Adapters for testing electrical equipment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10520529-B2
Application number	US-201715448261-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 2, 2017
Priority date	Mar 23, 2016
Publication date	Dec 31, 2019
Grant date	Dec 31, 2019

Abstract

An adapter for testing electrical equipment can include a first receptacle end having at least one first coupling feature, where the at least one first coupling feature is configured to couple to a power source and a first electrical device, where the first receptacle end is configured to receive from the power source at least one first test signal and send the at least one first test signal to the first electrical device. The adapter can also include a sensing device configured to receive at least one first response signal from the first electrical device, where the at least one first response signal is in response to and based on the first electrical device receiving the at least one first test signal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An adapter for testing electrical equipment, the adapter comprising:
a first receptacle end comprising at least one first connector end, wherein the at least one first connector end is configured to couple to a power source connector end of a first high voltage electrical device, wherein the first receptacle end is configured to send at least one first test signal, generated by a power source, to the first high voltage electrical device, wherein the at least one first test signal is configured to test a first electrical integrity of the first high voltage electrical device;
a second receptacle end comprising at least one second connector end, wherein the at least one second connector end is configured to couple to an electrical device connector end of the power source, wherein the power source connector end of the first high voltage electrical device and the electrical device connector end of the power source are pre-configured to directly couple to each other in an absence of the adapter, and wherein the power source provides primary power to the first high voltage electrical device during normal operating conditions; and
a sensing device configured to receive at least one first response signal from the first high voltage electrical device, wherein the at least one first response signal is in response to and based on the first high voltage electrical device receiving the at least one first test signal, wherein the at least one first response signal comprises information about the electrical integrity of the first high voltage electrical device,
wherein the at least one first response signal provides an indication of a phase-to-phase fault or a phase-to-ground fault.

2. The adapter of claim 1 , wherein the first receptacle end is further configured to couple to the power source connector of a second high voltage electrical device, wherein the first receptacle end is further configured to send at least one second test signal to the second high voltage electrical device, wherein the at least one second test signal is configured to test a second electrical integrity of the second high voltage electrical device, wherein the sensing device is further configured to receive at least one second response signal from the second high voltage electrical device, wherein the at least one second response signal is in response to and based on the second high voltage electrical device receiving the at least one second test signal.

3. The adapter of claim 1 , further comprising:
a safety mechanism disposed between and in communication with the first receptacle end and the second receptacle end.

4. The adapter of claim 3 , wherein the safety mechanism prohibits the electrical connection between the first high voltage electrical device and the power source when the at least one first response signal falls outside a range of acceptable values.

5. The adapter of claim 3 , wherein the safety mechanism allows the electrical connection between the first high voltage electrical device and the power source when the at least one first response signal falls within a range of acceptable values.

6. The adapter of claim 3 , wherein the safety mechanism comprises a contactor.

7. The adapter of claim 3 , wherein the safety mechanism changes state based on instructions received from a controller.

8. The adapter of claim 1 , wherein the sensing device is part of a controller, wherein the controller controls the at least one first test signal and evaluates the at least one first response signal measured by the sensing device.

9. The adapter of claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to control at least one switch to regulate the at least one test signal.

10. The adapter of claim 8 , wherein the controller comprises a timer for measuring an amount of time between the at least one first test signal and the at least one first response signal.

11. The adapter of claim 1 , wherein the sensing device comprises an energy metering module for measuring the at least one first response signal.

12. The adapter of claim 1 , further comprising:
a rechargeable energy storage device disposed within a housing of the adapter, wherein the rechargeable energy storage device provides the at least one first test signal.

13. The adapter of claim 1 , wherein the at least one first response signal comprises a voltage.

14. The adapter of claim 1 , further comprising:
a user interface that communicates an evaluation of the first electrical integrity based on the at least one first response signal.

15. The adapter of claim 14 , wherein the user interface comprises an indicating light or a display.

16. The adapter of claim 1 , wherein the power source connector end of the high voltage electrical device and the at least one first connector end are each configured as a plug, and wherein the electrical device connector end of the power source and the at least one second connector end are each configured as a receptacle for receiving the plug.

17. A controller of an adapter for testing electrical equipment, the controller comprising:
a metering module configured to receive a response signal from a high voltage electrical device; and
a control engine coupled to the metering module, wherein the control engine follows a plurality of instructions to:
initiate, using reserve power provided by an energy storage device of the adapter, a test signal to the high voltage electrical device through at least one first connector end of the adapter coupled to a power source connector end of the high voltage electrical device, wherein the test signal is configured to test for fault potential at the high voltage electrical device;
receive the response signal from the metering module in response to and based on the test signal, wherein the response signal comprises information about the electrical integrity of the high voltage electrical device;
evaluate the electrical integrity of the high voltage electrical device based on the response signal relative to historical response signals received in response to historical test signals initiated from a power source to the high voltage electrical device, wherein at least one second connector end of the adapter is coupled to an electrical device connector end of the power source, wherein the power source connector end of the high voltage electrical device and the electrical device connector end of the power source are pre-configured to be coupled to each other in an absence of the adapter; and
communicate when a fault event of the high voltage electrical device is likely to occur,
wherein the historical test signals are further configured to test for the fault potential at the high voltage electrical device,
wherein the control engine is disposed between the power source and the high voltage electrical device, wherein the power source provides power to the high voltage electrical device through the controller during the normal operating conditions.

18. The controller of claim 17 , further comprising:
a memory that stores the plurality of instructions; and
a hardware processor that executes the plurality of instructions for the control engine.

19. The controller of claim 17 , further comprising:
a switch having a first position and a second position, wherein the power signal flows from the power source to the high voltage electrical device when the switch is in the first position, and wherein the power signal is prevented from flowing from the power source to the high voltage electrical device when the switch is in the second position.

Assignees

• Cooper Technologies Co

Inventors

• Freer Benjamin Avery

Classifications

• G01R31/005

  Testing of electric installations on transport means · CPC title

• G01R31/50

  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

• G01R31/282

  Testing of electronic circuits specially adapted for particular applications not provided for elsewhere (G01R31/2801 and G01R31/2851 take precedence) · CPC title

• G01R1/0416 Primary

  Connectors, terminals (G01R1/0425 and G01R1/0433 take precedence; with measurement function for battery poles G01R31/364) · CPC title

• G01R1/07378 Primary

  using an intermediate adapter, e.g. space transformers (G01R1/07371 takes precedence) · CPC title