Deflection monitoring system
First Claim
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1. A deflection monitoring system for detecting deflections in a structure, the monitoring system comprising:
- an energy source for generating an energy beam along a path near the structure;
a receiver for receiving the energy beam;
at least one solid target attached to and extending downwardly from the structure and located near the path; and
an alarm connected to the receiver;
wherein the target is displaceable into the path by a vertical deflection in the structure, the alarm being triggered by the receiver in response to displacement of the target relative to the path.
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Abstract
Deflections in supporting structures, due to external stress factors, can be detected with one or more energy beams generated along a path adjacent to the structure. Receivers are positioned in or near the path. Target blocks are positioned along the support structure. When a deflection occurs in the support structure, the targets are concurrently displaced into or out of the path. The receiver registers a change in state and activates an alarm. Multiple beams can be used to detect deflection in one of a number of predefined zones, the alarm indicating the zone in which the beam path was broken by the deflection.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A deflection monitoring system for detecting deflections in a structure, the monitoring system comprising:
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an energy source for generating an energy beam along a path near the structure; a receiver for receiving the energy beam; at least one solid target attached to and extending downwardly from the structure and located near the path; and an alarm connected to the receiver; wherein the target is displaceable into the path by a vertical deflection in the structure, the alarm being triggered by the receiver in response to displacement of the target relative to the path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A deflection monitoring system for detecting deflections in a roof structure including a set of joists connected to support beams of the roof structure, the monitoring system comprising:
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means for generating a plurality of energy beams along a number of paths, the paths defining zones in the roof structure; a plurality of receivers, each having a first state in which the receiver receives one of the plurality of energy beams and a second state in which the receiver does not receive one of the energy beams; an alarm connected to the receivers; and a plurality of targets attached to and extending downwardly from the roof structure and being movable in response to a downward deflection of the roof structure; wherein any one of the receivers can cause the alarm to be triggered when any one of the receivers changes from one of the first and second states to the other of the first and second states, the alarm identifying the zone in the roof structure with the deflection. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A deflection monitoring system for detecting deflections in a structure, the monitoring system comprising:
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an energy source for generating an energy beam along a path near the structure; a receiver for receiving the energy beam; a first target extending downwardly from the structure and located near the path, the target including a first piece rigidly connected to the structure, and a second piece that hangs from the first piece such that the hanging of the second piece causes the second piece to align itself relative to the path; and an alarm connected to the receiver; wherein the target is displaceable into the path by a vertical deflection in the structure, the alarm being triggered by the receiver in response to displacement of the target relative to the path. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification