Object impact discriminator
AssigneeWestinghouse Electric Corp.
InventorRoger G. Byford
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for discriminating between hard object impact detected by a transducer and background noise or electrical noise spikes, which uses the detection of a series of cross-over points during a plurality of time intervals as an indication of a true impact signal.
Claims8
A method of recognizing an impact representative signal out of an incoming signal derived from a detector responsive to impact by debris or loose parts in a reactor vessel, comprising the steps of:
- detecting the occurrence of a plurality of signal excursions beyond a predetermined level;
- counting a predetermined minimum integer number n.sub.1 greater than, or equal to, two of said excursions within a predetermined time interval;
- and
- providing an indication of the occurrence of said impact representative signal following at least two occurrences of said minimum number n.sub.1 of excursions within said predetermined time interval.
Apparatus for the recognition of an impact representative signal out of an incoming signal derived from a detector responsive to impact by debris or loose parts in a reactor vessel, comprising:
- means for detecting the occurrence of a plurality of signal excursions by said incoming signal beyond a predetermined level;
- means for counting a predetermined integer number n.sub.1 greater than, or equal to, two of said excursions within a predetermined time interval;
- and
- means operative in a first mode for providing an indication of the occurrence of said impact representative signal following at least two occurrences of said minimum number n.sub.1 of excursions each within such said predetermined time interval.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.