Method and apparatus for determining electrical contact wear
AssigneeNichols Applied Technology, LLC
InventorBruce W. 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.
Claims11
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;
- and
- monitoring at least one point in the surrounding medium to detect a quantity of fluorescent trace material dispersed into the surrounding medium as an indicator of erosion of the contact assembly.
A method for determining the presence of fluorescent material associated with wear of an electrical contact assembly, comprising the steps of:
- generating electromagnetic radiation;
- directing the electromagnetic radiation to fluorescent material indicating wear of the contact assembly;
- detecting the amount of fluorescent radiation generated by the fluorescent material in response to the electromagnetic radiation;
- and
- determining a level of wear of the electrical contact assembly from the amount of fluorescent radiation detected.
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 amount of fluorescent radiation generated by the fluorescent trace material collected by the particulate concentration device in response to the electromagnetic radiation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.