Device and method for determining and detecting the onset of structural collapse
First Claim
1. A system for detecting collapse of structures comprising:
- a device for detecting vibration responses on exterior of said structure said device constructed so as to determine transient amplitude and decay characteristics of said structure said transient amplitude and decay characteristics indicative of collapse of said structure in real time;
said device including at least one accelerometer, said accelerometer constructed so as to receive acceleration responses from a structure in real time and in at least one axial direction;
said device including a filter and amplifier, said filter and amplifier constructed so as to connect to said accelerometer, said filter and amplifier further constructed so as to receive said real time acceleration responses, remove extraneous noise from said acceleration responses and amplify said acceleration responses;
said device including at least one transmitter, said transmitter constructed so as to connect to said filter and amplifier, said transmitter further constructed so as to receive said filtered and amplified real time acceleration responses, said transmitter further constructed so as to convert said real time acceleration responses to an analog signal and transmit said signal; and
said device including a first power source connected to said accelerometer, said filter and amplifier and said transmitter, said first power source constructed so as supply power to said accelerometer, said filter and amplifier and said transmitter, said first power source further constructed so as to obtain power from dependent and independent power supplies.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A significant number of rescue workers are killed or injured each year as they conduct searches within damaged or burning structures, unaware that the structure is in imminent danger of collapse. The present invention provides a system and method for detecting and monitoring structural damages which are irreversible and which lead to inevitable collapse of a building or structure. The system includes at least one accelerometer that is housed in a device that is mounted on an exterior surface outside the burn area, and within the reach of the rescue worker. The device communicates with a remote display that provides visual and/or audible signals to indicate imminent collapse of the structure.
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Citations
83 Claims
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1. A system for detecting collapse of structures comprising:
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a device for detecting vibration responses on exterior of said structure said device constructed so as to determine transient amplitude and decay characteristics of said structure said transient amplitude and decay characteristics indicative of collapse of said structure in real time;
said device including at least one accelerometer, said accelerometer constructed so as to receive acceleration responses from a structure in real time and in at least one axial direction;
said device including a filter and amplifier, said filter and amplifier constructed so as to connect to said accelerometer, said filter and amplifier further constructed so as to receive said real time acceleration responses, remove extraneous noise from said acceleration responses and amplify said acceleration responses;
said device including at least one transmitter, said transmitter constructed so as to connect to said filter and amplifier, said transmitter further constructed so as to receive said filtered and amplified real time acceleration responses, said transmitter further constructed so as to convert said real time acceleration responses to an analog signal and transmit said signal; and
said device including a first power source connected to said accelerometer, said filter and amplifier and said transmitter, said first power source constructed so as supply power to said accelerometer, said filter and amplifier and said transmitter, said first power source further constructed so as to obtain power from dependent and independent power supplies. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system for detecting collapse of structures comprising:
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a display apparatus including a remote receiver constructed so as to receive real time analog signals and transmit said analog signals;
said display apparatus including an analog to digital converter being connected to said remote receiver, said converter constructed so as receive said analog signals and further constructed to convert said real time analog signals to real time digital signals;
said display apparatus including a computer, said computer being connected to said converter and constructed so as to receive said real time digital signals, compare stored threshold data with said real time digital signal and obtain a resultant value; and
said display apparatus further including a second power source constructed so as to supply power to said remote receiver, said analog to digital converter and said computer, said second power source further constructed so as to obtain power from a power supply. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. A system for detecting collapse of structures comprising:
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a device for detecting vibration responses on exterior of said structure said device constructed so as to determine transient amplitude and decay characteristics of said structure, said transient amplitude and decay characteristics indicative of collapse of said structure in real time;
said device including at least one accelerometer, said accelerometer constructed so as to receive acceleration responses from a structure in real time and in at least one axial direction;
said device including a filter and amplifier, said filter and amplifier constructed so as to connect to said accelerometer, said filter and amplifier further constructed so as to receive said real time acceleration responses, remove extraneous noise from said acceleration responses and amplify said acceleration responses;
said device including at least one transmitter, said transmitter constructed so as to connect to said filter and amplifier, said transmitter further constructed so as to receive said filtered and amplified real time acceleration responses, said transmitter further constructed so as to transmit said real time acceleration responses as analog signals;
said device including a first power source connected to said accelerometer, said filter and amplifier and said transmitter, said first power source constructed so as supply power to said accelerometer, said filter and amplifier and said transmitter, said first power source further constructed so as to obtain power from an independent power supply;
said system further including a display apparatus connected to said device through a supply line;
said display apparatus including a remote receiver constructed so as to receive real time analog signals from said transmitter;
said display apparatus including an analog to digital converter being connected to said remote receiver, said converter constructed so as receive said real time analog signals and further constructed to convert said real time analog signals to real time digital signals;
said display apparatus including a computer, said computer being connected to said converter and constructed so as to receive said digital signals, compare stored threshold data with said digital signal and display a resultant value indicative of collapse in real time;
said display apparatus further including a second power source constructed so as to supply power to said remote receiver, said analog to digital converter and said computer;
said second power source further constructed so as to obtain power from a power supply. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A system for detecting collapse of structures comprising:
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a device for detecting vibration responses on exterior of said structure said device constructed so as to determine transient amplitude and decay characteristics of said structure, said transient amplitude and decay characteristics indicative of collapse of said structure in real time;
said device including at least one accelerometer, said accelerometer constructed so as to receive acceleration responses from a structure in real time and in at least one axial direction;
said device including a filter and amplifier, said filter and amplifier constructed so as to connect to said accelerometer, said filter and amplifier further constructed so as to receive said real time acceleration responses, remove extraneous noise from said acceleration responses and amplify said acceleration responses;
said device including at least one transmitter, said transmitter constructed so as to connect to said filter and amplifier, said transmitter further constructed so as to receive said filtered and amplified real time acceleration responses, said transmitter further constructed so as to transmit said acceleration responses as real time analog signals;
said device including a first power source connected to said accelerometer, said filter and amplifier and said transmitter, said first power source constructed so as supply power to said accelerometer, said filter and amplifier and said transmitter, said first power source further constructed so as to obtain power from an independent power supply;
said system including a communication means for transmitting said real time analog signals to a display apparatus;
said display apparatus including a remote receiver constructed so as to receive said real time analog signals from said transmitter through said communication means;
said display apparatus including an analog to digital converter being connected to said remote receiver, said converter constructed so as receive said real time analog signals and further constructed to convert said analog signals to real time digital signals;
said display apparatus including a computer, said computer being connected to said converter and constructed so as to receive said digital signals, compare stored threshold data with said digital signal and display a resultant value;
said display apparatus further including a second power source constructed so as to supply power to said remote receiver, said analog to digital converter and said computer, said second power source further constructed so as to obtain power from a power supply. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A system for detecting collapse of structures comprising:
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a device for detecting vibration responses on exterior of said structure said device constructed so as to determine transient amplitude and decay characteristics of said structure said transient amplitude and decay characteristics indicative of collapse of said structure in real time;
said device including at least one accelerometer, said accelerometer constructed so as to receive acceleration responses from a structure in real time and in at least one axial direction;
said device including a filter and amplifier, said filter and amplifier constructed so as to connect to said accelerometer, said filter and amplifier further constructed so as to receive said real time acceleration responses, remove extraneous noise from said acceleration responses and amplify said acceleration responses;
said device including an analog to digital converter constructed so as to connect to said filter and amplifier, said converter further constructed so as to convert said real time acceleration responses to real time digital signals;
said device including a processor constructed so as to connect to said converter, said processor further constructed so as to process said real time digital signals;
said device including an identifier, constructed so as to connect to said processor, said identifier further constructed so as to identify data from said device;
said device including at least one transmitter, said transmitter constructed so as to connect to said filter and amplifier, said transmitter further constructed so as to receive said filtered and amplified real time acceleration responses, said transmitter further constructed so as to transmit said real time digital signals;
said device including a first power source connected to said accelerometer, said filter and amplifier, said analog to digital converter, said processor, said identifier and said transmitter, said first power source constructed so as supply power to said accelerometer, said filter and amplifier, said analog to digital converter, said processor, said identifier and said transmitter, said first power source further constructed so as to obtain power from an independent power supply. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A system for detecting collapse of structures comprising:
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a display apparatus including a remote receiver constructed so as to receive real time digital signals from a transmitter;
said display apparatus including a computer, said computer being connected to said receiver constructed so as to receive said real time digital signals, compare stored threshold data with said digital signal and display a resultant value indicative of collapse in real time;
said display apparatus further including a second power source constructed so as to supply power to said remote receiver and said computer;
said second power source further constructed so as to obtain power from a power supply. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46)
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47. A system for detecting collapse of structures comprising:
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a device for detecting vibration responses on exterior of said structure said device constructed so as to determine transient amplitude and decay characteristics of said structure said transient amplitude and decay characteristics indicative of collapse of said structure in real time;
said device including at least one accelerometer, said accelerometer constructed so as to receive acceleration responses from a structure in real time and in at least one axial direction;
said device including a filter and amplifier, said filter and amplifier constructed so as to connect to said accelerometer, said filter and amplifier further constructed so as to receive said real time acceleration responses, remove extraneous noise from said real time acceleration responses and amplify said acceleration responses;
said device including an analog to digital converter constructed so as to connect to said filter and amplifier, said converter further constructed so as to convert said real time acceleration responses to real time digital signals;
said device including a processor constructed so as to connect to said converter, said processor further constructed so as to process said real time digital signals;
said device including an identifier, constructed so as to connect to said processor, said identifier further constructed so as to identify data from said device;
said device including at least one transmitter, said transmitter constructed so as to connect to said filter and amplifier, said transmitter further constructed so as to receive said filtered and amplified real time acceleration responses, said transmitter further constructed so as to transmit said real time digital signals;
said device including a first power source connected to said accelerometer, said filter and amplifier, said analog to digital converter, said processor, said identifier and said transmitter, said first power source constructed so as supply power to said accelerometer, said filter and amplifier, said analog to digital converter, said processor, said identifier and said transmitter, said first power source further constructed so as to obtain power from an independent power supply;
said system further including a display apparatus connected to said device through a supply line;
said display apparatus including a remote receiver constructed so as to receive said digital signals from said transmitter;
said display apparatus including a computer, said computer being connected to said receiver constructed so as to receive said digital signals, compare stored threshold data with said digital signal and display a resultant value indicative of collapse in real time;
said display apparatus further including a second power source constructed so as to supply power to said remote receiver and said computer;
said second power source further constructed so as to obtain power from a power supply. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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61. A system for detecting collapse of structures comprising:
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a device for detecting vibration responses on exterior of said structure said device constructed so as to determine transient amplitude and decay characteristics of said structure said transient amplitude and decay characteristics indicative of collapse of said structure in real time;
said device including at least one accelerometer, said accelerometer constructed so as to receive acceleration responses from a structure in real time and in at least one axial direction;
said device including a filter and amplifier, said filter and amplifier constructed so as to connect to said accelerometer, said filter and amplifier further constructed so as to receive said real time acceleration responses, remove extraneous noise from said real time acceleration responses and amplify said acceleration responses;
said device including an analog to digital converter constructed so as to connect to said filter and amplifier, said converter further constructed so as to convert said real time acceleration responses to real time digital signals;
said device including a processor constructed so as to connect to said converter, said processor further constructed so as to process said real time digital signals;
said device including an identifier, constructed so as to connect to said processor, said identifier further constructed so as to identify data from said device;
said device including at least one transmitter, said transmitter constructed so as to connect to said filter and amplifier, said transmitter further constructed so as to receive said filtered and amplified real time acceleration responses, said transmitter further constructed so as to transmit said digital signals;
said device including a first power source connected to said accelerometer, said filter and amplifier, said analog to digital converter, said processor, said identifier and said transmitter, said first power source constructed so as supply power to said accelerometer, said filter and amplifier, said analog to digital converter, said processor, said identifier and said transmitter, said first power source further constructed so as to obtain power from an independent power supply;
said system including a communication means for transmitting said digital signals to a display apparatus;
said display apparatus including a remote receiver constructed so as to receive said digital signals from said transmitter through said communication means;
said display apparatus including a computer, said computer being connected to said receiver constructed so as to receive said real time digital signals, compare stored threshold data with said digital signal and display a resultant value indicative of collapse in real time;
said display apparatus further including a second power source constructed so as to supply power to said remote receiver and said computer;
said second power source further constructed so as to obtain power from a power supply. - View Dependent Claims (62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72)
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73. A method for detecting collapse of structures comprising:
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(a) attaching a device having at least one accelerometer, a filter and amplifier, at least on transmitter and an on-off indicator onto an exterior surface of a structure;
(b) monitoring transient amplitude and decay responses of said structure in real time using said at least one accelerometer;
(c) reducing noise and amplifying said responses using said filter and amplifier;
(d) converting said response to a real time analog signal;
(e) transmitting said signal in real time to a remote receiver using said transmitter;
(f) receiving said signal using said remote receiver and transmitting said signal to a computer having a central processing unit;
(g) tracking said transient amplitude and decay characteristics indicative of structural collapse, providing on-site data reduction and analysis, providing on-site data reduction and analysis using said central processing unit and digitizing said signal in real time using said computer and comparing said signal to a threshold value;
(h) transmitting said digitized signal from said computer to said device;
(i) displaying said signal in real time on said device; and
(j) notifying an operator of collapse situation of said structure using said device. - View Dependent Claims (74)
monitoring acceleration responses in real time during burn of said structure, collapse of said structure and post collapse of said structure.
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75. A system for detecting collapse of a structure in real time comprising:
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a means for detecting vibration responses on exterior of said structure said means constructed so as to determine transient amplitude and decay characteristics of said structure said transient amplitude and decay characteristics indicative of collapse of said structure in real time;
a means for removing extraneous noise from said vibration responses and amplifying said responses, said means connected to said means for detecting vibration responses;
a means for transmitting filtered and amplified responses, for converting said acceleration responses to an analog signal and for transmitting said signal, said means transmitting filtered and amplified responses connected to said means for detecting said responses;
a means for supplying power from dependent and independent power supplies to said means for detecting said responses, said means for removing extraneous noise and amplifying said acceleration responses and said means for transmitting filtered and amplified responses. - View Dependent Claims (76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81)
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82. A system for detecting collapse of structures comprising:
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a display means for receiving real time analog signals connected to a means for converting said real time analog signals to real time digital signals and transmitting said signals to a remote receiver means;
a means for tracking said transient amplitude and decay characteristics indicative of structural collapse, said means receiving and storing said real time digital signals, providing on-site data reduction and analysis comparing said real time signals to threshold amplitude and decay values and transmitting said values to a display unit means for displaying a collapse mechanism in real time;
said display means including a second power means for supplying power to said remote receiver, said converter means and said tracking means, said second power means further constructed so as to obtain power from a power supply. - View Dependent Claims (83)
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Specification