Wireless power line sensor

• US 9,983,254 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2016
• Issued: 05/29/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sky Sight Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Sky Sight Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: McCammon, Patrick, Rekeweg, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Feggins, Kristal
• Assistant Examiner(s): LIU, KENDRICK X
• Application Number:
  US15/289,616
• Publication Number:
  US 20170030956A1
• Time in Patent Office: 596 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 1/07 Non contact-making probes
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/142 Arrangements for simultaneous measurements of several parameters employing techniques covered by groups G01R15/14 - G01R15/26
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/08 Locating faults in cables, transmission lines, or networks
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/58 Testing of lines, cables or conductors testing of electric windings G01R31/72
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/181 Circuits; Control arrangements or methods

Abstract

A wireless sensor apparatus for determining and reporting the status of an electrical wire, said sensor apparatus comprising: an electrically insulated housing; a non-contact electrical energy harvesting device, said energy harvest device disposed within said housing, said energy harvesting device comprising an electric current detector and voltage detector; an electric power source, said power source operatively connected to said energy harvesting device; a microcontroller, said microcontroller operably connected to said power source; a mechanically rigid base, said base operably connected to said housing and to said at least one strain gauge, said at least one strain gauge operably connected to said power source and to said microcontroller; a wireless data transmission antenna, said wireless data transmission antenna operably connected to said power source and to said microprocessor; a visual indicator, said visual indicator operably connected to said power source and to said microcontroller.

Claims

1. An apparatus for supporting an electrical wire and for determining and transmitting the status of the electrical wire, said apparatus comprising:

an electrically insulated housing in contact with and physically supporting the electrical wire;

said electrically insulated housing being supported on a load cell post;

an electrical energy harvesting device disposed adjacent the electrical wire;

an electrical power source operatively connected to said electrical energy harvesting device;

a microprocessor operatively connected to said electrical power source;

a wireless data transmission antenna operatively connected to said microprocessor;

an accelerometer operatively supported on said load cell post and connected to said microprocessor, and, wherein an output from said accelerometer is used for determining movement of said electrically insulated housing and thereby determining the status of the electrical wire.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrically insulated housing comprises HDPE.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said electrical energy harvesting device comprises an electromechanical AC energy harvester.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said electrical power source comprises a rechargeable battery.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a visual display comprising a plurality of LEDs operatively connected to said microprocessor.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a baseline value is established by said microprocessor from the accelerometer output representative of the approximate static position of the electrically insulated housing, and wherein said baseline value is compared to the accelerometer output for determining a downed electrical wire.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said accelerometer, said electrical energy harvesting device, said power source and said microprocessor are located within said insulated housing.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the electrically insulated housing comprises HDPE.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said electrical energy harvesting device comprises an electromechanical AC energy harvester.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said electrical power source comprises a rechargeable battery.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a visual display comprising a plurality of LEDs operatively connected to said microprocessor.

12. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the electrically insulated housing comprises HDPE.

13. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said electrical energy harvesting device comprises an electromechanical AC energy harvester.

14. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said electrical power source comprises a rechargeable battery.

15. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a visual display comprising a plurality of LEDs operatively connected to said microprocessor.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said accelerometer, said electrical energy harvesting device, said electrical power source and said microprocessor are located within said electrically insulated housing.