PILE SENSING DEVICE AND METHOD OF USING THE SAME

• US 20110200068A1
• Filed: 02/11/2011
• Published: 08/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pile Dynamics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Pile Dynamics, Inc.
• Inventors: Rausche, Frank, Ference, Michael, Piscsalko, George R., Cotton, Dean A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,382,369 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 374/152
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/026 arrangements for monitoring a plurality of temperatures, e.g. by multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/00 Thermometers specially adapted for specific purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/10 for measuring temperature within piled or stacked materials by special arrangements for conducting heat from the object to the sensitive heat element G01K1/16
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 25/72 Investigating presence of flaws
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/383 Concrete, cement

Abstract

A system for monitoring the forming of a solid object having a sensor string positionable in a forming structure before the curing process and a communication line extending along a string axis between a first and second end. The string further including a plurality of sensors joined to the communication line between the ends and each sensor being mounted at a set position on the line. Each sensor having a sensor body and a sensor housing and the sensor body including an electrical connecter to electrically join an electrical structure to the communication line at the set position. The electrical structure including a temperature sensor configured to monitor temperature near the set position and further including an electronic identification code corresponding to the set position of the sensor along the axis. The system further including a transmitting device for selectively communicating the temperature and identification code.

Claims

24. A sensor string for a system for monitoring a formed solid object which is produced by introducing a material into a forming structure and solidifying the material in the forming structure into the formed solid object by a curing process, the formed solid object having a first extent and an opposite second extent, said sensor string being positionable in an associated forming structure before the curing process of the non-solid material, said string having a communication line formed by a conductor having at least one wire surrounded by a wire jacket extending along a string axis between a transmission end and a terminated end, said transmission end having at least one lead for forming an electrical connection, said string further including a plurality of sensors joined to said communication line between said transmission end and said terminated end, each sensor of said plurality of sensors being mounted to said electrical conductor at a set position along said communication line between said transmission end and said terminated end, said each sensor further including a sensor body and a sensor housing, said sensor body including an electrical connecter to electrically join an electrical structure to said electrical conductor at said set position, said electrical structure including a temperature sensor configured to monitor a temperature of the material near said set position, said electrical structure further including an electronic identification code corresponding to said set position of said sensor along said axis and a transmitting device for selectively communicating said real time temperature and said identification code to said communication line.

25. The string of claim 24, wherein said at least one wire is a fiber optic wire.

26. The string of claim 24, wherein said each sensor has a unique electronic identification code.

27. The string of claim 24, wherein said housing is at least partially formed by a coating.

28. The string of claim 24, wherein said given positions of said each sensor are equally spaced along said string axis.

29. The string of claim 28, wherein said equal spacing is less than 1 foot along said string axis.

30. The string of claim 24, wherein said communication line fully supports said plurality of sensors.

31. The string of claim 24, wherein said each sensor further includes a memory store, said memory store including instructions for said transmitting device for said selective communicating said real time temperature and storing said temperature and said identification code.

37. The method of claim 26, further including the step monitoring said real time temperature of said plurality of sensors after said curing process is complete.

32. A sensor string for a system for monitoring a formed solid object which is produced by introducing a material into a forming structure and solidifying the material in the forming structure into the formed solid object by a curing process, the formed solid object having a first extent and an opposite second extent, said sensor string being positionable in an associated forming structure before the curing process of the non-solid material, said string having a support line extending along a string axis between a first end and a second end, said sensor string further including a plurality of sensors joined to said support line between said first and second ends at known intervals, each sensor of said plurality of sensors including a sensor body and a sensor housing, said sensor body including a connecter to join said each sensor to said support line and said know interval, said each sensor further including an electrical structure including a temperature sensor configured to monitor a temperature of the material near said known interval, said electrical structure further including an electronic identification code corresponding to said known interval said each sensor along said string axis and a transmitting device for selectively communicating said real time temperature and said identification code to an operating system.

33. A method of measuring at least one condition of a poured structure wherein the poured structure is a formed solid object which is produced by introducing a curable material into a forming structure and solidifying the material in the forming structure into a formed solid object by a curing process, said comprising the steps of:

providing a forming structure having a first extent and an opposite second extent wherein said forming structure extends along a structure axis between said first and second extents;

providing a system for monitoring comprising at least one sensor string having a support line extending along a string axis between a first end and a second end and a plurality of sensors joined to said support line between said first and second ends, each sensor of said plurality of sensors being mounted at a set position along said support line between said first and second ends, said each sensor including a sensor body and a sensor housing, said sensor body including an connecter to join said each sensor to said support line at said set position, said each sensor including an electrical structure including a temperature sensor configured to monitor a temperature near said set position of the associate curable material, said electrical structure further including an identification code corresponding to said set position of said sensor along said axis and said system further including a transmitting device for selectively communicating said real time temperature and said identification code;

positioning said at least one string in said forming structure wherein said first end is near said first extent and said string axis extending toward said second extent;

pouring said curable material into said forming structure whereby said string is at least partially encapsulated by said curable material;

monitoring said temperature detected by said each sensor of said plurality of sensors after said pouring step;

associating said temperature of said each sensor with said each sensor and with said set position of said each sensor;

combining said associated temperature and position of said plurality of sensors; and

,

determining said at least one condition of said poured structure.

1. A system for monitoring a formed solid object which is produced by introducing a material into a forming structure and solidifying the material in the forming structure into the formed solid object by a curing process, the formed solid object having a first extent and an opposite second extent, said system comprising at least one sensor string positionable in an associated forming structure before the curing process of the non-solid material, said at least one sensor string having a support line extending along a string axis between a first end and a second end, said line having a plurality of sensors joined to said line between said first and second ends and each sensor of said plurality of sensors being mounted at a set position along said support line between said first and second ends, said each sensor including a sensor body and an electrical structure, said sensor body having a connecter to join said sensor to said line at said set position along said string axis, said electrical structure including a sensing device configured to monitor a characteristic of the associated material near said set position, said electrical structure further including an electronic identification code corresponding to said set position of said sensor along said axis;

said system further including a transmitting device for selectively communicating said characteristic and said identification code from said sensor.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said support line is a communication line and said connector is an electrical connector to electronically join said electrical structure to said communication line, said selective communication being through said communication line.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said support line is a power line and said connector is an electrical connector to electronically join said electrical structure to said power line.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said sensing device includes a temperature sensor configured to monitor a temperature of the material near said set position.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said temperature sensor measures real time temperature of the material.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said support line is a communication line and said connector is an electrical connector to electronically join said electrical structure to said communication line, said selective communication being through said communication line, said transmitting device being electronically joined to said communication line.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said each sensor further includes a memory store, said memory store including instructions for at least one of said transmitting device for said selective communicating said temperature and said each sensor for operation of said each sensor, said memory store further including said identification code.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said sensor further includes a sensor housing to at least partially protect said electrical structure.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said housing is at least partially formed by a coating.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein said housing includes a clam shell.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of plurality of sensors includes a strain relief at said connection with said support line.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said first extent is a hole opening at a surface of a ground layer and the forming structure extends downwardly from the surface to the second extent, said first end being near said first extent and said second end being near said second extent.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein said support line is a communication line and said connector is an electrical connector to electronically join said electrical structure to said communication line, said selective communication being through said communication line, said system further including an operating system, said plurality of sensors being in communication with said operating system by way of said communication line which is joined to said operating system at said first end, said operated system being configured to at least compile data produced by said plurality of sensors.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one sensor string is at least 3 sensor strings, said at least 3 sensor strings.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein said identification code is a unique electronic identification code.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein said support line is a communication line and said connector is an electrical connector to electronically join said electrical structure to said communication line, said selective communication being through said communication line, said first end being a transmission end and said transmission end being joined to an operating system.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein said given positions of said each sensor are equally spaced along said string axis.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said equal spacing is less than 1 foot along said string axis.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein said support line is a communication line and said connector is an electrical connector to electronically join said electrical structure to said communication line, said selective communication being through said communication line, said communication line being an electric conductor having at least two wires grouped together in a jacket.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein said electrical connecter includes a locking clip having penetrating barbs configured to penetrate said jacket and electrically and separately engage each of said at least two wires.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein said communication line fully supports said plurality of sensors.

22. The system of claim 2, wherein said communication line fully supports said plurality of sensors.

23. The system of claim 2, wherein said communication line is a two wire conductor having an outer jacket surrounding said wires, said electrical connector including a locking clip configured to penetrate said jacket and make electrical contact with each of said two wires individually, said locking clip fully supporting said each sensor relative to said two wire conductor and said two wire conductor fully supporting each said sensor, said at least one sensor string being at least a first, second and a third string each spaced from one another transverse to said string axis, said first sensor string having a first plurality of sensors, said second sensor string having a second plurality of sensors, said third sensor string having a third plurality of sensors, each of said first, second and third plurality of sensors having different said identification codes.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein said forming structure includes a cylindrical hole in the ground and said structure axis is coaxial with said hole.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein said cylindrical hole is a drilled hole and said first extent is the opening of said hole.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein said support line is a communication line and said connector is an electrical connector to electronically join said electrical structure to said communication line, said selective communication being through said communication line, said method further including the step of connecting said first end of each said at least one sensor strings to an operating system, said operating system performing monitoring, associating and combining steps.

35-1. The method of claim 33, wherein said forming structure extends generally horizontally and said structure axis is a generally horizontal axis.