CORROSION DETECTING STRUCTURAL HEALTH SENSOR

• US 20090128169A1
• Filed: 11/16/2007
• Published: 05/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Fay, Matthew K., Sheffield, Greg L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,054,092 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/700
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 17/04 Corrosion probes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/20 Investigating the presence of flaws
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/24 Investigating the presence of flaws

Abstract

A sensor device for monitoring and testing for potential corrosion of structural elements is disclosed. A membrane including a thin conductor sense loop within it may be disposed near a structural element to be monitored. Measured changes in the electrical properties of the conductor sense loop reveal corrosion of the conductor and can indicate potential corrosion in the structural element. The sensor may also be implemented as a gasket. Connection to the sensor device may be through a connector or using a wireless reader which remotely energizes the sensor device.

Claims

1. An apparatus for sensing corrosion, comprising:

a non-conductive material layer;

a conductor sense loop within the non-conductive material layer and having a portion exposed through a weep hole in the non-conductive material layer, the conductor sense loop having ends; and

a connecting device coupled to the ends of the conductor sense loop;

wherein the exposed portion of the conductor sense loop corrodes to induce a change in an electrical property of the conductor sense loop sensed through the connecting device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the conductor sense loop corroding indicates potential corrosion of a near structural surface.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the non-conductive material layer is disposed between a structural surface and a second structural surface.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the non-conductive material layer comprises one or more sealing ribs against at least one of the structural surface and the second structural surface.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the non-conductive material layer comprises two layers sandwiching the conductor sense loop.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the non-conductive material layer comprises a resilient material.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the non-conductive material layer is bonded to a structural surface.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the connecting device comprises a wireless communications tag.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the conductor sense loop is routed around a fastener hole.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the non-conductive material layer comprises a frangible material.

11. A method for sensing corrosion, comprising the steps of:

exposing a portion a conductor sense loop through a weep hole in a non-conductive material layer, the conductor sense loop being disposed within the non-conductive material layer

coupling a connecting device to ends of the conductor sense loop; and

sensing a change in an electrical property of the conductor sense loop through the connecting device to indicate corrosion of the exposed portion of the conductor sense loop.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the conductor sense loop corroding indicates potential corrosion of a near structural surface.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the non-conductive material layer is disposed between a structural surface and a second structural surface.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the non-conductive material layer comprises one or more sealing ribs against at least one of the structural surface and the second structural surface.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the non-conductive material layer comprises two layers sandwiching the conductor sense loop.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the non-conductive material layer comprises a resilient material.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the non-conductive material layer is bonded to a structural surface.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the connecting device comprises a wireless communications tag.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the conductor sense loop is routed around a fastener hole.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the non-conductive material layer comprises a frangible material.