Ring circuit continuity tester

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10078106-B2
Application number	US-201514835913-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 26, 2015
Priority date	Oct 6, 2014
Publication date	Sep 18, 2018
Grant date	Sep 18, 2018

Abstract

Apparatus and method are provided for testing continuity of a ring circuit of an electricity distribution system, the ring circuit including at least a first conductor connecting, in a ring configuration, a source of electricity to a plurality of accessories. The apparatus includes: a switch arranged to cause a break in the ring circuit at a location in the ring circuit, the break resulting in a first end and a second end of the ring circuit at the location; a detector for measuring the relative voltage between the first end and the second end of the ring circuit; and an indicator which indicates, responsive to the detector detecting a relative voltage between the first end and the second end of the ring circuit, that there is a lack of continuity in the ring circuit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for testing continuity of a ring circuit of an electricity distribution system, the ring circuit including at least a first conductor connecting, in a ring configuration, a source of electricity to a plurality of accessories, the apparatus comprising:
a switch to cause a break in the ring circuit for a short period of time at a location in the ring circuit where the source of electricity provides an input voltage to the ring circuit, the break resulting in a first end and a second end of the ring circuit at the location, with one of the first end and the second end of the ring circuit continuing to receive the input voltage, and the break for the short period of time being sufficiently short to avoid overheating the ring circuit;
a detector for measuring a relative voltage between the first end and the second end of the ring circuit; and
an indicator which indicates, responsive to the detector detecting the relative voltage between the first end and the second end of the ring circuit, that there is a lack of continuity in the ring circuit.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprises an overcurrent protection device controlled responsive to the detector detecting the relative voltage between the first end and the second end of the ring circuit to disconnect the source of electricity from the ring circuit.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the indicator, indicating that there is a discontinuity in the ring circuit, is a latching indicator which maintains the indication after the switch operation has completed.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the switch is operated at predetermined intervals.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the switch is operated by a manual control.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the ring circuit comprises a plurality of conductors and the switch and the detector are a first switch and a first detector provided for one of the conductors of the plurality of conductors, and the apparatus further comprises a second switch and a second detector provided for another of the conductors of the plurality of conductors of the ring circuit.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the accessories comprise socket outlets for connection of consumers of electricity to the source of electricity.

8. An apparatus for testing continuity of a ring circuit of an electricity distribution system, the ring circuit including at least a first conductor connecting, in a ring configuration, a source of electricity to a plurality of accessories, the apparatus comprising:
a switch to cause a break in the ring circuit for a short period of time at a location in the ring circuit where the source of electricity provides an input voltage to the ring circuit, the break resulting in a first end and a second end of the ring circuit at the location, with one of the first end and the second end of the ring circuit continuing to receive the input voltage, and the break for the short period of time being sufficiently short to avoid overheating the ring circuit;
a detector for measuring a relative voltage between the first end and the second end of the ring circuit; and
a signal generator which signals, responsive to the detector detecting the relative voltage between the first end and the second end of the ring circuit, that there is a lack of continuity in the ring circuit.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the apparatus further comprises an overcurrent protection device controlled responsive to the detector detecting the relative voltage between the first end and the second end of the ring circuit to disconnect the source of electricity from the ring circuit.

10. A method of testing continuity of a ring circuit of an electricity distribution system, the ring circuit including at least a first conductor connecting, in a ring configuration, a source of electricity to a plurality of accessories, the method comprising:
providing a switch to cause a break in the ring circuit for a short period of time at a location in the ring circuit where the source of electricity provides an input voltage to the ring circuit, the break resulting in a first end and a second end of the ring circuit at the location, with one of the first end and the second end of the ring circuit continuing to receive the input voltage, and the break for the short period of time being sufficiently short to avoid overheating the ring circuit;
providing a detector for measuring a relative voltage between the first end and the second end of the ring circuit; and
providing an indicator, responsive to the detector detecting the relative voltage between the first end and the second end of the ring circuit, the indicator indicating that there is a lack of continuity in the ring circuit.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the apparatus further comprises an overcurrent protection device controlled responsive to the detector detecting a relative voltage between the first end and the second end of the ring circuit, for disconnecting the source of electricity from the ring circuit.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein:
the indicator, indicating that there is a discontinuity in the ring circuit, is a latching indicator which maintains the indication after the switch operation has completed.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the switch is operated at predetermined intervals.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the switch is operated by a manual control.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the ring circuit comprises a plurality of conductors and the switch and the detector are a first switch and a first detection provided for one of the conductors of the plurality of conductors, and the apparatus further comprises a second switch and a second detector provided for another of the conductors of the plurality of conductors of the ring circuit.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein the accessories comprise socket outlets for connection of consumers of electricity to the source of electricity.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Taylor James S

Classifications

• G01R31/52

  Testing for short-circuits, leakage current or ground faults · CPC title

• G01R31/50 Primary

  Testing of electric apparatus, lines, cables or components for short-circuits, continuity, leakage current or incorrect line connections (testing of sparking plugs H01T13/58) · CPC title

• H02H5/10 Primary

  responsive to mechanical injury, e.g. rupture of line, breakage of earth connection · CPC title

• H02H3/334

  with means to produce an artificial imbalance for other protection or monitoring reasons or remote control (H02H3/338 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H02H3/338

  also responsive to wiring error, e.g. loss of neutral, break · CPC title