Granted Patent B2

US 12,276,077 · App. 17/586,085 · Granted Apr 15, 2025

Inventor: Adrian Vuyk, Jr. (Cypress, TX)

Assignee: Vuyk Technology Holdings, LLC

E02D33/00E02D1/02E02D1/08G01K13/00G01L19/0092G01L19/086G01N33/24G01N33/383E02D2600/10

Abstract

Claims (44)

1. A foundation monitoring system comprising:

a sensor cartridge assembly comprising:

first and second sensors disposed in a sensor tube; and

a sensor head attached to an end of the sensor tube;

a raceway configured for attachment to a foundation, wherein the sensor tube is configured to be inserted into the raceway; and

a data transmitter configured to receive data from the first and second sensors, and convey the data to a controller;

wherein the controller is configured to acquire simultaneously a first set of temperature and pressure data from the first sensor and a second set of temperature and pressure data from the second sensor.

2. The foundation monitoring system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a third sensor disposed in the sensor head;

wherein the third sensor is configured to measure temperature and pressure.

3. The foundation monitoring system of claim 2 , wherein the sensor cartridge assembly is configured for installation below ground level.

4. The foundation monitoring system of claim 3 , wherein the first, second, and third sensors are immersed in a dielectric fluid.

5. A method of monitoring a foundation, comprising:

acquiring temperature and pressure data from first and second sensors installed within a sensor tube attached to the foundation, wherein:

the temperature and pressure data includes a first set of temperature and pressure data from the first sensor and a second set of temperature and pressure data from the second sensor; and

the first and second sets of temperature and pressure data are acquired simultaneously; and

deriving, from the temperature and pressure data, a first elevation of the first sensor and a second elevation of the second sensor with respect to a predetermined datum.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein:

the temperature and pressure data includes a third set of temperature and pressure data from the first sensor and a fourth set of temperature and pressure data from the second sensor;

the third set of temperature and pressure data from the first sensor is acquired after the first set of temperature and pressure data; and

the fourth set of temperature and pressure data from the second sensor is acquired after the second set of temperature and pressure data.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the third and fourth sets of temperature and pressure data are acquired simultaneously.

8. The method of claim 5 , further comprising determining the temperature and pressure data from the first and second sensors to be stabilized by:

using the first set of temperature and pressure data to calculate a first set of raw elevation values of the first sensor with respect to the predetermined datum;

determining a first standard deviation of the first set of raw elevation values;

using the second set of temperature and pressure data to calculate a second set of raw elevation values of the second sensor with respect to the predetermined datum;

determining a second standard deviation of the second set of raw elevation values; and

determining each of the first and second standard deviations is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the predetermined threshold is 0.5 inches.

10. A method of monitoring a foundation, comprising:

acquiring temperature and pressure data from first and second sensors installed within a sensor tube attached to the foundation, wherein the temperature and pressure data includes a first set of temperature and pressure data from the first sensor and a second set of temperature and pressure data from the second sensor;

determining the first and second sets of temperature and pressure data to be stabilized by:

using the first set of temperature and pressure data to calculate a first set of raw elevation values of the first sensor with respect to a predetermined datum;

determining a first standard deviation of the first set of raw elevation values;

using the second set of temperature and pressure data to calculate a second set of raw elevation values of the second sensor with respect to the predetermined datum;

determining a second standard deviation of the second set of raw elevation values; and

determining each of the first and second standard deviations is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold; and

deriving, from the first and second sets of temperature and pressure data, a first elevation of the first sensor and a second elevation of the second sensor with respect to the predetermined datum.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the predetermined threshold is 0.5 inches.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein:

the temperature and pressure data includes a third set of temperature and pressure data from the first sensor and a fourth set of temperature and pressure data from the second sensor;

the third set of temperature and pressure data from the first sensor is acquired after the first set of temperature and pressure data; and

the fourth set of temperature and pressure data from the second sensor is acquired after the second set of temperature and pressure data.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the third and fourth sets of temperature and pressure data are acquired simultaneously.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (3)

References Cited (43)