Powerline contact monitoring and alert system

Abstract

A device for monitoring and alerting for contact of an object with a line strung between two upright posts includes a housing having a body and a mounting portion extending from the body. A mount is positioned in the mounting portion. A camera a is positioned on the mounting portion for downward viewing of the line. A processor is positioned in the housing and an accelerometer is position in the housing in operable communication with the processor. The device includes a power supply operably connected to the processor. When the device is positioned on the line and the accelerometer senses movement of the device, the accelerometer generates and transmits a signal to the processor. The processor analyses the signal to determine whether the signal meets a threshold and, if the threshold is met, the processor generates and transmits an alarm signal to a receiving device.

1 . A device for monitoring and alerting for contact of an object with a line strung between two upright posts, the device comprising:
 a housing, the housing having a body and a mounting portion extending from the body;   a mount positioned in the mounting portion;   a processor in the housing;   an accelerometer in the housing in operable communication with the processor; and   a power supply operably connected to the processor,   wherein when the device is positioned on the line and the accelerometer senses movement of the device, the accelerometer generates and transmits a signal to the processor, the processor analyzes the signal to determine whether the signal meets a threshold and, if the threshold is met, the processor generates and transmits an alarm signal to a receiving device.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , further including a camera, wherein the camera captures an image when the threshold is met, and wherein the image is transmitted to the receiving device. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , further including a mount in the mounting portion. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the camera is positioned in the mounting portion spaced from the mount. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1  including a second mounting portion extending from the body, the second mounting portion having a second mount, the mounting portions spaced from each other. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , further including a camera positioned in each mounting portion, each camera configured to capture an image when the threshold is met, and wherein the images are transmitted to the receiving device. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the mounts are positioned in their respective mounting portions between the body and the respective cameras. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the power supply is one or more solar cells. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more solar cells are positioned on the housing. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the housing has a generally three-sided cross-section and wherein the one or more solar cells are positioned on two side of the housing. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , further including a receiver on the body for receiving an associated installation tool.