Three-phase faulted circuit indicator
First Claim
1. A faulted circuit indicator for sensing a fault current within a three-phase power cable having a plurality of conductors and an exterior conductive layer, the faulted circuit indicator comprising:
- i) a flexible holder adapted to mount on the exterior conductive layer;
ii) four or more magnetic sensors disposed periodically along the length of the flexible holder, the magnetic sensors adapted to monitor current flow within an internal conductor of the three-phase power cable and to generate a voltage indicative of the monitored current; and
iii) a logic circuit coupled to the magnetic sensors, the logic circuit generating a fault signal when the voltage generated by one or more of the magnetic sensors exceeds a predetermined level.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A three-phase faulted circuit indicator adjustable to accommodate a variety of three-phase power cables is disclosed. In one embodiment, faulted circuit indicator comprises a flexible holder that encircles the monitored conductor slightly more than one time. The flexible holder includes a plurality of magnetic sensors for monitoring the current within the internal conductors of the power cable, a logic circuit for determining the occurrence of a fault, and an output device for providing an indication of a fault. In a second embodiment, the faulted circuit indicator comprises a plurality of sensor compartments, each disposed about a central point, and each coupled to two other sensor compartments.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A faulted circuit indicator for sensing a fault current within a three-phase power cable having a plurality of conductors and an exterior conductive layer, the faulted circuit indicator comprising:
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i) a flexible holder adapted to mount on the exterior conductive layer; ii) four or more magnetic sensors disposed periodically along the length of the flexible holder, the magnetic sensors adapted to monitor current flow within an internal conductor of the three-phase power cable and to generate a voltage indicative of the monitored current; and iii) a logic circuit coupled to the magnetic sensors, the logic circuit generating a fault signal when the voltage generated by one or more of the magnetic sensors exceeds a predetermined level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A faulted circuit indicator for sensing a fault current within a three-phase power cable having first, second, and third separate internal conductors, the faulted circuit indicator comprising:
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i) four or more sensor compartments disposed substantially equidistant from a center point so that each sensor compartment is adjacent to two other sensor compartments, each sensor compartment having a conductor surface with interior and exterior sides, the exterior side of the conductor surface being adapted to at least partially contact the three-phase power cable, each sensor compartment also including one or more magnetic sensors disposed within the sensor compartment near the interior side of the conductor surface, the magnetic sensors adapted to monitor current flow within an internal conductor of the three-phase power cable and to generate a voltage indicative of the monitored current; and ii) a logic circuit electrically coupled to the one or more magnetic sensors disposed within each of the sensor compartments, the logic circuit generating a fault signal when the voltage generated by one or more of the magnetic sensors exceeds a predetermined level. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of installing a three-phase faulted circuit indicator on a three-phase power cable, the method comprising the steps of:
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i) providing a three-phase faulted circuit indicator adapted to be installed on a three-phase power cable, the three-phase faulted circuit indicator comprising a plurality of sensors; ii) the three-phase power cable having a plurality of conductors, each of the conductors having a position measured with respect to a vertical axis passing through a center point of the three-phase power cable; and iii) mounting the three-phase faulted circuit indicator on the power cable, wherein the plurality of sensors may be disposed irrespective of the position of the three conductors. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A system for sensing a fault current within a power cable having multiple conductors, the system comprising:
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i) four or more magnetic sensors disposed about the periphery of the power cable, the magnetic sensors adapted to monitor magnetic flux emissions from the power cable and produce a voltage indicative of current flow within one of the multiple conductors within the power cable; ii) the magnetic sensors disposed so that the placement of any particular magnetic sensor will not substantially interfere with the magnetic flux emissions monitored by an adjacent magnetic sensor; and
a logic circuit coupled to the magnetic sensors, the logic circuit generating a fault signal when the voltage generated by at least one of the magnetic sensors exceeds a predetermined level. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification