Motor leakage current detector, devices using same and related methods
AssigneeWayne/Scott Fetzer Company
InventorsPhilip Anthony Mayleben, Cristian Codreanu
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A motor leakage current detector and/or a heat compensating circuit, devices using same and related methods are disclosed herein. Included are a uniquely wired current transformer to allow for polarity agnostic leakage current detection, a leakage current detector using same and having a notifier to alert a user. In other forms, an accessory power cord and power strip are disclosed capable of detecting early motor failure conditions. In still other forms, other machinery failure early warning systems are disclosed as are numerous motor operated devices using same including without limitation pumps.
Claims21
A leakage current detector comprising:
- a Line conductor and a Neutral conductor for electrical connection to a power source;
- a current transformer having a first primary winding connected to the Line conductor, and a secondary winding coupled to the first primary winding to detect leakage current through the Line conductor, the secondary winding of the current transformer having leads connected to a circuit;
- and
- the circuit configured to:
- output an alert when the polarity of the power provided to the Line conductor and the Neutral conductor is improper;
- and
- perform a pre-failure diagnostic check on a motor or motor driven device including detecting leakage current of the motor or motor driven device through the Line conductor via the secondary winding of the current transformer, the pre-failure diagnostic check performed without operating the motor or motor driven device to provide advanced notice of a problem with the motor or motor driven device based at least in part on the detected leakage current.
A machinery failure early warning system comprising:
- a motor current leakage detector for connecting to machinery that is electric motor driven, the motor current leakage detector including:
- a first conductive path having a first switch and a first primary winding;
- a second conductive path with a second switch;
- a secondary winding connected to a leakage current detection circuit and electrically coupled to the first primary winding;
- and
- the leakage current detection circuit configured to detect leakage current in the machinery via the secondary winding by measuring current flow in the first conductive path upon closing the first switch and opening the second switch to prevent the electric motor of the machinery from operating, the leakage current detection circuit configured to detect a machinery failure condition when the detected leakage current exceeds a threshold value;
- and
- a warning system for notifying a machinery operator or supervisor of the machinery failure condition detected by the motor current leakage detector and/or of a reverse polarity condition when the polarity of the power provided to the first conductive path and the second conductive path is improper.
A heat compensating circuit comprising:
- a circuit for operating a motor driven device, the circuit including:
- a first switch operable to power the motor driven device;
- a second switch in parallel with the first switch and operable to power the motor driven device;
- and
- a controller configured to activate the first switch to initially power the motor driven device, the controller configured to activate the second switch to power the motor driven device to reduce the heat generated by the first switch.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.