# US 2014/0005962 A1 · Methods, device and installation for locating a defect in an electric link > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0005962 A1 - Document ID: US20140005962A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/013,764 - Filed: 2013-08-29 - Published: 2014-01-02 - Earliest claimed: 2008-03-07 - Assignees: RTE EDF Transport - Applicants: RTE EDF Transport - Inventors: Matthieu Surdon; Christian Aucort; Xavier Bourgeat - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140005962A1 ## CPC - G01R 31/11: using pulse reflection methods - G01R 31/085: {in power transmission or distribution lines, e.g. overhead} - G01R 31/088: {Aspects of digital computing} - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) ## Abstract A method for locating a defect in an electric link includes measuring at least one part of components of an electromagnetic field in a vicinity of an estimated location of the defect at plural places along the link; deducing, via a processor, from the measuring an estimation of variation of at least the part of the components of the electromagnetic field along the electric link in a vicinity of the estimated location of the defect; and estimating, via the processor, a new location of the defect as a function of the estimated variation of at least the part of the components of the electromagnetic field. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-10. (canceled) ### Claim 11 A method for locating a defect in an electric link, comprising: measuring at least one part of components of an electromagnetic field in a vicinity of an estimated location of the defect at plural places along the link; deducing, via a processor, from the measuring an estimation of variation of at least the part of the components of the electromagnetic field along the electric link in a vicinity of the estimated location of the defect; and estimating, via the processor, a new location of the defect as a function of the estimated variation of at least the part of the components of the electromagnetic field. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method for locating a defect in an electric link as claimed in claim 11, wherein: the measuring includes measuring, by a system with three mutually orthogonal coils, complete module of the electromagnetic field in the vicinity of the estimated location of the defect at plural places along the link; the deducing includes deducing, via the processor, from the measuring an estimation of the variation of the complete module of the electromagnetic field along the electric link in the vicinity of the estimated location of the defect; and the estimating includes estimating, via the processor, a new location of the defect as a function of the detection of an inflexion point in the estimated variation of the complete module of the electromagnetic field along the link. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method for locating a defect in an electric link as claimed in claim 11, wherein the measurements, at plural places along the link, of at least a part of the components of the electromagnetic field, are carried out along a path including successive transversal passages directly above the link. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method for locating a defect in an electric link as claimed in claim 13, wherein the path that includes successive transversal passages directly above the link follows a boustrophedon course. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method for locating a defect in an electric link as claimed in claim 13, wherein the measured electromagnetic field is generated by the flow in the electric link of a current of predetermined frequency, and wherein the measured part of the components of the electromagnetic field is filtered by a band-pass filtering system regulated around the predetermined frequency of the current. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method for locating a defect in an electric link as claimed in claim 11, further comprising, prior to the measuring, the deducing and the estimating: transmitting, at a first moment, an electric signal having a predetermined propagation speed at a start from an end of the electric link; detecting, at a second moment, reception of an echo of the electric signal; establishing a model of variation of the electric signal and its echo propagation speed in the electric link as a function of a length of electric link through which the transmitted electric signal and its echo have flowed; and defining the estimated location of the defect as a function of the difference between the first and second moments, of the predetermined propagation speed at the start, and of the speed variation model in the link, wherein the model includes a plurality of propagation speeds of the transmitted electric signal and its echo, the plurality of propagation speeds corresponding to a plurality of lengths of the electric link through which the transmitted electric signal and its echo have flowed, and the plurality of lengths of the electric link including lengths of the electric link shorter than a total length of the electric link. ### Claim 17 A device for locating a defect in an electric link, comprising: a measuring device for measuring at least one part of components of an electromagnetic field in a vicinity of an estimated location of the defect at plural places along the link; and a processor which deduces from the measuring output from the measuring device an estimation of variation of at least the part of the components of the electromagnetic field along the electric link in a vicinity of the estimated location of the defect; and which estimates a new location of the defect as a function of the estimated variation of at least the part of the components of the electromagnetic field. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The device for locating a defect in an electric link as claimed in claim 17, wherein the measuring device includes three mutually orthogonal coils for measuring three orthogonal components of the electromagnetic field, and wherein the processor is programmed for estimating the variation of at least one part of the three orthogonal components of the electromagnetic field along the link and estimating the new location of the defect as a function of the estimated variation of at least the part of the three orthogonal components of the electromagnetic field.