IP Library Granted Patent US 10,205,307
Granted Patent B2
US 10,205,307 · App. 13/545,087 · Granted Feb 12, 2019

Power line maintenance monitoring

Inventor: Mark Lancaster (Brooks, GA)
Assignee: Southwire Company, LLC
H02G1/02H02J13/0006G01C9/00G01R15/142Y02E60/727Y02E60/74Y04S10/26Y04S10/30
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,205,307
App. No.
13/545,087
Granted
Feb 12, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

Monitoring may be provided. First, data may be received comprising a current location of a point on a span of conductor or a current angle of a section of the span of conductor. Next, a sag may be calculated of the span of conductor based upon the current location of the point on the span of conductor and the current angle of the section of the span of conductor. An alert may then be provided when the calculated sag is outside of a predetermined range for the span.

Claims (41)

1. A method of providing monitoring, the method comprising:

receiving a first distance between a first sag transceiver and a second sag transceiver comprising a first distance, wherein receiving the first distance between the first sag transceiver and the second sag transceiver comprises;

receiving a time stamped signal at the second transceiver from the first transceiver, the time stamped signal comprising a time stamp indicating a time when the time stamped signal left the first transceiver,

determining a time of receipt of the time stamped signal at the second transceiver, and

determining the first distance based on the time stamp on the received time stamped signal and the time of receipt of the time stamped signal;

receiving a second distance between the first sag transceiver and a third sag transceiver;

receiving a third distance between the second sag transceiver and the third sag transceiver;

calculating a current location of a point on a span of conductor based upon the first distance, the second distance, and the third distance, wherein the first sag transceiver, the second sag transceiver, and the third sag transceiver are located on the span;

calculating a sag of the span of conductor based upon the calculated current location of the point on the span of conductor and a previous location of the point on the span of conductor, wherein calculating the sag comprises calculating a real-time sag;

determining a clearance between the span of conductor based on the calculated sag and a baseline data; and

providing an alert when the clearance is less than a predetermined value, wherein the predetermined value is based on one or more safety codes.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the second distance between the first sag transceiver and the third sag transceiver comprises determining the second distance based upon a signal transmitted between the first sag transceiver and the third sag transceiver.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the third distance between the second sag transceiver and the third sag transceiver comprises determining the third distance based upon a signal transmitted between the second sag transceiver and the third sag transceiver.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein calculating the current location of the point comprises calculating the current location of the point being within the third sag transceiver.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the first distance between the first sag transceiver and the second sag transceiver comprises receiving the distance between the first sag transceiver and the second sag transceiver wherein the first sag transceiver is located on a first structure supporting a first end of the span.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the first distance between the first sag transceiver and the second sag transceiver comprises receiving the distance between the first sag transceiver and the second sag transceiver wherein the second sag transceiver is located on a second structure supporting a second end of the span.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the second distance between the first sag transceiver and the third sag transceiver comprises receiving the distance between the first sag transceiver and the third sag transceiver located at the point on the span.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein calculating the current location of the point on the span of conductor comprises calculating at one of the following: the first sag transceiver, the second sag transceiver, and the third sag transceiver.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein calculating the current location of the point on the span of conductor comprises calculating at a power line monitor.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing the alert when the calculated sag is outside of a predetermined range for the span.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein calculating the sag of the span of conductor based upon the calculated current location of the point on the span of conductor and the previous location of the point on the span of conductor comprises calculating the sag wherein the previous location of the point on the span of conductor provides a baseline reference for ground clearance for the span of conductor.

12. A system for providing monitoring, the system comprising:

a power line monitor configured to collect first data corresponding to the following:

a first distance between a first sag transceiver and a second sag transceiver comprising a first distance, wherein power line monitor being configured to collect the first distance comprises the power line monitor being configured to: receive a time stamped signal at the second transceiver from the first transceiver, the time stamped signal comprising a time stamp indicating a time when the time stamped signal left the first transceiver, determine a time of receipt of the time stamped signal at the second transceiver, and determine the first distance based on the time stamp on the received time stamped signal and the time of receipt of the time stamped signal,

a second distance between the first sag transceiver and a third sag transceiver comprising a second distance, and

a third distance between the second sag transceiver and the third sag transceiver comprising a third distance; and

a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system configured to;

receive a first data from the power line monitor,

calculate a current location of a point on a span of conductor based upon the first distance, the second distance, and the third distance received in the first data, wherein the first sag transceiver, the second sag transceiver, and the third sag transceiver are located on the span,

calculate a first real-time sag of the span of conductor based upon the current location of the point on the span of conductor,

provide an alert when the calculated first real-time sag is outside of a predetermined range for the span,

receive second data from the power line monitor,

recalculate the current location of the point based upon the second data,

calculate a second real-time sag for the span of conductor based upon the recalculated current location,

determine, based on the first real-time sag and the second real-time sag, that a real-time sag for the span of the conductor has increased,

determine whether the increase in the real-time sag for the span of the conductor is beyond that expected of an electrical load on the conductor,

determine, based on the determination that the increase in the real-time sag on the span of the conductor is beyond that expected of the electrical load, a probable cause for the increase in the real-time sag;

determine a clearance between the span of conductor based on the real-time sag and a baseline data; and

provide an alert when the clearance is less than a predetermined value, wherein the predetermined value is based on one or more safety codes.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the power line monitor is configured to collect the data corresponding to the current location of the point on the span of conductor from a plurality of sag transceivers.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the power line monitor is configured to collect the data corresponding to a current angle of the section of the span of conductor from at least one inclinometer.

Assignments (8)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 31, 2025
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: SOUTHWIRE COMPANY, LLC; COLEMAN CABLE, LLC; TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH, LLC; SUMNER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LLC; MADISON ELECTRIC PRODUCTS, LLC; NOVINIUM, LLC; NOVINIUM HOLDINGS, INC.; WATTEREDGE, LLC; TAPPAN WIRE & CABLE, LLC; UNITED COPPER INDUSTRIES, LLC; TOPAZ LIGHTING COMPANY LLC; OBI PARTNERS, LLC; WIIP, INC.
Reel/Frame 072299/0141 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENTS Recorded Oct 23, 2024
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS AGENT
To: SOUTHWIRE COMPANY, LLC; COLEMAN CABLE, LLC (F/K/A COLEMAN CABLE, INC.); TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH, LLC (F/K/A TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH CORPORATION); SUMNER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LLC; MADISON ELECTRIC PRODUCTS, LLC; NOVINIUM, LLC; WATTEREDGE, LLC; TAPPAN WIRE & CABLE, LLC; UNITED COPPER INDUSTRIES, LLC; TOPAZ LIGHTING COMPANY LLC; OBI PARTNERS, LLC; WIIP, INC.
Reel/Frame 069235/0104 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 19, 2019
From: SOUTHWIRE COMPANY, LLC; SUMNER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LLC; COLEMAN CABLE, LLC; TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH, LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049522/0643 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 19, 2019
From: SOUTHWIRE COMPANY, LLC; COLEMAN CABLE, LLC; TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH, LLC; SUMNER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LLC
To: WELLS FARGO BANK
Reel/Frame 049522/0836 →
CONVERSION Recorded Jun 26, 2014
From: SOUTHWIRE COMPANY
To: SOUTHWIRE COMPANY, LLC
Reel/Frame 033244/0969 →
GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Feb 21, 2014
From: SOUTHWIRE COMPANY, LLC; COLEMAN CABLE, INC.; TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH CORPORATION
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 032308/0469 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 12, 2014
From: SOUTHWIRE COMPANY, LLC; COLEMAN CABLE, INC.; TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH CORPORATION
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 032251/0277 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 27, 2012
From: LANCASTER, MARK
To: SOUTHWIRE COMPANY
Reel/Frame 028663/0023 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation In Part 12729319 · Mar 23, 2010
Related Publication 20120278011A1 · Nov 1, 2012