IP Library Granted Patent US 11,913,978
Granted Patent B2
US 11,913,978 · App. 17/529,579 · Granted Feb 27, 2024

Wireless voltage measurement, testing and analytics system

Inventors: Charles Adkins (Newell, WV); Roger Clarke (Newell, WV); Gang Chen (Newell, WV)
Assignee: GRACE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
G01R19/155G01R19/14G01R31/66G08B5/36G08C17/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,913,978
App. No.
17/529,579
Granted
Feb 27, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

In order to mitigate a shock hazard for a user analyzing a high-voltage circuit, a system is provided that facilitates quarantining a shock-hazard high voltage within an electrical panel while providing a safe low voltage to a voltage detection indication device for visual inspection, the system comprising; a voltage conversion module (VCM) that receives input voltage from one or more monitored high voltage lines and reduces the received input voltage to below a predetermined voltage level that does not pose a shock hazard to a user; a voltage detection indication module that receives the reduced voltage and provides a visible voltage indication to the user; and a removable data transmission cable the connects the VCM to the voltage detection indication module.

Claims (22)

1. A system that facilitates quarantining a shock hazard within an electrical panel while providing a safe low voltage for visual inspection, comprising:

a voltage conversion module (VCM) that receives input voltage from one or more monitored high voltage lines and reduces the received input voltage to below a predetermined voltage level that does not pose a shock hazard to a user; and

a voltage detection indication module (VDIM) electrically connected to the voltage conversion module that receives the reduced input voltage and provides a visible voltage indication of the monitored lines to the user on a front indication display, the front indication display powered by the reduced input voltage from the voltage conversion module and wherein the front indication display comprises at least one light emitting diode (LED) electrically connected to the reduced input voltage for each of the monitored high voltage lines;

wherein the monitored high voltage lines have L 1 , L 2 , L 3 , and GND connections associated therewith and wherein the voltage detection indication module (VDIM) indicates the voltage and corresponding current flow between any two of the L 1 , L 2 , L 3 , and GND connections, wherein the input is one of AC Single Phase, AC 3-phase, or DC;

wherein the indication of the voltage and current flow is shown with respect to polarity while a test sequence is not active.

2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the voltage conversion module (VCM) and the voltage detection indication module (VDIM) are electrically connected with a detachable cable which is a USB data communication interface.

3. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the voltage conversion module (VCM) and the voltage detection indication module (VDIM) are electrically connected with a detachable cable which is a T1-type data communication interface.

4. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the voltage detection indication module comprises a plurality of LEDs configured to indicate at least one of: a voltage presence, a voltage absence, and a voltage polarity.

5. The system according to claim 4 , wherein the plurality of LEDs respectively indicate a voltage presence and polarity of the one or more of monitored high voltage lines.

6. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the voltage conversion module (VCM) is configured to detect connection integrity of source leads to the voltage detection indication device with use of storage energy or auxiliary power.

7. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the voltage conversion module (VCM) is configured to transmit and receive device status information to and from a wireless module that is configured to transmit via Bluetooth, to IoT devices or SCADA systems for making actionable decisions.

8. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the voltage conversion module (VCM) is configured to transmit and receive device status information to and from a wireless module that is configured to transmit via Zigbee, to IoT devices or SCADA systems for making actionable decisions.

9. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the voltage conversion module (VCM) is configured to transmit and receive device status information to and from a wireless module that is configured to transmit via Wi-Fi, to IoT devices or SCADA systems for making actionable decisions.

10. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the voltage conversion module (VCM) comprises an actionable status that is at least one of: displayed on the indication module; and transmitted wirelessly from the indication module.

11. The system according to claim 1 wherein the voltage conversion module (VCM) comprises two 2-wire outputs that control external devices while simultaneously actionable status is displayed on the voltage detection indication module (VDIM) and is transmitted to a wireless output.

12. The system according to claim 1 wherein the voltage conversion module (VCM) uses stored energy from the monitored lines to charge a supercapacitor storage circuit and supply power to the voltage conversion module (VCM).

13. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the voltage detection indication module (VDIM) comprises a wireless output that communicates with the voltage conversion module (VCM) for sending and receiving data.

14. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the voltage detection indication module (VDIM) comprises a test activation circuit configured to initiate test sequences for a predetermined duration in order to at least one of: verify; and communicate status for the voltage detection indication device to other devices.

15. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the voltage detection indication module (VDIM) is configured to indicate a condition status of a plurality of monitored input lines L 1 , L 2 , L 3 and GND connections, wherein the input is one of AC Single phase, AC 3-phase, or DC.

16. The system according to claim 1 , wherein connection integrity status of the monitored lines is determined and indicated on the voltage detection indication module (VDIM) and communicated to a wireless output.

17. The system according to claim 1 wherein the voltage conversion module (VCM) and voltage detection indication module (VDIM) receive a retentive and lockable communication cable.

18. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising a spacing sleeve that presses against an outside of a rear panel of an electrical enclosure box and is secured with a nut that secures the voltage detection indication module (VDIM) in the electrical enclosure box upon tightening.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 8, 2021
From: ADKINS, CHARLES RONALD, JR.; CLARKE, ROGER STEVEN; CHEN, GANG
To: AUTOMATIC TIMING & CONTROLS, INC.
Reel/Frame 058334/0524 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 8, 2021
From: AUTOMATIC TIMING & CONTROLS, INC.
To: GRACE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 058334/0577 →