DEGRADATION DETECTION SYSTEM FOR A HOSE ASSEMBLY

• US 20100174495A1
• Filed: 10/15/2009
• Published: 07/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Danfoss A/S
• Original Assignee: Eaton Corp. (Wisconsin) (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Rentel, Carlos H., Pereira, Luis R., Smith, Scott A., Gungor, Vehbi C., Bhadkamkar, Atul S., Pier, B. Thomas, Stark, Jason D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,515,687 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/34
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 11/127 electrically conducting
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 2201/30 Detecting leaks
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 25/01 specially adapted for realising electrical conduction between the two pipe ends of the joint or between parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/18 for pipes, cables or tubes; for pipe joints or seals; for valves; for welds; for containers, e.g. radiators
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 5/0025 of elongated objects, e.g. pipes, masts, towers or railways G01M5/0058 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 5/0033 by determining damage, crack or wear
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 5/0083 by measuring variation of impedance, e.g. resistance, capacitance, induction
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/20 Investigating the presence of flaws
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/47 using RFID associated with sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/75 by polling or interrogating the sub-stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/823 where the data is sent when the measured values exceed a threshold, e.g. sending an alarm
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

A hose fault detection system includes a hose assembly including a hose having first and second conductive layers. The hose assembly has an electrical characteristic. A fault detector is in electrical communication with the first and second conductive layers. The fault detector includes an indicator operatively connected to the hose assembly. A method for monitoring the structural integrity of a hose assembly includes providing a fault detection system having a hose assembly including a hose having a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer. The hose assembly has an electrical characteristic. The electrical characteristic of the hose assembly is compared to a threshold value. A visual indicator in operative communication with the hose assembly is illuminated when the electrical characteristic goes beyond the threshold value.

Claims

1. A hose fault detection system comprising:

a hose assembly including a hose having a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer, wherein the hose assembly has an electrical characteristic; and

a fault detector in electrical communication with the first and second conductive layers, wherein the fault detector includes at least one indicator operatively connected to the hose assembly.

2. A hose fault detection system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the indicator is disposed on the hose.

3. A hose fault detection system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fault detector includes a first visual indicator and a second visual indicator.

4. A hose fault detection system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fault detector is a radio frequency identification (RFID) system.

5. A hose fault detection system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the fault detector further includes a reader in operative communication with the RFID system.

6. A hose fault detection system as set forth in claim 5, wherein the reader includes the visual indicator.

7. A hose fault detection system as set forth in claim 6, wherein the RFID system includes a first circuit, an RFID tag, and a first antenna;

and

wherein the reader includes a second circuit having a second antenna, a processing center, and a failure indicator.

8. A hose fault detection system as set forth in claim 7, wherein the RFID tag includes a first power supply, a signal conditioner, a digital processing unit, a memory, and a modulator;

and

wherein the first antenna includes a first capacitor operatively connected to a first coil.

9. A hose fault detection system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the second antenna includes a second capacitor and a second coil;

and

wherein the processing center includes a demodulator, a modulator, a second power supply, a baseband processor, a comparator, and a DC power supply.

10. A hose fault detection system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fault detector is a microcontroller device having a sensor, a signal conditioner, and a memory and processing unit;

wherein the sensor is configured to continuously sense the electrical characteristic of the hose assembly.

11. A hose fault detection system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the sensor is configured to continuously sense the electrical characteristic of the hose assembly.

12. A wireless-based hose fault detection system comprising:

a plurality of hose assemblies including a hose having an electrical characteristic;

a plurality of wireless tag systems in communication with the at least one hose assembly;

a life-sensing hose detection mechanism;

an algorithm;

at least one reader; and

at least one user interface configured for displaying the electrical characteristic of the hose of the at least one hose assembly.

13. A wireless-based hose fault detection system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the wireless tag system includes a sensor operatively connected to an RFID tag.

14. A wireless-based hose fault detection system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the wireless tag system further includes a signal conditioner and a memory and processing unit.

15. A monitoring and failure detection system comprising:

at least one hose assembly including a hose having an electrical characteristic;

at least one sensor node having a plurality of sensors operatively attached to the at least one hose assembly and configured to monitor the electrical characteristic; and

at least one aggregator node in operative communication with the at least one sensor node;

wherein the at least one sensor node is configured to provide data pertaining to the electrical characteristic to the at least one aggregator node;

wherein the at least one aggregator node is configured to analyze the data and provide information regarding the hose assembly to a system operator via a user interface.