Structural repair and remote monitoring system and method

• US 10,458,134 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2018
• Issued: 10/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Emecole Metro, LLC
• Original Assignee: Emecole Metro, LLC
• Inventors: Kochan, Jr., John R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Caputo, Lisa M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hollington, Octavia
• Application Number:
  US15/922,496
• Publication Number:
  US 20180266128A1
• Time in Patent Office: 593 Days
• Field of Search: 73786, 73632
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/06 the elements being prestressed
• CPC Class Codes: E04G 2023/0251 by using fiber reinforced plastic elements
• CPC Class Codes: E04G 23/0229 of foundations or foundation walls
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 5/0033 by determining damage, crack or wear
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 5/0066 by exciting or detecting vibration or acceleration vibration testing of structures G01M7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0213 Modular or universal configuration of the monitoring system, e.g. monitoring system having modules that may be combined to build monitoring program; monitoring system that can be applied to legacy systems; adaptable monitoring system; using different communication protocols
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0283 Predictive maintenance, e.g. involving the monitoring of a system and, based on the monitoring results, taking decisions on the maintenance schedule of the monitored system; Estimating remaining useful life [RUL] preventive maintenance, i.e. planning maintenance according to the available resources without monitoring the system G06Q10/06

Abstract

A system is provided for being affixed to a portion of a construction structure that has sustained a fracture. The system can provide a repair strap, sensor and communication interface. The repair strap can be securable to the structure to span at least a portion of the fracture. The sensor can be carried on the repair strap and be configured to detect at least one condition representative of additional fracture of the structure. An electrical signal can be generated in response to said detection. The communication interface can be electrically coupled to the sensor and can receive the electrical signal generated by the sensor. The communication interface can be configured to transmit information to a remote electronic device via a public or private communication network.

Claims

1. A system for being affixed to a portion of a construction structure that has sustained a fracture comprising:

a repair strap having opposing first and second ends, the repair strap being securable to the structure to span at least a portion of the fracture with the first end of the repair strap being securable to a first portion of the structure adjacent one side of the fracture and the second end of the repair strap being securable to a second portion of the structure adjacent a second side of the fracture opposite the first side;

a sensor carried on the repair strap, the sensor configured to detect physical deformation in at least one of the repair strap or the structure, the deformation being occasioned by at least one of tension across the repair strap, strain across the repair strap, enlargement of the fracture, separation of the first and second sides of the fracture, strain of a conductor of the sensor brought on by vibration of the repair strap or vibration of the structure, stretching of the repair strap in a direction between the opposing first and second ends and displacement of the repair strap relative the structure, an electrical signal being generated in response to said detection;

a plurality of deformable leads coupled to the sensor, the plurality of leads including a first lead extendable along the first end of the repair strap adjacent the first portion of the structure and a second lead extendable along the second portion of the repair strap adjacent the second portion of the structure, the plurality of leads being deformable by physical deformation of at least one of the repair strap or the structure, the electrical signal being generated in response to deformation of one of the plurality of leads;

a communication interface electrically coupled to the sensor, the electrical signal generated by the sensor being receivable by the communication interface, the communication interface configured to transmit signals to a remote electronic device via a public or private communication network.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensor is a strain gauge.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the repair strap is comprised of a fabric material including at least one of carbon fiber or Kevlar®

.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the repair strap is comprised of sheet metal.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the communication interface is a wireless communication interface for wireless communication with the remote electronic device.

6. The system of claim 1 where the communication interface is carried on the repair strap.

7. The system of claim 1 where the repair strap, sensor and wireless communication interface comprise a single integrated monitoring unit, the system further comprising a plurality of integrated monitoring units at a plurality of locations along structure including at least one location spanning the fracture or at least one location adjacent the fracture.

8. The system of claim 1 where the wireless communication interface is configured for two-way communication with a remote electronic device, signals sent by the remote electronic device being receivable by the wireless communication interface.

9. A system for being affixed to a portion of a construction structure that has sustained a fracture comprising:

a plurality of monitoring units, each of the plurality of monitoring unit comprising;

a repair strap having opposing first and second ends, the repair strap being securable to the structure to span at least a portion of the fracture with the first end of the repair strap being securable to a first portion of the structure adjacent one side of the fracture and the second end of the repair strap being securable to a second portion of the structure adjacent a second side of the fracture opposite the first side;

a sensor carried on the repair strap, the sensor configured to detect physical deformation in at least one of the repair strap or the structure, the deformation being occasioned by at least one of tension across the repair strap, strain across the repair strap, enlargement of the fracture, separation of the first and second sides of the fracture, strain of a conductor of the sensor brought on by vibration of the repair strap or vibration of the structure, stretching of the repair strap in a direction between the opposing first and second ends and displacement of the repair strap relative the structure, an electrical signal being generated in response to said detection,

a plurality of deformable leads coupled to the sensor, the plurality of leads including a first lead extendable along the first end of the repair strap adjacent the first portion of the structure and a second lead extendable along the second portion of the repair strap adjacent the second portion of the structure, the plurality of leads being deformable by physical deformation of at least one of the repair strap or the structure, the electrical signal being generated in response to deformation of one of the plurality of leads; and

a wireless communication interface electrically coupled to the sensor of at least some of the plurality of monitoring units, the electrical signal generated by the sensor of one of the plurality of monitoring units being receivable by the communication interface, the wireless communication interface configured to transmit wireless signals to a remote electronic device via a public or private communication network.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the sensor of at least one of the plurality of monitoring units is a strain gauge.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the repair strap of at least one of the plurality of monitoring units is comprised of a fabric material including at least one of carbon fiber or Kevlar®

.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein the repair strap of at least one of the plurality of monitoring units is comprised of sheet metal.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein the wireless communication interface is carried on the repair strap of at least one of the plurality of monitoring units.

14. The system of claim 9 further comprising a plurality of wireless communication interfaces, wherein each of the plurality of monitoring units has a separate one of the plurality of wireless communication interfaces.

15. The system of claim 9 where the wireless communication interface is configured for two-way communication with a remote electronic device, signals sent by the remote electronic device being receivable by the wireless communication interface.

16. A method of monitoring a construction structure for fracture comprising:

affixing a repair strap to at least a portion of the structure sustaining a fracture, the repair strap having opposing first and second ends spanning the fracture;

affixing a sensor to the repair strap, the sensor having a plurality of deformable leads coupled thereto, the plurality of leads including a first lead extendable along the first end of the repair strap and a second lead extendable along the second end of the repair strap, the plurality of leads being deformable by physical deformation of at least one of the repair strap or the structure, the electrical signal being generated in response to deformation of one of the plurality of leads;

coupling the sensor to a communication interface;

detecting at the sensor physical deformation in at least one of the repair strap or the structure, the deformation resulting from at least one of the application of tension across the repair strap, strain across the repair strap, enlargement of the fracture, separation of the first and second sides of the fracture, strain on a conductor of the sensor caused by vibration of the repair strap or vibration of the structure, stretching of the repair strap in a direction between the opposing first and second ends and displacement of the repair strap relative the structure;

generating an electrical signal at the sensor in response to said detection;

transmitting the electrical signal from the sensor to the wireless communication interface, and

transmitting a communication signal from the communication interface to a remote electronic device, the communication signal being representative of an alert associated with said detection.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the communication interface is a wireless communication interface and transmitting a communication signal comprises transmitting a wireless communication signal.