Tension monitoring arrangement and method

• US 7,775,121 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2009
• Issued: 08/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Merlin Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Merlin Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Mercer, John E., Zeller, Rudolf, Chau, Albert W., Tsang, Charles Yu Yat
• Primary Examiner(s): NOORI, MASOUD H
• Application Number:
  US12/506,986
• Publication Number:
  US 20090277277A1
• Time in Patent Office: 392 Days
• Field of Search: 73760-826
• US Class Current: 73/826
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 13/16 Applications of indicating, registering, or weighing devices in crane hooks B66C1/40; in safety gear B66C15/00; weighing-apparatus G01G; remote indicating in general G08
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 23/905 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: B66D 1/54 Safety gear
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/26 Auxiliary measures taken, or devices used, in connection with the measurement of force, e.g. for preventing influence of transverse components of force, for preventing overload
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/10 using electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/103 using sensors fixed at one end of the flexible member

Abstract

Tension monitoring is described using a sensor which may exhibit an offset for which compensation may be provided to produce a zero voltage amplified output or to increase dynamic range. An arrangement determines whether a power reset is responsive to a battery bounce such that an initially-measured system start-up parameter can be retained. The start-up parameter is automatically saved at start-up if the power reset is responsive to a start-up from a shut-down condition. The start-up parameter may be a zero tension amplified output responsive to the sensor offset at zero tension. Protection of a tension data set is provided such that no opportunity for altering the data set is presented prior to transfer of the data set. A housing configuration forms part of an electrical power circuit for providing electrical power to an electronics package from a battery.

Claims

1. In a system for installing an underground utility by retraction that is applied to a leading end of the utility to draw the utility through the ground such that the utility is subjected to a tension force during an installation time period, a tension monitoring apparatus, comprising:

sensing means for inground sensing of the tension force that is applied to the leading end of the utility to produce a sensor signal during said installation time period;

data means at least for storing an original digital data set responsive to said sensor signal during said installation time period and for copying the original data set to a different data location to created a copied data set after said installation time period; and

a user interface arrangement, in communication with said data means, to permit a user to instruct the data means to erase the original data set only after the original data set has been copied to the different data location.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said data means is configured for creating said original data set in a way which provides for detection of any alteration of the copied data set at said different data location.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said data means is configured for monitoring said sensor signal over a plurality of measurement periods which make up said installation time period.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said data means is configured for storing and identifying, as part of said original data set, a maximum tension value that is recorded for each one of said measurement periods.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said data means is configured for creating said original data set and adding each maximum tension value thereto in a way which provides for detection of any alteration of the copied data set at said different data location.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said data means is configured for applying cyclic redundancy checking to the original data set with the addition of each maximum tension value such that cyclic redundancy checking can be used on the copied data set at the different data location to confirm integrity thereof.

7. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said data means is configured for determining a series of tension values over each measurement period and the apparatus includes means for transmitting at least selected ones of the tension values to an aboveground location.

8. In a system for installing an underground utility by retraction that is applied to a leading end of the utility to draw the utility through the ground such that the utility is subjected to a tension force during an installation time period, a method comprising the steps of:

sensing the tension force inground that is applied to the leading end of the utility to produce a sensor signal during said installation time period;

storing an original digital data set, using inground data means, responsive to said sensor signal during said installation time period;

copying the original data set to a different data location to create a copied data set after said installation time period; and

permitting a user to instruct the data means to erase the original data set only after the original data set has been copied to the different data location.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said storing step creates said original data set in a way which provides for detection of any alteration of the copied data set at said different data location.

10. The method of claim 8 including the step of monitoring said sensor signal over a plurality of measurement periods which make up said installation time period for use in producing the original data set.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said storing step stores and identifies, as part of said original data set, a maximum tension value that is measured for each one of said measurement periods.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said storing step includes the steps of initially creating said original data set and, thereafter, adding each maximum tension value thereto in a way which provides for detection of any alteration of the copied data set at said different data location.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said storing step includes the step of applying cyclic redundancy checking to the original data set with the addition of each maximum tension value such that cyclic redundancy checking can be used on the copied data set at the different data location to confirm integrity thereof.

14. The method of claim 10 including the steps of determining a series of tension values over each measurement period and transmitting at least selected ones of the tension values to an aboveground location.