GB2166872A

GB2166872A - Assessing condition of hidden elements

Info

Publication number: GB2166872A
Application number: GB08518160A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Westwood
Original assignee: WARDELL TRANSPORT Ltd
Current assignee: WARDELL TRANSPORT Ltd
Priority date: 1984-08-16
Filing date: 1985-07-18
Publication date: 1986-05-14
Also published as: GB8420863D0; GB8518160D0

Abstract

Apparatus for use in inspecting a hidden element comprises a trolley 10 that is pushed via a handle 18. The trolley has an electrical coil for producing a magnetic field that is influenced by the hidden element to produce a signal and signal processing circuitry in a pack 30 carried by an operator that compares the detected field signal with that for the normal condition of the hidden element. The apparatus may be used for assessing the condition of beams or bearers of a floor. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Assessing condition of hidden elements The invention relates to assessment of the condition of hidden elements, usually, though not necessarily, structural elements, for example beams or bearers of a floor.

The invention arises from a particular problem in relation to load containers such as of the well known ISO type where metal floor beams, often of C, I or Z section, are covered by non metallic flooring material, often wood or chipboard, and are prone to damage or deterioration of their condition in use. Thorough inspection by lifting flooring is time consuming and waiting for undue flexing under load is unsatisfactory.

It is an object of this invention to provide a method and means to overcome or at least mitigate those problems.

According to this invention there is provided a method of inspecting a hidden element comprising subjecting the element to a field, detecting the state of the field due to the element and comparing the detected state of the field with a standard for the normal condition of the hidden element.

The invention further provides apparatus for inspecting a hidden element comprising means for subjecting the element to a field, means for detecting the field, influenced by the element and means for comparing the detected field with a standard for the normal condition of the element.

It will be obvious that the field should penetrate the flooring material at least to a detectable extent, i.e. same should not be an effective shield, and a suitable electro-magnetic field is often satisfactory, say a primarily electrical or magnetic field at least for normal container floors of wood etc. and bearers or beams of steel etc.

In one practical implementation of the invention, an electric coil serves to generate a magnetic field, preferably over an area substantially greater than at least one dimension of the element to be assessed, say the width of a bearer or beam. Such coil is preferably mounted in a carriage or holder, say a trolley on wheels, rollers or skids, by which it is or can be maintained in a preset relation to the surface of whatever covers the hidden element. A suitable electrical and/or electronic detection circuit serves to provide a signal that will vary according to what is in the field and an elongate hidden element is readily located and followed by the coil, especially as the intended normal location and altitude thereof will be known.The signal will, of course, be different if there is any detectable distortion of the hidden element, say as to a bend in the length of a floor bearer or a buckling of its cross-sectional shape.

A very convenient way to process such signals and compare then with standards or normal expectations is via a microcomputer, perhaps preferably one with an analogue input part to digitise the signal and compare same with a digitally stored reference. However, either entirely analogue operation or digitsation before presentation to the microcomputer by signal conditioning circuitry is alternatively envisaged.

It has further been found to be useful to incorporate into such a coil carriage or holder, distance measuring means for providing signals indicative of the extent and/or direction of movement of the carriage or holder, such signals further being supplied to and used by the signal processing and comparing means, such as the aforesaid microcomputer, in its operation for condition assessment purposes.

A rotary, not necessarily surface-contacting type distance sensor is suitable and may be part of or separate from any normal support wheels of a trolley as said coil carriage or holder.

Typical apparatus could then advantageously comprise a trolley pushed along via an upstanding handle and signal processing circuitry in a pack slung from the operator's shoulder or neck, or even hand-held, but with electrical connections to the coil.

Exemplary description of one way to put this invention into practice is now given with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows apparatus; and Figure 2 shows floor structure features.

In Fig. 1, a trolley 10 carries a flat coil 12 in a frame 14 on wheels 16 and has an upstanding handle 18 by which it is moved. One of the wheels has a disc 20 associated therewith to cooperate with a detector 22, normally electro-magnetic or electro-optical, for producing signals on lines 24 indicative of distance moved. If direction was important a more sophisticated sensor/detector system could be used, say after the manner of the well-known roller ball or "mouse" of microcomputers etc. Energising signals over lines 26 to the coil 27 are usually adequate to enable detection circuitry to produce suitable signals, but separate supply and detect lines may be provided according to design preferences or requirement. The lines 24 and 26 are shown taken up the handle 18 for convenience.

Lines 24, 26 are shown extending to a pack 30 having a carrying strap or harness 32. Basically, the pack 30 is shown having face sections, one (34) as a drive circuit for the coil (though such could readily be in the trolley 10 if preferred), one (36) as a detection circuit for coil response signals (though some could be part of the coil drive circuit 34), one (38) a microcomputer for processing signals from the coil detection circuit 34 and the distance detector (where same is provided and active), and one (39) for showing results whether as a signal display unit and/or a printer and/or a location sensing meter (where such is or as is, these days, the more likely).

In Fig.- 2, a floor 40 has bearers or beams 42 under a covering of flooring material 44, such as chipboard. The bearers or beams 42 are shown as being of different cross-sections, i.e. C-section (42A), I-section (42B) and Z-section (42C), though combinations of different such sections are not to be assumed as normal, nor derived as impossible.

Various dashed lines associated with the bearers or beams 42 indicate signal distortions encountered in practice, and others will present themselves from time to time. All are capable of detection by embodiments of this invention where the stored standard represents the normal undistorted section.

Moreover, requirements to place such floor beams or bearers can lead to the desirability of detecting integrity of such plating, and some may be achieved using suitable energisation of the coil and detection circuitry.

Claims

1. A method of inspecting a hidden element comprising subjecting the element to a field, detecting the state of the field due to the element and comparing the detected state of the field with a standard for the normal condition of the hidden element.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the field is an electro-magnetic field.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the field is a primarily electrical field.

4. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the field is a primarily magnetic field.

5. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein comparison of detected and standard field states is via a microcomputer.

6. Apparatus for inspecting a hidden element comprising means for subjecting the element to a field, means for detecting the field, influenced by the element and means for comparing the detected field with a standard for the normal condition of the element.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 comprising an electric coil for generating a magnetic field.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the coil is mounted in a carriage or holder by which it can be maintained in relation to the surface of whatever covers the hidden element.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the carriage or a holder is a trolley on wheels, rollers or skids.

10. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 6 - to 9, wherein the detection means is an electrical and/or electronic detection circuit that provides a signal according to the field as influenced by the hidden element.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 comprising a microcomputer for comparing the detected signal with the standard signal.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the microcomputer has an analogue input part to digitise the signal and compare same with a digitally stored reference.

13. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 12, wherein the carriage or holder includes distance measuring means for providing signals indicative of the extent and/or direction of movement of the carriage or holder, such signals further being supplied to and used by the signal processing and comparing means.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the distance measuring means is a rotary type.

15. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 14, comprising a trolley pushed along via an upstanding handle and signal processing circuitry in a pack carried by an operator but with connections to the field producing means.

16. A method of inspecting a hidden element substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

17. Apparatus for inspecting a hidden element substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.