Seal integrity detection system

• US 7,152,375 B1
• Filed: 09/05/2003
• Issued: 12/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Mastro, Stephen A., Overby, John K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Strimbu, Gregory J.
• Application Number:
  US10/654,962
• Time in Patent Office: 1,208 Days
• Field of Search: 494/751, 493/95, 495/07, 494/02, 277/317, 277/318, 277/321, 73/498, 73/46, 737/90
• US Class Current: 49/507
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 19/26 Gaskets; Draining means
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 43/02 reducing risk of capsizing or sinking by means of watertight doors in bulkheads B63B43/24
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 43/24 Arrangements of watertight doors in bulkheads
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/064 the packing combining the sealing function with other functions

Abstract

A seal integrity verification system scans for changes in impedance in a seal with integral coaxial waveguide, twisted pair wires, parallel ribbon wires or parallel wires. The wires are monitored by a TDR to note changes in impedance. The changes indicate the location where the seal is not under proper compression to ensure a tight fit. This is especially useful in verifying that watertight doors on ships or submarines are sealing properly when shut.

Claims

1. A watertight door seal integrity verification assembly comprising:

a watertight door in a door frame;

a gasket disposed in a channel formed around a periphery of the door;

a closure edge of the door frame positioned to compress the gasket upon latching the door shut;

a transmission line embedded in the gasket, the transmission line operatively coupled to a time domain reflectometry device; and

a display associated with the time domain reflectometry device to indicate a gasket compression status,

wherein the gasket compression status includes a presence of an improper gasket compression,

wherein the display comprises a visual representation of the watertight door and a visual representation of the gasket compression status along the periphery the watertight door, and

wherein the visual representation of the gasket compression status includes visually distinguishing at least one portion of said gasket having said improper gasket compression from another portion of said gasket not having said improper gasket compression.

2. A watertight door seal integrity verification assembly as in claim 1, wherein the transmission line is a twisted pair of insulated wires.

3. A watertight door seal integrity verification assembly as in claim 1, wherein the transmission line is a coaxial cable.

4. The watertight door seal integrity verification assembly of claim 1 wherein the display is located at a location remote from a location of the gasket.

5. A watertight door seal integrity verification system comprising:

a gasket configured to be disposed around a periphery of a watertight door, the gasket configured to be compressed upon closing of the watertight door;

a transmission line embedded in the gasket;

a time domain reflectometry device operatively coupled to the transmission line; and

a display associated with the time domain reflectometry device to indicate a gasket compression status,

wherein the gasket compression status includes a presence of an improper gasket compression,

wherein the display comprises a visual representation of the watertight door and a visual representation of the gasket compression status along the periphery the watertight door, and

wherein the visual representation of the gasket compression status includes visually distinguishing at least one portion of said gasket having said improper gasket compression from another portion of said gasket not having said improper gasket compression.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the display is located at a location remote from a location of the gasket.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein the transmission line is a twisted pair of insulated wires.

8. The system of claim 5 wherein the transmission line is a coaxial cable.