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US 2010/0079973 A1Published application
Electrical switchgear providing improved infrared predictive/preventive maintenance
AssigneeRockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
InventorsDavid D. Brandt, David B. Jensen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
One or more infrared transmitting ports are placed in the insulating housing of standard switchgear components to allow far infrared viewing of internal conductive components permitting earlier and more precise location of possible thermal failure through thermographic monitoring.
Claims20
An electrical switchgear component comprising:
- an electrically insulating and flame retardant housing having means for mounting the housing on a panel of a protective enclosure;
- at least one electrical conducting element contained within the housing for conducting electrical currents therethrough;
- at least one electrically insulating optical element substantially transparent to infrared energy having a first end within the housing receiving infrared light from heating of the electrical conducting element and a second end passing through the housing to be visible from outside of the housing.
A method of manufacturing switchgear comprising the steps of:
- (a) forming an electrically insulating and flame retardant housing;
- (b) assembling at least one electrical conducting element within the housing for conducting electrical currents therethrough;
- (c) placing at least one electrically insulating optical element transmitting infrared energy in a range of 3-15 μm having a first end within the housing receiving infrared light from heating of the electrical conducting element and a second end passing through the housing to be visible from outside of the housing.
An electrical switchgear component comprising:
- an electrically insulating housing opaque to infrared energy in a range of 3-15 μm and having means for mounting the housing on a panel of a protective enclosure;
- a first and second terminal accessible from outside the housing;
- an electrical switch element within the housing communicating between the first and second terminal;
- and
- at least one infrared transmitting port in the electrically insulating housing positioned to allow viewing of at least a portion of the electrical switch from outside the protective enclosure for infrared thermography.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.