Dynamic electric power line monitoring system

• US 8,738,318 B2
• Filed: 08/02/2010
• Issued: 05/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lindsey Manufacturing Co.
• Original Assignee: Lindsey Manufacturing Co.
• Inventors: Spillane, Philip E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, John H
• Application Number:
  US12/848,946
• Publication Number:
  US 20120029871A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,394 Days
• Field of Search: 702/65, 702/149, 702/150, 702/158, 702/159, 702/166, 702/170, 702/171, 702/62, 702/122, 702/188, 738/623.91, 324/522, 340/870.01, 340/870.07, 340/870.17, 340/870.27, 367/119, 374/208, 700/58, 700/292
• US Class Current: 702/158
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 13/12 for measuring distance or clearance between spaced objects or spaced apertures G01B13/18 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 17/00 Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of infrasonic, sonic or ultrasonic vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/024 for remote indication
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/08 Systems for measuring distance only indirect measurement G01S15/46
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/003 Transmission of data between radar, sonar or lidar systems and remote stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 1/02 for overhead lines or cables
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 7/00 Overhead installations of electric lines or cables installations of bus-bars H02G5/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/25 using a mesh network, e.g. a public urban network such as public lighting, bus stops or traffic lights
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 using a wireless architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/43 using wireless personal area networks [WPAN], e.g. 802.15, 802.15.1, 802.15.4, Bluetooth or ZigBee
• 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 2209/88 Providing power supply at the sub-station
• 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

A device and method of precise distance measurement of a transmission line to any object below it is disclosed, along with a network of such devices. The technique employs ultrasonic sensor technology to measure the distance to the nearest object, be it vegetation or a crossing conductor below, and reports that distance wirelessly to the system operator or transmission asset owner. The ultrasonic measurement package may be part of a Transmission Line Security Monitor, which mounts to a transmission line conductor and is powered by the transmission line, transmitting the data by radio links. The technology is equally applicable to encroachment of objects from the side (for example, other transmission lines), as well as to other electrical lines, such as distribution lines, or to other sensing. A built-in transceiver allows the device to communicate with other devices and forward alerts from these devices in a daisy-chain fashion to the intended recipient.

Claims

1. A device configured to securely attach to an electrical power line at a fixed location on the power line and measure a distance from the power line to an object encroaching on the power line, the device comprising:

a distance sensor configured to measure the distance of the encroaching object to the power line from the fixed location;

a wireless transmitter;

a processor adapted to;

interpret the measured distance of the encroaching object to the power line; and

transmit an alert related to the encroachment of the object to the power line through the transmitter; and

a power supply configured to supply power to the distance sensor, the transmitter, and the processor.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the distance sensor comprises an ultrasonic distance sensor.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the power line comprises a transmission line.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the transmission line comprises a high voltage line.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the high voltage line is configured to operate between 110 kV and 765 kV.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the power supply comprises an inductive power supply configured to generate power inductively from the power line.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the distance sensor is configured to sense down and measure the distance to the encroaching object that is beneath the power line.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the distance sensor is configured to sense sideways and measure the distance to the encroaching object that is beside the power line.

9. The device of claim 1, further comprising a global navigation satellite system sensor to identify the fixed location of the device on the power line, wherein the processor is further adapted to transmit the location in the alert.

10. The device of claim 1, further comprising a wireless receiver configured to receive another such alert from another such device, wherein the processor is further adapted to:

receive the other alert from the other device through the receiver; and

retransmit the other alert through the transmitter.

11. A method of automated measuring and alerting of a distance from an electrical power line to an object encroaching on the power line using a distance sensor configured in a device securely attached to the power line at a fixed location on the power line and comprising a wireless transmitter and a processor, the method comprising:

measuring the distance of the encroaching object to the power line using the distance sensor from the fixed location;

interpreting the measured distance of the encroaching object to the power line using the processor at the fixed location; and

transmitting an alert based on the encroachment of the object to the power line using the transmitter from the fixed location.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the power line comprises a transmission line.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the distance sensor comprises an ultrasonic distance sensor.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the device further comprises a wireless receiver configured to receive another such alert from another such device, and wherein the method further comprises:

receiving the other alert from the other device through the receiver at the fixed location; and

retransmitting the other alert through the transmitter from the fixed location.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the device is further configured to generate power inductively from the power line at the fixed location.

16. A network of devices configured to securely attach to an electrical power line at corresponding fixed locations on the power line and measure a distance from the power line to objects encroaching on the power line, and for communicating with an intended recipient, each device of the network of devices comprising:

a distance sensor configured to measure the distance from the power line to an encroaching object of the objects encroaching on the power line from a respective fixed location of the fixed locations;

a wireless transceiver;

an inductive power generator configured to generate electrical power inductively from the power line at the fixed location for use by the device; and

a processor adapted to;

interpret the measured distance of the power line to the encroaching object;

transmit an alert related to the encroachment of the object to the power line through the transceiver;

receive another such alert through the transceiver from another device in the network of devices; and

retransmit the other alert from the other device through the transceiver, wherein the network of devices is configured to wirelessly communicate the alert from the device to the intended recipient.

17. The network of claim 16, wherein the power line comprises a transmission line.

18. The network of claim 16, wherein the network is further configured to wirelessly communicate the alert from the device to the intended recipient even in an event that another of the devices in the network is unable to retransmit alerts.

19. The network of claim 16, wherein the distance sensor is configured to sense down and measure the distance to the encroaching object that is beneath the power line.

20. The network of claim 16, wherein each device of the network of devices further comprises a global navigation satellite system sensor to identify the fixed location of the device on the power line, and wherein the processor is further adapted to transmit the location in the alert.