the yellow light emitting diode is flashed when a temporary fault is detected.

9. The faulted circuit indicator of claim 7 wherein the red light emitting diodes and the yellow light emitting diode are flashed in a predetermined pattern when a permanent fault is detected.

10. A faulted circuit indicator comprising a housing, a current acquisition circuit disposed within the housing and adapted to monitor current within a power line, and a monitor circuit for determining when a fault has occurred on the power line, the monitor circuit in communication with the current acquisition circuit and disposed within the housing, the faulted circuit indicator further comprising:

i) a plurality of light-emitting diodes coupled to the monitor circuit and disposed on separate faces of a post, the monitor circuit adapted to drive the plurality of light-emitting diodes in a first predetermined flashing pattern upon the monitor circuit determining the presence of a fault on the power line, the monitor circuit being further adapted to terminate the first predetermined flashing pattern and drive the plurality of light-emitting_diodes in a second predetermined flashing pattern upon the monitor circuit determining clearing of the fault on the power line.

11. The faulted circuit indicator of claim 10, wherein the plurality of light-emitting diodes are grouped into two separate colors.

12. The faulted circuit indicator of claim 11, wherein the first predetermined pattern comprises a pattern using both groups of light-emitting diodes.

13. The faulted circuit indicator of claim 11, wherein the second predetermined pattern comprises a pattern using only one of the groups of light-emitting diodes.

14. The faulted circuit indicator of claim 10, wherein the light emitting diodes comprise multi-colored light emitting diodes.

15. The faulted circuit indicator of claim 10, wherein the plurality of light emitting diodes are disposed so that at least one light-emitting diode is visible from any angle of approach to the faulted circuit indicator as installed on the power line.

16. The faulted circuit indicator of claim 10, wherein the plurality of light emitting diodes are disposed so as to be visible from the most likely angle of approach to the faulted circuit indicator as installed on the power line.

17. The faulted circuit indicator of claim 16, further comprising a rotatable display housing the light emitting diodes and the monitor circuit, the rotatable display adapted to rotate so that the light emitting diodes are viewable from the most likely angle of approach to the faulted circuit indicator.

18. The faulted circuit indicator of claim 16, wherein the plurality of light emitting diodes are disposed so as to not be visible from a predetermined angle to the faulted circuit indicator as installed on the power line.