Systems, apparatus and methods for obtaining measurements concerning the strength and performance of concrete mixtures

• US 10,215,670 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2017
• Issued: 02/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: QuipIP, LLC
• Original Assignee: QuipIP, LLC
• Inventors: Radjy, Farrokh F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Paul D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Crohn, Mark I
• Application Number:
  US15/719,705
• Publication Number:
  US 20180045621A1
• Time in Patent Office: 515 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/28 Preparing specimens for investigation including physical details of (bio-)chemical methods covered elsewhere, e.g. G01N33/50, C12Qmounting specimens on microscopic slides G02B21/34; means for supporting the objects or the materials to be analysed in electron microscopes H01J37/20 ; laboratory gas handling apparatus B01L5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 25/00 Investigating or analyzing materials by the use of thermal means G01N3/00 - G01N23/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 3/08 by applying steady tensile or compressive forces G01N3/28 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/383 Concrete or cement
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/182 Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold

Abstract

A device includes a cylinder having a cavity adapted to hold a concrete test cylinder, an accelerometer adapted to detect motion data, and a second sensor adapted to obtain measurements of a characteristic of the concrete during a predetermined time period. For example, the second sensor may be a temperature sensor. The device also includes a processor adapted to receive motion data from the accelerometer, determine that the device has moved during the predetermined time period, based on the motion data, and determine that the measurements obtained by the second sensor are invalid, based on the determination that the concrete test cylinder has been moved during the predetermined time period.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a cavity adapted to hold a concrete test cylinder;

an accelerometer adapted to detect motion data;

a second sensor adapted to obtain measurements of a characteristic of a concrete mixture in the concrete test cylinder during a predetermined time period; and

a processor adapted to;

receive motion data from the accelerometer;

determine that the device has moved during the predetermined time period, based on the motion data; and

determine that the measurements obtained by the second sensor are invalid, based on the determination that the concrete test cylinder has been moved during the predetermined time period.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further adapted to:

record, in a memory, data indicating that the device has been moved during the predetermined period; and

transmit an alert indicating that the device has been moved during the predetermined period.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the predetermined time period is a period during which concrete in the concrete test cylinder cures.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the second sensor comprises a temperature sensor.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the characteristic includes a temperature of the concrete mixture.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a cap adapted to cover the concrete test cylinder;

wherein the accelerometer is attached to the cap.

7. The device of claim 6, further comprising:

a housing attached to an inside surface of the cap;

wherein the accelerometer is disposed in the housing.

8. A system comprising:

a concrete test cylinder adapted to hold a specimen of concrete;

an accelerometer attached to the concrete test cylinder, the accelerometer being adapted to detect motion data;

a second sensor adapted to obtain measurements of a characteristic of the concrete during a predetermined time period; and

a processor adapted to;

receive motion data from the accelerometer;

determine that the concrete test cylinder has moved during the predetermined time period, based on the motion data; and

determine that the measurements obtained by the second sensor are invalid, based on the determination that the concrete test cylinder has been moved during the predetermined time period.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the predetermined time period is a period during which the concrete in the concrete test cylinder cures.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the second sensor comprises a temperature sensor.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the characteristic includes a temperature of the concrete.

12. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

a cap adapted to cover the concrete test cylinder;

wherein the accelerometer is attached to the cap.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

a housing attached to an inside surface of the cap;

wherein the accelerometer is disposed in the housing.

14. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

a sensor housing disposed on a side of the concrete test cylinder, the sensor housing comprising a cavity; and

wherein a sensor device is disposed in the cavity, the sensor device comprising an accelerometer.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

a loop disposed around an outer surface of the concrete test cylinder;

wherein the sensor housing is attached to the loop.