# US 2017/0287306 A1 · Shock detector > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0287306 A1 - Document ID: US20170287306A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/999,165 - Filed: 2016-04-05 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2016-04-05 - Assignees: Shock Alert LLC - Inventors: L. Herbert King, JR.; James Keeven; Frank Vlasaty - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170287306A1 ## CPC - G01R 29/12: Measuring electrostatic fields {or voltage-potential} - G01R 19/155: Indicating the presence of voltage - G01R 19/165: Indicating that current or voltage is either above or below a predetermined value or within or outside a predetermined range of values - G01R 19/16576: {comparing DC or AC voltage with one threshold (G01R19/16514, G01R19/16519, G01R19/16528, G01R19/16533 and G01R19/1659 take precedence)} - G01R 29/0857: {Dosimetry, i.e. measuring the time integral of radiation intensity; Level warning devices for personal safety use (nuclear radiation dosimetry G01T)} - G08B 21/082: {by monitoring electrical characteristics of the water} - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) - G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS ## Abstract A shock detector for determining the existence of a voltage gradient in a body of water, which may be remote from a structure and providing an alarm when the voltage gradient comprises a hazardous electrical condition that could injure or kill are person coming into contact with the body of water. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An ungrounded battery powered shock detector comprising; a housing; a first water electrode for immersing in a body of water; a second water electrode for immersing in the body of water; a third water electrode for immersing in the body of water; a processer for measuring a voltage gradient between at least two of said water electrodes; and an alarm for alerting a person to the existence of a harmful voltage gradient in the body of water where the harmful voltage gradient is such that it could injure or electrocute a person. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The ungrounded battery powered shock detector of claim 1 where the shock detector is buoyant and self-righting as the shock detector floats in the body of water with of said water electrodes located on a bottom side of the shock detector and the alarm is located on a top side of the shock detector with each of said water electrodes in contact with the body of water as the battery powered shock detector floats in an upright position in the body of water. ### Claim 3 The ungrounded shock detector of claim I including a battery in the housing with the alarm providing at least four different alarm signals with each alarm signal dependent on a voltage of the battery and the voltage gradient in the body of water. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The battery powered shock detector of claim 1 wherein the shock detector provides an alarm signal dependent on the strength of the voltage gradient in the body of water. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The battery powered shock detector of claim 3 wherein after each alarm signal the processor measures the battery voltage to determine if the battery voltage is above an operating threshold. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The battery powered shock detector of claim 1 wherein the shock detector is a radio controlled shock detector with the radio controlled shock detector having at least one propeller for propelling the battery shock detector about in a body of water in response to a signal from a remote transmitter. ### Claim 7 The method of self-testing a battery powered shock detector having a battery, a battery powered green LED light and a battery powered red LED light comprising the steps of: measuring a battery voltage of the battery in the shock detector during an open circuit condition; measuring the battery voltage when the green LED light is on; measuring the battery voltage when the red LED light is on; activating the shock detector if the battery voltage is above a fail condition only if the battery voltage is above the fail condition when the green LED light is on, the battery voltage is above the fail condition when the red LED light is on and the battery voltage is above the fail condition during an open circuit condition or stopping the battery powered shock detector from operating if the battery voltage is below the fail condition with the red LED light on, the battery voltage is below the fail condition with the green LED light on or the battery voltage is below the fail condition when measuring the battery voltage in the open circuit condition. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7 wherein the step of measuring the battery voltage during an open circuit condition is done at least once a second. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7 including measuring the battery voltage after the start of a flash of the green LED light but before a flash of the red LED light and measuring the battery voltage after the start of a flash of the red LED light. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7 where the green LED light flashes to indicate the shock detector does not detect a harmful voltage gradient in a body of water and the red LED light flashes to indicate the presence of harmful voltage gradient in a body of water. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7 wherein the battery powered shock detector activates an audible alarm in response to the presence of a harmful voltage gradient in a body of water. ### Claim 12 A method of detecting a hazardous water condition with a battery powered voltage detector comprising the steps of: measuring a voltage of the battery and a voltage gradient in a body of water; providing a first signal if the battery voltage is low and there is no harmful voltage gradient in the body of water and providing a second signal if the battery voltage is low and there is a harmful voltage gradient in the body of water and providing a third signal if the battery voltage exceeds a safe level with the harmful voltage gradient in the body of water with the first signal the second signal and the third signal different from each other. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 including the step of providing a fourth signal if the harmful voltage gradient is less than V1 when the battery voltage gradient exceeds the safe level where the forth signal is different from the first signal, the second signal and the third signal. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 including the step of providing a fifth signal if the battery voltage exceeds the safe level and the harmful voltage gradient is greater than V1 but less than V2 where the fifth signal is different from the first signal, the second signal, the third signal and the fourth signal. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 including the step of providing a sixth signal when the battery voltage exceeds the safe level and the harmful voltage gradient is greater than V2 but less than V3. where the sixth signal is different from the fifth signal, the fourth signal, the third signal, the second signal and the first signal. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 including the step of providing a seventh signal when the battery voltage exceeds the safe level and the harmful water voltage gradient in the body of water is greater than V3 where the seventh signal is different from the sixth signal, the fifth signal, the fourth signal, the third signal, the second signal and the first signal. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 in moving the battery powered voltage detector from location to location in the body of water while using an alarm signal generated by the battery powered voltage detector to locate a source of the electrical fault in the body of water. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 including propelling the battery powered voltage detector in the body of water with a remote controlled propeller. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The method claim 12 including the step transmitting an alarm signal from the shock detector to an onshore receiver. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 including the step of attaching an anchor of the shock detector to limit the displacement of the shock detector as the shock detector measure the voltage gradient. ### Claim 21 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 including the step of lowering the shock detector into the body of water with an electrically insulated cord secured thereto to prevent injuring a person in the event there is a harmful water gradient in the body of water. ### Claim 22 A portable battery powered shock detector comprising; a housing; at least two water electrodes; a processer in said housing for measuring a voltage difference between the at least two water electrodes; and an alarm responsive to the voltage difference between the at least two electrodes for signaling the existence of a water voltage difference in the body of water that could injure or electrocute a person coming into contact with the body of water. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The battery powered shock detector of claim 22 wherein the processor measures an AC voltage difference and the water electrodes are integral to the shock detector. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The battery powered shock detector of claim 22 wherein the shock detector includes a self-righting buoyant housing with the alarm on a top side of the shock detector and the at least two electrodes located on an underside of the shock detector as the shock detector floats in the body of water. ### Claim 25 (depends on 22) The battery powered shock detector of claim 22 wherein a frequency of flashing of a visual alarm provides an indication of a strength of the water voltage difference in the body of water. ### Claim 26 (depends on 22) The battery powered shock detector of claim 22 including a buoyant housing with a ballast in the housing for maintaining or returning the shock detector to an upright condition. ### Claim 27 (depends on 22) The battery powered shock detector of claim 22 wherein the shock detector is located in a body of water but remote from a structure in contact with the body of water.