U.S. patent application number 17/479169 was filed with the patent office on 2022-01-06 for methods of fitting and retrofitting transformers with fault indicators, and fault indicators therefor.
The applicant listed for this patent is Orto de Mexico, S.A. de C.V., Weidmann Holding AG. Invention is credited to Jorge Gonzalez de la Vega Rosales.
Application Number | 20220003805 17/479169 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005851251 |
Filed Date | 2022-01-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20220003805 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rosales; Jorge Gonzalez de la
Vega |
January 6, 2022 |
Methods of Fitting and Retrofitting Transformers with Fault
Indicators, and Fault Indicators Therefor
Abstract
Fault-indicator assemblies that can each be mounted externally
to a corresponding electronic device to provide a visual indication
that an internal fault has occurred within the electronic device. A
fault-indicator assembly of the present disclosure can be
configured for electrical devices such as electrical power
transformers, capacitors, and reactors, among others. Some
embodiments can be configured to connect to existing orifices of a
conventionally manufactured electronic device, such as an orifice
for a conventional pressure-relief valve. Such embodiments can be
deployed without any modifications to the electrical devices and
can be readily retrofitted to existing electrical devices. In some
embodiments, a pressure-relief valve can be integrated with the
fault-indicator assembly to provide both fault-indication
functionality and pressure-relief functionality in the same
assembly.
Inventors: |
Rosales; Jorge Gonzalez de la
Vega; (Cuernavaca, MX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Weidmann Holding AG
Orto de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. |
Rapperswill
Cuernavaca |
|
CH
MX |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005851251 |
Appl. No.: |
17/479169 |
Filed: |
September 20, 2021 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
16434933 |
Jun 7, 2019 |
11143688 |
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17479169 |
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16177953 |
Nov 1, 2018 |
10345367 |
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16434933 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01R 31/1254 20130101;
G01R 31/64 20200101; G01R 31/1281 20130101; G01R 31/62
20200101 |
International
Class: |
G01R 31/12 20060101
G01R031/12; G01R 31/62 20060101 G01R031/62; G01R 31/64 20060101
G01R031/64 |
Claims
1. A method of fitting an electrical transformer with a fault
indicator that indicates when the electrical transformer has
experienced a fault that causes an internal pressure increase
within an interior space of the electrical transformer, wherein the
electrical transformer has a preexisting pressure-relief-valve port
designed and configured to receive a conventional pressure-relief
valve, the method comprising: providing a fault-indicator assembly
comprising: a pressure-relieve valve; a pressure-activated actuator
operatively coupled to an onboard visual indicator or a
communication trigger, or both an onboard visual indicator and a
communication trigger, wherein the fault-indicator assembly is
provided to sense when the internal pressure has increased in a
manner characteristic of a fault occurring with the electrical
transformer; and a fitting designed and configured to engage the
preexisting pressure-relief-valve port; and securing the
fault-indicator assembly to the electrical transformer, wherein the
securing includes engaging the fitting of the fault-indicator
assembly with the preexisting pressure-relief-valve port.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the conventional pressure-relief
valve is initially engaged with the preexisting
pressure-relief-valve port, and the method further comprises, prior
to engaging the fitting of the fault-indicator assembly with the
preexisting pressure-relief-valve port, disengaging the
conventional pressure-relief valve from the preexisting
pressure-relief-valve port.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the electrical transformer is a
transformer already deployed for use, and the method is a method of
retrofitting the electrical transformer with the fault-indicator
assembly.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the preexisting
pressure-relief-valve port is a threaded port, and the fitting is
threaded to threadingly engage the threaded port.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical transformer has an
exterior sidewall, and the preexisting pressure-relief-valve port
is in the exterior sidewall.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the preexisting
pressure-relief-valve port defines an opening having a central
axis, and the pressure-relief valve and the fitting lie along the
central axis.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the onboard visual indicator
extends away from the central axis.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the onboard visual indicator
extends radially away from the central axis.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the pressure-activated actuator
is fluidly connected to the fitting fluidly upstream of the
pressure-relief valve.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the onboard visual indicator is
present and the communication trigger is not present.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication trigger is
present and the fault-indicator assembly further includes a
communication module designed and configured to communicate a
fault-notification signal over one or more networks.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the pressure-activated actuator
comprises an electronic pressure sensor, and the communication
trigger comprises circuitry that generates and sends a signal to
the communications module when the pressure equals the preset
pressure.
13. The method of claim 1, wherein: the onboard visual indicator is
present; and the communication trigger is present and the
fault-indicator assembly further includes a communication module
designed and configured to communicate a fault-notification signal
over one or more networks.
14. The method of claim 1, wherein the pressure-activated actuator
comprises a deformable component that deforms with changing
pressure within the interior space of the electronic device.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the deformable component
comprises a bellows.
16. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical transformer has a
sidewall and, when the fault-indicator assembly is secured to the
electrical transformer, longitudinal axes of the fitting and the
pressure-relieve valve are colinear and perpendicular to the
sidewall, and the pressure-activated actuator extends away from the
longitudinal axes of the fitting and the pressure-relief valve.
17. The method claim 1, wherein the onboard visual indicator is
present and is movable between a non-fault-indicating position and
a fault-indicating position and the fault-indicator assembly
further comprises: a catch operatively engaged with the onboard
visual indicator, the catch maintaining the onboard visual
indicator in the non-fault-indicating position until triggered to
release the onboard visual indicator; and a trigger responsive to
the pressure-activated actuator and operatively engaged with the
catch so as to release the catch in response to the trigger being
triggered by the pressure-activated actuator.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the onboard visual indicator
comprises an elongate body slidable within a mating receiver along
a longitudinal axis between the non-fault-indicating position and
the fault-indicating position.
19. The method of claim 18, further comprising a biasing means that
biases the elongate body toward the fault-indicating position.
20. The method of claim 1, wherein the pressure-relief valve is
configured to release pressure at a first pressure magnitude, the
fault-indicator assembly being designed and configured with an
adjustable pressure setpoint, wherein, when the adjustable pressure
setpoint is set at a magnitude below the first pressure magnitude,
the fault-indicator assembly provides a pressure indication that is
independent of a rate of increase of the interior space pressure,
and, when the adjustable pressure setpoint is set at a magnitude
above the first pressure magnitude, the fault indicator assembly
provides a pressure indication that is dependent on a rate of
increase of the interior space pressure.
21. The method of claim 1, wherein the fault-indicator assembly has
an adjustable pressure setpoint that provides a pressure
measurement that is selectively configurable as dependent or
independent of a rate of increase of the interior space
pressure.
22. The method of claim 1, wherein the pressure-activated actuator
is configured to detect slow and accumulative pressure
increases.
23. The method of claim 1, wherein the onboard visual indicator is
present, and the pressure-activated actuator is configured to cause
the onboard visual indicator to change to a fault-indicating state
in response to a magnitude of pressure within the interior space of
the electrical transformer equaling a preset pressure independently
of a rate of increase of the pressure within the interior space of
the electrical transformer.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION DATA
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 16/434,933, filed Jun 7, 2019, entitled
"Externally Mountable Fault Indicator Assemblies for Electrical
Devices, Systems Incorporating Same, and Methods of Using Same",
which application was a continuation of U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 16/177,953, filed Nov. 1, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No.
10,345,367, granted Jul. 9, 2019. Each of these applications is
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0002] The present disclosure generally relates to the field of
electrical device fault indicators. In particular, the present
disclosure is directed to externally mountable fault indicator
assemblies for electrical devices, systems incorporating same, and
methods of using same.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Electrical power distribution grids use electrical devices,
such as transformers, capacitors and reactors to control the power
on the network. Dangerous conditions can be created in such
electrical devices when aging or operating stresses cause the
insulation system to fail. A short circuit within such an
electrical device can release a large amount of energy within a
fraction of a second. In the worst case, the electrical device can
explode due to rapid pressure surges from the vaporizing of the
insulating oil and the decomposition of the oil vapor into
combustible gases. Some electrical devices are filled with
electrically insulating gases such as sulfur hexafluoride. In such
gas-filled devices arcing can cause pressure surges in the gas.
[0004] Unfortunately, an internal fault within an electrical device
may occur without providing a visible sign to the outside. Unless
service personnel can tell that a particular device has failed,
they may re-apply power to the device without detecting that a
failure has occurred, exposing them to the significant risk that
the electrical device could explode when reenergized and the fault
reoccurs and generates a high internal pressure.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0005] In an implementation, the present disclosure is directed to
a method of fitting an electrical transformer with a fault
indicator that indicates when the electrical transformer has
experienced a fault that causes an internal pressure increase
within an interior space of the electrical transformer, wherein the
electrical transformer has a preexisting pressure-relief-valve port
designed and configured to receive a conventional pressure-relief
valve. The method includes providing a fault-indicator assembly
comprising a pressure-relieve valve; a pressure-activated actuator
operatively coupled to an onboard visual indicator or a
communication trigger, or both an onboard visual indicator and a
communication trigger, wherein the fault-indicator assembly is
provided to sense when the internal pressure has increased in a
manner characteristic of a fault occurring with the electrical
transformer; and a fitting designed and configured to engage the
preexisting pressure-relief-valve port; and securing the
fault-indicator assembly to the electrical transformer, wherein the
securing includes engaging the fitting of the fault-indicator
assembly with the preexisting pressure-relief-valve port.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] For the purpose of illustrating the disclosure, the drawings
show aspects of one or more embodiments of the disclosure. However,
it should be understood that the present disclosure is not limited
to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown in the
drawings, wherein:
[0007] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a fault-indicator assembly
made in accordance with the present disclosure;
[0008] FIG. 2 is a partial elevational view of a pair of
pole-mounted stepdown transformers that each include an externally
mounted fault-indicator assembly made in accordance with the
present disclosure;
[0009] FIG. 3A is a side elevational view of an example
instantiation of a fault-indicator assembly made in accordance with
the present disclosure, showing the visual indicator in a
non-fault-indicating position;
[0010] FIG. 3B is a side elevational view of the fault-indicator
assembly of FIG. 3A, showing the visual indicator in a
fault-indicating position;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the fault-indicator
assembly of FIGS. 3A and 3B, showing a part of the housing removed
to reveal interior components;
[0012] FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion of the side
elevational view of FIG. 4;
[0013] FIG. 6 is a graph of measured pressure and voltage over time
during testing of the fault-indicator assembly of FIGS. 3A to
5;
[0014] FIG. 7 is a high-level schematic diagram illustrating a
fault-indicator assembly of the present disclosure configured to
communicate with a remote notification system; and
[0015] FIG. 8 is a high-level schematic diagram illustrating a
computing system that can be incorporated into the notification
system of FIG. 7.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] In some aspects, the present disclosure is directed to a
fault-indicator assembly that indicates when an electrical device
has experienced an internal fault that manifests itself as an
abnormal pressure rise within the electrical device. Such a
fault-indicator assembly is particularly useful for oil-filled and
gas-filled electrical devices, such as transformers, capacitors,
and reactors, used on power-distribution networks and the like. A
fault-indicator assembly of the present disclosure provides a
visual indication that the internal pressure of the electrical
device has reached a predetermined level indicative of an internal
fault having occurred. An example of an internal fault that can
cause a relatively high pressure inside an oil-filled electrical
device is an internal arcing fault that produces a large
temperature increase that vaporizes some of the oil. In a
gas-filled electrical device, such as an electrical device filled
with electrically insulating sulphur hexafluoride, internal arcing
causes pressure surging within the gas.
[0017] Referring to the accompanying drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates
an example fault-indicator assembly 100 of the present disclosure
located externally to, and fluidly connected to, an electrical
device 104, which may be any electrical device, such as a
transformer, capacitor, or reactor, filled with an insulating
fluid, for example, oil or gas. Electrical device 104 includes an
interior space 104A that contains various internal components 104B,
including but not limited to electrical windings and/or other
electrical conductors and insulation, such as insulation paper
and/or insulation boards, among other things. Those skilled in the
art will be familiar with the components that make up internal
components 104B of electrical device 104, depending on the type of
the electrical device.
[0018] In this example, fault-indicator assembly 100 includes a
visual indicator 108 that is controlled by a pressure-activated
actuator 112 via an actuation coupling 116. Pressure-activated
actuator 112 is fluidly coupled to interior space 104A of
electrical device 104 via a connecting structure 120, as indicated
by arrows 124(1) and 124(2) that denote conveyance of pressure
from, respectively, the internal space to the connecting structure
and from the connecting structure to the pressure-activated
actuator. Consequently, when pressure changes within interior space
104A, both connecting structure 120 and pressure-activated actuator
112 also experience a pressure change. Depending on the magnitude
of the pressure within interior space 104A and experienced by
pressure-activated actuator 112, the pressure-activated actuator
controls the visual-indication state of visual indicator 108.
[0019] Visual indicator 108 and pressure-activated actuator 112 are
selected and designed in conjunction with one another so that
fault-indicator assembly 100 provides persistent fault-indicating
functionality that signals that a triggering pressure level has
occurred even when the pressure has subsequently decreased below
the triggering pressure level. In this example, visual indicator
108 may be considered to have two states--a non-fault-indicating
state and a fault-indicating state--and these states may take any
of a variety forms. For example, in some embodiments, the
non-fault-indicating and fault indicating states may be based on
one or more illumination sources, such as one or more
light-emitting diodes. In one example that uses a pair of
illumination sources, the non-fault-indicating state may be one of
the illumination sources emitting green light and the
fault-indicating state may be the other of the illumination sources
emitting red light. In another example using a single illumination
source, the non-fault-indicating state may be the illumination
source not emitting any light and the fault-indicating state may be
the illumination source emitting red light. In each of these
examples, pressure-activated actuator 112 may be a pressure
transducer that generates electrical non-fault and fault signals
for controlling the illumination of the illumination source(s).
Such a pressure transducer may be based on any suitable
pressure-activate device, such as a bellows (see detailed example
below), a Bourdon tube, or a diaphragm, among others. Visual
indicator 108 and/or pressure-activated actuator 112 may be
configured so that even when the pressure that caused the visual
indicator to change to the fault-indicating state reduces or is
reduced, the visual indication remains in the fault-indicating
state. This allows an observer to know that electrical device 104
may be damaged and require fixing or replacement before
reenergizing. In these examples, actuation coupling 116 comprises
the electrical signals for illuminating the illumination
source(s).
[0020] In some embodiments, visual indicator 108 may be a
mechanical device for which the non-fault-indicating and
fault-indicating states correspond to differing positions of one or
more movable members of the mechanical device. For example, the
mechanical device may be a dial-gage-like device having a movable
needle that is movable between a non-fault-indicating position and
a fault-indicating position. In this example, the needle may be
moved by a Bourdon tube (i.e., pressure-activated actuator 112) as
pressure within the Bourdon tube increases. The dial-gage-like
device may have a dial marked with a red zone, and if the needle is
in the red zone, an observer would know that electrical device may
be damaged. In this example, the needle moves in only one
direction--toward and/or into the red zone--by virtue of the
Bourdon tube only being able to push the needle to move it. This
provides the persistent indication that a fault-level pressure
occurred even though the pressure may have subsequently reduced to
a normal level. The needle may be secured to a pivot so as to have
enough friction with the pivot to remain in the position the
Bourdon tube has pushed it to after the Bourdon tube has relaxed.
This dial-gage-like device may be in the form of a rotary dial or a
linear dial and may have a moveable member other than a needle.
This sort of device may be considered non-binary, since the movable
member can be moved with any pressure increase, and not just
pressure increases that move the movable member into the red zone.
In this example, actuation coupling 116 comprises the engagement of
the Bourdon tube with the movable member.
[0021] Another example of a mechanical device that can be used for
visual indicator 108 is a plunger-style device having a
plunger-like elongate body that is longitudinally movable between a
non-fault-indicating position (a/k/a state) and a fault-indicating
position (a/k/a state) within a corresponding receiver. In one
example, the operation of the elongate body is binary in nature,
with the non-fault-indicating position being a position in which
the elongate body is fully retracted into the receiver and the
fault-indicating position being a position in which the elongate
body fully extended out of the receiver. An example of a
plunger-style version of visual indicator 108 is described below in
detail in conjunction with FIGS. 3A to 5. In some embodiments, the
elongate body may be held in the non-fault-indicating position by a
catch while being biased, for example, by one or more springs, one
or more elastic bands, gravity (e.g., with a downwardly moving
elongate body), etc., toward the fault-indicating position. In such
embodiments, a trigger actuated by pressure-activated actuator 112
causes the catch to release, which in turn allows the elongate body
to move under influence of the biasing. In these embodiments,
pressure-activated actuator 112 may be of any suitable type, such
as a deformable type that deforms either continuously with changing
pressure or suddenly when the pressure reaches a trigger pressure.
This deformation moves the trigger, which in turn releases the
catch and allows the elongate body to move under influence of the
biasing. It is noted that the trigger may be a separate member or
structure relative to pressure-activated actuator 112 and the
catch. However, it could also be integrated into either the
pressure-activated actuator 112 or the catch. For example, the
trigger may simply be a protrusion or other structure on the catch
that pressure-activated actuator contacts directly to release the
catch. In this example, actuation coupling 116 comprises the
trigger and corresponding catch. Other embodiments are certainly
possible.
[0022] In another example of a plunger-style visual indicator 108,
the elongate body may be held in the non-fault indicating position
by friction, for example, with a sleeve or O-ring seal located
between the end of a housing near the end of the elongate body that
extends from the housing when the visual indicator has been
triggered. In this example, the elongate body may be pushed from
the non-fault indicating position to the fault-indicating position
by a diaphragm moved by a differential pressure between interior
space 104A of electrical device 104 and ambient pressure outside of
the electrical device. Such diaphragm may act against a spring
calibrated to the appropriate pressures. In this example, once the
diaphragm has pushed the plunger-type visual indicator 108 to the
extended fault-indicating position, it remains in that position by
virtue of the friction noted above even though the diaphragm may
have retracted because of subsequent reduction of pressure within
interior space 104A of electrical device.
[0023] Connecting structure 120 allows fault-indicator assembly 100
to be located externally to electrical device 104 and provides a
fluid passageway between interior space 104A of the electrical
device and pressure-activated actuator 112, for example, via an
orifice 104C. In a simple form, connecting structure 120 may be a
rigid or flexible conduit that provides the fluid passageway. In an
even simpler form, connecting structure 120 may consist essentially
of a connection fitting that makes a direct fluid connection of
pressure-activated actuator 112 to electrical device 104. If
connecting structure 120 includes an elongate conduit,
pressure-activated actuator 112 may be located at least somewhat
distally from electrical device 104 or in a location spaced from
orifice 104C, if desired. For example, if orifice 104C is located
where insufficient clearance exists to locate pressure-activated
actuator 112 there, or where an observer could not readily view
visual indicator 108, then providing connecting structure 120 with
a sufficiently long conduit would allow pressure-activated actuator
112 and visual indicator 108 to be located remotely from orifice
104C.
[0024] In one example, orifice 104C is threaded. In this example,
connecting structure 120 can have a threaded end threaded to
threadedly engage threaded orifice 104C so that the connecting
structure can be connected to electrical device 104. It is noted
that some electrical devices, such as transformers, are currently
manufactured with pressure-relief-valve orifices that receive
corresponding respective conventional pressure-relief valves.
Consequently, in some embodiments, the end of connecting structure
120 may be adapted for these specific conventional orifices.
[0025] In this connection, connecting structure 120 may itself
optionally include, or otherwise fluidly communicate with, a
pressure-relief valve 128. In embodiments of fault-indicator
assembly 100 adapted to engage a conventional pressure-relief-valve
orifice, pressure-relief valve 128 replaces a conventional
pressure-relief valve. This allows existing and conventionally
manufactured electrical devices having such orifices to be easily
retrofitted with external fault-indicator assemblies made in
accordance with the present disclosure. This is in stark contrast
with conventional fault indicators that require pressure-sensing
components to be located within the interior space of the
electrical device. Consequently, conventional fault indicators are
not readily retrofitted into existing and conventionally
manufactured electrical devices.
[0026] FIG. 2 illustrates a pair of fault-indicator assemblies
200(1) and 200(2) deployed on the exteriors of corresponding
respective electrical transformers 204(1) and 204(2). In this
example, each fault-indicator assembly 200(1), 200(2) may be
identical to fault-indicator assembly 100 of FIG. 1. In this
example, transformers 204(1) and 204(2) are mounted to a utility
pole 208 and deployed as three-phase stepdown transformers that
stepdown the voltage on higher-voltage lines 212(1) to 212(3) to
provide lower-voltage lines 216(1) to 216(3) with a lower voltage.
As noted above, electrical transformers, here electrical
transformers 204(1) and 204(2), are just one example of electrical
devices that can benefit from fault-indicator assemblies of the
present disclosure.
Example Fault-Indicator Assembly
[0027] FIGS. 3A to 5 illustrate a fault-indicator assembly 300 that
is a specific instantiation of fault-indicator assembly 100
depicted in FIG. 1. Referring first to FIG. 3A, fault-indicator
assembly 300 includes a visual indicator 304 and a connecting
structure 308 that has a connection end 308A in the form of a
connection fitting 308B. In this example, connection fitting 308B
is a threaded fitting particularly configured to threadingly engage
a mating threaded orifice (not shown) in a wall of an electrical
device (not shown). Fault-indicator assembly 300 also includes an
integrated pressure-relief valve 308C, which, here, is integrated
with connecting structure 308. Visual indicator 304 comprises an
elongate body 304A slidably engaged within a corresponding receiver
312 provided within a housing 316. FIG. 3A shows visual indicator
304 fully retracted into elongate body receiver 312, with only a
headed end 304B showing on the outside of fault-indicator assembly
300. This fully retracted position of visual indicator 304 is the
non-fault-indicating position 320 (a/k/a state) of the visual
indicator. In this example, visual indicator 304 remains in
non-fault-indicating position 320 as long as the pressure within an
interior region of an electrical device (not shown) on which
fault-indicator assembly 300 is deployed does not cause the
pressure within the fault-indicator assembly to equal or exceed a
predetermined triggering pressure of the fault-indicator
assembly.
[0028] FIG. 3B, on the other hand, shows visual indicator 304 fully
extended from receiver 312 along a longitudinal axis 322, revealing
to an observer a previously concealed portion 304C of the visual
indicator. This fully extended position of visual indicator 304 is
the fault-indicating position 324 (a/k/a state) of the visual
indicator. As described below in detail, visual indicator 304
changes position from non-fault-indicating position 320 to
fault-indicating position 324 based on the pressure within the
interior space of the electrical device (not shown) causing the
pressure within fault-indicator assembly 300 to equal or exceed the
predetermined triggering pressure of the fault-indicator assembly.
Once visual indicator 304 is in fault-indicating position 324, it
remains in this position even if the pressure within
fault-indicator assembly 300 falls below the predetermined
triggering pressure. This allows an observer to see that the
electrical device (not shown) has experienced an elevated internal
pressure indicative of a fault having occurred, regardless of how
long it has been since the fault occurred and regardless of the
current pressure within the electrical device. Seeing visual
indicator 304 in its fault-indicating position 324 is a signal to
an observer that the electrical device should not be reenergized
before it is inspected, repaired, and/or replaced. While visual
indicator 304 provides visual indication of an internal fault
within the electrical device merely by virtue of its extension from
receiver 312, in some embodiments previously concealed portion 304C
can be colored or otherwise marked to make observation easy. For
example, previously concealed portion 304C can be colored red,
yellow, orange, or other bright color so that visual indicator is
easily viewable. In some embodiments, a user can reset
fault-indicator assembly 300 by pushing visual indicator 304 back
into receiver 312 when the pressure within the fault-indicator
assembly is suitably low.
[0029] In this example, housing 316 contains not only receiver 312
but also a pressure-activated actuator 328 (see FIG. 4) and a
portion of connecting structure 308, among other things. In this
manner, housing 316 effectively makes fault-indicator assembly 300,
including pressure-relief valve 308C, into a robust unitary device.
Housing 316 may be made of any suitable material(s), such as
plastic, fiber-reinforced composite, and/or metal, among others. As
seen when viewing either of FIGS. 3A and 3B in conjunction with
FIG. 4, housing 316 in this example is a two-part housing
comprising a first half 316A (FIGS. 3A and 3B) and a second half
316B (FIG. 4) that are joined together via fasteners (not shown)
that extend through fastener openings 332 (FIG. 4) on the second
half and into corresponding receivers (not shown) on the first half
to join the two halves to one another.
[0030] FIG. 4 shows components of fault-indicator assembly 300 of
FIGS. 3A and 3B located within housing 316. Referring to FIG. 4, in
this example pressure-activated actuator 328 has an expandable body
328A, here, a bellows, having an interior (not shown) that is
fluidly coupled to the interior space (not shown) of an electrical
device through connecting structure 308 and therefore is subjected
to effectively the same pressure that is in the interior space. The
pressure differential between the interior of expandable body 328A
and the space 336 within housing 316 in which the expandable body
is located causes the expandable body to expand or contract
depending on the pressure differential between the two spaces. Not
seen in FIG. 4 is the fluid passageway internal to connecting
structure 308 that fluidly connects both the interior of expandable
body 328A and pressure-relief valve 308C to the interior space (not
shown) of an electrical device when fault-indicator assembly 300 is
connected to the electrical device via connecting structure
308.
[0031] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, in this example, when the
pressure within expandable body 328A is suitably low, visual
indicator 304 is held in its non-fault-indicating position 320
(also FIG. 3A) by a catch 340, here, a shear pin that extends
through an aperture 316C (FIG. 5) in wall 316D (FIG. 5) of housing
316 and into a receiver 304D (FIG. 5) within the visual indicator.
Visual indicator 304 is biased in a direction toward
fault-indicating position 324 (FIG. 3B) by a biasing means 344,
here a single helical spring compressed between housing 316 and
visual indicator 304. More than one spring can be used. Biasing
means 344 need not be a helical spring, but rather could be, among
other things another type of spring, another type of resilient
member (e.g., elastomeric member), or gravity. Gravity can be used
as biasing means 344 if, for example, fault indication assembly 300
is mounted so that visual indicator 304 moves vertically downward
from its non-fault-indicating position 320 to its fault-indicating
position 324 (i.e., when the fault-indicator assembly is rotated
90.degree. clockwise relative to the orientation shown in FIGS. 3A
to 5). It is noted that catch 340 need not necessarily be a shear
pin, and can alternatively be any other suitable structure that
releasably holds visual indicator 304 and/or biasing means 344.
[0032] As best seen in FIG. 5, the shear pin (i.e., catch 340) is
biased toward aperture 316C by a biasing means 348, here a helical
spring. Another type of biasing means can be used for biasing means
348, including any of the biasing means noted above for biasing
means 344. When catch 340 is in registration with aperture 316C and
the pressure within expandable body 328A is suitably low, biasing
means 348 urges the catch into the aperture, thereby allowing the
catch to act as a shear pin between visual indicator 304 and wall
316D so as to hold the visual indicator in its non-fault-indicating
position 320.
[0033] As also best seen in FIG. 5, in this example fault-indicator
assembly 300 includes a trigger 352 coupled to and moved by
expandable body 328A. As expandable body 328A expands upwardly
(relative to FIG. 5), it moves trigger 352 upward, which in turn
pushes catch 340 upward. When the pressure within expandable body
328A is great enough and therefore expands enough, the contacting
end surfaces of catch 340 and trigger 352, respectively, align
horizontally (relative to FIG. 5) with the sliding interface
between end 304E of visual indicator 304 and interior surface 316E
of wall 316D. When this alignment occurs, catch 340 is disengaged
from aperture 316C and therefore releases visual indicator 304, and
biasing means 344 urges the visual indicator to its
fault-indication position 324 (FIG. 3B). In this example, end 304E
of visual indicator 304 has a shoulder 304F that engages an end
wall 316F of housing 316 to keep biasing means 344 from pushing the
visual indicator out of receiver 312. Also in the example, trigger
352 includes a threaded shaft 352A and a threaded adjuster 352B
that allows a user to adjust the pressure at which catch 340 is
released. Screwing threaded adjustor 352B farther onto threaded
shaft 352A results in trigger 352 releasing catch 340 at a higher
pressure, and screwing the threaded adjustor in the opposite
direction results in the trigger releasing the catch at a lower
pressure. In one instantiation in which expandable body 328A was a
bellows having an equilibrium volume of 9.01 cm.sup.3, the bellows
was configured so that it deformed under pressure as illustrated in
the following Table I.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE I Pressure Displacement (psi) (mm) 4.5 1.12
6.0 2.34 8.0 4.14 9.0 4.79
[0034] Regarding triggering pressure, for many oil-filled
transformers used for power distribution, conventional
pressure-relief valves are typically set to trigger at 10 psi. For
these applications, pressure-relief valve 308C (FIGS. 3A to 4) may
be similarly configured to trigger at 10 psi. In such an
application, fault-indicator assembly 300 is connected to a
transformer so that expandable body 328 is in fluid communication
with the gas space above the oil level within the interior space of
the transformer.
[0035] In one example of a wide calibration, expandable body 328
and threaded adjustor 352B are configured and adjusted to trigger
catch 340 to release visual indicator 304 at 9 psi, which is before
pressure-relief valve 308C starts releasing pressure at 10 psi. In
this manner, fault-indicator assembly 300 can detect slow and
accumulative pressure increase caused by low energy arcs (partial
discharge failure mode of the transformer).
[0036] In an example of a reduced calibration, expandable body 328A
and threaded adjustor 352B are configured and adjusted to trigger
catch 340 to release visual indicator 304 at 11 psi, which is after
pressure-relief valve 308C starts releasing pressure at 10 psi. At
this pressure, pressure-relief valve 308C is already releasing
pressure and fault-indicator assembly will need a pressure increase
rate higher than the releasing pressure rate of the pressure-relief
valve. This was tested in a laboratory, and it was found that a
pressure rate of 3 psi/sec can be enough to trigger release of
visual indicator 304 even if pressure-relief valve 308C is already
releasing pressure. It is noted that the pressure rate may be
different from 3 psi/sec if pressure-relief valve 308C is sized
differently. However, IEEE standards require pressure-relief valve
308C to operate at 10 psi and a flow rate of 35 scfm, so a
different pressure rate may not be needed. A reason for using the
reduced calibration is to avoid a false operation in the case that
the pressure increases due to temperature increase when the
electrical device is overloaded (e.g., by oil expansion). This can
cause the pressure to rise up to 9 psi. It is noted that the
triggering pressure can be set to be equal to the release pressure
of pressure-relief valve 308C, if desired.
Experimental Testing
Testing Procedure--Low-Energy Test
[0037] An instantiation of fault-indicator assembly 300 of FIGS. 3A
to 5 was mounted to a testing tank. A high-voltage transformer
terminal was connected to a vertical electrode and ground was
connected to a horizontal electrode. Then, an oil mixer was turned
on. The transformer was energized and the voltage was regulated to
a level of 5 kV to produce low energy arcing (approx. 1 Ampere)
during a period of 10 seconds. The voltage was lowered and the
transformer was de-energized. The procedure was repeated with
consecutive cycles until the pressure was sufficient enough to
trigger visual indicator 304 of fault-indicator assembly 300 and to
operate pressure relief valve 308C, which was set to 10 psi. The
pressure values were measured, recorded, and plotted during the
test. FIG. 6 shows the pressure values, via pressure curve 600,
measured over time during the test. Curve 604 displays the voltage
over time during the test. In this test, the pressure rose
approximately 0.053 psi/min. Pressure curve 600 shows, that the
pressure gradually increased, simulating a high-impedance internal
fault, such as a low energy partial arcing inside the transformer.
Fault-indicator assembly 300 triggered visual indicator 304 at the
calibration pressure of 9.5 psi, illustrated at point 608. This
result demonstrates that fault-indicator assembly 300 is sensitive
enough to detect this failure mode. Relief-valve operation
triggered at a pressure of approximately 10.03 psi, as indicated at
point 612.
High-Energy Tests
[0038] It is recognized that the test conditions that could
simulate a high-energy arc inside a transformer should ultimately
be described in terms of the energy applied, with the pressure wave
defined by the rate of rise, length of the arc, peak pressure,
duration, and total energy under the curve. In order to simulate a
high-energy arc inside a transformer to perform the fault indicator
tests, the test procedure described in IEEE Standard C57.12.20,
Section 9 was used. This test procedure is not intended to include
all possible conditions that may occur in service under fault
conditions, but rather to establish a meaningful test that is
repeatable and capable of duplication in various laboratories and
test situations.
[0039] A simulated internal fault was provided for the test. This
simulated fault consisted of a 25 mm (.about.1 in) arc gap mounted
horizontally and located 25.4 mm (1 in) above core clamps. This gap
was bridged initially by a copper wire that had a diameter smaller
than 1.0 mm (0.0394 in or 18 AWG). The gap was connected between
the high-voltage terminals. The mounting blocks or terminals of the
gap consisted of copper-bearing material having flat surfaces from
6 mm to 20 mm (0.25 in to 0.75 in) in diameter or in width. These
mounting blocks or terminals were designed to maintain this 25 mm
(.about.1 in) arc gap for the duration of the testing. A
transformer coil was not electrically connected in this test
circuit. The power source was 7.2 kV and adjusted to supply the
desired arc current. The above-identified Standard defines an arc
current of 8000 A. However, various tests were performed at lower
current values to find the sensitivity of fault-indicator assembly
300.
[0040] During the tests, fault-indicator assembly 300 was able to
reliably trigger visual indicator 304 and signal the presence of an
internal fault in a pole mounted distribution transformer. The test
results validate that fault-indicator assembly 300 triggers visual
indicator 304 and signals the presence of internal faults with
currents as low as the ones shown in Table II below.
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE II Applied Currents for High-Energy Tests
Applied Current Test duration (A) (mS) 472 66.6 1024 33.3 1776 33.3
8000 33.3 (IEEE Standard Test)
Example Fault-Indicator Assembly Having Remote Communication
Functionality
[0041] FIG. 7 illustrates an example fault-indicator assembly 700
that is able to communicate to a remotely located notification
system 704 that the pressure inside an electrical device 708 has
reached a level indicative of an internal fault having occurred
within the electrical device. As noted above, both fault-indicator
assembly 700 and electrical device 708 may be, respectively, the
same as and/or incorporate the same or similar features as any of
the fault-indicator assemblies and electrical devices described
above.
[0042] In this example, fault-indicator assembly 700 includes a
pressure-activated actuator (PAA) 712 that has the same or similar
functions as described above relative to pressure-activated
actuator 112 of FIG. 1 and can likewise be any suitable actuator or
sensor responsive to pressure changes within the interior space of
electrical device 708. In this example, pressure-activated actuator
712 of FIG. 7 causes, either directly or indirectly, a
communication trigger 716 to send one or more signals 720 to a
communication module 724 that cause the communication module to
transmit a notification signal 728 to notification system 704 via
one or more communication networks 732. As described below in more
detail, notification signal 728 allows notification system 704 to
notify one or more human users (not shown) and/or one or more
external systems (not shown) that fault-indication assembly 700 has
been triggered such that an internal fault may have occurred within
electrical device 708.
[0043] Communication trigger 716 may be any suitable device or
system that can generate signal(s) 720 for communication module 724
when fault-indicator assembly 700 has reached its triggering
pressure based on pressure within internal space of electronic
device 708. In one example, if pressure-activated actuator 712
comprises an electronic pressure sensor, then communication trigger
716 may comprise circuitry within, or in communication with, the
electronic pressure sensor that generates signal(s) 720 when the
electronic pressure sensor has reached the triggering pressure. As
another example, if pressure-activated actuator 712 comprises a
deformable component that deforms with changing pressure, such as
occurs with a bellows, Bourdon tube, etc., the communication
trigger 716 may comprise a switch that is actuated to send
signal(s) 720 by movement of the deformable component. In the
context of fault-indicator assembly 300 of FIGS. 3A to 5, when the
triggering pressure is reached, expandable body 328A may push
against a spring-loaded switch (not shown) that causes signal(s)
720 (FIG. 7) to be communicated to communication module 724. As
another example in which pressure-activated actuator 712 comprises
a deformable body, fault-indicator assembly 700 may be provided
with a position sensor that can identify when the position of a
portion of the deformable body moves to a position corresponding to
the triggering pressure. Such a position sensor can be of any
suitable type, such as mechanical, light-based and/or
piezoelectric, among others.
[0044] In some embodiments, fault-indicator assembly 700 may
optionally include a visual indicator 736, which can be the same as
or similar to any one or more of the visual indicators described
above relative to FIGS. 1 to 5. When visual indicator 736 is
present and is of a movable type, such as visual indicator 304 of
FIGS. 3A to 5 or the movable visual indicators described above
relative to visual indicator 108 of FIG. 1, communication trigger
716, similar to the situation just described relative to a
deformable body type of pressure-activated actuator 712, may be a
switch or other type of position sensor that senses when the visual
indicator is in its fault-indicating position. For example,
fault-indicator assembly 300 of FIGS. 3A to 5 may be enhanced with
a switch located on the inside of end wall 316F (FIG. 5) such that
when visual indicator 304 has been triggered and shoulder 304F of
end 304E of the visual indicator is moving toward end wall 316F of
housing 316, the shoulder impacts upon the switch, thereby
activating it. Many other alternatives are possible. In addition,
depending on the configurations and presence of any trigger and
catch, such as trigger 352 and catch 340 of FIG. 5, either or both
of those may be used for triggering communication trigger 716. In
this case, communication trigger 716 may be, for example, a switch
or other position sensor responsive to the position of either the
trigger or catch, or both.
[0045] Fault-indicator assembly 700 of FIG. 7 may optionally
include a pressure-relief valve (PRV) 736. Pressure-relieve valve
736 may be the same as or similar to any of the pressure-relief
valves described above, such as pressure-relief valve 128 of FIG. 1
and pressure-relief valve 308C of FIGS. 3A to 5. Pressure-relief
valve 736 may be configured to additionally or alternatively cause
communication trigger 716 to send signal(s) to communication module
724.
[0046] Communication module 724 may be any suitable wired or
wireless communications device, such as a wireless radio-frequency
transmitter or transceiver (e.g., a transmitter or transceiver that
transmits using an IEEE 802.11 protocol), an optical transmitter or
transceiver (e.g., a transmitter or receiver that transmits either
in open air or via an optical fiber), or a wired transmitter or
transceiver that transmits analog or digital signals over a
communication cable, among others. Fundamentally, there are no
limitations on the type of communication module 724 and the
communication protocol used, as long as they are compatible with
communication network(s) 732.
[0047] Communication network(s) 732 may be composed of any one or
more networks that can carry notification signal 728 from
communication module 724 to a communication module 740 of
notification system 704. Examples of such communication networks
include, but are not limited to, local-area networks, wide-area
networks, global networks (e.g., the Internet), cellular
communication networks, microwave communication networks,
radio-frequency networks, optical communication networks,
electrical power networks, and/or wired telephone communication
networks, among many others. Fundamentally, there are no
limitations on the type and number of networks that can compose
communication network 732 other than it/they can communicate
notification signal 728 from communication module 724 of
fault-indicator assembly 700 to communication module 740 of
notification system 704.
[0048] In addition to communication module 740 that receives
notification signal 728, notification system 704 may include one or
more processors (collectively represented at processor 744), one or
more memories (collectively represented as memory 748), one or more
displays (collectively represented as display 752), and one or more
communication ports (collectively represented as communication port
756), among other things. Memory 748 is in operative communication
with processor 744 and containing machine-executable instructions
(not shown) for, among other things, executing algorithms and
associated tasks for carrying out the functionalities described
herein. Those skilled in the art will readily understand how to
embody such algorithms based on the present functional descriptions
such that further explanation is not required for those skilled in
the art to understand how to execute all aspects of this
disclosure.
[0049] Processor 744 may comprise any one or more processing
devices, such as one or more microcontrollers, one or more central
processing units, one or more processing cores of a system on a
chip, one or more processing cores of an application specific
integrated circuit, and/or one or more field programmable gate
arrays, among others. Memory 748 can be any type(s) of suitable
machine memory, such as cache, RAM, ROM, PROM, EPROM, and/or
EEPROM, among others. Machine memory can also be another type of
machine memory, such as a static or removable storage disk, static
or removable solid-state memory, and/or any other type of
persistent hardware-based memory. Fundamentally, there is no
limitation on the type(s) of memory other than it be embodied in
hardware. The machine-executable instructions compose software
(e.g., firmware and/or application(s) or portion(s) thereof) that
controls many aspects of notification system 704. In some
embodiments, notification system 704 or portions thereof can be
executed in a general computing system, an example of which is
described below in connection with FIG. 8.
[0050] Referring still to FIG. 7, display 752 may be any suitable
display observable or otherwise perceivable by a human operator,
including but not limited to a graphical display, another type of
visual display (e.g., one or more lights, dials, etc.), an aural
display, and/or a haptic display, among others. When
fault-indicating assembly 700 has been triggered, communication
module 724 has sent notification signal 728, and communication
module 740 has received the notification signal, processor 744
executes suitable software to cause display to display a
notification that one or more observers can perceive so as to
indicate to the observer(s) that the fault-indicating assembly has
been triggered so as to alert the observer(s) that electrical
device 108 may have experienced an internal fault. Similarly, when
communication module 740 receives notification signal 728,
processor 744 may also or alternatively execute suitable software
that sends a suitable fault signal to one or more external systems
(not shown) that are each configured to respond to the fault signal
in a useful manner. Examples of such external systems include but
are not limited to, power-distribution control systems, system-wide
alert systems, broadcast alert systems, and network-wide
fault-tracking systems, and critical event management systems,
among others.
Example Computing System
[0051] It is to be noted that any one or more of the aspects and
embodiments of notification system 704 of FIG. 7 described herein
may be conveniently implemented in and/or using one or more
machines (e.g., one or more computers, one or more communications
network devices, one or more electrical distribution network
devices, any combination and/or network thereof, among other
things) programmed according to the teachings of the present
specification, as will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in
the computer arts. Appropriate software coding can readily be
prepared by skilled programmers based on the teachings of the
present disclosure, as will be apparent to those of ordinary skill
in the software art. Aspects and implementations discussed above
employing software and/or software modules may also include
appropriate hardware for assisting in the implementation of the
machine executable instructions of the software and/or software
module.
[0052] Such software may be a computer program product that employs
a machine-readable storage medium. A machine-readable storage
medium may be any medium that is capable of storing and/or encoding
a sequence of instructions for execution by a machine (e.g., a
computing device) and that causes the machine to perform any one of
the methodologies and/or embodiments described herein. Examples of
a machine-readable storage medium include, but are not limited to,
a magnetic disk, an optical disc (e.g., CD, CD-R, DVD, DVD-R,
etc.), a magneto-optical disk, a read-only memory "ROM" device, a
random access memory "RAM" device, a magnetic card, an optical
card, a solid-state memory device, an EPROM, an EEPROM, and any
combinations thereof. A machine-readable medium, as used herein, is
intended to include a single medium as well as a collection of
physically separate media, such as, for example, a collection of
compact discs or one or more hard disk drives in combination with a
computer memory. As used herein, a machine-readable storage medium
does not include transitory forms of signal transmission.
[0053] Such software may also include information (e.g., data)
carried as a data signal on a data carrier, such as a carrier wave.
For example, machine-executable information may be included as a
data-carrying signal embodied in a data carrier in which the signal
encodes a sequence of instruction, or portion thereof, for
execution by a machine (e.g., a computing device) and any related
information (e.g., data structures and data) that causes the
machine to perform any one of the methodologies and/or embodiments
described herein.
[0054] Examples of a computing device include, but are not limited
to, a laptop computer, a computer workstation, a terminal computer,
a server computer, a handheld device (e.g., a tablet computer, a
smartphone, etc.), a web appliance, a network router, a network
switch, a network bridge, any machine capable of executing a
sequence of instructions that specify an action to be taken by that
machine, and any combinations thereof In one example, a computing
device may include and/or be included in a kiosk.
[0055] FIG. 8 shows a diagrammatic representation of one embodiment
of a computing device in the exemplary form of a computer system
800 within which a set of instructions for performing any one or
more of the aspects and/or methodologies of the present disclosure
may be executed. It is also contemplated that multiple computing
devices may be utilized to implement a specially configured set of
instructions for causing one or more of the devices to contain
and/or perform any one or more of the aspects and/or methodologies
of the present disclosure. Computer system 800 includes a processor
804 and a memory 808 that communicate with each other, and with
other components, via a bus 812. Bus 812 may include any of several
types of bus structures including, but not limited to, a memory
bus, a memory controller, a peripheral bus, a local bus, and any
combinations thereof, using any of a variety of bus
architectures.
[0056] Memory 808 may include various components (e.g.,
machine-readable media) including, but not limited to, a random
access memory component, a read only component, and any
combinations thereof. In one example, a basic input/output system
816 (BIOS), including basic routines that help to transfer
information between elements within computer system 800, such as
during start-up, may be stored in memory 808. Memory 808 may also
include (e.g., stored on one or more machine-readable media)
instructions (e.g., software) 820 embodying any one or more of the
aspects and/or methodologies of the present disclosure. In another
example, memory 808 may further include any number of program
modules including, but not limited to, an operating system, one or
more application programs, other program modules, program data, and
any combinations thereof.
[0057] Computer system 800 may also include a storage device 824.
Examples of a storage device (e.g., storage device 824) include,
but are not limited to, a hard disk drive, a magnetic disk drive,
an optical disc drive in combination with an optical medium, a
solid-state memory device, and any combinations thereof. Storage
device 824 may be connected to bus 812 by an appropriate interface
(not shown). Example interfaces include, but are not limited to,
SCSI, advanced technology attachment (ATA), serial ATA, universal
serial bus (USB), IEEE 1394 (FIREWIRE), and any combinations
thereof. In one example, storage device 824 (or one or more
components thereof) may be removably interfaced with computer
system 800 (e.g., via an external port connector (not shown)).
Particularly, storage device 824 and an associated machine-readable
medium 828 may provide nonvolatile and/or volatile storage of
machine-readable instructions, data structures, program modules,
and/or other data for computer system 800. In one example, software
820 may reside, completely or partially, within machine-readable
medium 828. In another example, software 820 may reside, completely
or partially, within processor 804.
[0058] Computer system 800 may also include an input device 832. In
one example, a user of computer system 800 may enter commands
and/or other information into computer system 800 via input device
832. Examples of an input device 832 include, but are not limited
to, an alpha-numeric input device (e.g., a keyboard), a pointing
device, a joystick, a gamepad, an audio input device (e.g., a
microphone, a voice response system, etc.), a cursor control device
(e.g., a mouse), a touchpad, an optical scanner, a video capture
device (e.g., a still camera, a video camera), a touchscreen, and
any combinations thereof. Input device 832 may be interfaced to bus
812 via any of a variety of interfaces (not shown) including, but
not limited to, a serial interface, a parallel interface, a game
port, a USB interface, a FIREWIRE interface, a direct interface to
bus 812, and any combinations thereof. Input device 832 may include
a touch screen interface that may be a part of or separate from
display 836, discussed further below. Input device 832 may be
utilized as a user selection device for selecting one or more
graphical representations in a graphical interface as described
above.
[0059] A user may also input commands and/or other information to
computer system 800 via storage device 824 (e.g., a removable disk
drive, a flash drive, etc.) and/or network interface device 840. A
network interface device, such as network interface device 840, may
be utilized for connecting computer system 800 to one or more of a
variety of networks, such as network 844, and one or more remote
devices 848 connected thereto. Examples of a network interface
device include, but are not limited to, a network interface card
(e.g., a mobile network interface card, a LAN card), a modem, and
any combination thereof. Examples of a network include, but are not
limited to, a wide area network (e.g., the Internet, an enterprise
network), a local area network (e.g., a network associated with an
office, a building, a campus or other relatively small geographic
space), a telephone network, a data network associated with a
telephone/voice provider (e.g., a mobile communications provider
data and/or voice network), a direct connection between two
computing devices, and any combinations thereof. A network, such as
network 844, may employ a wired and/or a wireless mode of
communication. In general, any network topology may be used.
Information (e.g., data, software 820, etc.) may be communicated to
and/or from computer system 800 via network interface device
840.
[0060] Computer system 800 may further include a video display
adapter 852 for communicating a displayable image to a display
device, such as display device 836. Examples of a display device
include, but are not limited to, a liquid crystal display (LCD), a
cathode ray tube (CRT), a plasma display, a light emitting diode
(LED) display, and any combinations thereof. Display adapter 852
and display device 836 may be utilized in combination with
processor 804 to provide graphical representations of aspects of
the present disclosure. In addition to a display device, computer
system 800 may include one or more other peripheral output devices
including, but not limited to, an audio speaker, a printer, and any
combinations thereof. Such peripheral output devices may be
connected to bus 812 via a peripheral interface 856. Examples of a
peripheral interface include, but are not limited to, a serial
port, a USB connection, a FIREWIRE connection, a parallel
connection, and any combinations thereof.
[0061] The foregoing has been a detailed description of
illustrative embodiments of the disclosure. It is noted that in the
present specification and claims appended hereto, conjunctive
language such as is used in the phrases "at least one of X, Y and
Z" and "one or more of X, Y, and Z," unless specifically stated or
indicated otherwise, shall be taken to mean that each item in the
conjunctive list can be present in any number exclusive of every
other item in the list or in any number in combination with any or
all other item(s) in the conjunctive list, each of which may also
be present in any number. Applying this general rule, the
conjunctive phrases in the foregoing examples in which the
conjunctive list consists of X, Y, and Z shall each encompass: one
or more of X; one or more of Y; one or more of Z; one or more of X
and one or more of Y; one or more of Y and one or more of Z; one or
more of X and one or more of Z; and one or more of X, one or more
of Y and one or more of Z.
[0062] Various modifications and additions can be made without
departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. Features of
each of the various embodiments described above may be combined
with features of other described embodiments as appropriate in
order to provide a multiplicity of feature combinations in
associated new embodiments. Furthermore, while the foregoing
describes a number of separate embodiments, what has been described
herein is merely illustrative of the application of the principles
of the present disclosure. Additionally, although particular
methods herein may be illustrated and/or described as being
performed in a specific order, the ordering is highly variable
within ordinary skill to achieve aspects of the present disclosure.
Accordingly, this description is meant to be taken only by way of
example, and not to otherwise limit the scope of this
disclosure.
[0063] Example embodiments have been disclosed above and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It will be understood by
those skilled in the art that various changes, omissions and
additions may be made to that which is specifically disclosed
herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present
disclosure.
* * * * *