Pile tester

• US 5,247,835 A
• Filed: 11/04/1991
• Issued: 09/28/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mark I. Howell
• Original Assignee: Mark I. Howell
• Inventors: Howell, Mark I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Razavi, Michael T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAY, TIMOTHY
• Application Number:
  US07/773,930
• Time in Patent Office: 694 Days
• Field of Search: 73/12, 173/112, 173/120, 173/121, 173/202
• US Class Current: 73/12.01
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 33/00 Testing foundations or foundation structures testing methods and apparatus, see the relevant subclasses of class G01; testing structures or apparatus as regards function, in general, G01M; testing or determining chemical or physical properties, in general G01N
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 7/08 Shock-testing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 3/303 generated only by free-falling weight

Abstract

A self-contained unit has a probe (N) urgeable against a structure to be tested, a shock assembly (H, I, J, F, M) for applying a shock to the structure through the probe (N), and a transducer (A, B, C) for receiving resulting vibrations from the structure through the probe (N) and providing electrical output data. The unit also includes a memory (b) for storing the data. The unit has a tubular body (E) in which the transducer (A, B, C) is receivable. The transducer (A, B, C) is linked to a weight (H) and springs (G, I) such that urging the probe (N) against a structure progressively compresses springs (G, I), drives the enclosure (A, B, C) into the body (E) and raises the weight (H) until the weight is suddenly released and hits the transducer (C) to supply the shock.

Claims

1. Apparatus for testing foundation piles comprising a self-contained unit which comprises:

an elongate body;

laterally projecting handle means at an upper region of the body;

a transducer means for sensing vibration and producing corresponding electrical signals;

memory means coupled to said transducer means for storing electrical signals from said transducer means;

a carrier for said transducer means, said carrier being mounted to said body so that said body is longitudinally displaceable relative to said carrier;

an elongate probe coupled to said carrier and projecting downwardly from the carrier, said probe projecting downwardly from said body to an extent that is variable by displacing said body relative to said carrier; and

shock means mounted to said body for delivering a pre-determined mechanical shock to said probe;

said shock means comprising potential energy storage means including lever means coupled to said body and said carrier so that said relative displacement of the body causes the lever means to pivot; and

a weight coupled to the lever means so as to be lifted thereby, and the arrangement being such that downward displacement of the body relative to the carrier causes upward displacement of the weight relative to the carrier and to the body;

said shock means further including release means for suddenly releasing the weight after the weight has been raised a predetermined distance so as to impart a mechanical shock to said probe;

the arrangement being such that the apparatus can be held by the handle means and the probe can then be urged downwardly against a foundation pile, with continuing downward pressure producing downward displacement of the body relative to the carrier and a consequent raising of the weight, and a subsequent release of the weight by the releasing means so as to administer a shock which is transmitted by means of the probe to the foundation pile;

the shock and subsequent vibrations being sensed by the transducer means which transmits corresponding signals to the memory means for storing by said memory means.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said potential energy storage means further includes spring means coupled to the weight so as to urge the weight downwardly so that the spring means is energized as the weight is lifted.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said lever means comprises a lever pivoted at a pivot to said body and coupled to said weight at a region remote from the pivot;

and a transmission rod extending between said carrier and a region of said lever close to said pivot such that upward movement of said rod tends to cause upward pivoting of said lever; and

wherein said release means comprises a shaped portion of the lever which is arranged to push the rod out of engagement with the lever which the lever has pivoted upwardly to a predetermined extent.