Sensor assembly for monitoring the structure of a housing structure

Abstract

A sensor assembly, for monitoring the structure of a housing structure for holding fluid or solid media with an outer casing, has a central control unit designed to generate and receive structure-borne sound signal patterns. The sensor assembly includes at least one transmitter unit separated spatially from the central control unit. The at least one transmitter unit is designed to generate and receive structure-borne sound signal patterns. The central control unit has at least one evaluation unit for evaluating the structure-borne sound signal patterns emitted by the transmitter units.

Claims

1. A sensor assembly for monitoring the structure of a housing structure for holding fluid or solid media, with an outer casing, wherein the sensor assembly has a central control unit, wherein the central control unit is designed to generate and to receive structure-borne sound signal patterns, wherein the sensor assembly has at least one transmitter unit, wherein the transmitter unit is separated spatially from the central control unit, wherein the at least one transmitter unit is designed to generate and receive structure-borne sound signal patterns, and wherein the central control unit has at least one evaluation unit for evaluating the structure-borne sound signal patterns emitted by the transmitter units.

2. The sensor assembly according to claim 1, wherein the central control unit is designed to control the at least one transmitter unit by means of structure-borne sound signal patterns.

3. The sensor assembly according to claim 1, wherein the sensor assembly includes multiple transmitter units (3).

4. The sensor assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least one transmitter unit is designed to be arranged inside the housing structure.

5. The sensor assembly according to claim 1, wherein the central control unit is designed to be arranged on the outside of the housing structure.

6. The sensor assembly according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter units have at least one structure-borne sound sensor and/or at least one power supply and/or at least one processing device.

7. The sensor assembly according to claim 1, wherein the power supply is an energy harvesting device.

8. A method for monitoring the structure of a housing structure intended to hold fluid or solid media, wherein the sensor assembly 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 to receive structure-borne sound signal patterns, wherein at least one structure-borne sound signal pattern is emitted by means of the transmitter unit, wherein the structure-borne sound signal pattern emitted by the transmitter unit is received and evaluated by means of the central control unit, and wherein a conclusion is drawn regarding the state of the housing structure from the structure-borne sound signal patterns received.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein control commands in the form of structure-borne sound signal patterns are generated by the central control unit and sent to the transmitter units.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein a conclusion is drawn regarding the state of the housing structure from a difference between a structure-borne sound signal pattern emitted by the transmitter unit and the structure-borne sound signal pattern received by the central control unit.

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein the sensor assembly has multiple transmitter units, and that the housing structure is monitored on the basis of structure-borne sound signal patterns sent back and forth between the transmitter units and the central control unit.

12. A housing structure for holding fluid or solid media, having an outer casing, wherein the housing structure includes a sensor assembly according to the invention, wherein a central control unit is arranged on the outside of the housing structure, and wherein at least one transmitter unit is arranged inside the housing structure.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] In the following text, the invention will be explained further with reference to an exemplary embodiment represented in the drawing. In detail, the sole FIGURE shows a housing structure with a sensor assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] The sole FIGURE represents a housing structure 1 with a sensor assembly consisting of a central control unit 2 and transmitter units 3. The housing structure 1 may be a hydrogen tank with a hydrogen valve 4. The transmitter units 3 are arranged on the inside of the outer casing 5 of the housing structure 1. The central control unit 2 is arranged on the outside of the outer casing 5.