Monitoring system for concrete pilings and method of installation
AssigneeSmart Structures, Inc.
InventorsKurt Hecht, Richard Hecht
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for tracking and monitoring data related to the manufacture, installation and/or life cycle of concrete structures, such as pilings, as well as related system components and methods for tracking, storing and accessing such data is provided. The system utilizes one or more embeddable antenna assemblies as well as sensor packages that are installed in the concrete structure form before casting. The antenna(s) provide wireless communication of the data from the structure. On board memory is also provided to store structure related data with the structure. A system for tracking a pile during driving is also provided.
Claims20
A method of monitoring pilings, comprising:
- inserting a sensor package between strands or reinforcements in a piling form to position sensors in a core area of a piling;
- connecting a radio module to the piling, the radio module being in communication with the sensor package;
- casting the piling;
- driving the piling and obtaining data from the sensor package during driving;
- at least one of monitoring the data obtained from the sensor package during driving and monitoring and using the data during the driving to adjust driving parameters for the pile;
- and
- using absolute internal strain information from the data obtained from the sensor package located inside the piling core to maximize driving efficiency in real time during driving of the piling.
A method of long-term monitoring for pilings, comprising:
- forming a cast concrete piling with a sensor package located in a core area of the piling;
- driving the piling and obtaining data from the sensor package during driving;
- retrofitting the piling by installing a networked monitoring node that is connected to the sensor package;
- retaining unique addressing information of a given piling, by logically linking a sensor package address ID;
- and
- connecting the node to an external gateway for data transmission for long term monitoring.
A suspension assembly for positioning at least one sensor between strands in a concrete structure, comprising:
- first and second U-shaped frames connected to one another;
- at least one strand engaging member located on each of the U-shaped frames facing away from one another and adapted to engage opposing reinforcement strands or bars of a concrete structure;
- and
- a slidable carrier attached to the frames for supporting at least one gauge.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.