Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
ELECTRICAL POWER MONITORING SYSTEM
BACKGROUND
1. Field
Embodiments of the invention relate to electrical systems for trucks,
trailers,
and other motor vehicles.
2. Related Art
Trailers that are hitched to, and towed behind, tractors, trucks, or other
vehicles have lighting systems that typically include stop lights, turn
signals, brake
lights, exterior lights, interior lights, or other electrical devices. These
devices are
often operated using controls at the interior of the vehicle towing the
trailer. This may
be accomplished electrically by coupling one or more electrical wires from the
trailer
to corresponding wires of the vehicle used to tow the trailer (e.g., via a
plug and
socket, such as a 7-way connector). Accordingly, by operating controls of the
vehicle
(e.g., a brake pedal, a turn signal switch, or another type of switch), a
signal may be
sent via one or more of the wires of the vehicle through the electrical
coupling, and to
the corresponding wire(s) of the trailer, thereby enabling the vehicle
operator to
effectively control circuits or devices of the trailer.
A persistent problem affecting the trucking/tractor trailer industry is the
corrosion of electrical wires, electrical connections, or electrical junctions
used in
circuits of trucks and trailers. Corrosion may be caused by, for example, salt
and de-
icing agents, which are used on the roads on which the tractors and trailers
travel, as
well as moisture or water present on the roads and in the atmosphere. When
these
materials reach exposed electrical wiring or electrical connections, the
materials can
chemically react with the metals of the wires and connections to create rust
or
corrosion. Such rust and corrosion can lead to power being inconsistently or
inefficiently transmitted to the lights, turn indicators, brake signals, etc.,
and can even
lead to a total loss of power to these circuits.
Inconsistent power transmission through the electrical circuits due to bad
electrical connections or due to corrosion can cause, for example, a trailer's
exterior
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lighting system to flicker or to fail to turn on. The rust or corrosion may
create a
barrier at a surface of the electrical wires, or may cause the surface area of
the
electrical wires or the corresponding connection to be corroded away, thereby
causing poor contact due to wires/pins failing to make surface contact with
each
other.
Manually checking for failures in the truck or trailer electrical systems and
identifying the failing component can be a time-consuming process requiring
special
equipment and some trial and error.
For instance, discovering an electrical
discontinuity (or a wire break) in a 7-way connector cable coupling the
electrical
systems of the tractor and trailer may at least involve 1) turning ON all of
the electrical
circuits at the trailer (e.g., all of the trailer lights), 2) identifying that
at least one
electrical component at the trailer is not functioning properly, 3) using a
tester to
check for the presence of electrical power (e.g., voltage) at the back of the
tractor,
and if power is present, 4) swapping the 7-way connector cable with a known
working
cable, and 5) determining if that causes the failure, such as a light not
turning on, to
go away or not. Such a process may involve significant time and effort on the
part of
the operator and requires having possession of a working spare cable, without
which
identification of the problem may become very difficult.
SUMMARY
Aspects of embodiments of the invention are directed to an electrical power
monitoring system for sensing the presence of electrical power (e.g., voltage)
at a
junction in the electrical system of a vehicle.
Aspects of embodiments of the invention are directed to junction box having an
electrical power monitoring system that continuously monitors the presence of
electrical power (e.g., voltage) at circuits within the junction box and
visually indicates
the monitored status of each of the circuits to an operator.
According to embodiments of the invention, there is provided an electrical
power monitoring system including: a base at an external surface of a wall of
a
junction box and including a stem configured to project through an opening in
the
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wall, the base further including a monitoring circuit; a plurality of
conductors extending
through the stem and coupling the monitoring circuit to a plurality of
conductive
terminals in the junction box; and a fastener configured to mate with the stem
of the
base at an internal surface of the wall to fix the base to the wall, wherein
the
monitoring circuit is configured to monitor presence of electrical power at
the plurality
of conductive terminals, the monitoring circuit including a plurality of light
sources at
the external surface of the base.
In some embodiments, the electrical power monitoring system further includes
a clear cover configured to protect an external surface of the base against
external
conditions.
According to embodiments of the invention, there is provided an electrical
power monitoring system including: a base at an external surface of a wall of
a
junction box and including a stem configured to pass through an opening in the
wall,
the base further including a monitoring circuit; a plurality of conductors
extending
through the stem and coupling the monitoring circuit to a plurality of
conductive
terminals in the junction box; a clear cover configured to protect an external
surface of
the base against external conditions; and a fastener configured to mate with
the stem
of the base at an internal surface of the wall to fix the base to the wall,
wherein the
monitoring circuit is configured to monitor presence of electrical power at
the plurality
of conductive terminals, the monitoring circuit including a plurality of light
sources at
the external surface of the base.
In some embodiments, the stem includes a threaded stem and the fastener is
a locking nut having a threaded interior configured to mate with the threaded
stem of
the base.
In some embodiments, the plurality of light sources is configured to indicate
the
presence of electrical power at the plurality of conductive terminals.
In some embodiments, each light source of the plurality of light sources is
electrically coupled between a ground terminal of the plurality of conductive
terminals
and a corresponding one of remaining ones of the plurality of conductive
terminals,
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and the monitoring circuit further includes a plurality of resistors in series
with
respective ones of the plurality of light sources.
In some embodiments, the monitoring circuit further comprises: a switch
configured to permit flow of current through the plurality of light sources
when
activated, and to restrict flow of current through the plurality of light
sources when
deactivated; and a controller configured to activate and deactivate the
switch.
In some embodiments, the controller is configured to monitor configured to
monitor the presence of electrical power at the plurality of conductive
terminals and to
activate the switch at a first detection of electrical power and to deactivate
the switch,
even in the presence of the electrical power, after passage of a set period of
time.
In some embodiments, the conductive terminals are threaded studs, and each
of the plurality of conductors is terminated in a ring terminal configured to
be secured
to a corresponding one of the threaded studs of the junction box.
In some embodiments, the electrical power monitoring system further includes
a rubber gasket between the locking nut and the base and configured to secure
the
locking nut to the wall and to seal the opening in the wall.
In some embodiments, the clear cover includes polycarbonate lens or a
transparent epoxy cover.
In some embodiments, the junction box is a J560 junction box at a nose of a
trailer.
According to embodiments of the invention, there is provided a junction box
including: a socket configured to receive a connector cable carrying a
plurality of
wires, the junction box being coupled to an electrical system of a vehicle; a
plurality of
conductive terminals electrically coupled to the plurality of wires of the
connector
cable; an electrical power monitoring system coupled to an exterior wall of
the
junction box, the electrical power monitoring system including: a base at an
external
surface of a wall of a junction box and including a threaded stem configured
to pass
through an opening in the wall, the base further including a monitoring
circuit; a
plurality of conductors extending through the stem and coupling the monitoring
circuit
to the plurality of conductive terminals of the junction box; a clear cover
configured to
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protect an external surface of the base against external conditions; and a
locking nut
having a threaded interior configured to mate with the threaded stem of the
base at
an internal surface of the wall to fix the base to the wall, wherein the
monitoring circuit
is configured to monitor presence of electrical power at the plurality of
conductive
terminals, the monitoring circuit including a plurality of light sources at
the external
surface of the base.
In some embodiments, the plurality of light sources is configured to indicate
the
presence of electrical power at the plurality of conductive terminals.
In some embodiments, each light source of the plurality of light sources is
electrically coupled between a ground terminal of the plurality of conductive
terminals
and a corresponding one of remaining ones of the plurality of conductive
terminals,
and the monitoring circuit further includes a plurality of resistors in series
with
respective ones of the plurality of light sources.
In some embodiments, the conductive terminals are threaded studs, and each
of the plurality of conductors is terminated in a ring terminal configured to
be secured
to a corresponding one of the threaded studs of the junction box.
In some embodiments, the junction box further includes a rubber gasket
between the locking nut and the base and configured to secure the locking nut
to the
wall and to seal the opening in the wall.
In some embodiments, the clear cover includes polycarbonate lens or a
transparent epoxy cover.
In some embodiments, the junction box is a J560 junction box at a nose of a
trailer, and the connector cable is connected to the electrical system of a
tractor
physically coupled to the trailer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings, together with the specification, illustrate
exemplary embodiments of the invention, and, together with the description,
serve to
explain aspects of embodiments of the invention. The above and other features
and
aspects of the invention will become more apparent by the following detailed
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description of exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the attached
drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a tractor and trailer employing one or more
electrical power monitoring systems, according to some embodiments of the
invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a junction box having attached thereto an
electrical power monitoring system, according to some embodiments of the
invention;
FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the electrical power monitoring system,
according to some embodiments of the invention;
FIG. 4 is a side view illustrating the assembly of the electrical power
monitoring
system around the wall of the junction box, according to some embodiments of
the
invention;
FIG. 5 illustrates the electrical connection between the electrical power
monitoring system and the junction box, according to some embodiments of the
invention; and
FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of the monitoring circuit of the
electrical
power monitoring system, according to some embodiments of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention will be described more fully with
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which, exemplary embodiments of the
invention are shown. As those skilled in the art would realize, the described
embodiments are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms
without
departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. For clarity of the
description of the
invention, some elements or features not required for the complete
understanding of
the invention may be omitted.
Like reference numerals in the drawings denote like elements, and repeated
descriptions thereof may be omitted.
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FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a tractor 100 and trailer 110 employing one
or
more electrical power monitoring systems 300, according to some embodiments of
the invention.
Referring to FIG. 1, the electrical system of a tractor 100, which may be
powered by a battery or an alternator housed at the tractor 100, may be
electrically
wired to, and provide power to, the electrical system of a trailer 110 via a
connector
cable (e.g., a 7-way connector cable, cord, or harness) 120. The connector
cable 120
may be electrically coupled to the electrical systems of the tractor 100 and
trailer 110
through the tractor junction box 200-1 and the trailer junction box (i.e., a
trailer nose
box) 200, respectively. The electrical system of the trailer 110 may
include, for
example, a battery 112, a plurality of auxiliary devices (e.g., external
electrical
devices) 114 that may receive power from the tractor 100 through the connector
cable
120 and/or the battery 112, and/or the like. The auxiliary devices 114 may
include
stop lights, turn signals, brake lights, exterior lights, interior lights, an
anti-lock braking
system (ABS) and/or other electrical devices external to the tractor 100,
which may
be attached to or provided in the trailer 110.
According to some embodiments of the invention, an electrical power
monitoring system 300 may monitor the flow of power from the electrical system
of
the tractor 100 to the electrical system of the trailer 110, by detecting the
presence of
electrical power (e.g., presence of a voltage) at a plurality of conductive
terminals in
the trailer junction box 200, which are coupled to corresponding wires within
the
connector cable 120. The electrical power monitoring system 300 may be
physically
attached to a wall of the trailer junction box 200 and may extend through an
opening
in the wall of the trailer junction box 200 to establish an electrical
connection with the
plurality of connectors within the trailer junction box 200 that are connected
to
corresponding wires within the connector cable 120. In some embodiments, the
electrical power monitoring system 300 includes light sources (e.g., indicator
lights)
that indicate the presence of electrical power at junction box 200 to an
operator (e.g.,
a driver or technician) by, for example, lighting up when electrical power
(e.g.,
voltage) is detected. In examples employing a 7-way connector cable 120 that
is
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connected to 7-pin sockets at the tractor and trailer junction boxes 200-1 and
200, the
electrical power monitoring system 300 may have six light sources
corresponding to
the six power and signal lines of the 7-way connector cable (the 7th line may
be a
ground line).
According to some embodiments, the electrical power monitoring system 300
may be connected to the tractor junction box 200-1, rather than the trailer
junction box
200, to monitor the presence of electrical power at the back of the tractor
(i.e., at the
tractor junction box 200-1).
In some embodiments, in addition to a first electrical power monitoring system
300 at the front of the trailer 110, a second electrical power monitoring
system 300-1
may be attached to the tractor junction box 200-1 to indicate the presence of
electrical
power at the back of the tractor (i.e., at the tractor junction box 200-1).
The second
electrical power monitoring system 300-1 may be the same or substantially the
same,
in structure and function, as the electrical power monitoring system 300
described
throughout this application.
In some embodiments, the electrical power monitoring system 300 aids an
operator in detecting a fault in the electrical connection between the tractor
100 and
the trailer 110. For example, through a simple visual inspection, the operator
may
determine whether electrical power is reaching the front of the trailer.
Further, when
the operator verifies that electric power is present at the back of the
tractor (e.g., by
visually inspecting a second electrical power monitoring system 300-1 or by
employing another tester or monitoring mechanism at the tractor junction box
200-1),
the operator may be able to readily identify a faulty connector cable (e.g.,
one having
an electrical discontinuity) by observing the off state of a plurality of
light indicators at
the electrical power monitoring system 300 of the trailer junction box 200. As
such,
the operator may identify a faulty harness without the need for a spare
working
harness.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a junction box having attached thereto an
electrical power monitoring system 300, according to some embodiments of the
invention.
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Referring to FIG. 2, the electrical power monitoring system 300 may be
attached (e.g., affixed) to the external body of the junction box 200 at any
suitable
location that facilitates easy viewing by an operator. For example, the
electrical
power monitoring system 300 may be attached to a side wall 202 of the junction
box
200 (as shown) or to a top or front side of the junction box 200. For ease of
description, henceforth, the junction box 200 may refer to either one of the
trailer or
tractor junction boxes 200 or 200-1.
The junction box 200 is capable of receiving the connector cable 120 at the
socket 204, when the cap 206 is lifted. In some embodiments, the socket 204
may be
compatible with the SAE (Society of American Engineers) J-560 standard, and
the
connector cable 120 may be a 7-conductor J560 harness. However, embodiments of
the invention are not limited thereto, and the socket 204 and the connector
cable 120
may be compatible with 5-pin, 6-pin, 7-pin, or 13-pin ISO standards, and/or
any other
suitable standard.
FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the electrical power monitoring system 300,
according to some embodiments of the invention. FIG. 4 is a side view
illustrating the
assembly of the electrical power monitoring system 300 around the wall 202 of
the
junction box 200, according to some embodiments of the invention.
Referring to both FIGS. 2-3, according to some embodiments, the electrical
power monitoring system 300 includes a base 302, which has a stem 304 and
includes a monitoring circuit 306 integrated therein, a plurality of
conductors (e.g.,
wires) 308 extending through the stem 304 and coupling the monitoring circuit
306 to
a plurality of conductive terminals in the junction box 200, and a fastener
(e.g., a
locking nut) 310 for engaging with the stem 304 of the base 302 at an internal
surface
202a of the wall 202 to secure (e.g., fix) the base 302 to the wall 202. In
some
embodiments, the stem 304 is threaded and the fastener 310 is a locking nut
having a
threaded interior for mating with the threaded stem 304 of the base 302.
However,
embodiments of the invention are not limited thereto, and the fastener 310 may
be
fixedly engaged with the stem 304 using any suitable mechanism.
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Referring to FIG. 4, the wall 202 of the junction box 200 has an opening 208
through which the stem 304 of the base 302 extends. In some embodiments, the
base 302 may have an area greater than that of the opening 208 such that when
the
stem 304 extends through the opening 208, the base 302 completely covers the
opening 208, and the opening 208 is not exposed to the outside. In some
examples,
the opening 208 may have a diameter of about 0.5 inch, about 0.75 inch, or
about 1
inch. The base 302 may be made of any suitable material such as Delrin, PVC,
and/or glass. In some examples, a gasket (e.g., a rubber gasket or washer) 314
may
be positioned between the locking nut 310 and the internal surface 202a of the
wall
202 to secure the base 302 and the locking nut 310 and to the wall 202 and to
seal
the opening 208 by filling any irregularities in the mating surfaces of the
locking nut
310 and the wall 202 and preventing leakage of moisture and other contaminants
into
the junction box 200 from the outside.
The stem 304 may be substantially tubular with a hollow interior along the
length of the stem 304, or may be a solid molding around the conductors 308.
According to some embodiments, the monitoring circuit 306 monitors the
presence of electrical power at the plurality of conductive terminals (by,
e.g.,
measuring voltage) within the junction box 200 and includes a plurality of
light
sources (e.g., indicator lights) 316 to indicate the presence or lack of
electrical power
at the monitored conductive terminals by emitting or not emitting light. The
plurality of
light sources 316 may be positioned at an external face (e.g., at an external
surface)
307 of the base 302 facing away from the junction box 200. In some examples,
the
electrical power monitoring system 300 may further include a clear (e.g.,
translucent
or transparent) cover 312 for protecting the external face 307 of the base 302
and the
plurality of light sources 316 integrated thereon against external elements
and
conditions. For example, the clear cover 312 may prevent moisture from
reaching the
base 302 and damaging the electronic circuitry of the monitoring circuit 306,
and may
physically protect the base 302 and the monitoring circuit 306 against the
impact of
flying debris and/or the like. The clear cover 312 may be made of
polycarbonate
material, clear epoxy, and/or the like. The clear cover 312 may be molded over
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base 302, may be sonic welded to the base 302, or may be affixed to the base
302
via any other suitable method.
As shown in FIGS. 2-3, in some embodiments, the base may be a substantially
circular disc abutting against the exterior surface 202b of the wall 202 of
the junction
box 200. However, the shape of the base is not limited thereto, and may be,
for
example, elliptical, hexagonal, square, or any other suitable shape. The clear
cover
312 may have a shape corresponding to that of the base 302.
While not shown in the figures, a second gasket (e.g., washer/seal) may be
positioned between the exterior surface 202b of the wall 202 to secure the
physical
connection between the base 302 and the exterior surface 202b wall 202. In
some
examples, the base 302 may be flush against the exterior surface 202b.
FIG. 5 illustrates the electrical connection between the electrical power
monitoring system 300 and the junction box 200, according to some embodiments
of
the invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of the monitoring circuit
306
according to some embodiments of the invention.
Referring to FIG. 5, when the connector cable 120 is plugged into the socket
204 of the junction box 200, a connector plug 210 of the junction box 200
establishes
an electrical connection with the multi-wire connector cable 120 and
distributes the
corresponding electrical power and/or signals from the connector cable 120 to
an
electrical system (e.g., the electrical system of the trailer 110). The
connector plug
210 has connected to it a plurality of conductive terminals (e.g., termination
studs)
212 that match the number of, and are electrically connected to respective
ones of,
the wires carried by the multi-wired connector cable 120.
Referring to FIGS. 4-5, in some embodiments the plurality of conductors 308 of
the electrical power monitoring system 300 have conductive terminal ends 309
at
their respective ends, which are configured to be physically affixed to, and
electrically
connected to, the conductive terminals 212 of the junction box 200. In some
embodiments, the conductive terminal ends 309 are ring terminals that are
received
by threaded studs of the conductive terminals 212. However, embodiments of the
invention are not limited thereto. For example, an electrical and physical
connection
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between the conductive terminal ends 309 and the conductive terminals 212 may
be
established through push-on connections (e.g., heat-shrink push-on male and
female
bullet terminals), spliced in-line connections, and/or the like.
In examples in which the junction box 200 is J560 compatible, each of the
wires carried by the multi-wired connector cable 120, and the corresponding
conductive terminal 212, may have a particular color designation and may
provide
power to a different external device (e.g., light) in the trailer electrical
system. As an
example, the following table provides the color designations of some of said
conductive terminals 212, and the corresponding trailer circuit to which they
provide
power:
Red Brake/stop lights
Black License plate lighting
Brown Marker lights
Blue Auxiliary circuits (e.g., ABS, lift gates)
Green Right turn signal
yellow Left turn signal
White System Ground
According to some embodiments, the monitoring circuit 306 senses (e.g.,
continuously senses) the voltage at each of the conductors 308 and indicates
the
presence of electrical power at each of the conductors 308 via the plurality
of light
sources 316, which may be light emitting diodes (LEDs). In some examples, the
conductors 308 may be color coded to match the color designations of the
associated
conductive terminals 212. Additionally, markings may be added to the external
face
307 of the base 302 to indicate how the light sources 316 correspond to the
conductive terminals 212. For example, each of the light sources 316 may be
labeled
as one of Rd (red), Bk (black), Br (brown), BI (blue), Gr (green), or YI
(yellow).
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Referring to FIG. 6, according to some embodiments, the monitoring circuit
306 includes a plurality of resistors 318 connected in series with the
plurality of light
sources 316 to form resistor-light source pairs corresponding to respective
ones of
the non-ground conductors 308.
In examples in which the junction box uses a J560 compatible socket 204, the
monitoring circuit 306 includes six light sources 316, for example, LEDs D1 to
D6,
and six resistors 318, for example, resistors R1 to R6. In some examples, the
resistors R1 to R6 may each have a value of about 470 ohms. Each LED-resistor
pair (D1-R1, D2-R2 ... or D6-R6) may be electrically coupled between one of
the non-
ground conductors 308 (or non-ground conductive terminals 212 having a non-
white
color designation) and the grounded conductor 308 (or grounded termination
stud 212
having a white color designation). When a sufficiently high voltage (e.g.,
12V) exists
at each of the non-ground conductors 308 (or non-ground conductive terminals
212),
a small electrical current may be established through the corresponding pair
of light
source 316 and resistor 318, causing the corresponding light source 316 to be
turned
on.
This indicates to the operator that electrical power is present at the
corresponding line. When no voltage is present at a non-ground conductor 308
(or a
non-ground conductive terminals 212), no current will pass through the
corresponding
pair of light source 316 and resistor 318, causing the corresponding light
source 316
to be turned off. This indicates to the operator that no electrical power is
present at
the corresponding line. This may point to a faulty connector cable 120, since
the lack
of power may be caused by an electrical discontinuity within the connector
cable 120.
According to some embodiments, the monitoring circuit 306 further includes a
controller 320 and a switch 322 that is controlled (e.g., activated and
deactivated) by
the controller 320 for the purpose of turning ON or OFF the electrical power
monitoring system 300. The switch 322 may permit current flow through the
plurality
of light sources 316 when activated, and may restrict (e.g., shut off) current
flow
through the plurality of light sources 316 when deactivated. The controller
320 may
monitor the existence of power at one or more of the non-ground conductors 308
(or
non-ground conductive terminals 212), and when power is first detected at the
one or
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more monitored conductors/terminals, the controller 320 may activate the
switch 322
to permit current to flow through the light sources 316 (thus, turning ON the
electrical
power monitoring system 300). In some embodiments, after the passage of set
period of time (e.g., about 5 minutes), the controller 320 may deactivate the
switch
322 to turn off the plurality of light sources 316 (thus, turning OFF the
electrical power
monitoring system 300). The switch 322 may remain deactivated until power at
the
one or more monitored conductors/terminals is reset, for example, by the
connector
cable 120 being disconnected and reconnected to the junction box 200 or by the
tractor 100 being restarted. As a result, the electrical power monitoring
system 300
may only perform a monitoring function for a preset period of time after the
truck 100
is turned on or a current carrying connector cable 120 is connected to the
junction
box 200. This prevents the light sources 316 from remaining continuously on
while
the truck is on the road, for example, which may otherwise be a source of
distraction
for nearby cars on the road.
In some embodiments, controller 320 may determine the existence of power at
the input of the electrical power monitoring system 300 by measuring a voltage
at the
one or more of the non-ground conductors 308 (or non-ground conductive
terminals
212) that is higher than a voltage threshold (e.g., about 3 V; however the
threshold
may be as high as about 32 V). In other embodiments, the controller 320 may
measure the current flowing through the one or more non-ground conductors 308
(or
non-ground conductive terminals 212) and the corresponding one or more light
sources 316, and may determine that power is present when the one or more
measured currents is/are higher than a current threshold (e.g., about 0 A;
however
the threshold may be as high as about 10 A). However, embodiments of the
present
invention are not limited thereto, and the controller 320 may make a
determination
regarding the existence of power at the input of the electrical power
monitoring
system 300 based on both a voltage and current measurement.
In some examples, the switch may be electrically coupled between the
resistors 318 and the grounded conductor 308 (or grounded termination stud
212). In
some examples, the switch 322 may include a plurality of switches
corresponding to
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the plurality of light sources 316. In such examples, each of the plurality of
switches
may be electrically coupled between one of the light sources 316 and the
corresponding non-ground conductor 308 (or non-ground conductive terminals
212)
and may operate to permit/restrict current through the light source 316 when
.. activated/deactivated by the controller 320.
According to embodiments of the invention, the design of the electrical power
monitoring system 300 makes it easy to retrofit a junction box 200 or any
other
electrical connection box to display status of power carrying conductors.
Additionally,
by continuously monitoring and visually reporting the status of the electrical
connection at the front of the trailer and/or the back of the trailer, the
electrical power
monitoring system 300 simplifies the process of identifying the cause and
locations of
faults in the electrical systems of the tractor and trailer.
While this invention has been described in detail with particular references
to
illustrative embodiments thereof, the embodiments described herein are not
intended
to be exhaustive or to limit the scope of the invention to the exact forms
disclosed.
Persons skilled in the art and technology to which this invention pertains
will
appreciate that alterations and changes in the described structures and
methods of
operation can be practiced without meaningfully departing from the principles,
spirit,
and scope of this invention, as set forth in the following claims and
equivalents
thereof.
The terms used in the present specification are used to describe particular
embodiments, and are not intended to limit the invention. For example, it will
be
understood that, although the terms "first", "second", etc. may be used herein
to
describe various elements, these elements would not be limited by the strict
.. construction of these terms. Instead, these terms are used only to
distinguish one
component from another. Further, an expression used in the singular
encompasses
the expression of the plural, unless it has a clearly different meaning in the
context.
In the present specification, it is to be understood that the terms such as
"comprising",
"including", "having", etc., are intended to indicate the existence of the
features,
numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof disclosed
in the
CA 3028766 2018-12-28
specification, and are not intended to preclude the possibility that one or
more other
features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof
may
exist or may be added.
It will be understood that when an element or layer is referred to as being
"on",
"connected to", or "coupled to" another element or layer, it can be directly
on,
connected to, or coupled to the other element or layer, or one or more
intervening
elements or layers may also be present. Similarly, when an element or layer is
referred to as being "connected at" or "coupled at" another element or layer,
the
element or layer may be directly or indirectly "connected at" or "coupled at"
said
another element or layer. When an element is referred to as being "directly
on",
"directly connected to", "directly coupled to", "directly connected at", or
"directly
coupled at" another element or layer, there are no intervening elements or
layers
present. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. As used herein, the
term
"and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated
listed
items. When the phrase "at least one of' is applied to a list, it is being
applied to the
entire list, and not to the individual members of the list.
Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms)
used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary
skill
in the art to which the present invention belongs. It will be further
understood that
terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be
interpreted as
having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the
relevant
art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless
expressly
so defined herein. Further, when describing embodiments of the present
invention,
the use of "may" relates to "one or more embodiments of the present
invention".
As used herein, the term "substantially", "about", and similar terms are used
as
terms of approximation and not as terms of degree, and are intended to account
for
the inherent deviations in measured or calculated values that would be
recognized by
those of ordinary skill in the art. Also, the terms "use", "using", and "used"
may be
considered synonymous with the terms "utilize", "utilizing", and "utilized",
respectively.
16
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