Wireless Power Line Sensor

Abstract

A wireless sensor apparatus for determining and reporting the status of an electrical wire, said sensor apparatus comprising: an electrically insulated housing; a non-contact electrical energy harvesting device, said energy harvest device disposed within said housing, said energy harvesting device comprising an electric current detector and voltage detector; an electric power source, said power source operatively connected to said energy harvesting device; a microcontroller, said microcontroller operably connected to said power source; a mechanically rigid base, said base operably connected to said housing and to said at least one strain gauge, said at least one strain gauge operably connected to said power source and to said microcontroller; a wireless data transmission antenna, said wireless data transmission antenna operably connected to said power source and to said microprocessor; a visual indicator, said visual indicator operably connected to said power source and to said microcontroller.

1 . A wireless sensor apparatus for measuring status of an electrical wire, said sensor apparatus comprising: an electrically insulated housing; a wireless electrical energy harvesting device, said energy harvest device disposed within said housing, said energy harvesting device comprising an electric current detector and voltage detector; an electric power source, said power source operatively connected to said energy harvesting device; a programmable microprocessor, said microprocessor operably connected to said power source; a mechanically rigid base, said base operably connected to said housing and to said at least one strain gauge, said at least one strain gauge operably connected to said power source and to said microprocessor; a wireless data transmission antenna, said wireless data transmission antenna operably connected to said power source and to said microprocessor; a visual display, said visual display operably connected to said power source and to said microprocessor. 
     
     
         2 . The wireless sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the insulated housing comprises HDPE. 
     
     
         3 . The wireless sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the energy harvesting device comprises an electromechanical AC energy harvester. 
     
     
         4 . The wireless sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the power source comprises a rechargeable battery. 
     
     
         5 . The wireless sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the visual display comprises a plurality of LEDs. 
     
     
         6 . A wireless sensor apparatus for measuring status of an electrical wire, said sensor apparatus physically disposed in contact with said wire and comprising: an electrically insulated housing; a means for wireless electrical energy harvesting, said means for wireless electrical energy harvesting disposed within said housing; a means for providing electrical power to said sensor apparatus, said means for providing electrical power operatively connected to said energy harvesting device; a programmable microprocessor, said microprocessor operably connected to said apparatus; a means for measuring the mechanical load on said housing, said means for measuring the mechanical load on said housing operably connected to said microprocessor; a means for determining the presence of an electric current through said electrical wire, said means for determining the presence of an electric current through said electrical wire operably connected to said microprocessor; a means for determining the presence of an electric voltage within said electrical wire, said means for determining the presence of an electric voltage operably connected to said microprocessor; a means for wireless data transmission, said means for wireless data transmission operably connected to said microprocessor; a visual display, said visual display operably connected to said microprocessor. 
     
     
         7 . The wireless sensor of  claim 6 , wherein the insulated housing comprises HDPE. 
     
     
         8 . The wireless sensor of  claim 6 , wherein said means for wireless electrical energy harvesting comprises an electromechanical AC energy harvester. 
     
     
         9 . The wireless sensor of  claim 6 , wherein said means for providing electrical power comprises a rechargeable battery. 
     
     
         10 . The wireless sensor of  claim 6 , wherein the visual display comprises a plurality of LEDs. 
     
     
         11 . A method of sensing the mechanical and electrical status of a power line, said method comprising the steps of: providing a sensor, where said sensor wirelessly harvests power from an adjacent power line; using said sensor to detect the current in an adjacent power line; using said sensor to detect the presence of a voltage in said power line; using said sensor to detect the mechanical load on said power line; using said sensor to communicate the mechanical and electric status of said power line to a system user. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the step of wirelessly harvesting electrical power comprises using an electromechanical AC energy harvesting device. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the step of using said sensor to communicate the mechanical and electric status of said power line to a system user comprises sending data from said sensor to a remote computer.