System of autonomous sensors for pipeline inspection
First Claim
1. A system for testing integrity of civil structures for impending structural failure comprising plural sensors installed at spaced locations in the structures for picking up sounds of events indicative of impending structural failure, signal processors connected to the sensors for differentiating the sounds from background noise, memories in the signal processors for recording the sounds in the memories, timers in the signal processors and the memories for recording precise times of the sounds, and outputs connected to the memories for eventual downloading of recorded information.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A flaw detection system for a prestressed concrete cylinder pipe uses hydrophones inserted into valves in the pipe while the pipe is in use. The hydrophones listen for sounds that are consistent with the breaking of the pre-tensioned reinforcements and the sliding and re-anchoring of broken ends. Detecting the sound at two or more locations and establishing precise time differentiation allows the precise calculation of the location of the defect. Global positioning system (GPS) satellite receivers provide precise timing of reception of the targeted sound events in milliseconds. The location of each of the hydrophones is established using GPS. Each hydrophone is connected to a box, which includes a pre-amplifier, a signal processor, a memory, an output and a GPS receiver. The hydrophone, or box, or both, are tunes to recognize a significant sound that emanates from a breaking, moving or re-anchoring reinforcement. The precise time of arrival of that sound is recorded in the boxes using the GPS time signals. The sound wave information may also be recorded, as well as water temperature, pressure and velocity. Later the precise time and sound wave data is collected from the memories in the boxes and is compared with time and sound wave data from the memories and other boxes. Time differentials are used to determine the precise location of the source of the sound along the pipeline.
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Citations
31 Claims
- 1. A system for testing integrity of civil structures for impending structural failure comprising plural sensors installed at spaced locations in the structures for picking up sounds of events indicative of impending structural failure, signal processors connected to the sensors for differentiating the sounds from background noise, memories in the signal processors for recording the sounds in the memories, timers in the signal processors and the memories for recording precise times of the sounds, and outputs connected to the memories for eventual downloading of recorded information.
- 14. A system for non destructive testing of a prestressed structure, comprising plural autonomous units for positioning at spaced locations on the structure, each unit further comprising a sensor disposed within the structure for picking up events that may be associated with subsequent structural damage, a pre-amplifier connected to the sensor for pre-amplifying signals from the sensor, a signal processor connected to the pre-amplifier for differentiating signals of events from signals of background noise, a memory in the signal processor for recording signals of the events in the memory, a GPS receiver communicating with the processor for providing and receiving precise times of event signals, an output connected to the signal processor for eventual downloading of recorded information, and a source of power connected to the signal processor and the GPS receiver for providing power thereto, and the system further comprising a collector for collecting recorded information of event signals and times.
- 22. A system for non destructive testing of a prestressed concrete cylinder pipeline, comprising plural autonomous units for positioning at spaced locations on the pipeline, each unit further comprising sensors for sensing fluid velocity, fluid temperature, fluid pressure, and a hydrophone disposed within fluid in the pipeline for detecting structural damage and fluid leaks and for picking up events that may be associated with subsequent structural damage, a pre-amplifier electrically connected to the sensor for pre-amplifying signals from the sensor, a signal processor connected to the pre-amplifier for differentiating event signals from signals of background noise, a GPS receiver communicating with the processor for providing precise times of event signals, a recorder communicating with the signal processor for recording precise times of event signals, an output connected to the recorder for downloading stored information, and a source of power connected to the signal processor and the GPS receiver for providing power thereto, and the system further comprising a collector for collecting recorded information of event times from the recorder in each unit.
- 30. A system for nondestructive testing of a prestressed concrete cylinder pipe structure, comprising plural autonomous units for positioning at spaced locations on the structure, each unit further comprising a sensor for picking up events that may be associated with subsequent structural damage, a pre-amplifier electrically connected to the sensor for pre-amplifying signals from the sensor, a signal processor connected to the pre-amplifier for differentiating even signals from signals of background noise, a GPS receiver communicating with the processor for providing precise times of event signals, a recorder communicating with the signal processor for recording precise times of event signals and the event signals, an output connected to the recorder for downloading stored information, and a source of power connected to the signal processor and the GPS receiver for providing power thereto, and the system further comprising a collector for collecting recorded information of event times and event signals from the recorder in each unit.
Specification