Sensor device for structural monitoring of housing structure
By using sensor devices of the central control unit and transmitter unit in the housing structure, the vibration changes of the housing structure are detected by using solid acoustic signal mode, the problems of difficulty and early detection of the housing structure in the prior art are solved, and early identification and early warning are achieved, and safety is improved.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202411536919.2
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2023-11-01
- Filing Date
- 2024-10-31
- Publication Date
- 2025-05-06
AI Technical Summary
The prior art is difficult to detect weakening and damage early in a housing structure such as a hydrogen box that accommodates fluid or solid media, resulting in a delay in warning when the media is overflowed.
Using a sensor device with a central control unit and a transmitter unit, the vibration changes of the housing structure are detected and evaluated through solid acoustic signal mode, and structural weakening and damage are identified early.
It realizes early detection of damage to the housing structure before the medium overflows, improves safety and avoids potential hazards due to delayed warnings.
Smart Images
Figure CN119936186A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The invention relates to a sensor device for structural monitoring of a housing structure with a jacket for accommodating a fluid or solid medium. The invention also relates to a method for structural monitoring of a housing structure with a jacket for accommodating a fluid or solid medium. The housing structure with a jacket can be, for example, a tank for a vehicle. In particular, it can be a hydrogen tank with a jacket made of fiber-reinforced plastic, such as glass-fiber-reinforced plastic or carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic. In the jacket, an airtight inner sleeve, for example made of PTFE, can also be arranged to directly accommodate the fluid medium. This material has long-term stability and is also suitable for permanent operation in a vehicle, but damage to the housing structure may occur due to material fatigue in cyclic operation or effects caused by accidents. For example, in the case of a hydrogen tank, damage to the housing structure can lead to hydrogen leakage, which presents a high potential risk. Background Art
[0002] For example, hydrogen leak sensors for detecting hydrogen overflow are known. Here, for example, the hydrogen content in the ambient air can be detected. The disadvantage of this method is that a warning can only be output once a hydrogen overflow has actually occurred. Summary of the invention
[0003] The invention is based on the object of specifying a sensor system and a method by means of which it is possible to detect weaknesses and possible damage in the housing structure before an escape of the contained medium occurs.
[0004] This object is achieved by means of a sensor device having the features of patent claim 1 , a method having the features of patent claim 8 , and a housing structure having the features of patent claim 12 .
[0005] Developments and advantageous embodiments are described in the dependent claims.
[0006] In a sensor device for structural monitoring of a housing structure having a jacket for accommodating a fluid or solid medium, it is essential for the present invention that the sensor device has a central control unit, which is designed to generate and receive a structure-borne sound signal pattern, the sensor device has at least one transmitter unit, which is spatially separated from the central control unit, the at least one transmitter unit is designed to generate and receive a structure-borne sound signal pattern, and the central control unit has at least one evaluation device for evaluating the structure-borne sound signal pattern emitted by the transmitter unit.
[0007] The sensor device has a central control unit, which is designed to transmit and receive structure-borne sound signal patterns. For this purpose, the central control unit can, for example, have a structure-borne sound sensor, by which vibrations propagating on the housing structure can be detected. Vibrations propagating on the housing structure can also be actively generated by the structure-borne sound sensor. For this purpose, for example, piezoelectric elements or the like can be used as structure-borne sound sensors. In addition to the central control unit, the sensor device also has at least one, preferably a plurality of transmitter units. The transmitter unit is spatially separated from the central control unit, in particular the central control unit and the transmitter unit are separate structural units separated from each other. The transmitter unit is designed to generate and receive structure-borne sound signal patterns, wherein for this purpose the transmitter unit can, in particular, have a structure-borne sound sensor, for example in the form of a piezoelectric element. The central control unit and the transmitter unit can be arranged at different locations of the housing structure. In particular, the central control unit can be arranged outside the housing structure, while the transmitter unit can be arranged on the inside of the housing structure, i.e., facing the receiving volume of the housing structure. For example, the structure-borne sound signal pattern transmitted by the transmitter unit can be detected and evaluated by the central control unit. For the evaluation, the central control unit has an evaluation device, for example in the form of a computing unit, a microprocessor, etc. For example, characteristic properties of the structure-borne sound signal pattern, such as a characteristic frequency, a characteristic signal course, etc., which provide an indication of a structural change in the housing structure, can be checked. Changes in the structure-borne sound signal pattern sent by the transmitter unit on the transmission path to the central control unit and vice versa can also be checked. Characteristic signal patterns that indicate changes in the housing structure can, for example, be stored in a storage device for comparison.
[0008] In a further development of the invention, the central control unit is designed to control at least one transmitter unit by means of a structure-borne sound signal pattern. The central control unit has at least one structure-borne sound sensor, by means of which the structure-borne sound signal pattern can also be generated. The structure-borne sound sensor can be a piezoelectric element, for example. The structure-borne sound signal pattern generated by the central control unit propagates in the form of vibrations on the housing structure and can be detected by the transmitter unit. Thus, by encoding the control commands in the signal pattern, for example digitally or analogously, the structure-borne sound signal pattern can be used for data transmission. Thus, the transmitter unit can be controlled without having to set up a data line or a radio connection for this purpose, and without having to provide additional communication devices in the central control unit or in the transmitter unit.
[0009] In a further development of the invention, the sensor device has a plurality of transmitter units. By using a plurality of transmitter units, which can be evenly distributed over the housing structure, the entire housing structure can be monitored even in the case of a very spatially extensive housing structure. For example, a structure-borne sound signal pattern can be transmitted from one transmitter unit to the next transmitter unit, which in turn forwards the structure-borne sound signal pattern to the central control unit.
[0010] In a further development of the invention, at least one transmitter unit is designed to be arranged in the interior of the housing structure. At least one, preferably a plurality of transmitter units are arranged in the interior of the housing structure, for example on the side of the outer wall of the housing structure facing the receiving volume. By arranging the transmitter unit in the interior of the housing structure, changes in the exterior and interior of the housing structure can be detected and transmitted to the central control unit.
[0011] In one embodiment of the invention, the central control unit is designed for arrangement on the outside of the housing structure. By arranging the central control unit on the outside, data can be easily transferred from the central control unit to the system for further processing, for example to an onboard computer of the vehicle.
[0012] In one embodiment of the invention, at least one transmitter unit has at least one structure-borne sound sensor, at least one processing device and at least one power supply. The transmitter units each have a structure-borne sound sensor, in particular a structure-borne sound sensor in the form of a piezoelectric element, by means of which structure-borne sound signal patterns can also be generated and transmitted. In order to process the received structure-borne sound signal patterns, the transmitter units have a processing device, such as a microcontroller or another computing unit. In this way, control commands transmitted to the transmitter units in the form of structure-borne sound signal patterns from a central control unit can be processed and executed accordingly. For example, the transmitter unit can be prompted to transmit a particular structure-borne sound signal pattern via a control signal. A battery, an induction device or the like can be provided for power supply.
[0013] In a further development of the invention, at least one power source is an energy harvesting device. The propagated vibrations can generate a voltage and thus energy by means of a piezoelectric element, which can be used to power the corresponding transmitter unit. The transmitter unit is thus completely self-sufficient and no lines or the like for power supply have to be laid.
[0014] Another aspect of the invention relates to a method for structural monitoring of a housing structure for accommodating a fluid or solid medium, wherein the sensor device has at least one central control unit and at least one transmitter unit, wherein the central control unit and the at least one transmitter unit are designed to generate and receive structure-borne sound signal patterns, wherein at least one structure-borne sound signal pattern is transmitted by means of the transmitter unit, wherein the structure-borne sound signal pattern transmitted by the transmitter unit is received and evaluated by means of the central control unit, and the state of the housing structure is inferred from the received structure-borne sound signal pattern. The method for structural monitoring of a housing structure should be used in particular to early detect structural changes that can lead to a weakening of the housing structure. In this case, in particular, a sensor device according to the invention having a central control unit and a plurality of transmitter units can be used. The central control unit and the transmitter units are designed to generate and receive structure-borne sound signal patterns. In this case, structure-borne sound signal patterns that are generated during the travel of a vehicle or the like and propagate on the housing structure, in particular a tank to be monitored, can be detected. Structure-borne sound signal patterns that are actively generated by the central control unit and the transmitter unit can also be monitored and evaluated. By means of at least one transmitter unit, preferably by means of a plurality of transmitter units, for example by means of piezoelectric elements, a structure-borne sound signal pattern is generated, so that the structure-borne sound signal pattern propagates to the housing structure. The structure-borne sound signal pattern emitted by the transmitter unit is received by means of a central control unit and evaluated by means of an evaluation device. From the occurrence of characteristic signal patterns, characteristic frequencies, characteristic signal profiles, etc., it is possible to draw conclusions about the state of the housing structure. In this case, the characteristic signal pattern can be stored in a storage device for comparison, for which it is known that the signal pattern indicates damage to the housing structure. Changes in the structure-borne sound signal pattern can also be detected, in particular changes in the structure-borne sound signal pattern over time, wherein the changes over time indicate changes in the housing structure. The generated structure-borne sound signal pattern can be filtered out by means of an algorithm from vibrations generated during operation, which vibrations form a kind of background noise. Furthermore, it can be provided that a specific structure-borne sound signal pattern is emitted by the transmitter unit and received by the central control unit, or vice versa. By comparing the emitted known structure-borne sound signal pattern with the structure-borne sound signal pattern received by the central control unit, it is possible to draw conclusions about the state of the housing structure. For example, a structure-borne sound signal pattern on the housing structure on the transmission path between the transmitter unit and the central control unit may change due to damage, so that the damage can be detected by this change. Thus, damage to the housing structure can be detected early before the contained fluid medium overflows.
[0015] In a further development of the method, the control commands are generated by the central control unit in the form of a structure-borne sound signal pattern and transmitted to the transmitter unit. Digitally or analog-coded control commands can be transmitted from the central control unit to the transmitter unit in the form of a structure-borne sound signal pattern, for example by means of wavelets, standing waves, linear frequency modulation, etc. This makes it possible, for example, to control the transmitter unit in order to generate a specific structure-borne sound signal pattern, etc. By transmitting signals between the central control unit and the transmitter unit by means of structure-borne sound signals, it is not necessary to install additional data lines, etc., so that a cost-effective arrangement of the sensor device in the housing structure is possible.
[0016] In a further development of the method, the state of the housing structure is inferred from the deviation of the structure-borne sound signal pattern emitted by the transmitter unit and the structure-borne sound signal pattern received by the central control unit. The structure-borne sound signal emitted by the transmitter unit is known; in particular, the emission of the structure-borne sound signal pattern can be caused by the central control unit using control commands. By comparing the expected signal pattern with the received signal pattern, it is possible to infer changes in the housing structure or its state.
[0017] In one embodiment of the method, the sensor device has a plurality of transmitter units. The housing structure is monitored by structure-borne sound signal patterns which are transmitted back and forth between the transmitter units and a central control unit. A spatially extended monitoring of the housing structure is achieved by a plurality of transmitter units which can be arranged in the housing structure and between which structure-borne sound signal patterns are transmitted and received. Thus, impending damage can be detected in all areas of the housing structure.
[0018] The invention also relates to a housing structure with a jacket for accommodating a fluid or solid medium, wherein the housing structure has a sensor device according to the invention, wherein a central control unit is arranged at the outside of the housing structure, and wherein at least one transmitter unit is arranged in the interior of the housing structure. The housing structure with the jacket can be, for example, a tank for a vehicle. In particular, the housing structure can have an outer jacket made of fiber-reinforced plastic, such as glass-fiber-reinforced plastic or carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic. In the outer jacket, an airtight inner jacket, such as made of PTFE, can also be arranged to directly accommodate the fluid medium. The central control unit and the transmitter unit can be arranged at different positions of the housing structure. In particular, the central control unit can be arranged outside the housing structure, while the transmitter unit can be arranged at the inside of the housing structure, i.e., arranged toward the accommodation volume of the housing structure. By using a plurality of transmitter units, which can be evenly distributed at the housing structure in particular, the entire housing structure can be monitored even in a housing structure with a strong spatial expansion. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] The present invention will be further explained below based on the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.Figure 1 The housing structure with the sensor device is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0020] exist Figure 1 2 shows a housing structure 1 having a sensor device consisting of a central control unit 2 and a transmitter unit 3. The housing structure 1 may be a hydrogen tank having a hydrogen valve 4. The transmitter unit 3 is arranged on the inside of a housing 5 of the housing structure 1. The central control unit 2 is arranged outside the housing 5.
Claims
1. A sensor device for structural monitoring of a housing structure (1) having a jacket (5) for accommodating a fluid or solid medium, It is characterized in that The sensor device has a central control unit (2), The central control unit (2) is designed to generate and receive a structure-borne sound signal pattern. The sensor device has at least one transmitter unit (3), The transmitter unit (3) is spatially separated from the central control unit (2), The at least one transmitter unit (3) is designed to generate and receive structure-borne sound signal patterns, and The central control unit (2) has at least one evaluation device for evaluating the structure-borne sound signal pattern emitted by the transmitter unit.
2. The sensor device according to claim 1, characterized in that The central control unit (2) is designed to control the at least one transmitter unit (3) by means of a structure-borne sound signal pattern.
3. The sensor device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The sensor device has a plurality of transmitter units (3).
4. The sensor device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The at least one transmitter unit (3) is designed to be arranged within the interior of the housing structure (1).
5. The sensor device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that The central control unit (2) is designed to be arranged on the outside of the housing structure (1).
6. The sensor device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that The transmitter unit (3) has at least one structure-borne sound sensor and / or at least one power supply and / or at least one processing device.
7. The sensor device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that The power source is an energy harvesting device.
8. A method for structural monitoring of a housing structure (1) for accommodating a fluid or solid medium, wherein the sensor device has at least one central control unit (2) and at least one transmitter unit (3), wherein The central control unit (2) and the at least one transmitter unit (3) are designed to generate and receive structure-borne sound signal patterns. wherein at least one structure-borne sound signal pattern is transmitted by means of the transmitter unit (3), wherein the structure-borne sound signal pattern transmitted by the transmitter unit (3) is received and evaluated by means of the central control unit (2), And the state of the housing structure (1) is inferred from the received structure-borne sound signal pattern.
9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that Control commands in the form of structure-borne sound signal patterns are generated by the central control unit (2) and sent to the transmitter unit (3).
10. The method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that: A state of the housing structure (1) is inferred from a deviation between a structure-borne sound signal pattern emitted by the transmitter unit (3) and a structure-borne sound signal pattern received by the central control unit (2).
11. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that The sensor device has a plurality of transmitter units (3) and monitors the housing structure (1) by means of structure-borne sound signal patterns which are sent back and forth between the transmitter units (3) and the central control unit (2).
12. A housing structure (1) having a jacket for accommodating a fluid or solid medium, wherein the housing structure (1) has a sensor device according to the invention, wherein a central control unit (2) is arranged on the outside of the housing structure (2), and wherein at least one transmitter unit (3) is arranged in the interior of the housing structure (1).