Eddy current joint sensor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10669088-B2
Application number	US-201615372893-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 8, 2016
Priority date	Dec 28, 2015
Publication date	Jun 2, 2020
Grant date	Jun 2, 2020

Abstract

A joint sensing system within an enclosure can include an electrical circuit through which a first current flows, where the first current creates a magnetic field, where the electrical circuit is disposed proximate to a joint of the enclosure. The system can also include a target disposed proximate to the electrical circuit, where the magnetic field induces a plurality of second currents to flow within the target. The system can further include a sensor that measures the plurality of second currents flowing within the target to generate a plurality of measurements. The plurality of measurements can indicate a width of the joint of the enclosure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system within an electrical housing, the system comprising:
an electrical circuit through which a first current flows, wherein the first current creates a magnetic field, wherein the electrical circuit is disposed proximate to a joint of the electrical housing;
a target disposed proximate to the electrical circuit, wherein the magnetic field induces a plurality of second currents to flow within the target; and
a sensor that measures the plurality of second currents flowing within the target to generate a plurality of measurements,
wherein the plurality of measurements indicates a width of the joint of the electrical housing,
wherein the target forms, at least in part, the joint of the electrical housing, and
wherein the joint is non-uniform along an outer surface of the target that forms the joint.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the target is a portion of a body or a cover of the electrical housing.

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
an additional electrical circuit disposed proximate to the joint and through which a third current flows, wherein the third current creates an additional magnetic field;
an additional target disposed proximate to the additional electrical circuit, wherein the additional magnetic field induces a plurality of fourth currents to flow within the additional target, and wherein the additional target further forms the joint of the electrical housing; and
an additional sensor that measures the plurality of fourth currents flowing within the additional target to generate a plurality of additional measurements,
wherein the plurality of additional measurements indicates the width of the joint.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the electrical circuit and the sensor are part of a same device.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the electrical circuit and the sensor comprise a non-corrosive material.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the electrical circuit and the sensor are hermetically sealed.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of measurements are taken over time and indicates that the joint of the electrical housing is falling outside a range of acceptable values.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of second currents are eddy currents.

9. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a controller coupled to the sensor, wherein the controller determines the width of the joint based on the plurality of measurements and communicates the width of the joint of the electrical housing to a user.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the controller is further coupled to the electrical circuit, wherein the controller controls the first current flowing through the electrical circuit.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the electrical circuit is an inductor.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the joint is a flame path, and wherein the electrical housing is an explosion-proof enclosure.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the electrical circuit is disposed within a sleeve, wherein the sleeve is disposed within an aperture that traverses a wall of the electrical housing.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the electrical circuit and the sensor are mounted on a platform disposed adjacent to the joint.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the electrical circuit and the sensor are mounted within a recess in a wall of the electrical housing, wherein the recess is part of an aperture that traverses a wall of the electrical housing.

16. An explosion-proof enclosure comprising:
an enclosure body comprising at least one wall that forms a cavity, wherein the enclosure body further comprises a first flange;
an enclosure cover coupled to the enclosure body, wherein the enclosure cover comprises a second flange, wherein the first flange is disposed adjacent to the second flange when the enclosure body is coupled to the enclosure cover, wherein the first flange and the second flange form a flame path therebetween when the enclosure body is coupled to the enclosure cover; and
a joint sensing system comprising:
an electrical circuit disposed proximate to the flame path, wherein the electrical circuit has a first current that flows therethrough, wherein the first current creates a magnetic field;
a target disposed proximate to the electrical circuit, wherein the magnetic field induces a plurality of second currents to flow within the target of the enclosure; and
a sensor that measures the plurality of second currents flowing within the target to generate a plurality of measurements,
wherein the plurality of measurements indicates a width of the flame path.

17. The explosion-proof enclosure of claim 16 , wherein the joint sensing system further comprises a controller, wherein the controller is coupled to the sensor, wherein the controller determines the width of the joint based on the plurality of measurements measured by the sensor.

18. A joint sensing system within an electrical housing, the joint sensing system comprising:
an electrical circuit through which a first current flows, wherein the first current creates a magnetic field, wherein the electrical circuit is disposed proximate to a joint of the electrical housing;
a target disposed proximate to the electrical circuit, wherein the magnetic field induces a plurality of second currents to flow within the target;
a sensor that measures the plurality of second currents flowing within the target to generate a plurality of measurements;
an additional electrical circuit disposed proximate to the joint and through which a third current flows, wherein the third current creates an additional magnetic field;
an additional target disposed proximate to the additional electrical circuit, wherein the additional magnetic field induces a plurality of fourth currents to flow within the additional target, and wherein the additional target further forms the joint of the electrical housing; and
an additional sensor that measures the plurality of fourth currents flowing within the additional target to generate a plurality of additional measurements,
wherein the plurality of measurements indicates a width of the joint of the electrical housing, and
wherein the plurality of additional measurements further indicates the width of the joint of the electrical housing.

Assignees

• Cooper Technologies Co
• Eaton Intelligent Power Ltd

Inventors

• Freer Benjamin Avery
• Manahan Joseph Michael

Classifications

• G01B7/023 Primary

  for measuring distance between sensor and object (G01B7/082 and G01B7/102 take precedence) · CPC title

• B65D81/02 Primary

  specially adapted to protect contents from mechanical damage {(containers of polygonal cross-section provided with internal protecting elements for contents B65D5/50; devices to locate articles in containers B65D25/10)} · CPC title