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 an embeddable antenna assembly as well as a sensor package that are installed in the concrete structure form before casting. The antenna provides 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, and life cycle monitoring is also provided.
Claims20
A suspension assembly for positioning at least one sensor between strands in a concrete piling, comprising:
- first and second U-shaped frames, each of the U-shaped frames including two legs and a base, the legs of one of the first and second U-shaped frames being slidable within the legs of the other of the first and second U-shaped frames such that a distance between the bases is adjustable;
- a fastening element fixing the legs of the first and second U-shaped frames relative to one another;
- a top strand engaging member located at the base of first U-shaped frame and a bottom strand engaging member located at a base of the second U-shaped frame, the top and bottom strand engaging members are adapted to engage opposing reinforcement strands of the piling, and at least one of the top and bottom strand engaging members is formed of spring steel or a resilient material and is adapted to elastically deflect upon insertion of the suspension assembly between opposing strands in a piling form and resiliently bias the top and bottom strand engaging members against the opposing piling strands;
- and
- a carrier attached to the legs of at least one of the U-shaped frames for supporting at least one sensor.
A method of automatically tracking piling drive data, comprising:
- tracking a number of blows through data transmitted from a sensor package including at least one of an accelerometer or a strain gauge in a piling;
- tracking a height of the piling above a reference height using a laser lidar which tracks a reference marker near a top of the piling or through differential barometric pressure between altimeters located near the top of the piling and the reference height to determine a pile penetration depth;
- and
- associating the number of blows with the pile penetration depth to determine blows per displacement for the piling.
A monitored piling adapted for connection to a networked monitoring node, comprising:
- a plurality of a tensioned strands located in cast concrete;
- a sensor package located in the concrete near a tip of the piling;
- a transmitter near a top of the piling, the sensor package being connected to the transmitter via a wire or cable;
- a tube extending between the sensor package and the transmitter near the top of the piling, the tube having an excess wire or cable reservoir, and the wire or cable extending through the tube;
- an excess of the wire or cable in the reservoir that is adapted to be drawn up from the reservoir upon cutting off the top of the piling which includes the transmitter and cutting through the tube and the wire or cable;
- and
- the excess of the wire or cable being adapted to be drawn from the reservoir to allow an external connection to the sensor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.