Contact wear detection by spectral analysis shift
US9329238B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 14, 2014 |
| Grant date | May 3, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 20, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01H2001/0026
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A contact wear detector includes an electrical contact 100 having a base layer 110 composed of a first material and a contacting layer 120 composed of a second material, to electrically contact an opposing contact in the circuit. The base layer is capable of having portions exposed through worn areas 125 of the contacting layer. The first material of the base layer is configured to form an arc 210 between the portions of the base layer exposed through the worn areas and the opposing contact when the contacts separate. The arc thus formed emits light 212 having a characteristic optical spectrum of the first material. An optical detector 220 is proximate to the electrical contacts, to detect the characteristic optical spectrum of the light emitted by the arc between the portions of the base layer exposed through the worn areas and the opposing contact.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.