System, server and method for monitoring utility systems
AssigneePacific Gas and Electric Company
InventorRichard Fields
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The disclosure describes a system for monitoring and mitigating damage to electrical utility structures and the surrounding environment. In some embodiments, the system includes fire boxes, arc sensors, angle switches, and disconnect switches configured to generate alert signals when a hazard is detected. In some embodiments, the system includes cameras configured to detect a hazard such as a fire or moving object. In some embodiments, the system includes light transmitters and light receivers positioned at a predetermined location away from power lines to detect objects that interrupt a line of site. In some embodiments, the system can electrically isolate a power line before a detected hazard impacts a power line.
Claims15
A utility structure monitoring system including:
- one or more sensors,
- one or more utility power lines, and
- one or more utility structures;
- wherein the one or more sensors are configured to detect a hazard at a predetermined distance from the one or more utility power lines and generate a hazard signal;
- wherein the utility structure monitoring system is configured to generate a hazard alert upon receiving the hazard signal generated by the one or more sensors;
- wherein the one or more sensors includes one or more angle switches;
- and
- wherein the one or more angle switches are configured to generate the hazard signal in response to the one or more utility structures shifting beyond a predetermined angle.
A utility structure monitoring system including:
- one or more sensors,
- one or more utility power lines configured to conduct more than 1000 volts of electricity,
- one or more utility structures configured to suspend the one or more utility power lines at a predetermined vertical distance from a ground base of the one or more utility structures, and
- a fire box;
- wherein the one or more sensors are configured to detect a hazard to the one or more utility power lines and generate a hazard signal;
- wherein the utility structure monitoring system is configured to generate a hazard alert action upon receiving the hazard signal generated by the one or more sensors;
- wherein the one or more sensors includes an arc sensor configured to generate the hazard signal in response to an arc emanating from the one or more utility power lines;
- and
- where the fire box is configured to prevent a fire by containing the arc emanating from the one or more utility power lines.
A utility structure monitoring system including:
- one or more sensors,
- one or more utility power lines configured to conduct more than 1000 volts of electricity, and
- one or more utility structures configured to suspend the one or more utility power lines at a predetermined vertical distance from a ground base of the one or more utility structures;
- wherein the one or more sensors are configured to detect a hazard to the one or more utility power lines and generate a hazard signal;
- wherein the utility structure monitoring system is configured to generate a hazard alert action upon receiving the hazard signal generated by the one or more sensors;
- wherein the one or more sensors includes one or more light emitting elements and one or more light receiving elements;
- wherein the one or more light receiving elements are each configured to receive a light signal from a respective one of the one or more light emitting elements along a line of site;
- and
- wherein the utility structure monitoring system is configured to generate the hazard alert action in response to an object passing between the one or more light receiving elements and respective one of the one or more light emitting elements thereby breaking the respective line of site;
- and
- wherein the one or more light emitting elements and one or more light receiving elements are each positioned such that the line of sight extends at a predetermined distance away from the one or more utility power lines.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.