Claims:1. A remote-controlled assembly for applying earth to a de-energised high voltage source, said assembly comprising:
a telescopic arm arrangement operatively connected to a control unit, said control unit further comprising;
a pointer means; an audio-visual indicator means; an indicator means; a controlling means; and a power source to power said control unit;
wherein the indicator is powered to alert an operator once the arm arrangement is in contact with a de-energised high voltage source;
said telescopic arm arrangement further comprising a robotic arm operatively coupled to a motor; a live high voltage source proximity sensor situated at the tip of the robotic arm; and an earthing means to ground a de-energised high voltage source;
wherein rotation of the motor operatively controls movement of the robotic arm;
wherein the pointer means indicates the high voltage to be de-energised;
wherein the robotic arm extends towards the high voltage source indicated by the pointer means; and
wherein the proximity sensor upon sensing a live high voltage source powers the audio-visual indicator to alert an operator and prohibits the robotic arm from touching the live source un till said source is de-energised.

2. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pointing means is preferably a laser pointer.

3. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the audio-visual means is preferably a light emitting diode operatively connected to an audio alarm.

4. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the indicator means is preferably a light emitting diode.

5. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the power source is preferably a battery.

6. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the motor is preferably a DC motor.

7. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein maximum distance between the device and an operator operating the remote is about 30 m.

8. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein weight of the device is about 4 Kgs.

9. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein maximum length of the extended arm is about 3 feet.

10. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein distance between the device and the high voltage source is about 5 feet.

11. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein upon detection of a live source, the control unit prevents the robotic arm from extending towards the live source.
, Description:FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[001] The subject matter of the present invention, in general, relates to detection of high voltage sources, and more particularly, pertains to a remote controlled live wire detection and grounding assembly.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[002] Any high voltage source that does not have a visible ground wire or ground device attached (high voltage output shorted to ground) are generally considered live and dangerous. It is established practice to never touch or come close to the high voltage source when the source is not grounded.

[003] Discharge and grounding sticks are a vital part of high voltage safety practices. The sticks have been specifically designed for high voltage testing. Depending on the application, only the ground stick may be used or a discharge and ground stick may be used.

[004] A discharge stick is an insulated pole, used by electric utility workers when engaged on live-line working on energized high - voltage electric power lines. A ground stick is an accepted method to apply a temporary ground to these high voltage sources.

[005] Ground sticks are one of the accepted methods to apply a temporary ground to these sources. This is a vital part of high voltage safety practices and conventionally, along with the Live Line Detectors (LLD) this is frequently used by the operating personnel working in high voltage circuits. Although these discharge rods are used to ensure safety, in rarest occasion, in case of malfunction of a Live Line Detector, an accident may happen, since the operator having to work with high voltage conductors, often touches it physically.

[006] Conventionally, portable discharge rods are used to pass the residual charge in a de-energised conductor before working in it. While working in the bus-bars or circuit sides of 6 or 11 kV switchgears, suitably designed discharge rods are used. Discharge rods tested to withstand 70 kV were used in 33 kV switchgears. In all these occasions, the operator is required to carry the discharge rod by hand. They would touch the de-energised conductor with the conducting portion of the discharge rod, holding the discharge rod by its insulating part. Under such circumstances, if two things happen simultaneously, namely, the conductor to be grounded being charged in system voltage and failure of insulation of the discharge rod, the operator would be electrocuted, whatever be the extent of the injury. Thus, there is a need for live wire detection and grounding mechanism that does not pose a threat to the operator by doing away with the need of manually touching a high voltage source devoid of a visible ground wire or ground device attached thereto.

[007] For some existing means of providing high voltage detection and grounding without posing a threat to the operator, reference is made to US 2016/0278192 A1, wherein a ground system for high voltage semiconductor valve is disclosed. The high voltage valve arrangement includes a high voltage valve unit; an external electric shield structure arranged at least partially around the high voltage modular valve unit and a grounding system. The grounding system includes a grounding system configured to be remotely extended from a retracted position to an extended position, whereby the extendable grounding device establishes electric connection with the external shield structure when it is extended from the retracted position. The arrangement disclose herein is fixed and does not involve detection of presence of voltage either before or during operation.

[008] Reference is also made to CN 204361579 U, wherein a pricking driving device for high voltage cable pricking device is disclosed. The pricking driving device comprises a casing fixed on a fixing supporting board, and a motor, a control circuit board and a hydraulic oil cylinder which are mounted on the casing, wherein a piston rod of the hydraulic oil cylinder is fixed with a steel nail, the motor is electrically connected with the control circuit board and is controlled by the control circuit board to work, the hydraulic oil cylinder is driven by the motor to work, the steel nail is driven by the hydraulic oil cylinder to prick a high voltage cable, the pricking driving device is controlled by a wireless remote controller, the control circuit board is provided with a wireless reception circuit used for receiving control signals of the wireless remote controller, the fixing supporting board is provided with a grounding screw, one end of a grounding wire is connected with the grounding screw, and the other end of the grounding wire is connected with a grounding rod. The pricking driving device employs a wireless remote control mode to control the electric hydraulic pricking device to work and further has advantages of safe and reliable operation, high use efficiency and convenient operation. The cable pricking device involves a hydraulic mechanism that may be operated from a remote location offering just 1-dimentional movement

[009] Reference is also made to CN 101442219 B, wherein a remote-controlled earth wire automatic disconnection apparatus is disclosed. The remote-controlled device for automatically connecting/disconnecting a ground wire comprises a microcomputer and a control circuit part electrically connected with the microcomputer, an electric motor controlled by the control circuit part and making an output shaft thereof linearly move to and fro, a knife switch and a ground wire tool post. An insulated connecting column is arranged between the output shaft of the electric motor and the knife switch. The control circuit part comprises a lightning-proof circuit, a power supply circuit, an electric motor control circuit, a knife switch control circuit, a state signal circuit, a position sensor circuit and an alarm circuit. The electric motor is selected from one of a linear motor or a gear speed reducer. The remote-controlled device is also provided with an insulated substrate and a box body, wherein the control circuit part, the electric motor, the knife switch and the ground wire tool post are arranged on the insulated substrate; and the insulated substrate is arranged in the box body. The box body is also provided with a power indicating lamp, a self-checking switch, an alarm silencing switch, an alarm indicating lamp, a computer switch-off port, a microcomputer switch-in port and a power interface. The remote-controlled device solves the problems of inconvenient manual operation and unreliable ground wire contact, is reliable lightning-proof grounding connecting/disconnecting remote control device provided for a signal tower, a cabinet and the like, and achieves fully-automatic insulating property test. A microcomputer is employed to control the device that can disconnect or reconnect an earth wire during insulation testing.

[0010] Reference is also made to CN 102565510 A, wherein a method for lively testing resistive current of lightning arrester of power transmission line is disclosed. One of test wires of a lightning arrester live detector is connected to an A, B or C phase counter of the lightning arrester and used for acquiring leakage current, and the other test wire is connected to a wireless communication device of an insulation stick; a tester holds one end of the insulation stick by a hand, and the other end of the insulation stick is contacted with a phase A, B or C of the power transmission line and used for acquiring a system voltage parameter; the wireless communication device of the insulation stick transmits the acquired system voltage parameter to the lightning arrester live detector; and the acquired system voltage parameter is compared with the leakage current which flows through the counter of the lightning arrester, so that the resistive current of the lightning arrester can be automatically calculated precisely. The shortcoming that the system voltage cannot be acquired during live test of the lightning arrester of the power transmission line is overcome; and a phenomenon that a voltage loop is in an open circuit or a short circuit because a power supply of a live test lightning arrester acquisition system adopts a self-overhaul power supply box or the secondary side of a voltage transformer is connected with a wire is avoided. The device monitors the health of the lightning arrester with the aid of an energized conductor.

[0011] While the prior art documents cited hereinabove offer a modicum of protection to the operator by employing remote-controlled systems, the means employed to meet the ends are complex, costly and stationary. They do not involve detection high voltage either before or during operation, the equipment being large and stationary, involving just 1-dimentional movement of a robotic arm, microcomputer controlled systems for during insulation testing and the like.

[0012] Thus, to overcome the drawbacks of the existing technologies, there is a dire need for a light weight, portable, sturdy, economic and compact means for applying earth to de-energised conductors while providing optimum protection to an operator. To achieve the desired objectives, the present invention discloses a remotely controlled assembly for applying earth to de-energised conductors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The following presents a simplified summary of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the present invention. It is not intended to identify the key/critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some concept of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to a more detailed description of the invention presented later.

[0014] An object of the present invention is to provide a means for live wire detection and grounding that does not pose a threat to the operator by doing away with the need of manually touching a high voltage source devoid of a visible ground wire or ground device attached thereto.

[0015] Another object of the present invention is to provide a light weight, portable, sturdy, economic and compact means for applying earth to de-energised conductors while providing optimum protection to an operator.

[0016] Another object of the present invention is to provide a remotely controlled assembly that detects a live wire prior to applying earth to the de-energised conductors.

[0017] Another object of the present invention is to provide a combination of a high voltage discharge stick and a live line detector mechanism wherein if the live line detector mal-operates and/or an operator tries to discharge/earth an energized line, a flashover may occur but the operator will remain unharmed.

[0018] Briefly, a remotely controlled assembly for applying earth to de-energised conductors is disclosed. The assembly is a combination of high voltage discharge stick and live line detector. It is operated from a safe distance owing to a telescopic arm assembly comprising a motor coupled to a robotic arm that may be extended and retracted. Once the extended arm touches the conductor to be grounded, by pushing a certain button on the remote, earth is applying to said conductor. The assembly on detecting a live line prevents the arm from touching said live line until it is de-energised.

[0019] In one aspect of the present invention there is provided, a remote-controlled assembly for applying earth to a de-energised high voltage source is disclosed. The said assembly comprising: a telescopic arm assembly operatively connected to a control unit, said control unit further comprising; a pointer means; an audio-visual indicator means; an indicator means; a controlling means; and a power source to power said control unit; wherein the indicator is powered to alert an operator once the arm assembly is in contact with a de-energised high voltage source; the telescopic arm assembly further comprising a robotic arm operatively coupled to a motor; a sensor to detect live line is situated at the tip of the robotic arm; and an earthing means to ground a de-energised high voltage source; wherein rotation of the motor operatively controls movement of the robotic arm; wherein the pointer means indicates the high voltage conductor / bus bar to be de-energised; wherein the robotic arm extends towards the high voltage source indicated by the pointer means; and wherein the proximity sensor upon sensing a live high voltage source powers the audio-visual indicator to alert an operator and prohibits the robotic arm from touching the live source un till said source is de-energised.

[0020] Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses exemplary embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

[0021] The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0022] Figure 1 illustrates a block diagram of the remote controlled grounding assembly according to one implementation of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 2 illustrates a circuit diagram of the remote controlled grounding assembly according to one implementation of the present invention.

[0024] Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and may have not been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figure may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. Throughout the drawings, it should be noted that like reference numbers are used to depict the same or similar elements, features, and structures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0025] The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings is provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of exemplary embodiments of the invention. It includes various specific details to assist in that understanding but these are to be regarded as merely exemplary.

[0026] Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications of the embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions are omitted for clarity and conciseness.

[0027] The terms and words used in the following description and claims are not limited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are merely used by the inventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of the invention. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the following description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention are provided for illustration purpose only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

[0028] It is to be understood that the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0029] By the term “substantially” it is meant that the recited characteristic, parameter, or value need not be achieved exactly, but that deviations or variations, including for example, tolerances, measurement error, measurement accuracy limitations and other factors known to those of skill in the art, may occur in amounts that do not preclude the effect the characteristic was intended to provide.

[0030] Features that are described and/or illustrated with respect to one embodiment may be used in the same way or in a similar way in one or more other embodiments and/or in combination with or instead of the features of the other embodiments.

[0031] It should be emphasized that the term “comprises/comprising” when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or component but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

[0032] The subject invention lies in providing a remotely controlled assembly for applying earth to de-energised conductors.

[0033] The present invention pertains to a remotely controlled assembly for applying earth to de-energised conductors. The assembly is a combination of high voltage discharge stick and live line detector. It may be operated from a safe distance owing to a retractable telescopic arm assembly comprising a robotic arm that may be extended and retracted, and a motor coupled with the robotic arm to control it. Once the extended telescopic arm touches the conductor being grounded an LED lights up to alert the operator. By pushing a certain button on the remote, earth is applying to said conductor. The assembly on detecting a live line prevents the arm from touching said live line un till it is de-energised.

[0034] In one implementation, there is provided a means for live wire detection and grounding that does away with the need for manually touching a high voltage source devoid of a visible ground wire or ground assembly attached thereto.

[0035] In another implementation, there is provided a light weight, portable, sturdy, economic and compact means for applying earth to de-energised conductors while providing optimum protection to the operator.

[0036] In another implementation, there is provided remotely controlled assembly that detects a live wire prior to applying earth to the de-energised conductors.

[0037] In another implementation, there is provided a combination of a high voltage discharge stick and a live line detector mechanism in a manner that if the live line detector mal-operates and/or an operator attempts to discharge/earth an energized line, the resulting flashover does not harm the operator.

[0038] Any high voltage source that does not have a visible ground wire or ground device attached are generally considered live and dangerous to work by touching the same and it is an established practice to never touch or get too to a high voltage source when the source is not grounded. Conventionally, ground sticks are a vital part of high voltage safety practices and along with the live line detectors are frequently employed while dealing with high voltage circuits. Malfunctioning of these discharge rods of a live line detector may be fatal to an operator as they are required to touch them physically.

[0039] The prior remote-controlled systems employ means that render such systems to be large, complex, costly, stationary, microcomputer powered systems that do not involve live wire detection, 1-dimentional movement of a robotic arm and the like. With a view to overcome these drawbacks, the present invention discloses a remotely controlled assembly for applying earth to de-energised conductors that is a light weight, portable, sturdy, economic and compact.

[0040] The remote-controlled grounding assembly is a combines the properties of a high voltage discharge stick and a live line detector. It is a portable light weight assembly weighing about 3 to 4 Kgs. It can be operated by a remote from a safe distance of about 30m. While using this assembly, if the live line detector mal-operates and/or an operator attempts to discharge/earth an energized line, the resulting flashover will not electrocute the operator.

[0041] The remote-controlled grounding assembly comprises of two main units, viz., a hand held remote controller (hereinafter referred to as a remote) and a grounding device. The grounding device consists of two units connected through a wired connection, said two units being a control unit and a retractable telescopic arm unit.

[0042] The control unit contains one low power 9V DC radio frequency transmitter having a range of about 10 meters and one 12V DC radio frequency receiver. This transceiver unit is driven with a 12V, 7AH capacity rechargeable battery. Its circuitry involves several 12V, 5A relays that depending on the command sent from the remote controller and signal sent from the live line detector, which is a part of the telescopic grounding arm, sends appropriate signals to the retractable telescopic arm assembly.

[0043] The retractable telescopic arm unit consists of a telescopic arm that may be extended and retracted, depending on the command issued, and a motor coupled with the retractable arm. The telescopic arm is moved by rotation of the motor. Rotation of the motor is controlled by the remote, including its direction of rotation, via the control unit. The telescopic arm can be extended up to a length of about 3 feet. The grounding device is required to be placed at a distance of about 5 feet from the conductor to be grounded.

[0044] The grounding device is so mounted that it may be directed almost anywhere within a three-dimensional co-ordinate with the help of a LASER pointer fitted so as to predetermine the point where the telescopic arm to touch the conductor. A 4.5V Light Emitting Diode torch is the pointer.

[0045] The tip of the telescopic arm has a live line detection facility. In particular, a 9V DC operated MOSFET voltage sensor has been employed to detect a live line. Once the sensor sitting atop the retractable robotic arm comes to the proximity of a live line, audible alarm is generated by an alarm generator present in the control unit. Further, an LED indicator, also fitted in the control unit lights up when a live line is detected.

[0046] The voltage sensor, on detection of a live line sends a signal to the control unit to stop the forward movement of the telescopic arm. Even if the operator persists with trying to extend the arm, the control unit will prevent it. The control unit disables the forward motion function of the telescopic arm once a live line has been detected. The operator will then have to retract the arm and arrange for proper de-energizing of the conductor.

[0047] The device has been designed in a manner that that once the extended telescopic arm touches the conductor being grounded, it is seen by the operator, by way of the LED lighting up, subsequently they are to apply earth to the telescopic arm thereby grounding the conductor.

[0048] Although a simple, compact, portable, economic and capable of industrial application remote controlled assembly for detecting live line and applying earth to de-energize a conductor has been described in language specific to the features or components indicated hereinabove, it is to be understood that the embodiments disclosed in the above section are not necessarily limited to the specific features or components or devices or methods described therein. Rather, the specific features are disclosed as examples of implementations of a portable assembly for live line detection and grounding of high voltage sources.