Impact-resistant surface-mounted roof sensors

• US 9,714,875 B2
• Filed: 09/19/2012
• Issued: 07/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Texas System (University of Texas System)
• Original Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Texas System (University of Texas System)
• Inventors: Hallam, Cory, Ayon, Arturo A., Ginn, Dylan
• Primary Examiner(s): Noori, Max
• Application Number:
  US14/345,831
• Publication Number:
  US 20140230574A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,770 Days
• Field of Search: 73 12, 73 9, 73 1213, 73862625, 73 1209
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 13/00 Special arrangements or devices in connection with roof coverings; Protection against birds; Roof drainage ; Sky-lights ventilation tiles E04D1/30; ventilation slabs E04D3/40; internal channels E04F17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/16 using properties of piezoelectric devices
• 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: G01M 5/0041 by determining deflection or stress

Abstract

Various systems and techniques may be used to enhance the sensing loads on a roof surface. In some implementations, an impact-resistant surface-mounted roof sensor system may include a sensor, a protective cover, and a load transfer mechanism. The sensor may be adapted to sense a load incident thereon, and the protective cover may be configured to span at least the width of the sensor and adapted to withstand impacts from dense media and an direct incident load. The load transfer mechanism may be adapted to mechanically transfer a load applied on the protective cover to the sensor.

Claims

1. An impact-resistant surface-mounted roof sensor system, comprising:

a sensor adapted to sense a force load incident thereon, the sensor having a width;

a protective cover configured to span at least the width of the sensor and adapted to withstand high-energy impacts from dense water-based media and a direct incident force load from water-based media; and

a load transfer mechanism adapted to mechanically transfer a force load applied on the protective cover to the sensor.

2. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a piezo-electric device.

3. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein:

the protective cover comprises a shield; and

the load transfer mechanism comprises a resilient member.

4. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein:

the protective cover comprises a flexible membrane; and

the load transfer mechanism comprises an incompressible fluid.

5. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein the protective cover comprises a shield with a number of apertures to block larger water-based media but allow smaller water-based media to pass.

6. The sensor system of claim 5, wherein the protective cover is configured to prevent bridging by surrounding water-based media.

7. The sensor system of claim 1, further comprising a computer system co-located with the sensor to determine the force load on the protective cover and to determine whether the force load exceeds a threshold and communicate the force load to a remote computer if the force load exceeds the threshold.

8. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein the protective cover is configured to prevent bridging by surrounding water-based media.

9. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein the protective cover is adapted to protect from impacts of at least 90 kN/mm³.

10. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein dense water-based media comprises hail.

11. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein the sensor system is adapted to mount to a top surface of a roof.

12. The sensor system of claim 7, wherein the computer also communicates additional measurement data to the remote computer.