Apparatus and method for evaluating non-ceramic insulators with conformal probe

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10073131-B2
Application number	US-201615067322-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 11, 2016
Priority date	Mar 11, 2016
Publication date	Sep 11, 2018
Grant date	Sep 11, 2018

Abstract

An apparatus for evaluating an electrical insulator includes: a frame having a base and a pair of spaced-apart resilient arms each having a distal end; and a flexible probe disposed between the arms, the flexible probe being generally U-shaped and having a pair of distal ends, each distal end of the probe being connected to a respective distal end of one of the arms.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for use in evaluating an electrical insulator, comprising:
a frame having a base and a pair of spaced-apart resilient arms each having a distal end; and
a flexible probe having a flexible metallic tensile strip embedded within an insulator cover disposed between the arms and configured to receive the electrical insulator, the flexible probe being generally U-shaped and having a pair of distal ends, each distal end of the probe being connected to a respective distal end of one of the arms.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of the arms comprises first and second spring elements clamped together.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the first spring element is an extension with a rectangular plan shape, and the second spring element is a leaf spring with a tapered shape.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein:
each arm comprises a beam extending from the base; and
mutual proximate ends of the first and second spring elements are clamped to an end of the beam.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
a metallic shaft; and
an insulating rod connected to the metallic shaft, wherein the base is coupled to the insulating rod such that the base is electrically insulated from the metallic shaft.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising:
a terminal disposed at a distal end of the insulating rod wherein the base is electrically connected to the terminal; and
a grounding cable coupled to the terminal.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the probe further comprises a sensor embedded within the insulating cover.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein:
a terminal pin is mounted in the base; and
the sensor is electrically connected to the terminal pin by a lead.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a metallic shaft, wherein the base is coupled to a distal end of the metallic shaft.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising:
a socket disposed at the distal end of the metallic shaft, such that the terminal pin engages the socket.

11. An apparatus for identifying high risk insulators with conductive or high permittivity defects, comprising:
an enclosure containing electronics for controlling measurement and communication processes; and
first and second spaced-apart electrode assemblies for engaging an insulator to be tested, the first and second electrode assemblies being mounted to the enclosure and operably connected to the electronics;

wherein each of the first and second electrode assemblies comprise:
a frame having a base and a pair of spaced-apart resilient arms each having a distal end; and
a flexible probe disposed between the arms and configured to receive the electrical insulator, the flexible probe being generally U-shaped and having a pair of distal ends, each distal end of the probe being connected to a respective distal end of one of the arms.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein each of the arms is configured to have a variable spring rate.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein each of the arms comprises first and second spring elements clamped together.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the first spring element is an extension with a rectangular plan shape, and the second spring element is a leaf spring with a tapered shape.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein:
each arm comprises a beam extending from the base; and
mutual proximate ends of the first and second spring elements are clamped to an end of the beam.

16. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the probe comprises a flexible metallic tensile strip embedded within an insulating cover.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the first electrode assembly comprises:
a first metallic shaft mounted to the enclosure; and
an insulating rod connected to the metallic shaft, wherein the base of the first electrode assembly is coupled to the insulating rod such that the base of the first electrode assembly is electrically insulated from the metallic shaft.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising:
a terminal disposed at a distal end of the insulating rod wherein the base of the first electrode assembly is electrically connected to the terminal; and
a grounding cable coupled to the terminal and to the enclosure.

19. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the probe of the second electrode assembly further comprises a sensor embedded within the insulating cover.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the second electrode assembly comprises:
a second metallic shaft mounted to the enclosure; and
an insulating rod connected to the second metallic shaft, wherein the base of the second electrode assembly is coupled to the second metallic shaft.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein:
a terminal pin is mounted in the base of the second electrode assembly; and
the sensor is electrically connected to the terminal pin by a lead; and
a socket disposed at the distal end of the second metallic shaft, such that the terminal pin engages the socket.

22. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the first and second electrode assemblies are mounted for linear movement relative to the enclosure.

Assignees

• Electric Power Res Institute Inc

Inventors

• Phillips Andrew John
• Major J Mark
• Lynch Robert Carlton
• Harrell Lester Ray

Classifications

• G01R31/1263 Primary

  of solid or fluid materials, e.g. insulation films, bulk material; of semiconductors or LV electronic components or parts; of cable, line or wire insulation · CPC title

• G01R27/2617

  Measuring dielectric properties, e.g. constants (testing dielectric strength G01R31/12; detecting insulation faults G01R31/52; G01R27/2688 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01B17/04

  Chains; Multiple chains · CPC title