Integrated fault monitoring apparatus for electrical equipment

An integrated fault monitoring apparatus for electrical devices, the apparatus comprising:

• a housing for mounting in an electrical device, the housing comprising:
• an internal fault detector for detecting transient pressure surges within the electrical device;
• a pressure relief valve for allowing release of pressure during normal operating conditions of the electrical device;
• a temperature sensor;
• a temperature indicator operably connected to the temperature sensor for indicating that an operating temperature of the electrical device has gone above a predetermined threshold;
• and
• a sudden pressure relief device for allowing air to escape from the electrical device and for directing gases or hot oil to a safe dispersal location in the event of a sudden and significant increase in pressure within the electrical device;
• wherein the internal fault detector comprises:
• a first two-bar self-locking linkage;
• a pressure sensing member adapted to convert a transient pressure surge within the electrical device to translational movement, the pressure sensing member being operatively disposed to move the first two-bar self-locking linkage from an armed configuration in which the first two-bar self-locking linkage is rigid to a triggered configuration in which the first two-bar self-locking linkage is rotatable about a central rotation point of the linkage upon the occurrence of a transient pressure surge;
• and
• an indicator adapted to provide a signal in response to movement of the first two-bar self-locking linkage from the armed configuration to the triggered configuration.

An integrated fault monitoring apparatus for electrical devices, the apparatus comprising:

• a housing for mounting in an electrical device, the housing comprising:
• an internal fault detector for detecting transient pressure surges within the electrical device;
• a pressure relief valve for allowing release of pressure during normal operating conditions of the electrical device;
• a temperature sensor;
• a temperature indicator operably connected to the temperature sensor for indicating that an operating temperature of the electrical device has gone above a predetermined threshold;
• and
• a sudden pressure relief device for allowing air to escape from the electrical device and for directing gases or hot oil to a safe dispersal location in the event of a sudden and significant increase in pressure within the electrical device;
• wherein the sudden pressure relief device comprises:
• a second two-bar self-locking linkage;
• a pair of snap-fit restraining members engaged with a release plate of the housing to secure the release plate in a closed position, the snap-fit restraining members being retained in a secured configuration when the second two-bar self-locking linkage is in an armed configuration in which the second two-bar self-locking linkage is rigid, the snap-fit restraining members being moveable to a released position allowing the release plate of the housing to move to an open position when the second two-bar self-locking linkage is moved to a triggered configuration in which the second two-bar self-locking linkage is rotatable about a central rotation point of the linkage upon an increase in pressure within the housing above a predetermined threshold;
• and
• a mechanism for converting increases in pressure within the housing to translational movement, the mechanism being operatively engaged with the second two-bar self-locking linkage to move the second two-bar self-locking linkage from the armed configuration to the triggered configuration upon an increase in pressure within the electrical device above a predetermined threshold.