Systems, Methods and Apparatus for Obtaining Data Relating to Condition and Performance of Concrete Mixtures

• US 20160018383A1
• Filed: 07/28/2015
• Published: 01/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: QuipIP, LLC
• Original Assignee: QuipIP, LLC
• Inventors: RADJY, Farrokh F.
• Granted Patent: US 9,429,559 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B28C 7/02 Controlling the operation of the mixing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/383 Concrete or cement
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A sensing device includes a shell comprising an elastomeric material, the shell including a first portion having a first end and a second portion having a second end. The shell may be egg-shaped. The first portion includes a conducting disc and a plate that includes a temperature sensor, a location sensor, and a micro-fiber composite sensor. The first portion also includes an antenna and a first electrode extending through a first hole in the first portion of the shell. The second portion includes a quantity of a metallic substance embedded on the inside surface of an end of the second portion, and a second electrode extending through a second hole in the second portion of the shell. The sensing device may be inserted into a concrete mixture, obtain measurements relating to the concrete mixture, and transmit data to a database.

Claims

1. A sensing device comprising:

a shell comprising an elastomeric material, the shell comprising a first portion having a first end and a second portion having a second end;

wherein the first portion includes;

a thermally and electrically conducting disc;

a plate attached to the disc, the plate comprising;

a temperature sensor;

a location sensor; and

a micro-fiber composite sensor adapted to generate a measure of deformation; and

an antenna; and

a first electrode attached to the disc, the electrode extending through a first hole in the first portion of the shell;

wherein the second portion includes;

a predetermined quantity of a selected metallic substance embedded on the inside surface of an end of the second portion; and

a second electrode connected to the metallic substance, the second electrode extending through a second hole in the second portion of the shell.

2. The sensing device of claim 1, wherein the shell has an egg shape.

3. The sensing device of claim 1, wherein the plate further comprises one of an impedance/conductivity sensor, a pH sensor, an accelerometer, an elevation sensor, a RFID device, a and a humidity sensor.

4. The sensing device of claim 1, wherein the selected metallic substance comprises one of copper and brass.

5. The sensing device of claim 1, wherein the thermally and electrically conducting disc is disposed perpendicular to an axis of the sensing device.

6. The sensing device of claim 5, wherein the plate is perpendicular to the thermally and electrically conducting disc.

7. A method comprising:

inserting a plurality of sensing devices into a concrete mixture at a production facility;

receiving first data from the plurality of sensing devices while the plurality of sensing devices are in the concrete mixture at the production facility;

receiving second data from the plurality of sensing devices while the plurality of sensing devices are in the concrete mixture in a vehicle transporting the concrete mixture to a construction site;

receiving third data from the plurality of sensing devices while the plurality of sensing devices are in the concrete mixture after the concrete mixture has been laid at a construction site;

storing the first, second and third data in a memory; and

generating a prediction of a characteristic of the concrete mixture based on the first, second and third data.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of sensing devices comprises an egg-shaped shell comprising an elastomeric material, the egg-shaped shell comprising a first portion having a first end and a second portion having a second end;

wherein the first portion includes;

a thermally and electrically conducting disc;

a plate attached to the disc, the plate comprising;

a temperature sensor;

a location sensor; and

a micro-fiber composite (MFC) sensor adapted to generate a measure of deformation; and

an antenna; and

a first electrode attached to the disc, the electrode extending through a first hole in the first portion of the shell;

wherein the second portion includes;

a predetermined quantity of a selected metallic substance embedded on the inside surface of an end of the second portion; and

a second electrode connected to the metallic substance, the second electrode extending through a second hole in the second portion of the shell.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

causing the concrete mixture and the plurality of sensing devices to be transported on a vehicle.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the characteristic includes one of concrete strength and slump.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving from the MFC sensor fourth data representing a deformation;

determining an estimate of a slump of the concrete mixture based on the fourth data; and

determining an estimate of a mixing energy of mixing concrete.

12. A method of managing a closed-loop production and delivery system, the method comprising:

receiving an order for a product, the order defining a formulation that specifies a plurality of components of the product and a quantity of sensing devices;

in response to the order, producing the product based on the formulation;

inserting the a plurality of sensing devices including the specified quantity of sensing devices into the product;

receiving data from the plurality of sensing devices at one or more stages of production and delivery; and

determining a characteristic of the product based on the data.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the product is a concrete mixture.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of sensing devices includes an egg shaped sensing device that includes a temperature sensor and an antenna.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the characteristic includes one of concrete strength and slump.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the product is one of a food products, a paint product, a petroleum-based product, and a chemical product.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the plurality of sensing devices includes at least one sensing devices is adapted to receive signals from other sensing devices and retransmit the signals.