Degradation monitoring system for hose assembly

• US 9,435,709 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2012
• Issued: 09/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Danfoss A/S
• Original Assignee: Eaton Corp. (Wisconsin) (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Hastreiter, James Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Nghiem, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Alkafawi, Eman
• Application Number:
  US13/458,691
• Publication Number:
  US 20120278018A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,593 Days
• Field of Search: 702/65, 702/58, 73/38
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/18 for pipes, cables or tubes; for pipe joints or seals; for valves; for welds; for containers, e.g. radiators

Abstract

A system and method for detecting hose degradation are disclosed. In one aspect, a hose degradation monitoring system includes a hose assembly including a hose having a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer, and a monitoring circuit in electrical communication with the first and second conductive layers. The degradation monitoring circuit includes a circuit element having a non-linear electrical property in response to changed voltage.

Claims

1. A hose degradation monitoring system comprising:

a hose assembly including a hose having a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer;

a monitoring circuit in electrical communication with the first and second conductive layers, the monitoring circuit including a circuit element having a non-linear electrical property in response to changed voltage, the monitoring circuit mounted in a monitoring assembly including a circuit board electrically connected at contacts to the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer;

wherein the monitoring circuit includes a diagnostic unit configured to apply a plurality of different voltages across the circuit element, the plurality of different voltages including at least a first voltage, a second voltage, and a third voltage, and

wherein the monitoring circuit is further configured to calculate an electrical characteristic of the hose assembly based at least in part on electrical characteristics of the hose assembly in response to the plurality of different voltages while accounting for a resistance of the contacts determined based at least in part on a response to the non-linear electrical property of the circuit element.

2. The hose fault detection system of claim 1, wherein the diagnostic unit is located remotely from the hose assembly.

3. The hose fault detection system of claim 1, further comprising a monitoring assembly including a housing and a circuit board, the circuit board positioned in a channel of the housing and including electrical contacts oriented toward the hose assembly, the electrical contacts electrically connecting the monitoring circuit to the first and second conductive layers.

4. The hose fault detection system of claim 1, wherein the circuit element includes a diode connected across the first and second conductive layers.

5. The hose fault detection system of claim 4, wherein the diode has a resistance that changes non-linearly as a function of voltage applied across the diode.

6. The hose fault detection system of claim 1, wherein the monitoring circuit is at least partially incorporated in a monitoring assembly mounted to the hose assembly.

7. A method of monitoring degradation of a hose assembly, the method comprising:

applying a first voltage across a circuit element connected between first and second conductive layers of a hose assembly;

while applying the first voltage, detecting a first electrical characteristic of the circuit element;

applying a second voltage across the circuit element, the second voltage different from the first voltage;

while applying the second voltage, detecting a second electrical characteristic of the circuit element;

applying a third voltage across the circuit element, the third voltage different from the first and second voltages;

while applying the third voltage, detecting a third electrical characteristic of the circuit element; and

calculating an electrical characteristic of the hose assembly based at least in part on the first and second electrical characteristics.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein calculating the electrical characteristic of the hose assembly is further based on the third electrical characteristic.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the second voltage is a voltage opposite that of the first voltage.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein calculating an electrical characteristic of the hose assembly comprises calculating a resistance of the hose assembly.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the resistance of the hose assembly is calculated using the equation:

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising calculating an electrical characteristic of the circuit, wherein calculation of an abnormal electrical characteristic of the circuit represents a circuit fault occurring in the monitoring assembly.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the calculating the electrical characteristic of the circuit comprises calculating a large contact resistance.

14. A hose degradation monitoring system comprising:

a hose assembly including a hose having a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer;

a monitoring circuit including a diode electrically connected between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer, wherein the diode has a resistance that changes non-linearly as a function of voltage applied across the diode; and

a monitoring assembly including a housing and a circuit board, the circuit board positioned in a channel of the housing and including electrical contacts oriented toward the hose assembly, the electrical contacts electrically connecting the monitoring circuit to the first and second conductive layers;

wherein the monitoring circuit includes a diagnostic unit configured to apply a plurality of different voltages across the diode, the plurality of different voltages including at least a first voltage, a second voltage, and a third voltage, and

wherein the monitoring circuit further configured to calculate an electrical characteristic of the hose assembly based at least in part on electrical characteristics of the hose assembly in response to the plurality of different voltages while accounting for a resistance of the contacts determined based at least in part on a response to the non-linear resistance of the diode.