Crack detecting system
First Claim
1. A crack or rupture detecting system comprising an electrically-insulated substrate layer of material which is applied while elastomeric to an object to be monitored so it will conform thereto but hardens and is capable of cracking or rupturing, said substrate carrying conductive lines formed by small conductive particles in electrical contact which will separate upon the occurrence of a crack or rupture in the substrate, indicating an adjacent crack or rupture in the object and an indicating system connected in circuit with said conductive lines.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A crack or rupture-detecting system comprising an electrically-insulating substrate which carries lines of electrically-conducting material formed of small electrically conductive particles which are in electrical contact. The substrate layer may be elastomeric when applied to the object to be protected, but later will crack or rupture if a crack or rupture occurs in the object and layer and thereby separate the particles in the conducting line or lines adjacent the crack or rupture.
28 Citations
12 Claims
- 1. A crack or rupture detecting system comprising an electrically-insulated substrate layer of material which is applied while elastomeric to an object to be monitored so it will conform thereto but hardens and is capable of cracking or rupturing, said substrate carrying conductive lines formed by small conductive particles in electrical contact which will separate upon the occurrence of a crack or rupture in the substrate, indicating an adjacent crack or rupture in the object and an indicating system connected in circuit with said conductive lines.
- 8. The method of monitoring an object for cracks or ruptures which comprises applying an elastomeric insulating substrate to a surface of the object so it will conform thereto but will then harden so it can subsequently crack or rupture, the substrate being provided with conductive lines formed of conductive particles in electrical contact which will separate upon the occurence of a crack or rupture in the substrate to indicate a crack or rupture in the surface of the object, and connecting an indicating system in circuit with said conducting lines.
Specification