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US 2013/0096853 A1Published application
Systems and methods for monitoring electrical contacts
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsSakethraman Mahalingam, Marcelo Valdes, Thangavelu Asokan, Andrzej Michal May
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Abstract
Systems and methods for monitoring electrical contacts are provided. One method includes calculating an impedance of an electrical contact based on an electrical signal applied to the electrical contact and a measured electrical signal after passing through the electrical contact. The method also includes determining a condition of the electrical contact using the calculated impedance.
Claims22
A method comprising:
- calculating an impedance of an electrical contact based on an electrical signal applied to the electrical contact and a measured electrical signal after passing through the electrical contact;
- and
- determining a condition of the electrical contact using the calculated impedance.
A system comprising:
- a receiving unit configured to receive electrical signal information, the electrical signal information including information for an electrical signal applied to an electrical contact and a measured electrical signal after passing through the electrical contact;
- and
- a processing unit configured to calculate an impedance of the electrical contact using the measured electrical signal information to determine a condition of the electrical contact.
A circuit breaker comprising:
- one or more pairs of contacts;
- a signal generator for generating an electrical signal having at least one frequency, wherein the electrical signal is applied to the pairs of contacts;
- and
- a processing unit configured to measure the applied electrical signal after the signal passes through the pairs of contacts and determine a change between the applied electrical signal and the measured electrical signal, the processing unit further configured to determine an impedance of the pairs of contacts using the change to determine a condition of the pairs of contacts.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.