Nancy V Stout

US Patent:

20050264427, Dec 1, 2005

Filed:

May 9, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/126009

Inventors:

Shengke Zeng - Lansdale PA, US
John Powers - Morgantown WV, US
Larry Jackson - Morgantown WV, US
David Conover - Bethel OH, US
Nancy Stout - Morgantown WV, US
Bradley Newbraugh - Fairmont WV, US

International Classification:

G08B021/00

US Classification:

340635000

Abstract:

The present disclosure concerns an electrical injury protection system for protecting individuals working on or near a power circuit. In one embodiment, the system comprises a controller that is electrically connected to a power circuit and a detector that is carried by a user working. The detector has three or more electrodes mounted on the user's body which detect the electric field induced on the body by the power circuit. The detector is operable to detect the voltage between each pair of electrodes and activate an alarm if the voltage between any electrode pair exceeds a predetermined proximity threshold. If the voltage between an electrode pair exceeds a predetermined electrical-contact threshold, the detector transmits a tripping signal to the controller to activate a tripping mechanism, which de-energizes the power circuit. In certain embodiments, the controller can be used to monitor the de-energized condition of a de-energized circuit.