Method and device for measuring corrosion on a portion of a metallic path carrying an undetermined load current

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United States of America Patent

PATENT NO 5481198
SERIAL NO

08296497

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ATTORNEY / AGENT: (SPONSORED)

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Abstract

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A method for determining whether a metallic path (such as a wire) under test carrying an undetermined load current is so corroded as to require replacement applies a test current to the metallic path under test and a total current passing through the metallic path, equal to the sum of the undetermined load current and the test current, is measured. A voltage between two selected points, separated by a known length, on the metallic path is also measured. Resistance of the metallic path is then calculated by measuring an angular phase difference between the voltage and the total current, calculating an impedance of the metallic path from the values of the voltage and the total current then multiplying the impedance by the cosine of the angular phase difference. The resistance of the metallic path under test is correlated to the resistance of metallic paths of known corrosion to determine the degree of corrosion on the metallic path under test. The metallic path is replaced if the degree of corrosion exceeds a predetermined value. The disclosed invention is especially useful in detecting corroded underground neutral wires that run between padmount transformers. An apparatus for measuring corrosion on a wire under test comprises means for supplying an alternating test current to the wire under test, means for measuring a total current flowing through the wire, means for measuring the voltage across the wire under test, and calculating means for determining the amount of corrosion on the wire under test.

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Patent Owner(s)

Patent OwnerAddress
GEORGIA POWER COMPANY THE333 PIEDMONT AVENUE ATLANTA GA 30303

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Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Patel, Shashikant G Atlanta, GA 1 21

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