The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 21, 1992
Filed:
Jul. 12, 1990
James P Steiner, Royersford, PA (US);
James G. Biddle Co., Blue Bell, PA (US);
Abstract
Location of a fault in electrical conductors from a terminal position which may be remote from the fault using at least a broad band pulse generator to generate a pulse at a terminal position. It also uses a voltage source at the terminal position capable of inducing a change of impedance at the fault and time measuring means also at the terminal position. The method involves generating a first pulse at the terminal position which is propagated down the conductor and reflected back to the terminal position from various impedance discontinuities, including the impedance discontinuity of the fault, if present. The pattern of reflections from points along the conductor up to the fault resulting from the first pulse are recorded. Then sufficient voltage is applied to the cable to induce a change in impedance at the fault. Simultaneously a second pulse similar to the first is generated at the terminal position and reflected back from the various impedance discontinuities, including the modified impedance discontinuity at the fault. The reflections of the first pulse are then substracted from the reflections of the second pulse leaving the pulse reflected from the fault. The location of the fault is then determined from the time taken from initiation to reflection of the pulse to the terminal position.