Shielded Test Probe Assembly for High Voltage Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inspecting high voltage electrical equipment and conventional two-prong wall outlets poses a risk of electrocution and arc flashes due to exposure to energized components, as technicians often need to directly contact electrical lines to measure voltages or identify faults.
Innovation Solution
An electric measurement test assembly system with integrated conductive contacts and a meter, allowing safe voltage reading through a socket and probe assembly that connects to the equipment's bus, preventing direct contact with energized parts and shielding the user from electrical hazards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a technician directly contacts electrical lines to measure voltages or identify faults, then measurement capability is improved, but safety is worsened due to risk of electrocution and arc flashes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary testing device that includes insulated test leads with probe tips for contacting electrical lines, a meter for measuring voltage, and shielding components. This intermediary device allows the technician to measure voltages without directly contacting energized components, thus maintaining measurement capability while eliminating exposure to electrical hazards.
2Ease of operation
If the cabinet is opened to inspect energized equipment, then access to equipment is improved, but safety is worsened due to exposure to dangerous voltages and arc flashes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables preliminary voltage measurements to be taken through the closed cabinet using the testing device with extended test leads. This preliminary action allows the technician to verify that equipment is de-energized or to measure voltages without opening the cabinet, thereby maintaining ease of operation while preventing exposure to arc flashes and dangerous voltages.
3Measurement precision
If conventional hand held probes are used to check wall outlets, then measurement capability is improved, but safety is worsened due to small arc flashes reaching the electrician's fingers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs an intermediary testing system that replaces conventional hand-held probes with a more sophisticated device featuring insulated test leads with probe tips, a meter for voltage detection, and shielding components. This intermediary device maintains the ability to detect outlet voltages while preventing arc flashes from reaching the user's fingers through improved insulation and shielding.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables safe measurement of voltage and continuity without exposing the user to arc flashes or electrical fields, ensuring operator safety during equipment inspection by providing a controlled and shielded interface to potentially energized electrical equipment.
Implementation Method 1
a conductive element coupled to the sleeve, the conductive element on the exterior of the sleeve and adapted to connect to a bus of the potentially energized electrical equipment; a conductive point in the interior of the sleeve, the conductive point coupled to the conductive element
Implementation Method 2
a meter connected to the pair of conductive contacts and configured to read voltage present in the potentially energized equipment
Data Source
AI summary
A test assembly system protects a user from potentially energized equipment. Aspects of the system provide access to the equipment through a socket connection and a test probe assembly that is configured to interface with the socket connection to read voltage or continuity across a bus of the equipment being inspected. The probe assembly shields the user from the equipment to prevent energy or arc flashes from projecting out to contact the user.