US 5,963,033 A · Method of measuring the cross-sectional area of magnetic reinforcing members in power transmission conductors

Abstract

A method and apparatus for detecting a loss in cross-sectional area of metallic reinforcing members having magnetic properties of a conductor indicating corrosion effects on the conductor. The method comprises providing a motive force to move a data collection component and a detector component along a length of conductor. The detector includes a rotating magnetic source spaced apart from an electronic coil winding. In use, a conductor is interpositioned between the magnetic source and electronic coil winding. The amount of magnetic field passing through the conductor induces a voltage in the coil inversely proportional to the cross-sectional area of the steel reinforcing strands of a conductor. The described apparatus can be used to determine the rate of loss of cross-sectional area for a conductor over a period of in use by measuring the cross-sectional areas of the metallic reinforcing members over an adequate time interval. Alternatively, the cross-sectional area of a new conductor can be compared to the cross-sectional area of a conductor in use for a known period of time to estimate a rate of loss of cross-sectional area. This determination can be compared to a minimum baseline cross-sectional area indicative of imminent failure to estimate the remaining useful life of the conductor in use.

Claims3

Dependent claims

A method of forecasting the useful life of a conductor having at least one metallic reinforcing member, with magnetic properties, based on a known minimum cross-sectional area, comprising the steps of:

providing a detector for measuring the cross-sectional area of the at least one metallic reinforcing member having magnetic properties;
measuring and recording the cross-sectional area of a first conductor having at least one metallic reinforcing member with magnetic properties at the beginning of the life of the first conductor;
measuring and recording the cross-sectional area of a second conductor, the useful life of which is to be determined, having at least one metallic reinforcing member with magnetic properties at any time after the beginning of the life of the second conductor;
comparing the recorded cross-sectional areas of the first and second conductors and determining the difference between the recorded cross-sectional areas;
calculating an estimated rate of loss of cross-sectional area of the second conductor based upon the difference of the recorded cross-sectional areas between the first and second conductors and the time between the beginning of the useful life of the second conductor and the time when the cross-sectional of the second conductor was measured;
and
extrapolating from the combination of:
(i) the rate of loss of cross-sectional area estimated for the second conductor, and
(ii) the known minimum cross-sectional area of the second conductor, to determine the remaining useful life of the second conductor.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method of measuring the cross-sectional area of magnetic reinforcing members in power transmission conductors

Life of this patent

Method of measuring the cross-sectional area of magnetic reinforcing members in power transmission conductors

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims3