Patent
Alternating current circuit and outlet tester
| العنوان: | Alternating current circuit and outlet tester |
|---|---|
| Patent Number: | 6,064,313 |
| تاريخ النشر: | May 16, 2000 |
| Appl. No: | 09/061,606 |
| Application Filed: | April 16, 1998 |
| مستخلص: | A tester for checking the impedance of an electrical circuit by measuring the percentage voltage drop of the circuit resulting from the application of a user-supplied load. The tester includes connection means suitable for connection into the electrical circuit to be tested. The tester stores a sample of the voltage present at the connection. As the user applies a load to the circuit, the tester compares the sampled circuit voltage to the loaded circuit voltage. If the voltage difference after a set delay time is greater than a set percentage, an indicator on the tester alerts the user to this fact. A large voltage drop in a circuit can be an indication of hazardous wiring conditions, possibly due to corroded or loose connections, improper wire size, or other faulty components in the circuit. |
| Inventors: | Anderson, William J. (Glenview, IL) |
| Claim: | I claim |
| Claim: | 1. A tester for checking the impedance of electrical circuits by measuring the voltage drop resulting from a user-supplied load to the circuit, said tester comprising |
| Claim: | a) connection means to said electrical circuit; |
| Claim: | b) sampling means for storing a sample of the electrical circuit voltage without the application of said user-supplied load, said sampling means operating continuously without the need for triggering by the user; |
| Claim: | c) comparison means for continuously comparing said sample with instantaneous changes in said electrical circuit voltage resulting from operation of said user-supplied load on said circuit; |
| Claim: | d) first indicator means for notifying said user when said comparison result indicates that said electrical circuit voltage is less than said sample by more than a set percentage; |
| Claim: | e) timer means activated under the same conditions as said first indicator means, said timer means becoming deactivated when said electrical circuit voltage rises to the point where said conditions are no longer met; |
| Claim: | f) second indicator means becoming activated when said timer has been continuously activated for a set minimum time; |
| Claim: | g) latching means for said second indicator, said latching means keeping said second indicator in the activated condition once it has been activated, said latch becoming unlatched when power is removed from said tester for a set period of time. |
| Claim: | 2. A tester for checking the impedance of direct current electrical distribution circuits by measuring the voltage drop resulting from a user-supplied load to the circuit, said tester comprising |
| Claim: | b) rectification means in series with said electrical circuit connection means providing proper operation of said tester with said electrical circuit connection being made in normal or reverse polarity to said direct current electrical distribution circuit; |
| Claim: | c) sampling means for storing a sample of the electrical circuit voltage without the application of said user-supplied load, said sampling means operating continuously without the need for triggering by the user; |
| Claim: | d) comparison means for continuously comparing said sample with instantaneous changes in said electrical circuit voltage resulting from operation of said user-supplied load on said circuit; |
| Claim: | e) first indicator means for notifying said user when said comparison result indicates that said electrical circuit voltage is less than said sample by more than a set percentage; |
| Claim: | f) timer means activated under the same conditions as said first indicator means, said timer means becoming deactivated when said electrical circuit voltage rises to the point where said conditions are no longer met; |
| Claim: | g) second indicator means becoming activated when said timer has been continuously activated for a set minimum time; |
| Claim: | h) latching means for said second indicator, said latching means keeping said second indicator in the activated condition once it has been activated, said latching means becoming unlatched when power is removed from said tester for a set period of time. |
| Claim: | 3. A tester for checking the impedance of electrical circuits by measuring the voltage drop resulting from a user-supplied load to the circuit, said tester comprising |
| Claim: | d) indicator means for notifying said user when said comparison result indicates that said electrical circuit voltage is less than said sample by more than a set percentage. |
| Claim: | 4. A tester as in claim 3, said tester providing second connection means to said user-supplied load as well as said first connection means to said electrical circuit, said second connection means mitigating the need for two connections to said electrical circuit--one for said tester and one for said user-supplied load. |
| Claim: | 5. A tester as in claim 3, said sampling means having a discharge means allowing continuous tracking of slow changes in said electrical circuit voltage without triggering said comparison means. |
| Claim: | 6. A tester as in claim 3, said user-supplied load being connected to said circuit at a point other than that at which said tester is connected, thus providing for detection of faults in wiring or connections which are between said tester and the supply source for said electrical circuit. |
| Current U.S. Class: | 340/660; 340/661; 340/662; 340/664; 324/508; 324/509 |
| Current International Class: | G08B 2100 |
| Patent References Cited: | 4857826 August 1989 Graham 4862142 August 1989 Knight 4879625 November 1989 Potenzone 5525908 June 1996 Brownell |
| Primary Examiner: | Wu, Daniel J. |
| رقم الانضمام: | edspgr.06064313 |
| قاعدة البيانات: | USPTO Patent Grants |
| الوصف غير متاح. |