| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20090115426 | Faulted circuit indicator apparatus with transmission line state display and method of use thereof - The invention provides a faulted circuit indicator apparatus with transmission line state display, as well as methods for using the apparatus. The faulted circuit indicator has a sensor that can be electrically coupled to an electrical conductor for collecting data relating to a state of the electrical conductor. The faulted circuit indicator also has a controller that is logically coupled to the sensor for receiving data and determining whether a fault condition has occurred on the electrical conductor. The faulted circuit indicator also has one or more indicators that are logically coupled to the controller for indicating whether a fault condition has occurred as well as the state of the electrical conductor. The state of the conductor may be the voltage, the temperature, or the vibration present on the conductor. | 05-07-2009 |
| 20090119068 | Communicating faulted circuit indicator apparatus and method of use thereof - A communicating faulted circuit indicator (“FCI”) apparatus, as well as methods for using the apparatus. A sensor is configured to collect data relating to a state of an electrical conductor. A controller is logically coupled to the sensor and configured to receive the data collected by the sensor and to determine whether to communicate the collected data to a location remote from the FCI. A communications facility is logically coupled to the controller and configured to communicate the data to the remote location in response to the controller's determination to communicate the data to the remote location. The communications facility can include a cellular communications device. The remote location can comprise a cellular communications device. The remote location also can be a computer system configured to receive communications from the FCI. | 05-07-2009 |
| 20090231764 | Capacitor Bank Monitor and Method of use Thereof - A capacitor bank monitor apparatus for monitoring a state of a common ground connected to a capacitor bank comprises a sensor that that can be coupled to the common ground for collecting measurements relating to the state of the common ground. The monitor also comprises a controller that is logically coupled to the sensor for receiving the measurements and determining whether a fuse on the capacitor bank has opened. The ground monitor also comprises a communications facility that is logically coupled to the controller for communicating a notification that the fuse has opened. The communications facility may comprise a cellular communications device. The ground monitor also may comprise a filter that is electrically connected to the sensor and the controller. The ground monitor also may comprise memory that is logically coupled to the controller for storing at least one state of the common ground. | 09-17-2009 |
| 20100084920 | Power Line Energy Harvesting Power Supply - A current transforming harvester (“CTH”) is capable of producing power from a conductor on a preexisting power grid without alteration of the conductor or the preexisting power grid. The CTH includes a current transformer (“CT”) that captures energy via magnetic flux from the conductor. The CT is substantially circular and includes two halves called a “split core,” which allow the CT to easily attach to the conductor without opening the circuit in which the conductor operates. A clamping mechanism of the CTH may secure the CTH to the conductor via a pair of spring-biased clamp pads. The CTH includes circuitry that converts the magnetic flux energy captured by the CT into electrical energy suitable for consumption by an electrical device. | 04-08-2010 |
| 20100085036 | Overhead Communicating Device - A power line monitoring device is mounted to a power line. The device includes circuitry for monitoring the power line and communicating information regarding the power line. A ground reference point of the circuitry is electrically coupled to the power line. Therefore, the monitoring device, including its circuitry, has substantially the same voltage potential as the power line. Accordingly, there is a substantially equalized or uniform electric field around the device. The substantially equal voltage potential and electric field allow communications with the monitoring device to have reduced noise and interference, as compared to other devices that have different voltage potentials than their corresponding power lines. A pad of semi-conductive material may be disposed between the power line and the electrical conductors to slow a rate of change of the voltage potential of the device circuitry when mounting the device to the power line, thereby minimizing risk of corona discharge. | 04-08-2010 |
