Electromagnetically reinforced structural assembly and associated method

Abstract

An electromagnetically reinforced structural assembly includes structural members, rigid mechanical connections joining an adjacent pair of the structural members, and at least one electromagnet disposed in the structural assembly. Each electromagnet is configured to be selectively energized to provide an electromagnetic attractive force between a respective pair of structural members to urge adjoining pairs of structural members to maintain their respective connections. An associated method of reinforcing a structural assembly includes providing a structural assembly with rigid mechanical connections and selectively actuating at least one electromagnet in the structural assembly to provide an electromagnetic attractive force that reinforces the connections.

1 . An electromagnetically reinforced structural assembly comprising:
 a plurality of structural members;   a plurality of rigid mechanical connections, each connection rigidly joining an adjacent pair of the structural members; and   at least one electromagnet disposed in the structural assembly, each electromagnet configured to be selectively energized to provide an electromagnetic attractive force between a respective pair of the structural members at the mechanical connection thereof and thereby reinforce the connection.   
   
   
       2 . A structural assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a power source configured to provide electrical power for energizing the electromagnet;   at least one sensor configured to sense a condition of the structural assembly; and   a controller configured to control the power provided by the power source to the electromagnet according to the condition sensed by the sensor to selectively reinforce the mechanical connection of the structural assembly.   
   
   
       3 . A structural assembly according to  claim 2  wherein each electromagnet is adjustable between a non-energized state and an energized state, each electromagnet being configured in the non-energized state when the condition is not sensed and each electromagnet being configured in the energized state when the condition is sensed. 
   
   
       4 . A structural assembly according to  claim 1  wherein each electromagnet is integral to at least one of the structural members such that the electromagnet is configured to generate an electromagnetic field in the structural member. 
   
   
       5 . A structural assembly according to  claim 4  wherein each electromagnet includes a conductive element defining a plurality of turns around one of the structural members, the conductive element being configured to receive an electric current and thereby generate the electromagnetic field in the structural member. 
   
   
       6 . A structural assembly according to  claim 1  wherein each electromagnet is attached to at least one of the structural members. 
   
   
       7 . A structural assembly according to  claim 2  wherein the controller is configured to receive a manual input to energize the power source and actuate the electromagnet. 
   
   
       8 . A structural assembly according to  claim 2  wherein the sensor is configured to sense at least one of the group consisting of a stress, a strain, and a density in at least one of the structural members. 
   
   
       9 . A structural assembly according to  claim 2  wherein the sensor is configured to sense external weather phenomena. 
   
   
       10 . A structural assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the rigid mechanical connections comprise weld joints connecting each respective pair of structural members. 
   
   
       11 . A structural assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the rigid mechanical connections comprise at least one of the group consisting of rivets and bolts extending through each respective pair of structural members. 
   
   
       12 . A method of reinforcing a structural assembly, the method comprising:
 providing a structural assembly having a plurality of structural members, adjacent pairs of the structural members rigidly joined by rigid mechanical connections; and   selectively actuating at least one electromagnet to provide an electromagnetic attractive force between respective pairs of the structural members at the mechanical connection thereof to urge the structural members together and reinforce the connections.   
   
   
       13 . A method according to  claim 12  further comprising wrapping a conductive element a plurality of times around one of the structural members. 
   
   
       14 . A method according to  claim 13  further comprising passing an electric current through the conductive element such that an electromagnetic field is generated in the structural member. 
   
   
       15 . A method according to  claim 12  wherein providing the structural assembly comprises attaching at least one electromagnet to one of the structural members. 
   
   
       16 . A method according to  claim 12 , further comprising manually energizing the electromagnet from a remote location. 
   
   
       17 . A method according to  claim 12 , further comprising remotely identifying a location of each actuated electromagnet. 
   
   
       18 . A method according to  claim 12 , further comprising monitoring and sensing a predetermined condition and performing said actuating step upon sensing the predetermined condition. 
   
   
       19 . A method according to  claim 18 , further comprising remotely identifying the predetermined condition sensed. 
   
   
       20 . A method according to  claim 18 , further comprising initiating a response according to at least one of the actuated state of the electromagnet and the predetermined condition sensed. 
   
   
       21 . A method according to  claim 20  wherein the response is performing repairs on the structural assembly. 
   
   
       22 . A method according to  claim 20  wherein said initiating step comprises activating an alarm based on the predetermined condition sensed. 
   
   
       23 . A method according to  claim 12 , further comprising selectively returning each electromagnet to a non-actuated state after a termination of a predetermined condition.