In-water voltage gradient detector
First Claim
1. A voltage gradient detector for use in water to detect the presence of a voltage gradient at least as large as a specified critical voltage gradient GMIN, the gradient detector comprising:
- a first pair of electrodes;
a first LED having a known voltage characteristic such that said LED is illuminated when it experiences a set voltage threshold value VT;
a first set of conductors electrically connecting said first LED to said first pair of electrodes such that said first LED experiences a voltage that is directly responsive to the voltage between said electrodes,a spacer that maintains said first pair of electrodes at a separation S along a first axis,wherein S>
VT/GMIN;
further wherein said first LED is connected in series with a first LED resistor selected to limit the current through said first LED to an appropriate level to prevent damage to said first LED due to excessive electrical current, andstill further wherein the set voltage threshold value VT used to calculate the separation S is calculated by adding the minimum voltage that illuminates said first LED and the voltage drop across said first LED resister that results from the current through said first LED at that minimum voltage;
means for electrically isolating from the water said first LED and said first set of conductors attached to said first LED when the voltage gradient detector is in service,whereby said first LED is illuminated when said first pair of electrodes are exposed to a voltage potential therebetween that is at least as great as the threshold value VT, thereby providing a voltage sufficient to illuminate said first LED; and
means for providing a notice when said first LED is illuminated.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A voltage gradient detector provides notice when a potentially hazardous voltage gradient is present in water, employing a pair of spaced-apart electrodes connected to an LED. The electrode spacing is selected such that, when exposed to a sufficiently large voltage gradient, the voltage between the electrodes causes activation of the LED. The LED can provide visual illumination, or can be a part of a switching device such as a photoMOS relay that in turn activates an alarm device such as an audible sounder or a high-intensity light. Sensitivity in multiple directions can be attained by employing a pair of LEDs between the electrodes, and by employing three pairs of electrodes and associated LED pairs, with the pairs of electrodes being spaced apart along orthogonal axes. The detector can be a passive monitor housed in a floating housing, or can be a handheld device with electrode pairs that are manually immersed.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A voltage gradient detector for use in water to detect the presence of a voltage gradient at least as large as a specified critical voltage gradient GMIN, the gradient detector comprising:
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a first pair of electrodes; a first LED having a known voltage characteristic such that said LED is illuminated when it experiences a set voltage threshold value VT; a first set of conductors electrically connecting said first LED to said first pair of electrodes such that said first LED experiences a voltage that is directly responsive to the voltage between said electrodes, a spacer that maintains said first pair of electrodes at a separation S along a first axis, wherein S>
VT/GMIN;further wherein said first LED is connected in series with a first LED resistor selected to limit the current through said first LED to an appropriate level to prevent damage to said first LED due to excessive electrical current, and still further wherein the set voltage threshold value VT used to calculate the separation S is calculated by adding the minimum voltage that illuminates said first LED and the voltage drop across said first LED resister that results from the current through said first LED at that minimum voltage; means for electrically isolating from the water said first LED and said first set of conductors attached to said first LED when the voltage gradient detector is in service, whereby said first LED is illuminated when said first pair of electrodes are exposed to a voltage potential therebetween that is at least as great as the threshold value VT, thereby providing a voltage sufficient to illuminate said first LED; and means for providing a notice when said first LED is illuminated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A voltage gradient detector for use in water to detect the presence of a voltage gradient at least as large as a specified critical voltage gradient GMIN, the gradient detector comprising:
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a first pair of electrodes; a first LED having a known voltage characteristic such that said LED is illuminated when it experiences a set voltage threshold value VT; a first set of conductors electrically connecting said first LED to said first pair of electrodes such that said first LED experiences a voltage that is directly responsive to the voltage between said first pair of electrodes; a spacer that maintains said first pair of electrodes at a separation S along a first axis, wherein S>
VT/GMIN;a second pair of electrodes maintained spaced apart by said spacer at the separation S along a second axis that is orthogonal to the first axis; a third pair of electrodes maintained spaced apart by said spacer at the separation S along a third axis that is orthogonal to the first axis and to the second axis; a second LED having similar voltage characteristics to said first LED and electrically connected to said second pair of electrodes by a second set of conductors such that said second LED experiences a voltage that is directly responsive to the voltage between said second pair of electrodes; and a third LED having similar voltage characteristics to said first LED and electrically connected to said third pair of electrodes by a third set of conductors such that said third LED experiences a voltage that is directly responsive to the voltage between said third pair of electrodes; a central cavity in said spacer that houses said sets of conductors, said spacer with said central cavity providing means for electrically isolating from the water said LEDs and said sets of conductors when the voltage gradient detector is in service, whereby, said first LED is illuminated when said first pair of electrodes are exposed to a voltage potential therebetween that is at least as great as the threshold value VT, thereby providing a voltage sufficient to illuminate said first LED, said second LED is illuminated when said second pair of electrodes are exposed to a voltage potential therebetween that is at least as great as the threshold value VT, thereby providing a voltage sufficient to illuminate said second LED, and said third LED is illuminated when said third pair of electrodes are exposed to a voltage potential therebetween that is at least as great as the threshold value VT, thereby providing a voltage sufficient to illuminate said third LED; and means for providing a notice when any one or more of said LEDs is illuminated. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A voltage gradient detector for use in water to detect the presence of a voltage gradient at least as large as a specified critical voltage gradient GMIN, the gradient detector comprising:
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a first pair of electrodes; a spacer that maintains said first pair of electrodes at a separation S along a first axis; at least one first LED with a known voltage characteristic such that said first LED is illuminated when it experiences a set voltage threshold value VT; means for electrically connecting said at least one first LED to said first pair of electrodes such that said at least one first LED experiences a voltage that is directly responsive to the voltage between said first pair of electrodes and experiences a voltage at least as great as the set voltage threshold value VT when said first pair of electrodes, spaced apart at the separation S, are in contact with a voltage gradient at least as great as the critical voltage gradient GMIN, wherein said means for electrically connecting said at least one first LED to said first pair of electrodes further comprises; a first LED resistor connected in series with said at least one first LED, further wherein the set voltage threshold value VT used to calculate the minimum separation S is calculated by adding the minimum voltage that illuminates said at least one first LED and the voltage drop across said first LED resister that results from the current through said at least one first LED at that minimum voltage, and yet further wherein said at least one first LED and said means for electrically connecting said at least one first LED to said first pair of electrodes are mounted in said spacer so as to be isolated from the water when the voltage gradient detector is in service; and means for providing a notice when said at least one first LED experiences a voltage at least as great as the set voltage threshold value VT. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification