Automated digital earth fault system

• US 9,823,289 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2015
• Issued: 11/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Machinesense LLC
• Original Assignee: Prophecy Sensorlytics Llc
• Inventors: Pal, Biplab
• Primary Examiner(s): Astacio-Oquendo, Giovanni
• Assistant Examiner(s): RIOS RUSSO, RAUL J
• Application Number:
  US14/726,696
• Publication Number:
  US 20160349305A1
• Time in Patent Office: 904 Days
• Field of Search: 324500, 324508, 324509, 324541, 324544, 324551, 324512, 324527, 324528, 324531, 324537, 324555, 32475001, 32475002, 324601, 324202, 324 7611, 324130, 361 42, 361 63, 361 65, 361 88, 361 931, 702 85
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 27/18 Measuring resistance to earth , i.e. line to ground
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/08 Locating faults in cables, transmission lines, or networks
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/28 Testing of electronic circuits, e.g. by signal tracer EMC, EMP or similar testing of electronic circuits G01R31/002; testing for short-circuits, discontinuities, leakage or incorrect line connection G01R31/50; checking computers or computer components G06F11/00; checking static stores for correct operation G11C29/00 ; testing receivers or transmitters of transmission systems H04B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/52 Testing for short-circuits, leakage current or ground faults
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0677 Localisation of faults

Abstract

An automated earth fault testing system and early warning system designed to be used with mobile towers for real-time monitoring of the earthing values. The automated earth fault testing system comprises an earth fault testing device powered by a low voltage direct current battery, a plurality of terminals, at least one calibration switch including a calibration pad for calibrating the earth fault testing device, a plurality of visual indication means for providing indication of a variety of conditions including high and/or normal value of the earth resistance value and for indicating a charge level of the earth fault testing device and a liquid crystal display for displaying the earthing values. The earth fault testing device is connected to an alarm system of a base transceiver station utilizing a relay for informing the mobile signal station and operator with information regarding a status of the earth fault testing device.

Claims

1. An automated earth fault testing and early warning system for measuring an earthing value at any desired location comprising:

a. an earth fault testing device comprising a plurality of terminals for determining the earthing value at any desired ground location;

b. at least one power supply means for powering the earth fault testing device, including a low voltage direct current power supply incorporated with the earth fault testing device;

c. at least one calibration switch including a calibration pad associated with the earth fault testing device for calibrating the earth fault testing device for a particular ground location, the earth fault testing device'"'"'s reading depending on the particular ground location thereby ensuring accurate determination of the corresponding earth fault value at the ground location;

d. an alarm for providing visual indication of a variety of conditions including high and/or normal value of the earthing value and indicating a charged level of the earth fault testing device, wherein the earth fault testing device is connected to the an alarm system of a base transceiver station of a mobile signal station utilizing at least one relay; and

e. at least one communication means associated with the earth fault testing device, for informing the mobile signal station and at least one operator'"'"'s device with information regarding a status of the earth fault testing device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one communication means is one of “

WiFi”

, which is a generic term for wireless communication, usually suggestive of the Internet”

, “

2G”

, namely second-generation wireless telephone technology, “

3G,”

namely third generation wireless telephone technology, “

4G”

, namely fourth generation wireless telephone and mobile communication technology, “

GPRS”

, which is a packet-oriented mobile data service available on both 2G and 3G cellular communication systems, “

EDGE”

, which is a proprietary communications service, “

Bluetooth”

, which is a collection of communication protocols for radio frequency communications systems, “

ZigBee”

, which is a specification for a suite of high-level communication protocols used in creating personal area networks built from small, low-power digital radios based on the IEEE 802.15.4 standard, Piconet of “

BLE”

, which is an abbreviation for “

Bluetooth Low Energy”

which in turn is a wireless personal area network technology and protocol, “

Zwave”

, which is a wireless technology used principally for home automation applications, or a combination thereof and wherein the earth fault testing device is associated with a machine wearable sensor.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the earthing value is mapped into one or more predictive maintenance states in association with soil parameters.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein a machine learning engine coupled to a predictive analytics engine indicates on a user interface a set of analytical predictions for machine maintenance, operation and repair to provide early failure indication of the earthing resistance, and wherein the at least one communication means associated with the earth fault testing device informs a cloud based IoT (Internet of things) server.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the user interface is associated with an application;

the application is associated with at least one of a mobile phone, television, kiosk, touch screen device, and a server;

the application includes a fuel gauge associated with at least on color scheme; and

within the color scheme;

a. red indicates a worst maintenance condition,

b. yellow indicates an intermediate condition, and

c. green indicates a best maintenance condition.

6. A method of automated earth fault testing and early warning system for measuring an earthing value at any desired location, comprising:

a. determining the earthing value at any desired ground location through an earth fault testing device;

b. powering the earth fault testing device through at least one power supply means, including a low voltage, direct current power supply incorporated with the earth fault testing device;

c. calibrating the earth fault testing device for a particular ground location through at least one calibration switch including a calibration pad associated with the earth fault testing device,

d. using the at least one calibration switch with the calibration pad to adjust the earth fault testing device'"'"'s reading depending on the particular ground location thereby ensuring accurate determination of the corresponding earth fault value at the ground location;

e. providing indication of a variety of conditions, through an alarm system, including one of a high and normal value of the earthing value;

f. indicating a charged level of the earth fault testing device, by connecting to the alarm system of a base transceiver station of a mobile signal station utilizing at least one relay; and

g. informing, through at least one communication means associated with the earth fault testing device, the mobile signal station and at least one operator'"'"'s device with information regarding a status of the earth fault testing device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the at least one communication means is one of “

WiFi”

, which is a generic term for wireless communication, usually suggestive of the Internet”

, “

2G”

, namely second-generation wireless telephone technology, “

3G,”

namely third generation wireless telephone technology, “

4G”

, namely fourth generation wireless telephone and mobile communication technology, “

GPRS”

, which is a packet-oriented mobile data service available on both 2G and 3G cellular communication systems, “

EDGE”

, which is a proprietary communications service, “

Bluetooth”

, which is a collection of communication protocols for radio frequency communications systems, “

ZigBee”

, which is a specification for a suite of high-level communication protocols used in creating personal area networks built from small, low-power digital radios based on the IEEE 802.15.4 standard, Piconet of “

BLE”

, which is an abbreviation for “

Bluetooth Low Energy”

which in turn is a wireless personal area network technology and protocol, “

Zwave”

, which is a wireless technology used principally for home automation applications, or a combination thereof and wherein the earth fault testing device is associated with a machine wearable sensor.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising the steps of:

a. mapping the earthing value into one or more predictive maintenance states; and

b. informing, through the at least one communication means associated with the earth fault testing device, a cloud based IoT server.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of:

a. indicating, through a machine learning engine coupled to a predictive analytics engine, on a user interface a set of analytical predictions for machine maintenance, operation and repair to provide early failure indication of the earthing resistance;

wherein the user interface is associated with an application;

wherein the application is associated with at least one of a mobile phone, television, kiosk, touch screen device, and a server;

wherein the application includes a fuel gauge associated with color schemes; and

within the color scheme;

i. red indicates a worst maintenance condition;

ii. yellow indicates an intermediate condition; and

iii. green indicates a best maintenance condition.

10. An automated earth fault testing and early warning system for measuring an earth fault value at any desired location comprising:

a. an earth fault testing device comprising a plurality of terminals insertable into the ground for determining the earth fault value at any desired ground location;

b. at least one low voltage direct current power supply for powering the earth fault testing device, connected to the earth fault testing device;

c. a calibration switch for actuating a calibration pad connected to the earth fault testing device, for calibrating the earth fault testing device for a particular ground location, by obtaining a reading from the earth fault testing device for the particular ground location and comparing the reading to a reading for a known standard ground fault value;

d. a means for providing visible indication of conditions including high and/or normal earth fault values and indicating a charge level of a battery portion of the earth fault testing device;

e. means for connecting the earth fault testing device to the an alarm system of a base transceiver station of a mobile signaling station; and

f. wireless communication means associated with the earth fault testing device, for informing the mobile signal station and at least one operator device of the battery charge level and earth fault level and status of the earth fault testing device.

11. In the system of claim 10, the earth fault testing device further comprising:

a. a machine learning engine;

b. a predictive analytics engine operatively coupled to the machine learning engine;

c. a user interface connected to the analytics engine for visually displaying a set of analytical predictions relating to system maintenance, operation and repair to provide early indication of a measured earth fault value outside of a preselected acceptable norm;

d. communication means associated with the earth fault system for informing a cloud based IoT (Internet of things) server of the measured earth fault value being outside of the preselected acceptable norm.

12. A method of automated ground fault testing by measuring ground fault values at any desired location and warning of measured dangerous ground fault levels comprising:

a. determining ground fault value at any desired location using a ground fault testing device;

b. powering the ground fault testing device with a low voltage direct current power supply;

c. calibrating the ground fault testing device for a particular location through using a calibration pad operatively associated with the ground fault testing device;

d. using a calibration switch connected to the calibration pad to adjust the ground fault testing device reading for the particular ground location thereby ensuring accurate determination of the corresponding ground fault value;

e. indicating charge level of a battery portion of the ground fault testing device, by connecting the ground fault testing device to an alarm system of a base transceiver station of a mobile signal station; and

f. using communication means associated with the ground fault testing device to transfer a signal to a mobile signal station and an operator'"'"'s device, the signal indicating status of the ground fault testing device.