Wooden Pole Diagnostic Method Using Safety Residual Stress
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for inspecting wooden utility poles fail to accurately assess their condition due to neglect of timber type and treatment variations, leading to unreliable diagnostic results based solely on hardness and hygrometricity measurements.
Innovation Solution
A method that determines the timber species, treatment applied, and calculates safety residual stress using calibration coefficients, incorporating additional parameters like natural frequency to improve diagnostic accuracy and reliability, with a programmable machine providing visual feedback through LEDs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If only hardness and hygrometricity measurements are used for inspection, then the inspection process remains simple and quick, but the diagnostic reliability deteriorates due to neglect of timber type and treatment variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces additional parameters (timber species identification, treatment type detection, natural frequency, safety residual stress) to the inspection process. By measuring these additional parameters and using them in a comprehensive diagnostic model, the system achieves more reliable diagnostics while maintaining operational simplicity through automated processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a programmable machine as an intermediary that automatically processes multiple measurements (hardness, hygrometricity, natural frequency) and applies calibration coefficients specific to timber species and treatments. This intermediary computes safety residual stress and provides automated diagnostic interpretation, resolving the contradiction between comprehensive measurement and operational simplicity.
2Measurement precision
If timber species and treatment parameters are included in the diagnostic model, then diagnostic accuracy improves, but the complexity of the inspection system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-establishes calibration coefficients for different timber species and treatment types before the actual inspection. These coefficients are stored in the programmable machine and automatically selected based on the identified timber characteristics. This preliminary preparation allows the system to handle complex diagnostic requirements without increasing operational complexity during field inspection.
Solution Approach 2:
The programmable machine serves multiple functions: it identifies timber species, detects treatment types, processes hardness and hygrometricity measurements, selects appropriate calibration coefficients, calculates safety residual stress, and provides diagnostic interpretation. This multi-functional device consolidates complexity into a single automated system rather than requiring separate procedures for each measurement and calculation.
3Reliability
If natural frequency measurement is added to the inspection method, then the comprehensiveness of the diagnostic assessment improves, but the inspection time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines natural frequency measurement with the existing hardness and hygrometricity measurements into a single integrated inspection process. The programmable machine simultaneously processes all three measurements and integrates them into the safety residual stress calculation, providing comprehensive assessment without requiring separate inspection visits or significantly extending total inspection time.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for determining the state of preservation of a wooden support and establishing a diagnosis in order to find out whether the wooden support is in a state which is suitable for use, in a state requiring a maintenance operation or in a state requiring its elimination includes measuring the hardness of the wooden support and the hygrometricity of the wooden support. The method further includes determining the species of the timber of the wooden support, determining the treatment previously applied to the wooden support, calculating the resulting safety residual stress, comparing the value of the calculated safety residual stress with an observed average safety residual stress and establishing a diagnosis depending on this comparison.