Method and apparatus for predicting life cycle of a splice

• US 9,964,583 B2
• Filed: 10/19/2016
• Issued: 05/08/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smartkable LLC
• Original Assignee: Smartkable LLC
• Inventors: Hirsh, Douglas S., Muehlemann, Michael M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Minh
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ferdous, Zannatul
• Application Number:
  US15/297,460
• Publication Number:
  US 20170038421A1
• Time in Patent Office: 566 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/58 Testing of lines, cables or conductors testing of electric windings G01R31/72
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/66 Testing of connections, e.g. of plugs or non-disconnectable joints testing for incorrect line connections G01R31/55

Abstract

A monitoring apparatus, and method of use, that is capable of determining the joint characteristics by means of waveforms shifts at zero-crossing angular distortions through predictive failure algorithm specific to circuit under test.

Claims

1. A method for predicting a life cycle of a splice in a transmission line comprising:

a) establishing a baseline over time for a splice based on angular displacements in a signal curve for the splice in a vicinity of a zero crossing point of the signal curve using a sine curve and a first ratio of amplitude at a time of monitoring and an amplitude at a start time and a period change ratio based on a period at the time of monitoring and the period at the start time;

b) repeatedly monitoring a functioning in-service splice over a period of time in the vicinity of the zero crossing point for a signal of the in-service splice using the angular displacements used in step (a) for the signal of the in-service splice; and

c) comparing the baseline of step (a) to information from step (b) to determine a degradation for the functioning in-service splice and a decay rate curve, the decay rate curve providing an indication of a percentage of useful life remaining and time to failure for the functioning in-service splice, the decay rate curve providing a guide for monitoring other splices for useful life and time to failure.

2. An apparatus adapted for practicing the method of claim 1 comprising;

a) probes for determining instantaneous voltage potential across the splice;

b) a current sense device for determining instantaneous current output based upon the splice,

c) a nonconductive platform to support an associate device, the associated device collecting and analyzing data from the functioning in-service splice being monitored; and

d) means for establishing the baseline, repeatedly monitoring the functioning in-service splice over a period of time, and comparing the baseline of step (a) to information from step (b) to determine a degradation for the functioning in-service splice and the decay rate curve.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a pair of clamps, the clamps configured to attach to a portion of the transmission line on either side of the splice, the clamps supporting the non-conductive platform.