Method and apparatus to detect and locate roof leaks
US8319508B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 23, 2009 |
| Grant date | Nov 27, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 8, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01M3/16
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A leak in a membrane on top of a horizontal roof deck is located by applying conductive wires on the membrane underneath the aggregate in a grid pattern. A measuring and switching circuit generates voltage having a positive attached to the roof deck and a negative attached to the wires. The circuit has a relay for each wire which can be switched between a current sensor system and the negative potential. The sensor system is arranged to sense at each of the wires in turn the current flowing from the roof deck through any leak in the membrane to the wire. A micro-processor operates the relays in turn to connect all the other wires to the negative as a shield while each wire is sensed. From the output of the grid the changes in current in the x and y directions are analyzed to locate the leak in the membrane.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.