CONCRETE SLUMP MEASUREMENT AND CONTROL SYSTEM

• US 20110077778A1
• Filed: 05/28/2008
• Published: 03/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GCP Applied Technologies Inc. (Compagnie De Saint-Gobain)
• Original Assignee: Dully Katzeff-Berman
• Inventors: Berman, Berthold
• Granted Patent: US 8,858,061 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/265
• CPC Class Codes: B28C 5/0893 Mobile mixing devices, e.g. hanging
• CPC Class Codes: B28C 5/1292 with rotating stirring and feeding or discharging means fixed on the same axis, e.g. in an inclined container fed at its lower part
• CPC Class Codes: B28C 7/02 Controlling the operation of the mixing
• CPC Class Codes: B28C 7/064 Supply from sacks; Sack openers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2011/0046 In situ measurement during mixing process
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/383 Concrete, cement
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric

Abstract

An apparatus and method to measure and control the slump of concrete by monitoring sensor within the interior surface of a concrete mixer and a liquid flow meter. Data is analyzed by a computer processing unit to determine the slump of the concrete, liquid needed the quantity of concrete within the mixer, the amount of concrete poured, and the starting and ending time of the pour.

Claims

1. A concrete mixing control apparatus comprising:

a concrete mixer with an interior surface;

at least one sensor to monitor one of pressure and stress attached to said interior surface of said concrete mixer; and

a first output means operably connected to said at least one sensor.

2. A concrete mixing control apparatus according to claim 1 further having:

a liquid supply tube attached to and in fluid communication with said concrete mixer; and

a valve controlling the flow of liquid through said liquid supply tube;

3. A concrete mixing control apparatus according to claim 2 further having:

a liquid flow meter having in said liquid supply tube between said valve and said concrete mixer;

a computer processing unit operably connected to said at least one sensor within said concrete mixer and said liquid flow meter to analyze said data;

a data storage unit operably connected to said computer processing unit; and

a second display means operably connected to said computer processing unit.

4. A concrete mixing control apparatus according to claim 3 wherein a plurality of sensors are attached to said interior surface of said mixer.

5. A concrete mixing control apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said valve is operably connected to said computer processing unit and controlled by said computer processing unit.

6. A concrete mixing control apparatus according to claim 3 further having an input means operably connected to said computer processing unit to enter one or more of the requested slump, mix and customer information.

7. A concrete mixing control apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said input means is one of a touch screen, voice recognition, keyboard and alphanumeric keypad.

8. A concrete mixing control apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said input device permits the user override the data from said sensors and said computer processing unit.

9. A concrete mixing control apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said data storage unit is in a remote location from said concrete mixer.

10. A concrete mixing control apparatus according to claim 3 further includes an output means.

11. A concrete mixing control apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said output means is a printer.

12. A concrete mixing control apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said computer processing unit, input means, data storage, second display means and output means separately or in combination are in a remote location from said concrete mixer, wherein said sensors, valve and flow meter are operably connected by a transmitter and receiver at the mixer and at the remote location.

13. A concrete mixing control apparatus according to claim 3 further having a global positioning satellite receiving unit having a digital output operably connected to said data storage unit.

14. A concrete mixing control apparatus according to claim 3 further having a temperature sensor attached to the interior surface of said mixer operably connected to said data storage unit.

15. A concrete mixing control apparatus according to claim 3 further having a moisture sensor attached to the interior surface of said mixer operably connected to said data storage unit.

16. A concrete mixing control apparatus according to claim 3 further having a mixer pour valve operably connected to said computer processing unit wherein said pour valve.

17. A concrete mixing control apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said computer processing unit analyses said input from said sensor to determine the start and end time the pour of concrete.

18. A method to control the slump of concrete comprising the following steps:

charging a mixer having a drum and interior surface with particulate material;

rotating said mixer drum;

receiving data in a data storage unit of one of pressure and stress from at least one sensor attached to said interior surface of said mixer;

inputting at least the desired slump with an input device operably connected to a computer processing unit further operably connected to said data storage unit;

determining the amount of liquid needed for the desired slump by said computer processing unit; and

controlling the addition of liquid to said mixer through a fluid supply line in fluid communication with said mixing drum wherein said fluid supply line has a valve operably connected to said computer processing unit and a flow meter operably connected to said data storage unit;

19. A method to determining the quantity of concrete mixture within said mixing drum comprising:

monitoring a force sensor within a mixing drum;

rotating such mixing drum;

recording the first interval of time that said sensor receives a load as such mixing drum rotates and said sensor is submerged within such concrete;

recording the second interval of time that such sensor not loaded at the mixer rotates and the sensor emerges from such concrete mixture; and

calculating the volume of concrete within such mixing drum analyzing said first and second interval.

20. A method to determine if the concrete mix within a mixing drum is consistent comprising:

monitoring a force sensor within such mixing drum;

rotating such mixing drum; and

comparing sensor output over at least the immediately prior rotation of such mixing drum until said sensor output of force on said sensor is generally consistent within a narrow predetermined.