System and method for monitoring the structural health of rotating elements
US9791418B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 25, 2013 |
| Grant date | Oct 17, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 29, 2035 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2291/2626
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A structural health monitoring system capable of maintaining electrical contact with sensors affixed to a rotating structure. One such structural health monitoring system comprises a rotatable structure, a plurality of sensors each affixed to the rotatable structure, and an interface. The interface has an inner housing and an outer housing, and maintains a plurality of individual electrical connections, each of the individual electrical connections being an electrical connection between one of the sensors and an electrical contact maintained on the outer housing, the electrical connections configured to be maintained during rotation of the structure. The inner housing is affixed to the structure and the outer housing is rotationally coupled to the inner housing, so that the inner housing is free to rotate with respect to the outer housing during rotation of the structure and the sensors, while maintaining the electrical connections.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.