Heating element condition monitor
First Claim
1. A method for monitoring the condition of a material, comprising:
- determining a reference baseline for at least two characteristics of a material;
monitoring the at least two characteristics characteristic of the material across time and/or temperature;
comparing the monitored characteristics against the reference baseline; and
initiating a signal when a difference between the monitored characteristics and the reference baseline reaches or exceeds a predetermined value,wherein the difference between the monitored two or more characteristics and the reference baseline is caused by one or more of elongation of the material, a metallurgical change in a composition of the material, and a reduction in a cross-sectional area of the material.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for monitoring the condition of a heating element involving installing the heating element in a location and setting the initial composition Ci of the material as a reference baseline at an initial time Ti corresponding to said installation of the heating element. Data is then collected reflecting the subsequent composition Cs of the heating element material after a subsequent time Ts at the installed location and any change in the material composition of the heating element between Ti and Ts is monitored. An alarm is sent when the change reaches a threshold value indicating a possible failure condition. According to one embodiment, an impedance monitor is provided that calculates and compares impedance at the required levels of accuracy to determine changes in material composition. The impedance monitor, or portions thereof can be embedded within a microcontroller for increased portability and functionality.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. A method for monitoring the condition of a material, comprising:
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determining a reference baseline for at least two characteristics of a material; monitoring the at least two characteristics characteristic of the material across time and/or temperature; comparing the monitored characteristics against the reference baseline; and initiating a signal when a difference between the monitored characteristics and the reference baseline reaches or exceeds a predetermined value, wherein the difference between the monitored two or more characteristics and the reference baseline is caused by one or more of elongation of the material, a metallurgical change in a composition of the material, and a reduction in a cross-sectional area of the material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for monitoring the condition of a heating element, comprising:
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determining a first graphical representation of a characteristic of a heating element as a reference baseline; setting a threshold level of graphical change for the characteristic; collecting data reflecting the condition of the characteristic of the heating element material after an interval; converting the collected data to a second graphical representation; comparing the difference between the first and second graphical representations against the threshold level of graphical change; and sending a signal to a decision making authority when the difference reaches or exceeds the threshold level, wherein the threshold level is set such that a signal is sent to the decision making authority when the alloy reaches a composition having approximately 2.5% of aluminum. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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27. An apparatus for monitoring the condition of the material, comprising:
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means for determining an initial composition of a material as a reference baseline at an initial time; means for collecting data reflecting a subsequent composition of the material after a specified time interval; means for setting a threshold level of change in the subsequent composition from the initial composition; means for monitoring a change in the composition of the material after the interval has passed; and means for sending a signal to a decision making authority when the monitored change has reached or exceeded the threshold level. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification