Device and methods for measuring the quality of contact between two electrical conductors
First Claim
1. A device for measuring the electrical contact between two electrical conductors of an electrical circuit, comprising:
- a frame formed of electrically insulating material and including two hollow cylinders each defining an axis, said frame adapted to be placed in a measuring position in which the conductors are received in said cylinders,two electrically conductive elements mounted on said frame adjacent respective ones of said cylinders and adapted to be electrically connected to a current generator, said elements mounted for movement toward and away from respective ones of said axes in directions transversely thereof, each of said elements including a concavely curved surface facing a respective one of said axes,first holding means for moving said elements toward said respective axes and against respective ones of said conductors when said frame is in said measuring position, for securing said frame to said conductors and establishing a current flow between said conductors when said elements are connected to said current generator,two electrically conductive pins mounted on said frame adjacent respective ones of said cylinders for movement toward and away from respective ones of said axes in directions transversely thereof,second holding means for moving said pins toward said respective axes and into electrical contact with respective ones of said conductors when said frame is in said measuring position, said pins contacting said conductors at locations in said electrical circuit disposed between said two elements, andmeans for measuring the difference in potential between said pins.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device for measuring the quality of contact between two electrical conductors of an electrical circuit comprises a frame on which are mounted two electrically conductive elements and two electrically conductive pins. The frame is adapted to be inserted onto the electrical conductors, whereupon mechanical actuators displace the elements and pins such that each conductor is contacted by one of the elements and one of the pins to create an electric circuit. The elements are connected to a current generator to cause a current to flow within the circuit. A volt meter is provided to measure the drop in potential between the two pins. Knowledge of the resistance of each conductor enables the drop in potential to be used to measure the quality of the electrical contact between the conductors. The device is particularly useful to determine the quality of contact between conductors whose connections are not readily visible or accessible such as in an electrolysis apparatus in which an anode is immersed in a bath.
11 Citations
8 Claims
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1. A device for measuring the electrical contact between two electrical conductors of an electrical circuit, comprising:
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a frame formed of electrically insulating material and including two hollow cylinders each defining an axis, said frame adapted to be placed in a measuring position in which the conductors are received in said cylinders, two electrically conductive elements mounted on said frame adjacent respective ones of said cylinders and adapted to be electrically connected to a current generator, said elements mounted for movement toward and away from respective ones of said axes in directions transversely thereof, each of said elements including a concavely curved surface facing a respective one of said axes, first holding means for moving said elements toward said respective axes and against respective ones of said conductors when said frame is in said measuring position, for securing said frame to said conductors and establishing a current flow between said conductors when said elements are connected to said current generator, two electrically conductive pins mounted on said frame adjacent respective ones of said cylinders for movement toward and away from respective ones of said axes in directions transversely thereof, second holding means for moving said pins toward said respective axes and into electrical contact with respective ones of said conductors when said frame is in said measuring position, said pins contacting said conductors at locations in said electrical circuit disposed between said two elements, and means for measuring the difference in potential between said pins. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for measuring the quality of electrical contact between first and second conductors of an electrical circuit, comprising the steps of:
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positioning a frame in a measuring position relative to first and second conductors by sliding first and second hollow cylinders of said frame over said first and second conductors, respectively, displacing first and second frame elements carried by said frame toward and against respective ones of said conductors in generally opposite directions extending transversely of first and second axes defined by said cylinders, respectively, whereby said first and second elements secure said frame to said first and second conductors, connecting said first and second elements to a current generator to pass an electric current through said first and second conductors, displacing first and second pins carried by said frame into electrical contact with said first and second conductors, respectively, in directions extending transversely of said first and second axes at locations in said circuit disposed between said first and second elements, and measuring the different in potential between said pins. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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Specification