US 6,720,882 B2 · Self-monitoring method and apparatus for condition monitoring of a structure

Abstract

A system for monitoring a structure includes cavities on an outer surface and a fluid source at substantially constant pressure coupled to the cavities through high fluid impedances to create pressure differentials therebetween. A telemetry system has pressure differential switches across each of the high impedances for monitoring differential pressure changes across the impedances and providing a signal indicative of the location of the cavity associated with the high impedance across which the change is monitored. A fluid capacitance is associated with each cavity and the corresponding impedances to facilitate a transient fluid flow through the impedances. The transient flow is produced by temporarily coupling the cavities to the reference pressure and then recoupling to the source, producing transient fluid flow through the fluid capacitance and a consequential transient differential pressure sequentially across each of the high fluid impedance devices, thereby inducing sequential cyclical switching of the differential pressure switches.

Claims36

Dependent claims

A self-monitoring or self-testable system for condition monitoring of a structure including at least:

one or more of substantially sealed first cavities formed on or between surfaces of or within said structure;
a source of fluid at substantially constant pressure relative to a reference pressure where said constant pressure and said reference pressure are not the same, said source coupled to said first cavities through respective high fluid impedance devices sufficient to create detectable pressure differentials between said source and said cavities across said high fluid impedance devices;
a fluid capacitance in operative association with said first cavities and corresponding high fluid flow impedance device to facilitate transient flow of fluid through said corresponding high fluid flow impedance devices;
and,
a telemetry system operatively associated with said high fluid impedance devices for monitoring the transient or varying pressure differential across each high fluid impedance device and, when a change in pressure differential is monitored, providing a signal indicative of the location of the cavities coupled with the high fluid impedance device across which said pressure differential is monitored.

2 more elements

A self-monitoring or self-testable method for condition monitoring of a structure including the steps of:

forming one or more substantially sealed first cavities on or between surfaces of, or within said structure;
providing a fluid source of substantially constant pressure relative to a reference pressure where said constant pressure and said reference pressure are not the same;
coupling said fluid source to said first cavities through respective high fluid impedance devices sufficient to create detectable respective pressure differentials between said source and said first cavities across said high impedance devices;
providing a fluid capacitance in operative association with said first cavities and corresponding high fluid impedance devices to facilitate transient flow of fluid through said corresponding high fluid impedance devices;
and,
providing a telemetry system operatively associated with said high impedance devices for monitoring transient or varying pressure differential across each high impedance device and, when a change in said pressure differential is monitored, providing a signal indicative of the location of the cavities coupled with said high impedance device across which said pressure differential is monitored.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Self-monitoring method and apparatus for condition monitoring of a structure

Life of this patent

Self-monitoring method and apparatus for condition monitoring of a structure

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims36