MEASURING POSITIONAL DATA RELATING TO POWERLINE TOWER
An apparatus mountable to a tower for detecting positional change of the tower includes a sensor component for detecting a change in inclination of the powerline tower; a communication component for communicating an alert regarding a change in inclination of the powerline tower; electrodes separated and electrically insulated from each other for enabling a differential in voltage at the electrodes resulting from a differential in electric field strength experienced at the electrodes when within a vicinity of powerlines; and electrical components electrically connected with the electrodes and configured to establish a circuit. The differential in voltage between the electrodes causes electric current to flow through the electric circuit for powering the device, including the sensor and the communication component. In alternative embodiments, a pathway to ground is provided, whereby a differential in voltage between one or more of the electrodes and ground causes electric current flow for powering the device.
1 . A method for monitoring tension in powerlines of a power transmission system, the method comprising steps of:
(a) mounting a device to a powerline tower of the power transmission system, the device comprising:
(i) a sensor component; and
(ii) a communication component;
(b) using the sensor component, measuring positional data; and
(c) using the communication component, communicating information regarding the positional data measured;
(d) wherein mounting the device to the powerline tower comprises mounting the device onto a suspension insulator of the powerline tower such that the positional data measured represents an inclination of the suspension insulator.
2 . (canceled)
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein communicating information regarding the positional data measured comprises sending a communication to an Internet-connected server.
4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising detecting a change in inclination and communicating an alert regarding the detected change in inclination.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the sensor component comprises a camera.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the sensor component comprises an inclinometer.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the communications component comprises a transceiver for wireless communications.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the communications component comprises a transceiver for cellular communications.
9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising powering the device using differentials in electric field strengths within a vicinity of powerlines.
10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising a step for powering the device using electric fields within a vicinity of powerlines.
11 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising a battery for powering the device.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the battery is rechargeable.
13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising recharging the battery using differentials in electric field strengths within a vicinity of powerlines.
14 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising a step for recharging the battery using electric fields within the vicinity of the powerlines.
15 . A method for monitoring tension in powerlines of a power transmission system, the method comprising steps of:
(a) mounting each of a plurality of devices respectively onto a suspension insulator of each of a plurality of towers, each device of the plurality of devices comprising
(i) a sensor component for measuring positional data; and
(ii) a communication component for communicating information regarding the positional data measured;
(b) using the sensor component of each mounted device, measuring positional data of the suspension insulator; and
(c) using the communication component of each mounted devices, communicating information regarding the positional data measured there at; and
(d) further comprising detecting, by at least one of the plurality of mounted devices, a change with respect to inclination of the suspension insulator of one of the towers of the power transmission system and communicating information regarding the detected change.
16 . (canceled)
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the information comprises an alert that is communicated by hopping the alert successively along each of the powerline towers using the communication components of the plurality of mounted devices.
18 - 20 . (canceled)