Patent ID: 7880476

Claim:
A method for detecting and locating a fault in an electrical conductor wire, to be tested, comprising: generating an extremely low frequency (ELF) sinusoidal electrical carrier signal; generating an ultrasonic frequency sinusoidal electrical modulating signal, as to which reception is to be indicated; amplitude modulating said modulating signal onto said carrier signal to form a balanced ELF amplitude modulated sinusoidal electrical composite reference signal; amplifying said composite reference signal to an amplitude, which enables transmission of said amplified composite reference signal through a distance of said electrical conductor wire, and applying said amplified composite reference signal to a transmitter output terminal via capacitive coupling; transmitting said amplified, capacitively coupled composite reference signal through the electrical conductor wire, to be tested, via direct physical connection with said transmitter output terminal; receiving, by a receiver, an ultrasonic frequency sinusoidal electromagnetic signal component, of said transmitted composite reference signal, as said receiver is passed evenly along the length of said electrical conductor wire, said receiver comprising a PZT based ultrasonic frequency piezoelectric ceramic transducer, which is connected, in an electrically parallel configuration, with an antenna coil so as to form a tuned antenna circuit; converting said received ultrasonic frequency sinusoidal electromagnetic signal component to an ultrasonic frequency sinusoidal electrical signal; amplifying said converted ultrasonic frequency sinusoidal electrical signal in multiple amplifier stages, with the first amplifier stage having an adjustable gain; indicating, visibly via LEDs, the level of amplification of said amplified converted signal, as determined by said adjustable gain of said first amplifier stage; indicating, visibly via analog panel meter reading, of the level of amplification of said amplified converted signal, as determined by said adjustable gain of said first amplifier stage; indicating, audibly via built-in piezoelectric buzzer, of the level of amplification of said amplified converted signal, as determined by said adjustable gain of said first amplifier stage; setting the level of amplification, by said operator, who varies said adjustable gain of said first amplifier stage, to a level, which is determined by said operator, where said indications increase when said receiver is held near said electrical conductor wire and said indications decrease as said receiver is moved away from said electrical conductor wire; and determining the location of a fault, by said operator, who determines a sudden reduction or cessation of so set said indicators, as said receiver is passed evenly along the length of said electrical conductor wire.