Method and apparatus to detect and locate damage and breaches in roof membranes
First Claim
1. A method of locating a leak in a roof, where the roof comprises a generally horizontal roof support deck with a water impermeable membrane applied onto the upper surface of the support deck, the method comprising:
- providing a first conductor arrangement for engaging the roof above the membrane;
providing a return conductor arrangement for electrical connection to the support deck;
generating an electrical potential between the first and return conductor arrangements;
mounting the first conductor arrangement on a carriage which can be moved over the roof so as to scan the first conductor arrangement over selected areas of the roof while the first conductor arrangement remains in contact with the roof as the carriage is moved;
sensing the current flowing from the roof support deck to the first conductor arrangement;
and detecting the changes in current as the first conductor arrangement is scanned over the selected areas of the roof to locate the leak in the membrane.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A leak in a membrane on top of a horizontal roof deck is located by a manually operable carriage which is swept over the upper surface of the membrane on the roof deck. A measuring and switching circuit generates a voltage having a positive attached to the roof deck and a negative attached to conductive brushes on the carriage. The brushes are arranged to form an outer peripheral contact with an inner contact inside the outer contact. Thus the presence of a leak is detected by the outer set of conductive brushes at distance from the leak and by the inner conductive brush when directly over the leakage site.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method of locating a leak in a roof, where the roof comprises a generally horizontal roof support deck with a water impermeable membrane applied onto the upper surface of the support deck, the method comprising:
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providing a first conductor arrangement for engaging the roof above the membrane; providing a return conductor arrangement for electrical connection to the support deck; generating an electrical potential between the first and return conductor arrangements; mounting the first conductor arrangement on a carriage which can be moved over the roof so as to scan the first conductor arrangement over selected areas of the roof while the first conductor arrangement remains in contact with the roof as the carriage is moved; sensing the current flowing from the roof support deck to the first conductor arrangement; and detecting the changes in current as the first conductor arrangement is scanned over the selected areas of the roof to locate the leak in the membrane. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of locating a leakage site in a roof, where the roof comprises a generally horizontal roof support deck with a water impermeable membrane applied onto the upper surface of the support deck, the method comprising:
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providing a first conductor arrangement for engaging the roof above the membrane; providing a return conductor arrangement for electrical connection to the roof support deck; wherein the first conductor arrangement includes first and second conductor members which are electrically isolated from each other; wherein the first conductor member is an inner member and the second member is an outer shielding member at least partly surrounding the first inner member; generating an electrical potential between the first conductor member of the first conductor arrangement and the roof support deck; generating an electrical potential between the second conductor member of the first conductor arrangement and the roof support deck; scanning the first conductor arrangement over selected areas of the roof such that both the first inner member and the second outer member engage the roof as the first conductor arrangement is scanned; independently sensing the current flowing from the roof support deck to the first and second conductor members of the first conductor arrangement; and locating the leakage site by; detecting changes in the sensed current received by the second outer conductor member at a distance from the leakage site with the second outer conductor member shielding the first inner conductor member to reduce communication of current thereto from the leakage site; and detecting the changes in the sensed current received by the first inner conductor member when the first inner conductor member is over the leakage site and the second outer shielding conductor member acts as a shield around the leakage site. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. Apparatus for locating a leak in a roof, where the roof comprises a generally horizontal roof support deck with a water impermeable membrane applied onto the upper surface of the support deck, the apparatus comprising:
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a conductor arrangement for engaging the roof above the membrane including first and second conductor members which are electrically isolated each other; a carriage carrying the first and second conductor members which can be moved over the roof so as to scan the members over selected areas of the roof; wherein the first conductor member is an inner member and the second member is an outer shielding member at least partly surrounding the first inner member with both the first inner member and the second outer member engaging the roof; and a circuit arranged to sense current flowing from the roof support deck to each of the first and second members, the circuit including two independent current detection components respectively for the first and second conductor members; the circuit being arranged to detect changes in current as the conductor members are moved over the roof. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification