Method for measuring density of a bulk material in a stockpile
First Claim
1. A method of determing the density of cohesionless bulk material in a stockpile, comprising the steps of:
- completely boring a test hole substantially to the bottom of said stockpile;
following complete boring of said hole, positioning one end of a first section of steel casing of an outer diameter substantially equal to the diameter of said test hole at or near the opening to said hole;
applying a first force to the opposite end of said first section until said section is pushed partially into said hole;
connecting a second section of casing to the upper end of said first section;
applying a force substantially equivalent to said first applied force to the upper end of said second section until said second section is pressed partially into said test hole, whereby said first section is driven further into said test hole;
connecting additional sections of casing and inserting said sections into said test hole until said casing sections extend the full depth of said test hole;
after said casing sections extend the full depth of said hole, inserting the probe of a nuclear depth-density gauge into said test hole and locating said probe at a predetermined depth along said hole, said probe having a length of cable attached thereto;
taking a series of timed readings with said gauge; and
moving said probe along said test hole such that at the beginning of each of said readings following the first thereof, said probe is at a location along said test hole separated by a predetermined interval from its location at the beginning of the last preceding one of said readings, whereby each of said readings taken corresponds to one of a plurality of predetermined depths along said test hole.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for determining the density of coal or other bulk material in a stockpile includes boring a calibration hole into the pile and collecting at least a portion of the cuttings thus obtained into a container. A series of readings are taken within the container with a nuclear depth-density gauge, and the weight of the cuttings and container volume is measured. The measured weight and volume are compared with the gauge readings to calibrate the gauge. A test hole is then bored substantially to the bottom of the stockpile, and a section of steel casing is inserted and partially pressed into the hole. A second section of casing is attached to the first and similarly pressed into the hole. In this manner, casing is extended the full depth of the hole. Readings are then taken at various depths therein with the nuclear gauge. From the data thus obtained, average density throughout the pile is determined.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A method of determing the density of cohesionless bulk material in a stockpile, comprising the steps of:
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completely boring a test hole substantially to the bottom of said stockpile; following complete boring of said hole, positioning one end of a first section of steel casing of an outer diameter substantially equal to the diameter of said test hole at or near the opening to said hole; applying a first force to the opposite end of said first section until said section is pushed partially into said hole; connecting a second section of casing to the upper end of said first section; applying a force substantially equivalent to said first applied force to the upper end of said second section until said second section is pressed partially into said test hole, whereby said first section is driven further into said test hole; connecting additional sections of casing and inserting said sections into said test hole until said casing sections extend the full depth of said test hole; after said casing sections extend the full depth of said hole, inserting the probe of a nuclear depth-density gauge into said test hole and locating said probe at a predetermined depth along said hole, said probe having a length of cable attached thereto; taking a series of timed readings with said gauge; and moving said probe along said test hole such that at the beginning of each of said readings following the first thereof, said probe is at a location along said test hole separated by a predetermined interval from its location at the beginning of the last preceding one of said readings, whereby each of said readings taken corresponds to one of a plurality of predetermined depths along said test hole. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification