Method and apparatus for determining wear of resistive and conductive elements
AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.
InventorSherman S. L. Wong
Life of this patent
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Abstract
According to one embodiment, the present invention provides a system for determining wear of an electrical element. The system includes a current source, a voltmeter and a control unit. The control unit is operable to couple the current source and the voltmeter to a first spare electrical element in a device under test, determine a characteristic physical property of the first spare electrical element and determine a wear characteristic for a primary electrical element in the device under test based upon the characteristic physical property of the first spare electrical element.
Claims14
A system for determining wear of an electrical element, the system comprising:
- a current source;
- a voltmeter;
- a control unit operable to couple the current source and the voltmeter to a first spare electrical element in a device under test, determine a characteristic physical property of the first spare electrical element;
- and determine a wear characteristic for a primary electrical element in the device under test based upon the characteristic physical property of the first spare electrical element;
- and
- a switching network operable to couple the current source and the voltmeter to a second spare electrical element in the device under test, the second spare electrical element exposed to substantially similar environment factors as the first spare electrical element except that the second spare electrical element is not exposed to wear factors thereby enabling wear of the primary electrical element to be determined based upon measurements from the first spare electrical element compensated for environmental factors affecting the first spare electrical element and the second spare electrical element.
A system for determining wear of an electrical element, the system comprising:
- an electrical source;
- at least one electrical measuring device, operable to measure an electrical quantity relating to an electrical element under test;
- and
- a spare electrical element, the spare electrical element exposed to substantially similar environmental factors as the electrical element under test except that the spare electrical element is not subject to wear;
- wherein a characteristic physical property of the electrical element under test is determined based upon indications from the at least one electrical measuring device when the electrical measuring device and the electrical source are coupled to the electrical element under test and the spare electrical element;
- and
- wherein a wear characteristic for the electrical element under test is determined based upon the characteristic physical property of the electrical element under test compensated for environmental factors affecting the electrical element under test and the spare electrical element, the environmental factors determined based upon the characteristic physical property of the spare electrical element.
A method for determining wear of an electrical element, the method comprising:
- providing an electrical source;
- providing at least one electrical measuring device, operable to measure an electrical quantity relating to an electrical element under test;
- and
- providing a spare electrical element, the spare electrical element exposed to substantially similar environmental factors as the electrical element under test except that the spare electrical element is not subject to wear;
- coupling the electrical measuring device and the electrical source to the electrical element under test and the spare electrical element;
- applying a current to the electrical element under test;
- measuring a voltage across the element under test;
- determining a characteristic physical property of the element under test from the voltage across the element under test;
- and
- determining a wear characteristic for the electrical element under test based upon the characteristic physical property of the electrical element under test compensated for environmental factors affecting the electrical element under test and the spare electrical element, the environmental factors determined based upon the characteristic physical property of the spare electrical element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.