Methods of and apparatus for detecting and locating opens in conductors including a signal generator movable with the conductors

Claim 5

A method of detecting and locating at least one open in a pair of conductors as set forth in claim 2 which further comprises the step of stablilizing the movement of the pair of conductors as the pair is moved through the electrode.

Claim 6

A method of detecting and locating at least one open in a pair of conductors as set forth in claim 2 wherein the pair of conductors are one of several pairs of conductors bound together to form a cable unit.

Claim 7

A method of detecting and locating at least one open in a pair of conductors as set forth in claim 2 which further comprises the step of eliminating noise signals appearing with the signal to preclude erroneous indication of the test.

Claim 8

A method of detecting and locating at least one open in a pair of conductors as set forth in claim 2 which further comprises the step of automatically stopping the movement of pair of conductors when the signal is not appearing in the section of the pair passing at that instant through the electrode as an indication of an open in the pair.

Claim 9

A method of detecting and locating at least one open in a pair of conductors as set forth in claim 6 which further comprises the step of moving the pair of conductors in at least a reverse direction after the initial movement of the pair has been stopped until the signal is detected in the pair to indicate the location of the open.

Claim 10

Apparatus for detecting and locating an open in at least one conductor being tested, which comprises: means for applying a signal to a conductor being tested for the detection and location of at least one open in the conductor being tested, means responsive to the application of the signal to the conductor for indicating continuity in the conductor and responsive to the absence of the signal for indicating discontinuity in the conductor being tested, means for reactively coupling the signal from the conductor to the means for indicating, means for causing adjacent relative movement between successive sections of the conductor being tested and the means for coupling and for causing at least a portion of the conductor to move, and means for connecting the signal applying means to an adjacent portion of the conductor under test which is moved and for supporting the signal applying means in a fixed relationship with respect to the adjacent portion of the conductor under test to which it is connected and causing the signal applying means to move with the adjacent portion of the conductor to which it is connected when causing relative movement between the adjacent successive sections of the conductor and the means for coupling the signal during a detecting and locating operation.

Claim 11

Apparatus for detecting and locating an open in at least one conductor being tested, which comprises: means for applying a signal to a conductor being tested for the detection and location of at least one open in the conductor being tested, means responsive to the application of the signal to the conductor for indicating continuity in the conductor and responsive to the absence of the signal for indicating discontinuity in the conductor being tested, means for reactively coupling the signal from the conductor to the means for indicating, means for causing adjacent relative movement between successive sections of the conductor being tested and the means for coupling and for causing at least a portion of the conductor to move, and means for connecting the signal applying means to an adjacent portion of the conductor under test which is moved and for supporting the signal applying means in a fixed relationship with respect to the adjacent portion of the conductor under test to which it is connected and causing the signal applying means to move with the adjacent portion of the conductor to which it is connected when causing relative movement between the adjacent successive sections of the conductor and the means for coupling the signal during a detecting and locating operation.

Claim 12

Apparatus for detecting and locating at least one open in a pair of conductors being tested, which comprises: means for applying a signal between a pair of conductors being tested for the detection and location of at least one open in the conductors, means responsive to the application of the signal thereto for indicating continuity in the conductors and responsive to the absence of the signal for indicating discontinuity in at least one of the conductors being tested, means for coupling the signal from the conductors to the means for indicating, means for moving relatively the conductors and the means for coupling so that successive portions of the pair of conductors are moved adjacent to the means for coupling, and means for connecting directly the signal-applying means to adjacent portions of the pair of conductors being tested and supporting the signal-applying means in a fixed relationship with the adjacent portions of the pair which are moved so that the signal-applying means moves with the adjacent portions to maintain the direct connection.

Claim 13

Apparatus for detecting and locating at least one open in a pair of conductors being tested, which comprises: means for applying a signal between a pair of conductors being tested for the detection and location of at least one open in the conductors, means responsive to the application of the signal thereto for indicating continuity in the conductors and responsive to the absence of the signal for indicating discontinuity in at least one of the conductors being tested, means for coupling the signal from the conductors to the means for indicating, means for moving relatively the conductors and the means for coupling so that successive portions of the pair of conductors are moved adjacent to the means for coupling, and means for connecting directly the signal-applying means to adjacent portions of the pair of conductors being tested and supporting the signal-applying means in a fixed relationship with the adjacent portions of the pair which are moved so that the signal-applying means moves with the adjacent portions to maintain the direct connection.

Claim 14

Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 which further comprises means for stablilizing the movement of the pair of conductors as the pair and the coupling means are moved relatively.

Claim 15

Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein the pair of conductors form one pair of a plurality of pairs of conductors bound together to form a cable unit which is moved relative to the coupling means to detect and locate opens in the pairs of the cable unit.

Claim 16

Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 which further comprises means for eliminating noise signals within the indicating means to preclude erroneous indication of the continuity condition of the pair of conductors being tested.

Claim 17

Apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein the noise eliminating means includes an operational amplifier through which the signal of the signal-applying means is passed after the signal is coupled from the pair of conductors to the coupling means and a resistor and capacitor circuit in a feedback loop of the amplifier.

Claim 18

Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 which further comprises means to stop relative movement of the pair of conductors and the coupling means when the signal is not appearing in the section of the pair passing at that instant adjacent to the coupling means.

Claim 19

Apparatus as set forth in claim 14 which further comprises means for moving relatively the pair of conductors and coupling means in a reverse direction after the initial movement of the pair has been stopped until the signal is detected in the pair to indicate the location of an open.

Claim 20

Apparatus for detecting and locating at least one open in a pair of conductors being tested, which comprises: a moving support for moving and taking up a pair of conductors being tested, a signal-coupling electrode, successive portions of the pair of conductors being moved adjacent to the electrode by the moving support prior to taking up the pair thereon, a self-powered signal generator mounted on the moving support and connected directly to an adjacent portion of the pair of conductors on the moving support to permit the generator to continuously feed a signal and be connected to the pair while the successive portions of the pair of conductors are being moved adjacent to the electrode and taken up on the moving support, and means connected to the electrode for detecting the presence and absence of the signal in the successive portions of the pair of conductors passing adjacent to the electrode to thereby locate an open in the pair.

Claim 21

Apparatus for detecting and locating at least one open in a pair of conductors being tested, which comprises: a moving support for moving and taking up a pair of conductors being tested, a signal-coupling electrode, successive portions of the pair of conductors being moved adjacent to the electrode by the moving support prior to taking up the pair thereon, a self-powered signal generator mounted on the moving support and connected directly to an adjacent portion of the pair of conductors on the moving support to permit the generator to continuously feed a signal and be connected to the pair while the successive portions of the pair of conductors are being moved adjacent to the electrode and taken up on the moving support, and means connected to the electrode for detecting the presence and absence of the signal in the successive portions of the pair of conductors passing adjacent to the electrode to thereby locate an open in the pair.

Claim 22

Apparatus as set forth in claim 16 wherein the signal-coupling electrode is generally a metallic ring through which the pair of conductors pass.

Claim 23

Apparatus as set forth in claim 17 wherein the metallic ring of the electrode is formed with an opening through which the pair of conductors can be moved laterally out of the ring to facilitate repair of a detected and located open.