Method and apparatus for determining electrical contact wear
AssigneeNichols Applied Technology, LLC
InventorBruce Nichols
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Abstract
A fluorescent trace material is provided within at least a portion of an electrical contact or interrupter assembly component, or a cavity defined therein. At least a portion of the fluorescent trace material is exposed or released from the electrical contact or interrupter assembly component, indicating a degree of component wear.
Claims4
A method for determining erosion of a contact assembly, the method comprising:
- providing a fluorescent trace material within the contact assembly;
- allowing the contact assembly to be eroded until at least a portion of the fluorescent trace material is released into a surrounding medium;
- circulating the surrounding medium through a particulate concentration device;
- directing electromagnetic radiation onto the fluorescent trace material in the particulate concentration device;
- and
- detecting the fluorescent radiation emitted in response to the electromagnetic radiation.
A method for determining the level of a fluorescent trace material present in a medium surrounding an electrical contact assembly, comprising the steps of:
- circulating the surrounding medium through a particulate concentration device containing a collection surface;
- directing electromagnetic radiation to the particulate concentration device;
- and
- detecting the fluorescent radiation generated by the fluorescent trace material collected by the particulate concentration device in response to the electromagnetic radiation.
A method for determining erosion of a contact assembly, the method comprising:
- providing a fluorescent trace material within the contact assembly;
- allowing the contact assembly to be eroded until at least a portion of the fluorescent trace material is released into a surrounding medium;
- directing electromagnetic radiation onto the fluorescent trace material in a the particulate concentration device;
- and
- detecting the fluorescent radiation emitted in response to the electromagnetic radiation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.