Measuring and testing – With fluid pressure – Dimension – shape – or size
Patent
1995-09-29
1998-06-23
Williams, Hezron E.
Measuring and testing
With fluid pressure
Dimension, shape, or size
73 40, G01M 326
Patent
active
057707944
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to an apparatus which cam be used to facilitate continuous monitoring of the structural integrity of components or structures to provide an early indication of an impending structural fault. The invention has application to both dynamic and static structures.
A significant difficulty in monitoring the structural integrity of a component has been its need to remove the component from service in order to test the integrity of the component.
In the past most methods using fluids for monitoring and testing of components for structural integrity have involved the monitoring of the progress of the movement of a dye or liquid between the surfaces of the component. These methods are not convenient for use continuously when the structure or component is in service and or is located in an in-accessible area. Therefore it is not convenient for continuous data logging or remote monitoring of the component or structure.
Other methods have comprised using gas under pressure or a vacuum such as U.S. Pat. No. 3,820,381 which describes a method of remotely monitoring hollow fasteners formed of material having a low permeability. The method however is not suitable for materials having high permeability and is not practical for general structures.
In addition the use of evacuated spaces for the purposes of monitoring structural integrity is disclosed in U.S. Pats. Nos. 4,104,906; 4,135,386; and 4,145,915. The methods described use a vacuum for monitoring areas of structure of both high and low permeability but not jointly with the one device. In addition the devices disclosed are unsuited to continuous monitoring in circumstances where ambient conditions (such as variation in air pressure with altitude change) can constantly vary and where it is necessary to know when a fault has occurred or is about to occur rather than merely indicating if a fault has occurred.
It is an object of this invention to provide a means which serves to at least partially overcome some of the previously mentioned difficulties of the prior art systems and to facilitate the continuous monitoring of structures to provide an early warning of an impending fault.
The invention provides an apparatus which is able to be adjusted to accommodate for the inherent permeability losses of the material used in the apparatus of the invention and the materials of the installation being monitored and whereby as a result the testing is unaffected by variations in ambient conditions such as pressure, temperature and the like.
A further application of the invention can comprise the monitoring of existing faults by monitoring the structure at projected maximum acceptable limits of the propagation of the fault and providing an indication of such development.
In one form the invention resides in an apparatus for monitoring of impending faults in the integrity of a component or structure in static or dynamic application comprising a sealed cavity on or within the component structure, a source of substantially constant vacuum, a connection between the cavity and the source incorporating a device of high impedance fluid flow and means to monitor the change in pressure between the cavity and the source. According to a preferred feature of the invention the source of substantially constant vacuum comprises a vacuum storage vessel connected to a vacuum pump. The level of vacuum which can be used with the invention can vary from sub-atmospheric to that which is termed "rough" vacuum and which can be achieved utilising a conventional single stage vacuum pump. In numerical terms the vacuum may generally be of the order of 700 to 50 Torr. The main requirement of the vacuum source is that it needs to be able to provide a substantially constant level of vacuum. The magnitude of vacuum will govern the sensitivity of the monitoring means, however with a vacuum beyond approximately one atmosphere the improvements in sensitivity is not significant.
According to a preferred feature of the invention, a plurality of sealed cavities are connected to the source of subs
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Larkin Daniel S.
Tulip Bay Pty Ltd
Williams Hezron E.
LandOfFree
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