Modular pavement slab

• US 10,407,838 B1
• Filed: 02/06/2018
• Issued: 09/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Integrated Roadways LLC
• Original Assignee: Integrated Roadways LLC
• Inventors: Sylvester, Tim
• Primary Examiner(s): Noori, Max H
• Application Number:
  US15/889,718
• Time in Patent Office: 581 Days
• Field of Search: 73786
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 11/00 Details of pavings E01C1/005, E01C5/003, E01C5/005, E01C7/145, E01C7/185, E01C7/325 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 2201/00 Paving elements
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 23/01 Devices or auxiliary means for setting-out or checking the configuration of new surfacing, e.g. templates, screed or reference line supports form rails E01C19/50; Applications of apparatus for measuring, indicating, or recording the surface configuration of existing surfacing, e.g. profilographs E01C23/07 takes precedence; measuring roughness or irregularity in general G01B
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 5/005 Individual couplings or spacer elements for joining the prefabricated units E01C5/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 5/06 made of units with cement or like binders
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/022 for weighing wheeled or rolling bodies in motion G01G19/045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/025 wheel-load scales
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/52 Weighing apparatus combined with other objects, e.g. furniture with walking sticks A45B3/08
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 3/125 wherein the weighing element is an optical member
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/246 using integrated gratings, e.g. Bragg gratings
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 17/00 Devices or apparatus for measuring tyre pressure or the pressure in other inflated bodies
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 5/0041 by determining deflection or stress
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 5/0091 by using electromagnetic excitation or detection
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/36 Devices characterised by the use of optical means, e.g. using infrared, visible, or ultraviolet light G01P3/68 takes precedence; gyrometers using the Sagnac effect, i.e. rotation-induced shifts between counter-rotating electromagnetic beams G01C19/64

Abstract

A modular pavement slab comprises a body, a strain sensor array, and a sensor processor. The body includes a top surface, a bottom surface, and four side surfaces. The modular pavement slab is configured to be coupled to at least one other modular pavement slab via connectors along at least one of the side surfaces. The strain sensor array is retained within the body and is configured to detect a plurality of strains on the body resulting from vehicular traffic across the top surface of the body. The sensor processor is in communication with the strain sensor array. The sensor processor is configured to communicate input signals to the strain sensor array, receive output signals from the strain sensor array, and determine a plurality of time-varying strain values, each strain value indicating a strain experienced over time by a successive one of a plurality of regions of the body.

Claims

1. A modular pavement slab comprising:

a body including a top surface, a bottom surface, and four side surfaces, the modular pavement slab configured to be coupled to at least one other modular pavement slab via connectors along at least one of the side surfaces;

a strain sensor array retained within the body, the strain sensor array configured to detect a plurality of strains on the body resulting from vehicular traffic across the top surface of the body;

a sensor processor in communication with the strain sensor array and configured to—

communicate input signals to the strain sensor array,

receive output signals from the strain sensor array,

determine a plurality of time-varying strain values, each strain value indicating a strain experienced over time by a successive one of a plurality of regions of the body; and

a plurality of dowel cavities defined by the body;

said connectors comprising a plurality of dowel rods extending from a first side surface of the four side surfaces,

said plurality of dowel cavities extending into the body from a second side surface of the four side surfaces, the second side surface being substantially opposite from the first side surface.

2. The modular pavement slab of claim 1, wherein the strain sensor array includes first and second optical fiber sensors, each optical fiber sensor including an optical fiber with a plurality of fiber Bragg gratings spaced apart axially along the optical fiber.

3. The modular pavement slab of claim 2, wherein each optical fiber sensor forms a loop and the first optical fiber sensor is positioned adjacent to the second optical fiber sensor within the body.

4. The modular pavement slab of claim 1, wherein the processing element is further configured to determine a speed and a direction of each vehicle that travels across the top surface of the body.

5. The modular pavement slab of claim 1, wherein the processing element is further configured to determine a weight of each vehicle that travels across the top surface of the body.

6. The modular pavement slab of claim 1, wherein the processing element is further configured to determine a tire pressure of each tire of each vehicle that travels across the top surface of the body.

7. The modular pavement slab of claim 1, wherein the processing element is further configured to determine a type of each vehicle that travels across the top surface of the body.

8. The modular pavement slab of claim 1, further comprising a communication element in electronic communication with the sensor processor and configured to communicate information derived from the strain values to other modular pavement slabs or external systems.