Electrified cover safeguard

A warning device that turns on a warning light and or a warning sound to indicate when a manhole cover or a service box cover or a metal pole for lights, traffic lights, transformers or others has become dangerously electrically charged. The invention is attached to the frame of a manhole cover, or a service box cover or a metal pole. The light and sound warns people to stay off the covers and their surrounding areas, and the surrounding areas of the metal poles.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a warning and safety device that a manhole cover, a service box cover or a metal pole is electrically charged.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a warning device that is attached to the frames of manhole and service box covers and metal poles to warn people that the covers and poles are electrically charged due to a mishap in the manhole and service box or pole, and are dangerous. This invention is composed of a variety of lights, sound makers, sizes and shapes, but it is still the same warning device against electrically charged manholes, service boxes, and metal poles for street lights, traffic lights, transformers and others. Remote access devices to warn repair offices of charged manholes, service boxes and metal poles are also included.

PRIOR ART

No prior art was found relating to the warning device for the covers and poles that have become electrified. When the electric company discovers an electrified cover and pole, they immediately put a barrier around it, and repair it.

SUMMARY

It is the object of this invention to protect peoples lives, from being electrocuted, and injuries from severe electric shock, by warning them that a particular manhole or service box cover or metal pole is electrically charged, when the invention emits a warning light or sound. The light or sound warns people that the cover is dangerous and not to walk on it and its surrounding area, especially if the area is wet from rain, snow or other water sources. The charged pole also should not be touched. Pets must also be kept off of the covers and away from the poles and their surrounding areas. As it is today, there is no way that a person can tell if a manhole or service box cover or pole is electrically charged by sight or by looking at it. The electric company can inspect a cover or pole for a charge in the morning, find none, and the cover or pole can become charged in the evening by some mishap in the manhole or service box or pole. This invention will provide a permanent warning.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to the drawings, FIG.1A−preferred embodiment shows the various parts of the invention variety7.1. is the attachments2. is the metal casing3. is the metal ground rod4. is the bulb5. is the lens6. is the insulation

Manhole8and its frame9are not part of the invention, but shows how the invention's attachment is attached to the frame.

The positive electrical charge from the frame9is used by this invention by passing through the attachment1, through the metal casing2, through the bulb4, lighting it, then through the negative metal ground rod3, that is separated from the positive charged metal casing2by non conductive insulation6, and on into the ground. The light is seen through lens5. The manhole cover8is also electrically charged.

FIG. 1BandFIG. 1Cshows the top views of a manhole cover8and its frame9, and a service box cover10and its frame11, with the invention7attached to their frames. Holes are drilled or dug next to the frames and the invention is deposited and covered. Then the invention is attached to the frames9and11by their attachments1.

The invention can be attached to the cover's frames by various ways such as welding, spot welding, bolted, screwed on, clamped on or other means.

The voltage in the manhole and service boxes is usually the same as in a typical house, ranging from 110 to 220 volts, though the voltage can also be higher or lower, depending on the area or usage, and the bulbs and sound makers must be suitable for the voltage.

Manhole and service box covers and frames become dangerously electrically charged when bare, exposed electric wires in the manhole and service box touch their frames. The wires become bare and exposed by corroded wire covering, by water seepage, by salt used for winter snow and ice, by chemical seepage and by erosion to name a few.

The electricity from the electrically charged frames is used to power the invention. Only when the frames become charged will the electricity flow into the invention and cause the warning light and sound to go on. The exception is when a battery is used because of poor grounding, as inFIG. 8AandFIG. 8B.

The light from the bulb can be steady or blinking or flickering.

The bulb can be of any color, red, green, yellow, blue or other, but red would be most likely the color preferred.

More than one warning can be attached to a covers frame.

The invention is waterproof for the best results.

Any light source can be powered by the man hole cover electricity such as a bulb with a filament, light emitting diodes, electro luminescence devices, neon gas bulbs, florescent bulbs or other such light source.

The lens5also can be of any color, red, green, yellow, blue or other instead of the bulb, but a red lens would be most likely the color preferred.

The non conductive insulation6used for separating the positive outside metal casing2from the negative metal ground rod3, can be of various types such as ceramic, glass, bakelite and non conductive plastic among others.

The invention can be made in any size and shape, elongated, flat, round, curved and other to suit the frame.

A sound maker can replace the bulb4and lens5to make warning sounds such as buzzing, humming, squealing, chirping and beeping, by(a) mechanical buzzers(b) piezo buzzers(c) self drive piezo transducers(d) external drive piezo transducers(e) beepers(f) and intermittent beepers and other intermittent sound makers, to name a few.(g) sirens

The sound makers must be suitable for amount of voltage, as the bulb4, 110 to 120 volts or other.

An illuminant warning can replace the light and sound warnings by coating a material with an illuminant such as phosphor and using the electricity from various covers that may become electrically charged, to cause it to glow or light up.

This invention can be used for any size or type of metal cover or metal pole that may become electrically charged.

Every year hundreds of manhole and service box covers and poles become electrically charged. People and pets have been electrocuted or severely injured by stepping on them.

This invention would be useful in all cities and towns and rural areas, here, and abroad.

FIG. 2A-additionalembodiment shows the various parts of the flat invention variety17:8is the manhole covers9is the manhole frame12is the top positive plate attached to the frame13are three (3) rings of LED diode lights14is a plastic insulation separating plates12and1515is the ground plate16is conductive glue attached to the ground plate for better contact and stability55are holes to screw invention into the ground

The electrical charge from frame9flows through plate12to the LED diodes through wires in a grove on the bottom of plate12, then through the ground plate15and conductive glue16to the ground, and the LED diodes light up. The LED diodes13are sunk below the surface of plate12and clear plastic fills the hole level with the top of the plate. The screw holes55are to screw the invention to the ground by insulating them from plate12and fastening plate15. The screws are optional.

FIG. 2Bshows the parts and composition of the red LED diodes in the flat invention inFIG. 2A.13are the red LEDs of 2.5V 20 ma, 500 mcd18is a 25K ohm resistor for lower frame voltage19is a 127k ohm resistor

The wires and resistors are in a groove on the bottom of plate12

This is only one of many configurations possible for the electronics.

FIG. 3Aand FIG.3B−alternative embodiment show an electroluminescent plate, invention variety20, attached to the frame and ground.8is the manhole cover9is the frame21is a positive charged transparent electrode22is a thin layer of phosphor23is a negative charged opaque electrode

The electricity from frame9flows through plate21, then the layer of phosphor22, and finally plate23into the ground, causing the phosphor to glow. This invention acts as a capacitor. Conductive glue can be placed on the bottom of plate23for better grounding.

FIG. 4Aand FIG.4B−additional embodiment, invention variety28, shows an elongated warning device with three (3) circles of LED diode lights, and is similar toFIG. 1A.1is the attachment3is the grounding rod8is the manhole cover9is the frame13are LED diode bulbs (lights)18is a 25K ohm resistor for lower voltage to allow the LED bulbs to light up19is a 127K ohm resistor24is the outer circle of LEDs25is the middle circle of LEDs26is the inner circle of LEDs27is the metal casing28is the LED's attachment to the ground rod3.

This is only one of many configurations possible for the electronics.

The electrical charge from frame9flows through a attachment1, then the casing2, then the circles24,25and26of LED bulbs13, embedded in the casing,27, and finally to the ground rod3, into the ground, causing the bulbs to light up.

FIG. 4Bshows the parts and composition of the LEDs which are inside the casing27with insulation.

FIG. 5A,FIG. 5Band FIG.5C−additional embodiment, of invention variety35, shows the invention container34attached to metal poles and contain a light, or sound maker or an electroluminescent device such a rope, tape or sheet (plate).30are the metal poles31is a street light32is a traffic light33is a transformer34is the invention container with lights or sound makers or electroluminescent devices attached to the metal poles and grounded.

If the metal poles become electrically charged, the electricity flows from the metal poles, then through the invention and finally into the ground, creating a light or sound warning.

FIG. 6Aand FIG.6B−alternative embodiment shows a remote access, invention variety40, sending signals from the manhole frame, to a pole, house or other structure, and on to the repair office to warn them that the manhole has become electrically charged.8is the manhole cover9is the manhole frame36is a remote control switch37is an analog, digital, 911 cellular or Radio Frequency Identification circuit (RFID) relay38is a pole that the analog, digital, 911 cellular or RFID relay is attached to39is a house that the analog, digital, 911 cellular relay is attached to. Any available structure in the area can be used.

The remote control switch36is activated by the electrically charged manhole frame and sends an analog or digital, signal to to a receiver on a nearby pole, house or other structure which activates an actuator, which may be powered by the electricity from the charged cover, a long life battery, solar energy or combination thereof, and then relays a coded signal to the central repair office's receiving system which can be a radio receiver, a local area network, the internet or a wireless analog or digital receiver such as a cellular telephone, thus providing the exact location of the charged manhole, service box or metal pole and voltage and amperage information, thus indicating the degree of danger and defect.

Remote access has the ability to log onto a network from a distant location. This implies a computer, a modem and some remote access software to connect to the network.

When charged an analog or digital code from a radio code from the radio transmitter on the manhole frame sends and monitors the switch on the pole or house. When it receives the signal from the manhole switch, it powers the actuator to send a signal to a monitoring device, computer or a wireless device such as a cellular phone or radio monitor.

It is not necessary to explain the makeup of the analog, digital, cellular, and RFID transmitter and receiver anymore than it is to explain the makeup of the bulb. There are hundreds of them on the market. They are not being patented, but are only used with warnings like the bulb.

FIG. 7A,FIG. 7Band FIG.7C−additional embodiment shows the invention variety46on and into the manhole.8is the manhole cover9is the manhole frame13is the LED diode lights41is the metal frame work42is the non conductive clear plastic43is a wire couple44are butterfly screws that secure the invention to the manhole45is the flexible grounding plate that is dropped through a hole in the manhole cover and grounds the invention on the bottom of the manhole46is the invention that is secured to the same hole that the foil is dropped into.

FIG. 7Bshows the parts and makeup of the invention

FIG. 7Cshows how the flexible grounding plate is inserted through one of the holes in the manhole cover, and how the invention46is secured in the same hole.

The electrical charge flows from the manhole8, through the metal frame work41, through the LED diode lights13, and then down to the ground foil45on the bottom of the manhole, lighting the LEDs13.

FIG.8A—additional embodiment shows the flat invention variety56that contains a long term battery, relay, a siren or other sounder and LED diode lights.8is a manhole cover9is a manhole frame47is a metal plate attached to the frame for a positive charge48is a sheet of insulation49is a metal plate for a negative charge50is conductive glue that helps secure plate49to the ground and for better grounding.51is a long term battery52is a relay53is the siren, sunken below the surface of plate47and covered with a thin layer of clear plastic and a grill on top of the plastic for protection.54are red diode lights

When the manhole frame9is charged, electricity flows to the metal plate47activating the relay52, causing electricity from battery51to flow to the siren53and LED diode lights54causing them to sound off and light up. The two LED diodes are sunk ⅛ of an inch below the surface of plate47and clear plastic fills the holes till they are level with the top of plate47. The groove that the battery51and relay52are in, can be filled with clear plastic, or a water proof cover can be screwed over them. The screw holes55are to screw the invention to the ground by insulating them from plate47and fastening plate49. The screws are optional.

FIG. 8Bshows the parts and composition of the flat invention inFIG. 8Awith a battery.51is a battery52is a relay53is a siren sound maker54are two (2) LED diode lights

The wires are in a groove on the bottom of plate47, connecting all the parts and components together.