Apparatus, method, and system for monitoring of equipment and earth ground systems
AssigneeMusco Corporation
InventorDarrell N. Chelcun
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed are apparatus, methods, and systems for the monitoring of grounding components in an electrical system. Methods of monitoring grounding components comprise a signal or plurality of signals imposed on a ground loop circuit by a first inductive element, a second inductive element which receives the signal(s), and circuitry which compares changes in the imposed signal(s) to a baseline to calculate impedance. Active monitoring of impedance enables contractors to ensure installation of a grounding system was performed correctly, and allows a user to track changes in impedance over the life of the electrical system such that, if an impedance threshold is reached, appropriate action may be taken.
Claims22
A method of monitoring a ground loop circuit in an electrical system comprising components that are buried underground in earth and components that are accessible by personnel, the method comprising:
- a. isolating the components that are buried underground in the ground loop circuit wherein at least a portion of the ground loop circuit comprises a path through the earth;
- b. measuring impedance in the ground loop circuit to derive a baseline impedance for the ground loop circuit;
- c. imposing signals on the ground loop circuit at differing times and/or differing frequencies;
- d. receiving the imposed signals and determining impedance in the ground loop circuit from the received imposed signals;
- e. comparing determined impedance relative to baseline impedance;
- and
- f. taking an action if the comparison meets a predetermined condition wherein the action comprises one or more of:
- i. communicating an error or alarm condition;
- ii. applying a remedy;
- or
- iii. inspecting the electrical system.
A method of monitoring, tracking, and testing the impedance of a ground loop circuit in an electrical system comprising:
- a. providing one or more ground loop circuits in an electrical system;
- b. determining a baseline impedance for each ground loop circuit;
- c. imposing on each ground loop circuit a signal or signals by a first inductive element of an output circuit;
- d. receiving on each ground loop circuit a signal or signals which induces a response in a second inductive element of an input circuit;
- e. interpreting the induced response on the second inductive element, and relative to the baseline impedance, determining impedance of the ground loop circuit;
- f. comparing determined impedance to a threshold value;
- and
- g. taking further action if the determined impedance approaches or exceeds the threshold value, wherein the further action comprises one or more of:
- i. issuing an alarm notification;
- or
- ii. disabling some portion of the electrical system;
- h. wherein the output circuit further comprises:
- i. means for producing the imposed signal at a desired frequency;
- ii. means for directing the imposed signal to a desired first inductive element;
- iii. so that the desired first inductive element will impose the signal on the desired ground loop circuit at the desired frequency.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.