US3778801A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for indicating voltage presence, phase sequence, voltage magnitude, ground faults, etc. in an electrical power distribution system
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1971-04-12
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Granted: 1973-12-11
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Expires: 1991-04-12
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for monitoring circuit continuity, phase sequence, voltage magnitude, ground connection, etc. in a multi-phase electrical distribution network. A first series of indicator lamps monitor circuit continuity from phase to phase and from phase to ground. A second series of selectively thresholded lamps indicate voltage magnitude and additional indicator lamps are provided to indicate phase sequence and the presence of alternating current.
Inventors
- 👤 J Nudelmont
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 23:27
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R19/00; G01R19/145; G01R19/15; G01R29/00; G01R29/18; G01R31/00; G01R31/50; G01R31/52; G01R31/54
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
168 words
An apParatus for detecting the proper distribution of an electrical power supply network, characterized by: a. a housing equipped with a base plate connector having at least four principal contact elements for connection to the lines of a power supply network; b. at least four voltage responsive neon indicator lamps mounted in and visible through the housing and having first and second terminals, the first terminals of the lamps being individually connected to said contact elements, the second terminals of the lamps being connected in two groups of two; and c. switching means mounted in the housing and having two first terminals, each one of said two first terminals being connected to one of the two connected terminal groups of said neon lamps, the switching means normally connecting the two first terminals together, whereby voltage differences between the two groups are normally indicated, and voltage differences just between two contact elements of each group may be indicated by operating the switching means to disconnect the two first terminals.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
168 words
An apParatus for detecting the proper distribution of an electrical power supply network, characterized by: a. a housing equipped with a base plate connector having at least four principal contact elements for connection to the lines of a power supply network; b. at least four voltage responsive neon indicator lamps mounted in and visible through the housing and having first and second terminals, the first terminals of the lamps being individually connected to said contact elements, the second terminals of the lamps being connected in two groups of two; and c. switching means mounted in the housing and having two first terminals, each one of said two first terminals being connected to one of the two connected terminal groups of said neon lamps, the switching means normally connecting the two first terminals together, whereby voltage differences between the two groups are normally indicated, and voltage differences just between two contact elements of each group may be indicated by operating the switching means to disconnect the two first terminals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
100 words
Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the switching means includes two second terminals, said two first terminals being connected together in a first, normal position of the switching means and the two second terminals being connected together in a second position of the switching means, each of said two second terminals being individually connected to one terminal of two additional neon lamps, the other terminal of each additional lamp being individually connected to two additional contact elements, and shunt means connecting one of said first terminals of the switching means to one of the second terminals of the switching means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as in claim 2, wherein one of said additional contact elements is adapted to be connected to a ground wire of the power supply network.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
73 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein two of the principal contact elements are connected to a voltage doubler circuit, including a low-voltage indicating lamp, and further comprising a selective illumination circuit connected in parallel with said voltage doubler circuit and comprising at least two indicating lamps illuminable at different voltages, and switching means for coupling said selective illumination circuit to one or the other of said two of the principal contact elements.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
107 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising: a resistor, an alternating current indicating lamp, and a capacitor all connected in series between two of the principal contact elements, a circuit comprising two switch terminals, a capacitor and first, second and third resistances all connected in series between said terminals, and a neon lamp and a resistance connected in series across the first and second resistances, means connecting a third one of the principal contact elements to the junction of the first and second resistances, and a two position switching means for reversibly connecting said two of the principal contact elements to the two switch terminals.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
194 words
Apparatus for monitoring the proper distribution of an electrical power supply network, comprising: a. a housing equipped with a base plate connector having at least two principal contact elements for connection to the lines of a bipolar power supply network; b. at least two voltage responsive neon indicator lamps mounted in and visible through the housing and having first and second terminals, the first terminals of the lamps being individually connected to said contact elements, the second terminals of the lamps being individually connected to a junction point; and c. switching means mounted in the housing and having at least two terminals; the first terminal being connected to said junction point and the second terminal being connected to a terminal of a further neon lamp whose other terminal is connected to an additional contact element adapted for connection to the ground, said switching means connecting its two terminals in a first position and disconnecting its two terminals in a second position, whereby voltage differences between said principal contact elements and ground are indicated in the first switch position, and voltage differences just between said principal contact elements are indicated in the second switch position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
194 words
Apparatus for monitoring the proper distribution of an electrical power supply network, comprising: a. a housing equipped with a base plate connector having at least two principal contact elements for connection to the lines of a bipolar power supply network; b. at least two voltage responsive neon indicator lamps mounted in and visible through the housing and having first and second terminals, the first terminals of the lamps being individually connected to said contact elements, the second terminals of the lamps being individually connected to a junction point; and c. switching means mounted in the housing and having at least two terminals; the first terminal being connected to said junction point and the second terminal being connected to a terminal of a further neon lamp whose other terminal is connected to an additional contact element adapted for connection to the ground, said switching means connecting its two terminals in a first position and disconnecting its two terminals in a second position, whereby voltage differences between said principal contact elements and ground are indicated in the first switch position, and voltage differences just between said principal contact elements are indicated in the second switch position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as in claim 6 wherein the two principal contact elements are further connected to the terminals of a series circuit comprising an alternating current indicating lamp and a condenser.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
107 words
A device for permanently monitoring the application of voltage to circuits used in connecting an apparatus to power supply conductors, comprising: a housing on which is mounted a power plug base plate, a neon indicator lamp mounted in the housing and visible on the outside surface of said housing, two lines for connection to two power supply conductors on one end and to two sockets in the base plate on the other end, each line being connected through a resistance to one of the terminals of the indicator lamp, the other terminal of the indicator lamp being connected to the ground of the apparatus to be monitored.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
107 words
A device for permanently monitoring the application of voltage to circuits used in connecting an apparatus to power supply conductors, comprising: a housing on which is mounted a power plug base plate, a neon indicator lamp mounted in the housing and visible on the outside surface of said housing, two lines for connection to two power supply conductors on one end and to two sockets in the base plate on the other end, each line being connected through a resistance to one of the terminals of the indicator lamp, the other terminal of the indicator lamp being connected to the ground of the apparatus to be monitored.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
A device as claimed in claim 8 further comprising a diode connected between said other terminal of the indicator lamp and ground for suppressing capacitance effects in case the current to one of the power supply conductors is cut off.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
109 words
A device for permanently monitoring the application of voltage to circuits for connecting an apparatus to the three power supply conductors of a three phase source, comprising: a three leg delta connected circuit having three corner terminals, three conductor wires connecting, respectively, one of the three power supply conductors to one of the three corner terminals, each leg of the delta connected circuit comprising a resistance, a neon indicator lamp, a Zener diode and a diode all connected in series, a ground connection, one of said conductor wires being further connected to the ground connection through a series circuit including a further resistance and a further neon indicator lamp.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
109 words
A device for permanently monitoring the application of voltage to circuits for connecting an apparatus to the three power supply conductors of a three phase source, comprising: a three leg delta connected circuit having three corner terminals, three conductor wires connecting, respectively, one of the three power supply conductors to one of the three corner terminals, each leg of the delta connected circuit comprising a resistance, a neon indicator lamp, a Zener diode and a diode all connected in series, a ground connection, one of said conductor wires being further connected to the ground connection through a series circuit including a further resistance and a further neon indicator lamp.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
84 words
A device as claimed in claim 10 further comprising: a switch having a first terminal connected to said one of said conductor wires and a second terminal connected to said further resistance, said first terminal of the switch being further connected to a test voltage terminal through a series circuit including an indicator lamp and a resistance, and said second terminal being further connected to a neutral point of the power supply source through a series circuit including a resistance and an indicator lamp.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
160 words
A device for monitoring the proper distribution of an electrical power supply network including three power lines fed from a three phase source, a neutral terminal, and a ground terminal, comprising: first, second and third neon indicator lamps having first and second terminals, said first terminals being individually connected to the three power lines, a fourth neon indicator lamp connected between the neutral terminal and the second terminal of the second indicator lamp, switch means having a first position in which the second terminals of the first and second indicator lamps are connected together, and a second position in which the second terminals of the first and third indicator lamps are connected together, and a fifth neon indicator lamp having a first terminal connected to the ground terminal and a second terminal connected to the second terminal of the third indicator lamp through a first diode and to the second terminal of the first indicator lamp through a second diode.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
160 words
A device for monitoring the proper distribution of an electrical power supply network including three power lines fed from a three phase source, a neutral terminal, and a ground terminal, comprising: first, second and third neon indicator lamps having first and second terminals, said first terminals being individually connected to the three power lines, a fourth neon indicator lamp connected between the neutral terminal and the second terminal of the second indicator lamp, switch means having a first position in which the second terminals of the first and second indicator lamps are connected together, and a second position in which the second terminals of the first and third indicator lamps are connected together, and a fifth neon indicator lamp having a first terminal connected to the ground terminal and a second terminal connected to the second terminal of the third indicator lamp through a first diode and to the second terminal of the first indicator lamp through a second diode.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-10 | 1977-06-11 | 1977-12-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-10 | 1981-06-11 | 1981-12-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-10 | 1985-06-11 | 1985-12-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |