Embedded system for diagnostics and prognostics of conduits
First Claim
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1. A method for assessing a health status of a system of conduits, the assessing comprising:
- determining requirements for monitoring the system of conduits; and
selecting parameters to be sensed and monitored; and
selecting components consisting of electronics, hardware, software, firmware, a set of discrete sensors and strands of sensitized medium; and
designing and manufacturing a form and fit of a monitoring device comprised of said components; and
applying, placing, attaching or embedding the monitoring device and sensors consisting of discrete sensors and a multiplicity of strands of said sensitized medium along the length of a conduit, said set of discrete sensors and strands of sensitized medium being placed such that damage inducing factors affect said set of discrete sensors and strands of sensitized medium; and
determining by a combination of measurement by signal processing and deductive algorithms whether, when, where and to what extent said damage inducing factors have caused damage; and
with an algorithm using said monitoring device to periodically monitor at least a portion of the set of discrete sensors over a first extended period and, for each monitor, storing in a digital memory a data tuplet containing information concerning said parameters; and
forming tuplets that represent a time of a sample, identity of the sensor, and parameter values; and
using digital processor algorithms to identify tuplets having normal values within a predetermined range; and
providing an indication of steady state characteristics if said parameter values for at least a predetermined number of tuples are within a first predetermined range; and
providing a programmed diagnostic algorithm for assessing risk of damage to the set of discrete sensors and extent of deterioration and damage to the monitored conduits; and
providing an algorithm for estimating remaining useful life of the monitored conduits and components; and
providing a protocol for communicating information about sensed damage, deterioration, as well as diagnostic information concerning a health status and integrity of the monitored conduits, components and system of conduits; and
performing a first test sequence on each of the multiplicity of said strands of sensitized medium for the purpose of forming a baseline of characteristic parameters of each said sensitized strand of medium for future reference by measuring the characteristic parameters and storing characteristic parameters in an accessible storage medium or location for future use; and
from time to time performing the same said first test sequence on each of the multiplicity of strands of sensitized medium; and
making a test measurement of said strands of sensitized medium for the purpose of determining if said measured characteristic parameters are substantially equal to previously measured characteristic parameters, the possible outcomes being;
there is no measurable change to the sensitized medium; and
there is measurable change to the sensitized medium; and
the medium is disrupted, broken, eroded, cut through or dissolved; and
choosing whether to repeat said step of making a test measurement of said sensitized medium; and
if the choice is to repeat, then repeating said steps of measuring the characteristic parameter and determining; and
if said measured characteristic parameters are substantially equal to previous measured characteristic parameters with the digital processor, using a deductive algorithm along with any a priori probability information to;
process data from said measuring of said multiplicity of sensitized medium into characteristic parameters; and
determine any change of said characteristic parameters from recorded characteristic parameters; and
record the characteristic parameters for later use; and
choose whether to measure to locate the change; and
if the choice is to locate, then measure using either direct calculation based on response to a measuring technique; and
record a measured value and temporal information if available; and
using a calculus estimate a degree of damage for each said sensitized media at each recorded point of damage, for each time if temporal information is recorded.
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Abstract
An apparatus providing a means for assessment of the integrity of insulated conduits, harnesses, cables, pipelines and other interconnection systems constructed with integral sensitized media, discrete sensors, and electronics providing a means for transforming sensed data into information and a means for communicating information for the purpose of understanding the location, degree and risk of damage and deterioration, and the probable causes thereof.
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Citations
7 Claims
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1. A method for assessing a health status of a system of conduits, the assessing comprising:
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determining requirements for monitoring the system of conduits; and selecting parameters to be sensed and monitored; and selecting components consisting of electronics, hardware, software, firmware, a set of discrete sensors and strands of sensitized medium; and designing and manufacturing a form and fit of a monitoring device comprised of said components; and applying, placing, attaching or embedding the monitoring device and sensors consisting of discrete sensors and a multiplicity of strands of said sensitized medium along the length of a conduit, said set of discrete sensors and strands of sensitized medium being placed such that damage inducing factors affect said set of discrete sensors and strands of sensitized medium; and determining by a combination of measurement by signal processing and deductive algorithms whether, when, where and to what extent said damage inducing factors have caused damage; and
with an algorithm using said monitoring device to periodically monitor at least a portion of the set of discrete sensors over a first extended period and, for each monitor, storing in a digital memory a data tuplet containing information concerning said parameters; andforming tuplets that represent a time of a sample, identity of the sensor, and parameter values; and using digital processor algorithms to identify tuplets having normal values within a predetermined range; and providing an indication of steady state characteristics if said parameter values for at least a predetermined number of tuples are within a first predetermined range; and providing a programmed diagnostic algorithm for assessing risk of damage to the set of discrete sensors and extent of deterioration and damage to the monitored conduits; and providing an algorithm for estimating remaining useful life of the monitored conduits and components; and providing a protocol for communicating information about sensed damage, deterioration, as well as diagnostic information concerning a health status and integrity of the monitored conduits, components and system of conduits; and performing a first test sequence on each of the multiplicity of said strands of sensitized medium for the purpose of forming a baseline of characteristic parameters of each said sensitized strand of medium for future reference by measuring the characteristic parameters and storing characteristic parameters in an accessible storage medium or location for future use; and from time to time performing the same said first test sequence on each of the multiplicity of strands of sensitized medium; and making a test measurement of said strands of sensitized medium for the purpose of determining if said measured characteristic parameters are substantially equal to previously measured characteristic parameters, the possible outcomes being; there is no measurable change to the sensitized medium; and there is measurable change to the sensitized medium; and the medium is disrupted, broken, eroded, cut through or dissolved; and choosing whether to repeat said step of making a test measurement of said sensitized medium; and if the choice is to repeat, then repeating said steps of measuring the characteristic parameter and determining; and if said measured characteristic parameters are substantially equal to previous measured characteristic parameters with the digital processor, using a deductive algorithm along with any a priori probability information to; process data from said measuring of said multiplicity of sensitized medium into characteristic parameters; and determine any change of said characteristic parameters from recorded characteristic parameters; and record the characteristic parameters for later use; and choose whether to measure to locate the change; and if the choice is to locate, then measure using either direct calculation based on response to a measuring technique; and
record a measured value and temporal information if available; andusing a calculus estimate a degree of damage for each said sensitized media at each recorded point of damage, for each time if temporal information is recorded. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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Specification