Patent ID: 7277822
Filing Date: 2007-10-02
Classification: D07B,F17D,G01M

Abstract:
1. A method for assessing a health status of a system of conduits, the assessing comprising: determining requirements for monitoring the system of conduits; and selecting parameters to be sensed and monitored; and selecting components consisting of electronics, hardware, software, firmware, a set of discrete sensors and strands of sensitized medium; and designing and manufacturing a form and fit of a monitoring device comprised of said components; and applying, placing, attaching or embedding the monitoring device and sensors consisting of discrete sensors and a multiplicity of strands of said sensitized medium along the length of a conduit, said set of discrete sensors and strands of sensitized medium being placed such that damage inducing factors affect said set of discrete sensors and strands of sensitized medium; and determining by a combination of measurement by signal processing and deductive algorithms whether, when, where and to what extent said damage inducing factors have caused damage; and with an algorithm using said monitoring device to periodically monitor at least a portion of the set of discrete sensors over a first extended period and, for each monitor, storing in a digital memory a data tuplet containing information concerning said parameters; and forming tuplets that represent a time of a sample, identity of the sensor, and parameter values; and using digital processor algorithms to identify tuplets having normal values within a predetermined range; and providing an indication of steady state characteristics if said parameter values for at least a predetermined number of tuples are within a first predetermined range; and providing a programmed diagnostic algorithm for assessing risk of damage to the set of discrete sensors and extent of deterioration and damage to the monitored conduits; and providing an algorithm for estimating remaining useful life of the monitored conduits and components; and providing a protocol for communicating information about sensed damage, deterioration, as well as diagnostic information concerning a health status and integrity of the monitored conduits, components and system of conduits; and performing a first test sequence on each of the multiplicity of said strands of sensitized medium for the purpose of forming a baseline of characteristic parameters of each said sensitized strand of medium for future reference by measuring the characteristic parameters and storing characteristic parameters in an accessible storage medium or location for future use; and from time to time performing the same said first test sequence on each of the multiplicity of strands of sensitized medium; and making a test measurement of said strands of sensitized medium for the purpose of determining if said measured characteristic parameters are substantially equal to previously measured characteristic parameters, the possible outcomes being: choosing whether to repeat said step of making a test measurement of said sensitized medium; and if the choice is to repeat, then repeating said steps of measuring the characteristic parameter and determining; and if said measured characteristic parameters are substantially equal to previous measured characteristic parameters with the digital processor, using a deductive algorithm along with any a priori probability information to: if the choice is to locate, then measure using either direct calculation based on response to a measuring technique; and record a measured value and temporal information if available; and using a calculus estimate a degree of damage for each said sensitized media at each recorded point of damage, for each time if temporal information is recorded.