Method and apparatus for monitoring structural fatigue and use
First Claim
1. Apparatus for detecting stresses experienced by a structure, comprising:
- a housing adapted to be attached to a structure;
a strain gauge positioned within said housing such that when said housing is attached to a structure the strain gauge may detect stresses experienced by the structure, the strain gauge being operable to generate electrical signals indicative of said stresses;
a memory within said housing and operable to record data derived from said signals to form a record of stresses experienced at different points in a period of time by the structure to which said housing is attached; and
a temperature variation detector within said housing operable to identify variations in detected stress by said strain gauge arising from variations in temperature, wherein said memory is responsive to record data identifying stresses experienced by said structure arising from variations in load on said structure independent of identified variations arising from variations in temperature.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic stress monitoring device (1) is provided that is arranged to detect and record measurements of stress experienced by a structure (2) to which the stress history unit is attached, with the measurement and recordal of stress occurring at substantially the same location. The stress monitoring unit (1) is also arranged to process the detected readings of stress to determine when significant structural events are occurring within the structure (2) to which it is attached. Data indicative of these events are recorded within the stress monitoring device (1). Periodically data recorded within the stress monitoring device (1) is obtained by data reader (4) and then transmitted to a computer (6) for subsequent analysis.
52 Citations
12 Claims
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1. Apparatus for detecting stresses experienced by a structure, comprising:
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a housing adapted to be attached to a structure;
a strain gauge positioned within said housing such that when said housing is attached to a structure the strain gauge may detect stresses experienced by the structure, the strain gauge being operable to generate electrical signals indicative of said stresses;
a memory within said housing and operable to record data derived from said signals to form a record of stresses experienced at different points in a period of time by the structure to which said housing is attached; and
a temperature variation detector within said housing operable to identify variations in detected stress by said strain gauge arising from variations in temperature, wherein said memory is responsive to record data identifying stresses experienced by said structure arising from variations in load on said structure independent of identified variations arising from variations in temperature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. Apparatus for detecting stresses experienced by a structure arising from variations in load, comprising:
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a housing adapted to be attached to a structure;
a strain gauge positioned within said housing such that when said housing is attached to a structure the strain gauge may detect stresses experienced by the structure, the strain gauge being operable to generate electrical signals indicative of said stresses;
detection means provided within said housing for determining variations in stress detected by said strain gauge arising from variations in temperature;
recording means within said housing responsive to said strain gauge and said detection means to generate a record identifying stresses experienced by said structure arising from variations in load on said structure independent of identified variations arising from variations in temperature; and
output means operable to output data representing said record.
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12. A method of obtaining a history of stresses experienced by a structure arising from variations in load on said structure independent of identified variations arising from variations in temperature;
- the method comprising
providing an apparatus for detecting stresses experienced by a structure, comprising;
a housing adapted to be attached to a structure;
a strain gauge positioned within said housing such that when said housing is attached to a structure the strain gauge may detect stresses experienced by the structure, the strain gauge being operable to generate electrical signals indicative of said stresses;
a memory within said housing and operable to record data derived from said signals to form a record of stresses experienced at different points in a period of time by the structure to which said housing is attached; and
a temperature variation detector within said housing operable to identify variations in detected stress by said strain gauge arising from variations in temperature, wherein said memory is responsive to record data identifying stresses experienced by said structure arising from variations in load on said structure independent of identified variations arising from variations in temperature;
attaching said apparatus to said structure;
utilizing said apparatus to generate a record of stresses experienced at different points in a period of time by said structure arising from variations in load on said structure, independent of identified variations arising from variations in temperature; and
outputting data corresponding to the generated record.
- the method comprising
Specification