ATTACHMENT DEVICE FOR MONITORING POWER SYSTEMS
A monitoring devices and electrically insulated elongated member for installing a monitoring device on a utility asset while maintaining a safe approach distance during operation of the power equipment. The monitoring device includes: a housing having a receptacle member adapted for detachably mating with a distal end of the electrically insulated elongated member and a permanent magnet mounted on the housing. The magnet magnetically attaches the device to the power equipment.
1 . A monitoring device for monitoring power equipment, the monitoring device comprising:
a housing including a receptacle member adapted for detachably mating with a distal end of an electrically insulated elongated member;
a permanent magnet mounted on the housing, wherein the magnet is configured to magnetically attach the device to the power equipment;
an environmental sensor disposed internal to or on the housing;
a microprocessor;
a communications transceiver for conveying a sensory datum from the environmental sensor;
an energy storage component for powering the microprocessor and the communications transceiver; and
an energy harvesting component for charging the energy storage component
2 . The monitoring device of claim 1 , wherein the receptacle member includes a slot and the distal end of the electrically insulated elongated member includes a protrusion configured to detachably mate with the slot.
3 . The monitoring device of claim 1 , wherein the receptacle member includes a threaded hole and the distal end of the electrically insulated elongated member includes a threaded rod configured to detachably mate with the threaded hole.
4 . The monitoring device of claim 1 , wherein distal end of the electrically insulated elongated member includes opposing fingers and the receptacle member includes a contour in the housing of the monitoring device which is configured to detachably be held by the opposing fingers.
5 . The monitoring device of claim 1 , wherein the electrically insulated elongated member includes a proximal end configured to manipulate the monitoring device while maintaining a previously specified safe approach distance during operation of the power equipment.
6 . A monitoring kit, for monitoring power equipment, the monitoring kit comprising:
a monitoring device;
electrically insulated elongated member;
wherein the monitoring device includes:
a housing including a receptacle member adapted for detachably mating with a distal end of the electrically insulated elongated member; and
a permanent magnet mounted on the housing, wherein the magnet is configured to magnetically attach the device to the power equipment.
7 . The monitoring kit of claim 6 , wherein the receptacle member includes a slot and the distal end of the electrically insulated elongated member includes a protrusion configured to detachably mate with the slot.
8 . The monitoring kit of claim 6 , wherein the receptacle member includes a threaded hole and the distal end of the electrically insulated elongated member includes a threaded rod configured to detachably mate with the threaded hole.
9 . The monitoring kit of claim 6 , wherein distal end of the electrically insulated elongated member includes opposing fingers and the receptacle member includes a contour in the housing of the monitoring device which is configured to detachably be held by the opposing fingers.
10 . The monitoring kit of claim 6 , wherein the monitoring device includes:
an environmental sensor disposed internal to or on the housing.
11 . The monitoring kit of claim 10 , wherein the monitoring device includes:
a microprocessor;
a communications transceiver for conveying a sensory datum from the environmental sensor;
an energy storage component for powering the microprocessor and the communications transceiver; and
an energy harvesting component for charging the energy storage component.
12 . The monitoring kit of claim 6 , wherein the electrically insulated elongated member includes a proximal end configured to manipulate the monitoring device while maintaining a previously specified safe approach distance during operation of the power equipment.
13 . An electrically insulated elongated member comprising:
a distal end configured for detachably mating a receptacle member constructed in a housing of a monitoring device for monitoring power equipment; and
a proximal end configured to manipulate the monitoring device and to magnetically attach the monitoring device to an external ferromagnetic surface of power equipment while maintaining a previously specified safe approach distance during operation of the power equipment.
14 . The electrically insulated elongated member of claim 13 , wherein the receptacle member includes a slot and the distal end of the electrically insulated elongated member includes a protrusion configured to detachably mate with the slot.
15 . The electrically insulated elongated member of claim 13 , wherein the receptacle member includes a threaded hole and the distal end of the electrically insulated elongated member includes a threaded rod configured to detachably mate with the threaded hole.
16 . The electrically insulated elongated member of claim 13 , wherein distal end of the electrically insulated elongated member includes opposing fingers and the receptacle member includes a contour in the housing of the monitoring device which is configured to detachably be held by the opposing fingers.
17 . A method for mounting a monitoring device on an external surface of high voltage power equipment during operation of the power equipment, the monitoring device including a housing having a receptacle member and a permanent magnet mounted on an external surface of the housing, the method comprising:
attaching a distal end of an electrically insulated elongated member to the receptacle member adapted thereto of the housing;
by manipulating the device from the proximal end of the electrically insulated elongated member, magnetically attaching the device to the external surface of the power equipment using a permanent magnet mounted on an external surface of the housing; and
by further manipulating the device from the proximal end of the electrically insulated elongated member, detaching the distal end of the electrically insulated elongated member from the receptacle member.