Structural repair and remote monitoring system and method
First Claim
1. A system for being affixed to a portion of a construction structure that has sustained a fracture comprising:
- a repair strap having opposing first and second ends, the repair strap being securable to the structure to span at least a portion of the fracture with the first end of the repair strap being securable to a first portion of the structure adjacent one side of the fracture and the second end of the repair strap being securable to a second portion of the structure adjacent a second side of the fracture opposite the first side;
a sensor carried on the repair strap, the sensor configured to detect physical deformation in at least one of the repair strap or the structure, the deformation being occasioned by at least one of tension across the repair strap, strain across the repair strap, enlargement of the fracture, separation of the first and second sides of the fracture, strain of a conductor of the sensor brought on by vibration of the repair strap or vibration of the structure, stretching of the repair strap in a direction between the opposing first and second ends and displacement of the repair strap relative the structure, an electrical signal being generated in response to said detection;
a plurality of deformable leads coupled to the sensor, the plurality of leads including a first lead extendable along the first end of the repair strap adjacent the first portion of the structure and a second lead extendable along the second portion of the repair strap adjacent the second portion of the structure, the plurality of leads being deformable by physical deformation of at least one of the repair strap or the structure, the electrical signal being generated in response to deformation of one of the plurality of leads;
a communication interface electrically coupled to the sensor, the electrical signal generated by the sensor being receivable by the communication interface, the communication interface configured to transmit signals to a remote electronic device via a public or private communication network.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system is provided for being affixed to a portion of a construction structure that has sustained a fracture. The system can provide a repair strap, sensor and communication interface. The repair strap can be securable to the structure to span at least a portion of the fracture. The sensor can be carried on the repair strap and be configured to detect at least one condition representative of additional fracture of the structure. An electrical signal can be generated in response to said detection. The communication interface can be electrically coupled to the sensor and can receive the electrical signal generated by the sensor. The communication interface can be configured to transmit information to a remote electronic device via a public or private communication network.
9 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A system for being affixed to a portion of a construction structure that has sustained a fracture comprising:
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a repair strap having opposing first and second ends, the repair strap being securable to the structure to span at least a portion of the fracture with the first end of the repair strap being securable to a first portion of the structure adjacent one side of the fracture and the second end of the repair strap being securable to a second portion of the structure adjacent a second side of the fracture opposite the first side; a sensor carried on the repair strap, the sensor configured to detect physical deformation in at least one of the repair strap or the structure, the deformation being occasioned by at least one of tension across the repair strap, strain across the repair strap, enlargement of the fracture, separation of the first and second sides of the fracture, strain of a conductor of the sensor brought on by vibration of the repair strap or vibration of the structure, stretching of the repair strap in a direction between the opposing first and second ends and displacement of the repair strap relative the structure, an electrical signal being generated in response to said detection; a plurality of deformable leads coupled to the sensor, the plurality of leads including a first lead extendable along the first end of the repair strap adjacent the first portion of the structure and a second lead extendable along the second portion of the repair strap adjacent the second portion of the structure, the plurality of leads being deformable by physical deformation of at least one of the repair strap or the structure, the electrical signal being generated in response to deformation of one of the plurality of leads; a communication interface electrically coupled to the sensor, the electrical signal generated by the sensor being receivable by the communication interface, the communication interface configured to transmit signals to a remote electronic device via a public or private communication network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for being affixed to a portion of a construction structure that has sustained a fracture comprising:
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a plurality of monitoring units, each of the plurality of monitoring unit comprising; a repair strap having opposing first and second ends, the repair strap being securable to the structure to span at least a portion of the fracture with the first end of the repair strap being securable to a first portion of the structure adjacent one side of the fracture and the second end of the repair strap being securable to a second portion of the structure adjacent a second side of the fracture opposite the first side; a sensor carried on the repair strap, the sensor configured to detect physical deformation in at least one of the repair strap or the structure, the deformation being occasioned by at least one of tension across the repair strap, strain across the repair strap, enlargement of the fracture, separation of the first and second sides of the fracture, strain of a conductor of the sensor brought on by vibration of the repair strap or vibration of the structure, stretching of the repair strap in a direction between the opposing first and second ends and displacement of the repair strap relative the structure, an electrical signal being generated in response to said detection, a plurality of deformable leads coupled to the sensor, the plurality of leads including a first lead extendable along the first end of the repair strap adjacent the first portion of the structure and a second lead extendable along the second portion of the repair strap adjacent the second portion of the structure, the plurality of leads being deformable by physical deformation of at least one of the repair strap or the structure, the electrical signal being generated in response to deformation of one of the plurality of leads; and a wireless communication interface electrically coupled to the sensor of at least some of the plurality of monitoring units, the electrical signal generated by the sensor of one of the plurality of monitoring units being receivable by the communication interface, the wireless communication interface configured to transmit wireless signals to a remote electronic device via a public or private communication network. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of monitoring a construction structure for fracture comprising:
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affixing a repair strap to at least a portion of the structure sustaining a fracture, the repair strap having opposing first and second ends spanning the fracture; affixing a sensor to the repair strap, the sensor having a plurality of deformable leads coupled thereto, the plurality of leads including a first lead extendable along the first end of the repair strap and a second lead extendable along the second end of the repair strap, the plurality of leads being deformable by physical deformation of at least one of the repair strap or the structure, the electrical signal being generated in response to deformation of one of the plurality of leads; coupling the sensor to a communication interface; detecting at the sensor physical deformation in at least one of the repair strap or the structure, the deformation resulting from at least one of the application of tension across the repair strap, strain across the repair strap, enlargement of the fracture, separation of the first and second sides of the fracture, strain on a conductor of the sensor caused by vibration of the repair strap or vibration of the structure, stretching of the repair strap in a direction between the opposing first and second ends and displacement of the repair strap relative the structure; generating an electrical signal at the sensor in response to said detection; transmitting the electrical signal from the sensor to the wireless communication interface, and transmitting a communication signal from the communication interface to a remote electronic device, the communication signal being representative of an alert associated with said detection. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification