Apparatus and method for detecting holidays in liners
AssigneeSolmax International Inc.
InventorJimmie Gordon Youngblood, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and method for identifying liner holidays, with a generator having two contacts with a liner and pulsing current to a moving one of the contacts. A plurality of detected electric signals are processed to continuously generate a baseline indicative of a holiday. A holiday signal is actuated when a signal is detected which when compared to the generated baseline indicates a holiday. A plurality of electric signal types and baselines, such as current strength and voltage, may be separately detected with a holiday signal actuated when either signal type is detected which when compared to its generated baseline indicates a holiday. The moving contact may be flexible to conform to contour of the liner.
Claims21
A method of detecting holidays in a liner having uneven contours, comprising the steps of:
- creating a circuit for current from a generator to a first contact with said liner to a second contact spaced from said first contact to said generator, said second contact being an electric reference for said generator;
- pulsing current from said generator to said liner first contact as said first contact is moved over and maintains uniform contact with said liner, wherein said liner is a geomembrane on a geotechnical site, wherein said first contact is:
- a flexible moveable contact that conforms to the uneven contours of said liner;
- a flexible conductive sheet;
- a flexible chain mail;
- or
- a conductive material that can conform to a surface of said liner;
- detecting a plurality of at least one electric signal associated with said pulsing current from said electric reference;
- continuously processing a selected recent plurality of said detected electric signals to generate a baseline value for said at least one electrical signal, wherein a detected electric signal having a value on one side of the baseline is deemed to indicate no holiday and an electric signal having a value on the other side of the baseline is deemed to indicate a holiday;
- and
- actuating a holiday signal when at least one of said detected electric signals has a value on said other side of said baseline.
A sensor for detecting holidays in a liner having uneven contours, comprising:
- a pulsing generator with an electric reference;
- an electrode adapted to move over and maintain uniform contact with the liner, said electrode being spaced from said generator electric reference while said generator pulses current to said electrode, wherein said liner is a geomembrane on a geotechnical site and said electrode conforms to the uneven contours of said liner;
- wherein said contact includes:
- a flexible moveable contact that conforms to the uneven contours of said liner;
- a flexible conductive sheet;
- a flexible chain mail;
- or
- a conductive material that can conform to a surface of said liner;
- a processor adapted to:
- detect over time from said generator electric reference at least one electric signal associated with said pulsing current;
- continuously process for a recent selected time period the at least one electric signals detected during said selected time period;
- and
- generate a baseline of said at least one electrical signal, wherein a detected electric signal having a value on one side of the baseline is deemed to indicate no holiday and an electric signal having a value on the other side of the baseline is deemed to indicate a holiday;
- and
- a holiday signal actuated when any detected electric signal has a value on said other side of said baseline.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.