IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,840,641
Granted Patent B2
US 11,840,641 · App. 16/939,014 · Granted Dec 12, 2023

Repair structure cracks using self-moving filler materials

Inventor: Sarbajit K. Rakshit (Kolkata, IN)
Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
C09D5/00C09D5/34C09D7/61C09D163/00E04G23/0211H01F1/44H01F7/20C08K2201/01
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,840,641
App. No.
16/939,014
Granted
Dec 12, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method and apparatus for automatically repairing structure cracks. The method may include mixing a filler material with ferromagnetic dust to create a filler material mixture. The method may also include storing each filler material mixture in a filler material reservoir. The method may also include creating an array of magnetic coils in the structure, where the array of magnetic coils creates a magnetic path through the structure. The apparatus may include a structure. The structure may include a plurality of filler material reservoirs, wherein each filler material reservoir stores a filler material mixture. The structure may also include an array of magnetic coils inside the structure.

Claims (34)

1. A method of automatically repairing structure cracks, the method comprising:

mixing a filler material with ferromagnetic dust to create a filler material mixture;

storing each filler material mixture in a filler material reservoir; and

creating an array of magnetic coils in the structure, wherein the array of magnetic coils creates a magnetic path through the structure.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein storing each filler material mixture in the filler material reservoir comprises:

identifying one or more materials of a surface of the structure where the crack is located;

determining the filler material that is compatible with the one or more materials; and

storing the filler material mixture with the compatible filler material in the filler material reservoir.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the array of magnetic coils is inside the structure.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the filler material reservoir is on a surface of the structure.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein creating the array of magnetic coils comprises:

forming a plurality of magnetic coils; and

lining up each magnetic coil end to end to form the array of magnetic coils.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein each magnetic coil comprises a metal coil.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the magnetic coil further comprises a magnet, and wherein the metal coil is wrapped around the magnet.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein arranging the plurality of magnetic coils comprises:

placing the magnetic coils with a southern end of a first magnet from a first magnetic coil next to a northern end of a second magnet of a second magnetic coil.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the filler material is selected from a group consisting of:

calcium carbonate, silica, epoxy resins, resins, plastic, and adhesive material.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the filler material is a viscous fluid.

11. An apparatus comprising:

a structure, the structure comprising:

a plurality of filler material reservoirs, wherein each filler material reservoir stores a filler material mixture; and

an array of magnetic coils inside the structure.

12. The structure of claim 11 , wherein the filler material mixture comprises at least ferromagnetic dust.

13. The structure of claim 12 , wherein the filler material mixture further comprises a filler material.

14. The structure of claim 12 , wherein the filler material is a viscous fluid.

15. The structure of claim 11 , wherein the array of magnetic coils creates a magnetic path through the structure.

16. The structure of claim 11 , wherein each magnetic coil in the array of magnetic coils is connected separately with electric current.

17. The structure of claim 11 , wherein the array of magnetic coils includes a magnet at each end of each magnetic coil.

18. The structure of claim 11 , wherein the structure further comprises:

one or more sensors, wherein the one or more sensors provide information regarding any cracks in the structure.

19. The structure of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of filler material reservoirs are on one or more exterior surfaces of the structure.

20. The structure of claim 19 , wherein each of the filler material reservoirs are located on a surface of the structure that corresponds with a filler material stored in the filler material reservoir.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 26, 2020
From: RAKSHIT, SARBAJIT K.
To: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 053312/0426 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220025191A1 · Jan 27, 2022