High-voltage indicating apparatus and method
AssigneeHD Electric Company
InventorWilliam J. McNulty
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A digital voltage indicator includes a probe having a first electrode including a hollow portion and a probe tip projecting from the hollow portion, a second electrode extending into the hollow portion and spaced therefrom, and dielectric material disposed between the second electrode and the hollow portion. The indicator may include a reference conductor connected to the second electrode and detection circuitry connected between the probe and the reference conductor for detecting a voltage difference therebetween, and an annunciator connected to the detection circuitry for displaying the measured voltage.
Claims10
A high-voltage indicator for use with an AC electric field source near ground comprising:
- a probe including a probe tip for coupling to the source,
- a reference conductor,
- detection circuitry connected between the probe and the reference conductor for detecting the voltage difference therebetween, the detection circuitry being calibrated for electric fields typical of sources remote from ground,
- an annunciator connected to the detection circuitry for indicating the voltage magnitude of the source, and
- a substantial impedance connected between the probe tip and the detection circuitry sufficient to compensate for the greater field strength of the source near ground so as to indicate the source voltage with an accuracy comparable to that achievable when the detection circuitry is used with sources remote from ground.
A high-voltage indicator for use with an AC electric field source near ground comprising:
- a probe including a probe tip for coupling to the source,
- a reference conductor,
- detection circuitry connected between the probe and the reference conductor for detecting the voltage difference therebetween, the detection circuitry being calibrated for electric fields typical of sources remote from ground,
- an annunciator connected to the detection circuitry for indicating the voltage magnitude of the source, and
- a substantial impedance connected between the probe tip and the detection circuitry sufficient to provide insulation from an inadvertent bridging of the probe and voltage indicator from an energized terminal to a grounded conductor causing a short circuit or electric arc.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.