Patents by Inventor Christiaan Stephan Engelbrecht

Christiaan Stephan Engelbrecht has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9903899
    Abstract: A sensor apparatus for detecting leakage current in a post-type insulator of an electrical power system includes: a sensor unit having a housing, the sensor unit including: a sensor assembly operable to generate an analog signal proportional to a received leakage current; an electronics module operable to covert the analog signal to a digital value; and a communications system operable to wirelessly transmit the digital value to an external receiver; a collection band adapted to be connected to an exterior surface of the insulator; and a transfer lead interconnecting the sensor assembly and the collection band, the transfer lead operable to transfer leakage current from the insulator from the collection band to the sensor assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: ELECTRIC POWER RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew John Phillips, Christiaan Stephan Engelbrecht, J. Mark Major, Robert Carlton Lynch
  • Patent number: 9535105
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for accurately detecting and monitoring leakage currents on porcelain and glass insulator disc strings is disclosed. The sensor apparatus includes a sensor unit configured to attach to a cap of an insulator disc string. The sensor unit includes a sensor disc configured to surround the cap and a housing connected to the sensor disc. The sensor disc includes a conducting lower disc set, a conducting upper disc set, an insulating disc set sandwiched between the upper and lower conducting disc sets, and a conducting mesh connected to a bottom of the lower disc set. The housing including electronics configured to measure and communicate leakage currents on an insulator disc. Leakage currents on a surface of the insulator disc are intercepted by the sensor disc and transferred to the housing for processing and communication by the electronics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Electric Power Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew John Phillips, Christiaan Stephan Engelbrecht, J. Mark Major, Robert Carlton Lynch
  • Publication number: 20160018455
    Abstract: A sensor apparatus for detecting leakage current in a suspension-type insulator of an electrical power system includes: a housing having a first half of a leakage current sensor contained therein; a door pivotally connected to the housing by a hinge, and having a second half of the leakage current sensor contained therein, the door pivotable about the hinge between an open position in which the first and second halves of the leakage current sensor are separate from each other, and a closed position in which mating surfaces of the first and second halves of the leakage current sensor join together to define a closed perimeter; and a clamping mechanism connected to the housing comprising a first jaw and a second jaw, wherein the jaws are moveable between an open position and a closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventors: Andrew John Phillips, Christiaan Stephan Engelbrecht, J. Mark Major, Robert Carlton Lynch