SHOCK DETECTOR
A shock detector having an electrical detector having a set of water immersible electrodes for detecting hazardous water conditions through the determination of the presence of either an electrical current in a body of water, a voltage in the body of water or a voltage gradient in the body of water and then providing an alert to the existence of hazardous electrical conditions in the body of water which in some cases may transmitted to a power source to shut off a power source thereby removing the hazardous water condition.
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This application is a continuation application of application Ser. No. 15/165,371 filed May 26, 2016 (pending), which is a continuation of regular application Ser. No. 14/998,497 filed Jan. 12, 2016 (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,678,119), which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/987,731 filed Aug. 26, 2013 (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,285,396), which claims priority from provisional application 61/743,184 filed Aug. 28, 2012.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENTNone
REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIXNone
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates generally to shock detectors and, more specifically, to shock detectors that can be used to prevent electric shock drowning by detecting the presence of current leakage into a body of fresh water and if the current leakage comprises a hazard to a swimmer or a person coming into contact with the body of water since the current leakage into a body of water creates an electric field in the body of water. Typically, the current leakage occurs from a faulty electrical connection on a boat or dock.
It is known that if a swimmer encounters a body of water with an electric field the swimmer can be electrocuted. The mere presence of the swimmer in the electric field causes the current flowing in the water to take a path of least electrical resistance through the swimmers body since the wet skin on a swimmer's body has a lower electrical resistance than the water surrounding the swimmer. If the voltage differential is sufficiently high the current flowing through the swimmer's body can electrocute the swimmer. In still other cases a nonswimmer may be electrocuted if he or she comes into incidental contact with a body of water, which has leakage from an electrical source.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA shock detector having a set of water immersible electrodes for detecting hazardous water conditions through the determination of the presence of either an electrical current in a body of water, a voltage in the body of water or a voltage gradient in the body of water. The shock detector alerts a person to the existence of hazardous electrical conditions in the body of water. In some cases the shock detector may signal a remote station to shut off a power source to the electrical circuit that may be the source that is leaking electrical energy into the body of water and thereby prevent injury or death to persons by alerting operators that the body of water is hazardous as it contains an electric field.
In the example shown in
The electrical conducting water electrodes 21, 23 and 25, which are immersible in a body of water such as a lake, pond or swimming pool, are supported on an electrically insulated hub 30 with each of the electrodes spaced a distance x from each other. In this example the distance x between each of the electrodes is equal, however, other spacing may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. By spacing the water electrodes 21, 23 and 25 at right angles to each other allows one to measure an electrical field in different directions and by knowing the distance one may use the information determine if a hazardous electrical field is present in the body of water as well as the intensity of the electrical field and in some cases insight into the source of current leakage.
When either a voltage or amperage measurement from the water electrodes exceeds a dangerous condition, i.e. a condition where the electric field is sufficiently intense so as to kill or injure a person, either an audio alarm 31 or a visual alarm 14, which may comprise a flashing light 14, alerts one that the body of water contains a hazardous electrical condition or electric field that can injure or electrocute a person who comes into contact with the body of water. The shock detector 10 in some cases may be permanently mounted to a dock or other object proximate the body of water to provide an ongoing warning of a hazardous electrical condition. As used herein the term electric field or electric water field occurs due to presence of an unwanted current flowing from a source of electrical power to an earth ground through the body of water rather than dissipation in an electrical device and return line. In general although electrical resistance of the water may be high the electrical resistance of a person in the body of water is less so that the current flowing through the body of water takes the path of least resistance, which is through the person rather than through the water proximate the person.
In the example shown in
The selector switch 16 permits the operator to select various water electrodes for measurement of voltage or current therebetween. For example, a first position for measuring the voltage between ground electrode 17 and water electrode 21. A second position for measuring the voltage between water electrode 21 and water electrode 23. A third position for measuring the voltage between water electrode 23 and water electrode 25 and a fourth position for simultaneously measuring the voltage between electrode 21 and 23 and electrode 23 and 25. In some cases a processor within the electrical detector 11a can be used to provide an indication of where the electrical hazard may originate from by showing the directional strength of the electric field. For example, using the ground and water electrodes to measure the voltage of electrical field at different locations one can obtain a gradient of volts per meter in different directions. Thus, in some instances the shock detector can be used as a tool for locating the source of the electrical hazard.
The portable hub 30, which is shown in
Shock detector 10 may be permanently or temporarily installed on land as well as individual docks or commercial docks. When permanently mounted detector 10 can be set to deliver an ongoing visual signal that the water is safe and that no stray current exists proximate the dock. Alternative the shock detector 10 can be set in an active mode to deliver an audible alarm advising persons to stay away from the dock or the water proximate the dock when there is a hazardous electrical condition proximate the dock. As described herein a hazardous electrical condition is a condition where the strength of the electrical field is sufficient to deliver an electrical shock that can cause injure or death to a person.
Shock detector 10 may be permanently mounted to a dock to continually or intermittently monitor the water around the perimeter of the dock. In an alternate embodiment the shock detector may be portable to enable one to conduct on-the-go measurements of the voltage at various locations in the body of water.
In the event of a low water level, which may cause the electrodes of a permanently mounted shock detector 10 to come out of water the shock detector 10 may operate in a fail safe manner and alert persons proximate the dock that the water level is low and that the shock detector is no longer is accurately measuring the presence of a hazardous water condition. The operator can then reposition the water electrodes to bring the water electrodes into contact with the body of water. In an alternate embodiment the water electrodes may be mounted to a flotation device so that the water electrodes remain in the body of water as the water level rises or falls. Thus, in some cases one may moor a floating shock detector to an object or the lake bed to provide an ongoing indication of an electrical water hazard.
Shock detector 10 may include a rechargeable battery that lasts at least 48 hours so that the shock detector can continue to provide warnings in the event the electricity source powering shock detector 10 is interrupted. In other cases a solar panel may be attached to the shock detector to provide power to the shock detector. In addition to determining the existence of a hazardous electrical condition the shock detector 10 can include the capacity to monitor itself to determine if the performance of the shock detector is deteriorating. In response to a deterioration the shock detector may send a visible or audible signal or in the alternative the shock detector may send a signal to a smart phone or the like. This feature is useful where the shock detector is battery powered.
A further feature of shock detector 10 is the inclusion of a transmitter in the shock detector that communicates directly with a power company to alert the power company that one of their customers has a hazardous water condition. The transmitter may be incorporated directly to the electrical detector 11a.
A further feature of shock detector 10 is that one can detect current leakage when a boat, which is connected to shore power, has a faulty device that leaks current into the body of water around the boat. The placement of the electrodes in the body of water allow the shock detector 10 to provide an indication of the presence and strength of the electric field around the boat and the potential hazard to a person.
Shock detector 10 may also be used to measure offshore electrical water hazards. For example, a boat, which is off shore, may have an electrical fault, i.e. an electrical short that leaks current into the water around the boat thus creating a hazardous electric field around the boat. Consequently, a person diving or accidental contacting the water around the boat may be killed or severely injured if the electrical fault is sufficiently high that is creates an electric field that exceeds a dangerous threshold. The use of an onboard shock detector 10 allows one to monitor the electric field around the boat to ensure that there is no hazardous electrical condition proximate the boat.
To illustrate a condition that causes electric shock drowning a reference should be made to
Typically, the presence of the electric field, which is sometimes referred to as stray voltage, can be detected by shock detector 10.
The hand held shock detector 40 may include a visual alert such as a LED 46, an audible alarm 47 and indicators 43 and 43a that may provide either analog or digital measurements, which are indications of an electrical water hazard that may cause electro shock drowning. In the example of
Claims
1. A shock detector comprising;
- a ground electrode for engaging with soil proximate a body of water;
- an electrical conductor connecting said ground electrode to said shock detector;
- a first water electrode for immersing in a body of water;
- a second electrical conductor connecting said water electrode to said shock detector;
- an electrical detector comprising a voltmeter located in said shock detector for measuring a voltage between the ground electrode and the first water electrode; and
- an alarm for alerting a person that the measured voltage between the ground electrode and the first water electrode has exceeded a dangerous threshold that would injure or electrocute a person.
2. The shock detector of claim 1 including a second water electrode spaced from said first water electrode and a third electrical conductor connecting said first water electrode to said shock detector;
- a switch for selecting the second water electrode and the first water electrode for measurement of the voltage therebetween to determine a voltage gradient within the body of water; and
- a further alarm in the shock detector for alerting a person that the voltage gradient has exceeded the dangerous threshold.
3. The shock detector of claim 2 including a third water electrode spaced from said second water electrode, said switch operable for selecting the second water electrode and the third water electrodes for measurement of the voltage gradient therebetween said further alarm in the shock detector alerting a person that the voltage gradient between the second water electrode and third water electrode has exceeded the dangerous threshold.
4. The shock detector of claim 1 wherein the shock detector is permanently mounted on a water dock.
5. The shock detector of claim 1 wherein the shock detector is portable and includes an electrically insulated handle for moving the shock detector from location to location.
6. The method of determining the presence of an electrical field in a body of water comprising inserting a pair of water electrodes into a body of water and measuring either a voltage differential between the water electrodes or a current flow between the pair of water electrodes and sounding alarm if either the voltage differential or the current flow is sufficient to cause electric shock drowning.
7. The method of claim 6 comprising:
- placing a current electrode in a body of water with the current electrode having a first end and a second end;
- measuring the current flow through the current electrode to determine if the current flow is sufficient to cause electric shock drowning; and
- sending a signal to alert a person of the existence of a dangerous current threshold in the body of water.
8. The method of claim 6 including the step of inserting at least three water electrodes into the body of water to determine a voltage differential between each of the water electrodes and using the voltage differential between each of the electrodes to determine an origin of an electrical fault.
9. The method of claim 6 comprising immersing a set of water electrodes in the water proximate a boat and at allowing a ground electrode to sink to the bottom of the body of water and measuring the voltage between the water electrodes and the lake bottom to determine if there is an electric field proximate the boat that could cause electric shock drowning.
10. The method of claim 6 comprising immersing a set of water electrodes in the water proximate a water dock and measuring the voltage differential between the water electrodes or measuring the voltage differential between a ground electrode and the set of water electrodes.
11. A shock detector comprising:
- a housing;
- an electrical detector located in said housing;
- a first water electrode for at least partially immersing in a body of water, said first water electrode in electrical communication with said electrical detector while being electrically isolated from said housing;
- a second water electrode for at least partially immersing in a body of water, said second water electrode in electrical communication with said electrical detector while being electrically isolated from said housing; and
- an indictor for alerting a person of the presence of an electric field in response to a signal from the electrical detector.
12. The shock detector of claim 11 wherein the electrical detector comprises an AC ammeter.
13. The shock detector of claim 11 wherein the electrical detector comprise an AC voltmeter.
14. The shock detector of claim 12 including a current rod wherein the first water electrode connects to a first end of the current rod and the second water electrode connects to an opposite end of the current rod with the electrical detector responsive to the presence of a current in the current rod when the current rod is immersed in a body of water having the electrical field.
15. The shock detector of claim 14 including a second current rod with the second current rod located at a traverse angle to the first current rod.
16. The shock detector of claim 15 wherein the shock detector is portable and includes an electrically insulated handle and an electrically insulated housing for measuring an electric field in a body of water.
17. The shock detector of claim 11 including an electrical insulation covering on the first water electrode and the second water electrode with the shock detector electrically isolated from the housing.
18. The shock detector of claim 11 wherein the electrical detector includes both an ammeter and a voltmeter.
19. The shock detector of claim 18 wherein the electrical detector measures both an AC or DC field in a body of water.
20. The shock detector of claim 12 wherein the current rod has an intermediate portion and a first end and a second end with the intermediate portion covered with an electrically insulation.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 13, 2017
Publication Date: May 3, 2018
Applicant: SHOCK ALERT, LLC (O'FALLON, MO)
Inventors: L. Herbert King, JR. (Chesterfield, MO), James Keeven (O'Fallon, MO), Frank Vlasaty (St. Louis, MO), Nathan C. Burns (Wildwood, MO), Justin McKinney (Wildwood, MO)
Application Number: 15/811,020