Geophone Fault Detection With Housing-Mounted Accelerometer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Geophones used for detecting seismic waves in pavements are mechanically complex and delicate, leading to potential failure over time, which can result in unreliable data and late detection of faults, necessitating new measurements and less precise data.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an electronic accelerometer as a further sensor in the geophone unit to provide a second sensor output, which, along with a geophone sensor arrangement, allows for fault detection by processing data from both sensors using reference data and machine learning models to identify deviations from normal behavior.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a geophone sensor arrangement with coil and magnet is used to detect vibrations, then the geophone can sense seismic waves and provide sensor output, but the geophone becomes mechanically complex and delicate, leading to potential failure over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary sensor (accelerometer or vibration sensor) that detects vibrations on the geophone housing without requiring direct contact with the delicate geophone sensor arrangement. This intermediary approach allows fault detection while avoiding further complexity in the geophone itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical complexity of the geophone sensor arrangement with an electronic sensing approach. Instead of modifying the delicate coil-magnet system, the invention uses electronic sensors (accelerometers) mounted on the housing to detect vibrations, substituting mechanical sensing with electronic sensing for fault detection purposes.
2Reliability
If geophone output is monitored to detect failures, then fault detection is possible, but the detection is late and requires disregarding initially credible data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by continuously monitoring vibrations on the geophone housing using an intermediary sensor before the geophone sensor arrangement fails. The system detects changes in vibration patterns that indicate impending failure, allowing for early warning and preventive maintenance before actual data loss occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes a feedback mechanism where the intermediary sensor continuously monitors the geophone housing vibrations and provides real-time information about the geophone's mechanical condition. This feedback loop enables continuous health monitoring and allows the system to detect faults at early stages, preventing late detection and data loss.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple geophones are used in a falling weight deflectometer, then measurement coverage is improved, but the complexity of monitoring and detecting failures increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by independently monitoring each geophone unit with its own intermediary sensor. Each geophone can be individually diagnosed for faults through its dedicated vibration sensor, allowing the system to maintain multiple measurement points without creating a complex centralized monitoring system. The segmentation approach simplifies fault detection by treating each sensor independently.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Provides a cost-effective and space-saving solution for detecting geophone faults, enabling predictive maintenance and ensuring reliable seismic wave data by identifying and addressing faults promptly.
Implementation Method 1
the sensor arrangement comprises a coil and a magnet configured to move relative to each other when the geophone is subjected to the vertical deflection response, and the sensor arrangement thereby provides a sensor output reflecting the vertical deflection response
Implementation Method 2
The further sensor comprises an electronic accelerometer configured to sense vibrations and provide a second sensor output based thereon
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to fault detection at a geophone unit (1).The geophone unit comprises a housing (2, 20), and a a geophone sensor arrangement (7) arranged in the housing (2, 20), wherein the geophone sensor arrangement (7) is configured to detect vibrations transferred from the test surface and provide a first sensor output (O1) based thereon, and wherein the geophone sensor arrangement (7) comprises a coil (5) and a magnet (4) configured to move relative to each other when the geophone (1) is subjected to said vibrations so as to provide the first sensor output (O1). The geophone unit moreover comprises a further sensor (ACC), wherein the further sensor comprises an electronic accelerometer configured to sense vibrations and provide a second sensor output (O2) based thereon. When detecting faults, a test signal (T1) is provided. so as to induce the geophone sensor arrangement (7) to provide a first test response (O1, O3) from the geophone sensor arrangement (7). a second test response (O2) from the further sensor (ACC) is provided in response to a vibration caused by the test signal (T1),Data is processed so as to determine if a fault indication has occurred at the geophone unit (1), wherein said processed data is based on at least reference data (REF) and information retrieved from the second test response (O2). If a fault indication is determined to occur, a fault indication output (S6, S56, S66) representing an indication of a fault at the geophone unit (1) is provided.