Electrical instrument platform for mounting on and removal from an energized high voltage power conductor

• US 7,733,094 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2005
• Issued: 06/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2004
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Underground Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Underground Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Engelhardt, John, Bright, James, Alex, Paul, Fish, Larry, Breese, Duncan
• Primary Examiner(s): He; Amy
• Application Number:
  US11/666,002
• Publication Number:
  US 20080297162A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,681 Days
• Field of Search: 324/512, 324/127, 324/142, 702/58, 702/59
• US Class Current: 324/512
• 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 19/2513 Arrangements for monitoring electric power systems, e.g. power lines or loads; Logging

Abstract

An apparatus for monitoring and measuring the electrical, thermal and mechanical operating parameters of high voltage power conductors. A toroidal shaped housing, which can be mounted onto an energized conductor, contains all of the necessary electrical instruments to monitor the parameters associated with the conductor. Moreover, the housing includes the processing capability to analyze disturbance and fault events based on these parameters.

Claims

1. An apparatus for monitoring the operation of an electric power conductor, comprising:

a housing having a toroidal shape and means for mounting on said electric power conductor;

a plurality of electrical instruments in said housing for monitoring various parameters associated with the conductor;

recording means in said housing for recording the various parameters being monitored; and

analyzing means in said housing for analyzing disturbance and fault events based on the various parameters being monitored,

wherein said analyzing means produces fault location reports based on the various parameters monitored from one end of the conductor.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrical instruments include:

means for measuring an electric current flowing through the conductor;

means for measuring an electric potential (voltage) of the conductor relative to a ground potential; and

means for determining a phase relationship between the measured current and voltage.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for receiving a global positioning signal (GPS) for use by said analyzing means.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the signal from the GPS provides a signal for time-stamping the various parameters being monitored.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising power means in said housing for powering the apparatus by induction from an electromagnetic field produced by the energized conductor.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said power means includes:

energy storage means for powering said apparatus when the electromagnetic field produced by the energized conductor is below a first threshold level; and

charging means for charging the energy storage means by induction when the electromagnetic field exceeds a second threshold level.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrical instruments includes:

means for measuring a temperature of the conductor;

means for sensing a pitch angle of the conductor;

means for sensing motion perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the conductor.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising updating means for updating a programming of the analyzing means without removing the apparatus from the power conductor.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the housing is enabled to be mounted while the conductor is energized.

10. An apparatus for monitoring the operation of an electric power conductor, comprising:

a housing having a toroidal shape and means for mounting on said electric power

a plurality of electrical instruments in said housing for monitoring various parameters associated with the conductor;

recording means in said housing for recording the various parameters being monitored; and

analyzing means in said housing for analyzing disturbance and fault events based on the various parameters being monitored,

means for transmitting and receiving the various parameters being monitored to another apparatus at a different location on the conductor,

wherein said analyzing means produces fault location reports based on the various parameters monitored from different locations on the conductor.