US 2025/0189488 A1Published application

Deep electromagnetic rebar probe system, and method of using same

AssigneeAtomic Energy of Canada Limited/éNergie Atomique Du Canada LimitéE

InventorsMark Stephen LULOFF, Molly ZAUGG, Stephen HOGG, Jai LEI

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Abstract

A method for monitoring a first attribute of a target object within a non-magnetic structure using a first probe coupled to the non-magnetic structure and located proximate the target object at a first detection region, the method includes a) introducing, at the first detection region, a pulsed electromagnetic interrogation signal along the electromagnetic circuit and through the target object using a first transmitter; b) receiving, at the first detection region, a response electromagnetic signal that is induced in the target object and generating a corresponding response electrical signal comprising time information and voltage information using a first receiver; c) determining the first attribute of the target object at the first detection region; d) generating a corresponding first output signal; and e) comparing one of the first output signal and the first attribute, to a stored value for the first detection region to determine if a condition is met.

Claims58

Dependent claims

A system for non-destructively monitoring at least a first attribute of an elongate, target object extending along an object axis and being disposed within a non-magnetic structure, the system comprising:

an input signal generator configured to generate pulsed voltage electrical signals;
a first probe coupled to the non-magnetic structure and located proximate the target object at a first detection region, the first probe comprising:
an electromagnetic coupler extending in a coupler direction between first and second coupler ends, the first and second coupler ends being positioned adjacent the non-magnetic structure and the coupler direction being generally aligned with the object axis,
a first transmitter connected to the electromagnetic coupler and configured to generate first pulsed electromagnetic interrogation signals based on the pulsed voltage electrical signals, and
a first receiver connected to the electromagnetic coupler and spaced apart from the first transmitter, wherein the target object, the electromagnetic coupler, the first transmitter and the first receiver form an electromagnetic circuit, and wherein the first transmitter is configured to introduce each first pulsed electromagnetic interrogation signal through the non-magnetic structure and along the electromagnetic circuit and the first receiver is configured to receive a response electromagnetic signal that is induced in the target object and to generate a corresponding response electrical signal comprising time information and voltage information;
a processing structure configured to, for each response electrical signal:
process the response electrical signal to determine the first attribute of the target object at the first detection region based on the time information and the voltage information, and
generate a corresponding first output signal;
and
compare one of the first attribute and the first output signal, to a stored value for the first detection region to determine if a condition is met.

7 more elements

A method for non-destructively monitoring a first attribute of a target object that is within a non-magnetic structure and extends along an object axis using a first probe coupled to the non-magnetic structure and located proximate the target object at a first detection region, the first probe comprising

an electromagnetic coupler extending in a coupler direction between first and second coupler ends, the first and second coupler ends being positioned adjacent the non-magnetic structure and the coupler direction being generally aligned with the bar axis,
a first transmitter connected to the electromagnetic coupler, and
a first receiver connected to the electromagnetic coupler and spaced apart from the first transmitter, wherein the target object, the electromagnetic coupler, the first transmitter and the first receiver form an electromagnetic circuit, and wherein the first attribute is at least one of cover depth and cross-sectional area of the target object, the method comprising:
a) introducing, at the first detection region, a pulsed electromagnetic interrogation signal along the electromagnetic circuit and through the target object using the first transmitter, the first pulsed electromagnetic interrogation signal being based on a pulsed voltage electrical signal provided by an input signal generator;
b) receiving, at the first detection region, a response electromagnetic signal that is induced in the target object and generating a corresponding response electrical signal comprising time information and voltage information using the first receiver;
c) determining the first attribute of the target object at the first detection region based on the time information and the voltage information;
d) generating a corresponding first output signal based on the first attribute;
and
e) comparing one of the first output signal and the first attribute, to a stored value for the first detection region to determine if a condition is met.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 18/845,458Filed 24 Mar 2023
Priority: 25 Mar 2022
Published: 12 Jun 2025
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

G01N 27/904
Using eddy currents: with two or more sensors
G01B 7/12
Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of electric or magnetic techniques: for measuring diameters
G01B 7/26
Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of electric or magnetic techniques: for measuring depth
G01N 27/9006
Using eddy currents: details, e.g. in the structure or functioning of sensors