Electricity: measuring and testing – Measuring – testing – or sensing electricity – per se – With probe – prod or terminals
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-01
2001-11-27
Brown, Glenn W. (Department: 2858)
Electricity: measuring and testing
Measuring, testing, or sensing electricity, per se
With probe, prod or terminals
C324S133000, C324S072500
Reexamination Certificate
active
06323638
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to portable devices for testing electrical transmission or distribution equipment for the presence of high AC voltages in excess of one kilovolt.
In order to avoid accidental injury and/or equipment damage in the course of operation of or construction or maintenance work on electric power distribution and transmission systems, the work is commonly done after the installations have been disconnected from a source of energy. In order to verify that the equipment or conductors in question are in fact “dead” or disconnected, it is known to provide high-voltage detectors to test the conductor or equipment to verify the absence of high voltage. A line of such detectors is sold by HD Electric Company under the trade designation “TAG.” The detector typically includes an insulating housing, which encloses the detection circuitry, and a probe on the housing adapted to make electrical contact with the conductor or other equipment to be tested, the housing being adapted for connection to an insulating “hot stick” to facilitate reaching the conductor or equipment. Different types of probes are utilized for different applications, such as overhead transmission and distribution wires and underground and pad-mounted gear.
In the latter application, certain types of metal enclosed equipment may present grounded surfaces in close proximity to the body of the probe (in the nature of an elongated tube with a conductive tip) and/or the attached voltage detector. For an inexperienced or unknowledgeable user, these grounded surfaces can provide an opportunity for a flashover which could expose the user and/or associated equipment to dangerously high currents.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved high-voltage detector and probe assembly therefor which avoid the disadvantages of prior detectors and probe assemblies while affording additional structural and operating advantages.
An important feature of the invention is the provision of a probe assembly for a high-voltage detection device which can safely be used with underground and pad-mounted electrical transmission or distribution equipment.
In connection with the foregoing feature, another feature of the invention is the provision of a probe assembly of the type set forth which limits currents therethrough to safe levels.
Another feature of the invention is the provision of a high-voltage detection device incorporating a probe assembly of the type set forth.
Certain ones of these and other features of the invention may be attained by providing a probe assembly for a high voltage detector, the probe assembly comprising: an elongated tubular probe housing formed of electrically insulating material and having first and second ends, a connector at the first end of the housing for electrical connection to an associated voltage detector, a conductive probe tip projecting from the second end of the housing for contact with a conductor to be tested, and a high resistance disposed within the housing and connected in series between the tip and the connector, the resistance having a value such as to limit the current through the probe assembly to a safe level.
Other features of the invention may be attained by providing a device for testing a conductor for the presence of high AC voltage comprising: a probe assembly including a conductive probe tip for making electrical contact with the conductor, and a voltage detection circuit connected to the probe assembly, the probe assembly including a high resistance connected in series between the probe tip and the voltage detection circuit and having a value such as to limit the current through the probe assembly to a safe level.
The invention consists of certain novel features and a combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the details may be made without departing from the spirit, or sacrificing any of the advantages of the present invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3513388 (1970-05-01), Strachan
patent: 3522533 (1970-08-01), Bergero
patent: 3596177 (1971-07-01), Butera
patent: 3826981 (1974-07-01), Ross
patent: 4418314 (1983-11-01), Nieto
patent: 4503389 (1985-03-01), Singer
patent: 5000179 (1991-03-01), Brehier
patent: 5136234 (1992-08-01), Shaw
patent: 5952820 (1999-09-01), Thrasher et al.
patent: 6124714 (2000-09-01), McNully et al.
HD Electric Brochure for Tag Voltage Detectors (1998), particularly Tag 200/Tag 200MR Detectors and IEP-UD Insulated Underground Bushing Probe. (Month Unavailable).
Brown Glenn W.
HD Electric Company
Nguyen Vincent Q.
Shaw Seyfarth
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