Description:FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[1] The present disclosure relates to an underwater-wall crack determination system. Particularly, the present disclosure relates to a system for monitoring underwater-wall and determines location of structural defect in form of cracks.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[2] In due course of time, the structural walls under the waterbodies, like reservoirs, sea beds, river beds andlake beds, develop cracks due to which a large quantity of water is wasted. For example, dams have base wall and side walls which develop cracks over a period of time which results in waste of large quantity of water.

[3] Bulletsare known in the prior art, for example from patent document CN110211097 disclosesa crack image detection method based on fast R-CNN parameter migration. The detection system requires images and specialized image processing that increases cost of high-end image capturing, processing and handling devices and huge database requirement for processing images.

[4] Thus, there is a need for a cost-effective solution of determining underwater-wall cracks.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[5] Some of the objects of the arrangement of the present disclosure are aimed to ameliorate one or more problems of the prior art or to at least provide a useful alternative and are listed herein below.

A principle object of the present disclosure is to providean under-water crack determination system and method for determining underwater-wall cracks that determines cracks and respective locations in a cost efficient manner by use of minimal low cost-components.

Another object of the present disclosure is to providean underwater wall crack determination system that is easily portable at various locations of underwater-wall by using water based-locomotion.

Still another object of the present disclosure is to provide an underwater-wall crack determination system and method for determining underwater-wall cracks thatis portable and compact yet be capable to determine location of crack at various underwater depths.

Other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying figures, which are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[6] The present disclosure discloses a portable and compact under-water crack determination system that determines cracks and respective locations in a cost efficient manner by use of minimal low cost-components, in accordance with one embodiment. Theunder-water crack determination system includes a vehicle, a pumping unit, a detector unit and a computing unit. The pumping unit is disposed on the vehicle and releases isotopes in the water.The movement of the vehicle allows spreading of the isotopes in the water, wherein the isotopes allowed to engage in cracks formed in the underwater-wall. The detector unit is disposed on the vehicle and is defined with a winch, an underwater rated cable capable to be wound and unwound on the winch and a detector fitted at an end of the underwater rated cable to be introduced, after a defined time of release of isotopes, at depths in the water by winding and unwinding of the underwater rated cable by the winch.The detector detects presence of isotopes engaged in cracks. The computing unit is disposed on the vehicle and is in connection with the detector. The computing unit converts detected radiations and provide count per seconds (CPS) and location data corresponding to the depth of detector. The computing unit stores and displays computed count per seconds (CPS) and location data corresponding to the depth of detector for each isotope detected radiations.

In one embodiment, the vehicle defined with a first vehicle and a second vehicle.

Typically, the winch defined with a slip ring and an incremental encoder.

[7] The present disclosure also discloses a method for determining underwater-wall cracks. The method includes:
• providing a vehicle, a pumping unit disposed on the vehicle, a detector unit defined with a winch, an underwater rated cable and a detector and a computing unit;
• closing water outflow outlets of underwater-wall;
• releasing, by the pumping unit, isotopes in the water;
• moving the vehicle simultaneously to allow spreading of the isotopes in the water;
• allowing released isotopes to engage in cracks formed in the underwater-wall;
• unwinding the underwater rated cable from the winch to introduce the detector underwater at depths,
wherein, the detector, after a defined time of release of isotopes, detect presence of isotopes engaged in cracks;
• converting detected radiations by the detector by the computing unit and provide count per seconds (CPS) and location data corresponding to the depth of detector, the computing unit store and display computed count per seconds (CPS) and location data corresponding to the depth of detector for each isotope detected radiations; and
• winding the underwater rated cable by the winch to remove the detector from water.

In one embodiment, the winding and unwinding of the winch is performed manually.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
[8] The present disclosure will now be described with the help of the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 illustrates ablock diagram of an under-water crack determination system, in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, which includes a vehicle (10a, 10b), a pumping unit (20), a detector unit (30) and a computing unit (40);

Figure 2 illustrates a schematic representation of the vehicle (10a) with the pumping unit (20) releasing isotopes (21) in the water (05);

Figure 3illustrates a schematic representation of the vehicle (10b) with the detector unit (30) detecting isotopes (21);

Figure 4illustrates a schematic representation of the detector unit (30) and the computing unit (40);

Figure 5illustrates a schematic representation of the winch of the detector unit (30); and

Figure 6 illustrates a flowchart of a method (200) for determining underwater-wall cracks (01a).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[9] The present disclosure discloses underwater-wall crack determination system and a method for determining underwater-wall crack. The present system and method determines cracks and respective locations in a cost efficient manner by use of minimal low cost-components and is portable and compact.

[10] Referring now to the drawings, Figures 1 to 6, where the present invention is generally referred to with numeral (100), it can be observed thatan underwater-wall crack determination system, in accordance with an embodiment, is provided whichincludesa vehicle (10a, 10b), a pumping unit (20), a detector unit (30) and a computing unit (40).

[11] In one embodiment, the vehicle (10a, 10b) is a waterborne vehicle. The present disclosure discloses two vehicles, the first vehicle (10a) for supporting the pumping unit (20) and the second vehicle (10b) for supporting the detector unit (40) and/or the computing unit (40). As exemplarily illustrated in Figure 2, the vehicle (10a) is a boat. As exemplarily illustrated in Figure 3, the vehicle (10b) is a ship. Though, the present invention discloses the vehicle (10a, 10b) as a waterbornevehicle, however, the present disclosure is not limited to waterborne vehicle and includes other vehicles like airborne vehicles. Also, the present invention discloses two vehicles, however, the two vehicles are for the purpose of exemplary description and there can be one vehicle or more than one vehicle that supports the pumping unit (20), the detector unit (30) and the computing unit (40).

[12] As illustrated in the Figure 2, the pumping unit (20) is disposed on the vehicle (10a). The pumping unit (20) releases isotopes (21) in the water (05). As there is movement of the vehicle (10a or 10b), the release of isotopes (21) allows spreading of the isotopes (21) in the water (05).The vehicle (10a) is moved in the research area where the crack detection is to be performed such that isotopes (21) are released at the desired research area. The isotopes (21) areallowed to engage in cracks formed in the underwater-wall (01). The pumping of the pumping unit (20) can be continuous, intermittently controlled or controlled by manual inputs. Herein, the continuous pumping refers that the isotopes (21) are released continuously. The intermittently controlled refers to a timer-based controller that releases isotopes (21) at pre-fed time. The manual input controlling refers that the isotopes (21) are released at when manual input is provided.

[13] The detector unit (30) is disposed on the vehicle (10b), as illustrated in Figure 3. The detector unit (30) is defined with a winch (31), an underwater rated cable (32) and a detector (33). The winch (31) is disposed on the vehicle (10b). The winch (31) has a drum (31a), a handle (31b), a gearbox (31c) and a mounting plate (31d) with a lifting hook (31e). The drum (31a) is rotating to unwind and wind the underwater rated cable (32). The handle (31b) provides manual rotation to the drum (31a). The gearbox (31c) is connected between the drum (31a) and the handle (31b).The mounting plate rotatably supports the drum (31a) and is mounted on the vehicle (10b). Further, the winch (31) is also defined with a slip ring (31f) and an incremental encoder (31g). The slip ring (31f) transfers the electrical signal from rotating parts to stationary parts, and in the present disclosurethe slip ring (31f) is used to transfer the signal collected by the detector (33) to electronics defined in the computing unit (40) at the vehicle (10b). Theencoder (31g) is used to measure the depth of the detector (33)which is mounted on the winch (31)and enables measuring the length of theunderwater rated cable (32) released from the winch (31) and provides the depth of detector (33) inside water. The underwater rated cable (32)is capable to be wound and unwound on the winch (31).The detector (33) is fitted at an end of the underwater rated cable (32) and is to be introduced, after a defined time of release of isotopes (21), at depths in the water (05) by winding and unwinding of the underwater rated cable (32) by the winch (31).The detector (33) detects presence of isotopes (21) engaged in cracks (01a). The detector unit (30) includes a pulley support (34), which is mounted on the vehicle (10b), that provides support to the underwater rated cable (32). The pulley support (34) reduces weight load of the detector (33) on the winch (31) and facilitates effortless winding of the underwater rated cable (32) while removing the detector (33) from the water up/down movement of detector (33).

[14] The computing unit (40) is disposed on the vehicle (10b). The computing unit (40) is in connection with the detector (33). The computing unit (40) converts detected radiations and provide count per seconds (CPS) and location data corresponding to the depth of detector (33). The computing unit (40) stores and displays computed count per seconds (CPS) and location data corresponding to the depth of detector for each isotope detected radiations. As illustrated in Figure 4, the computing unit (40) includes a hardware processor (41) and display (42).

[15] The present disclosure also discloses a method/best method for determining underwater-wall cracks (01a). The method includes providing (210) the vehicle (10a, 10b), a pumping unit (20) disposed on said vehicle (10a, 10b), a detector unit (30) defined with a winch (31), an underwater rated cable (32) and a detector (33) and a computing unit (40).

[16] The water outflow outlets of the underwater-wall (01) are required to be closed (220) so that the water outflow will only be from cracks (01a). Typically, the water outflow outlets are dam door outlets. Once the water outflow outlets are closed, the first vehicle (10a) moves in the water. The pumping unit (20) is actuated so that the isotopes (21) are released (230) in the water (05). Along with the pumping, the vehicle (10a) simultaneously moves (240) on the water at different locations/research areas so that isotopes (21) are allowed to spread (at different locations/research areas) in the water (05). The second vehicle (10b) is then allowed (250) to move on water (05) after a defined time of release of isotopes (21). Typically, the defined time is 2 to 3 days after release of the isotopes (21). The defined time is required so that the isotopes (21) are allowed to settle in the cracks (01a). The isotopes (21) havea proportion of gold which is absorbed by the soil/wall and settle in the cracks (01a) and continuously emits radiation. At each predetermined locations, unwinding (260) of the underwater rated cable (32) from the winch (31) is performed so as to introduce the detector (33) underwater at different depths.The detector (33), after the defined time of release of isotopes (21), detects presence of isotopes (21) engaged in cracks (01a) and sent to the computing unit (40). The next step is converting (270) detected radiations by the detector (33) by the computing unit (40) and provides count per seconds (CPS) and location data corresponding to the depth of detector (33). The computing unit (40) stores and displays computed count per seconds (CPS) and location data corresponding to the depth of detector (33) for each isotope (21) detected radiations. After detection, the next step iswinding (280) the underwater rated cable (32) by the winch (31) to remove the detector (33) from water (05). In one embodiment, the winding and unwinding is performed manually, however, winding and unwinding can be performed by external force, like known hydraulic, pneumatic, electro-mechanical or mechanical systems.

[17] The present under-water crack determination system (100) has advantage that it has few low cost components and does not require cost intensive image capturing and processing systems. Thus, the under-water cracks determination system (300) and method (200) for determining underwater-wall cracks at respective locations is cost efficient by use of minimal low cost-components. The underwater wall crack determination system that is easily portable, as known vehicles (10a, 10b) are used. The underwater-wall crack determination system (100) and method (200) for determining underwater-wall cracks (01a) is portable and compact yet be capable to determine location of cracks (01a) at various underwater depths.

[18] In one embodiment, the underwater-wall crack determination system (100) is anunderwater radiation determination system which determines radiations from isotopes dispersed underwater.

[19] The foregoing description conveys the best understanding of the objectives and advantages of the present invention. Different embodiments,steps or alternatives may be made of the inventive concept of this invention. It is to be understood that all matter disclosed herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

, Claims:We Claim:

1) An underwater-wall crack determination system (100) comprising and characterized by:
• a vehicle (10a, 10b);
• a pumping unit (20), disposed on said vehicle (10a or 10b), to release isotopes (21) in the water (05), wherein movement of said vehicle (10a or 10b) allows spreading of said isotopes (21) in the water (05), wherein said isotopes (21)allowed to engage in cracks (01a) formed in the underwater-wall (01);
• a detector unit (30), disposed on said vehicle (10a or 10b), defined with a winch (31), an underwater rated cable (32) capable to be wound and unwound on said winch (31) and a detector (33) fitted at an end of said underwater rated cable (32) to be introduced, after a defined time of release of isotopes (21), at depths in the water (05) by winding and unwinding of said underwater rated cable (32) by said winch (31), said detector (33)detect presence of isotopes (21) engaged in cracks (01a); and
• a computing unit (40), disposed on said vehicle (10a or 10b) and in connection with said detector (33), said computing unit (40) configured to convert detected radiations and provide count per seconds (CPS) and location data corresponding to the depth of detector (33), said computing unit (40) store and display computed count per seconds (CPS) and location data corresponding to the depth of detector for each isotope detected radiations.

2) The underwater-wall crack determination system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said vehicle (10a, 10b) defined with a first vehicle (10a) and a second vehicle (10b).

3) The underwater-wall crack determination system (100)as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidwinch (31) defined with a slip ring (31f) and an incremental encoder (31g).

4) A method (200) for determining underwater-wall cracks (01a) comprising:

a. providing (210) an underwater-wall crack determination system (100) defined with a vehicle (10a, 10b), a pumping unit (20) disposed on said vehicle (10a, 10b), a detector unit (30) defined with a winch (31), an underwater rated cable (32) and a detector (33) and a computing unit (40);
b. closing (220)water outflow outlets of theunderwater-wall (01);
c. releasing (230), by said pumping unit (20), isotopes (21) in the water (05);
d. moving (240) said vehicle (10a, 10b) simultaneously to allow spreading of said isotopes (21) in the water (05);
e. allowing (250) released isotopes (21)to engage in cracks (01a) formed in the underwater-wall (01);
f. unwinding (260) said underwater rated cable (32) from said winch (31) to introduce said detector (33) underwater at depths,
wherein, said detector (33), after a defined time of release of isotopes (21), detect presence of isotopes (21) engaged in cracks (01a);
g. converting (270) detected radiations by said detector (33) by said computing unit (40) and provide count per seconds (CPS) and location data corresponding to the depth of detector (33), said computing unit (40) store and display computed count per seconds (CPS) and location data corresponding to the depth of detector (33) for each isotope (21) detected radiations; and
h. winding (280) said underwater rated cable (32) by said winch (31) to remove said detector (33) from water (05).

5) The method (200) for determining underwater-wall cracks (01a) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the winding and unwinding of the winch (31) is performed manually.