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:
Jul. 17, 2001
Filed:
Feb. 09, 1998
Steven Martin Hudson, Dorset, GB;
Flight Refuelling Limited, Dorset, GB;
Abstract
An apparatus and method for detecting and locating electric current leakage paths along the length of an electrically conducting elongate member. The apparatus has a variable supply device and a meter device for monitoring the impedance of the member (,), the supply device being operable to drive current in opposite directions along the member, so that a movable node can be established, the node being where the net change in potential between the member and its surroundings is substantially zero. When the apparatus is in use, the position of the node is varied by varying the current driven along the member and the resultant impedance is monitored by the monitoring meter device, whereby the position of the node at which there is a local minimum in the impedance indicates the position of a current leakage path.