Patent ID: 7555936
Filing Date: 2009-07-07
Classification: F16L,G01M,G01N

Abstract:
1. A system for predicting structural failure of a wall of a fluid containment vessel, the wall having an innermost layer for contact with a fluid contained by the vessel and an outermost layer parallel with the innermost layer, the system comprising: strain-sensing means between the innermost and outermost layers, the strain-sensing means comprising at least one conductor parallel to the innermost layer of the wall; means for sensing changes in an electrical property associated with the at least one conductor resulting from distortion of the wall of the vessel causing distortion of the at least one conductor, the electrical property being chosen from the group consisting of electrical capacitance and electrical resistance; means for establishing an acceptable range for the electrical property; and means for generating a signal that a structural failure of the wall is impending in response to the electrical property deviating outside the acceptable range.