Device for testing unset concrete and mortar

• US 5,541,855 A
• Filed: 01/18/1995
• Issued: 07/30/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Atrof Bauphysik AG, Jenoptik GmbH (Jenoptik AG)
• Original Assignee: Atrof Bauphysik AG, Jenoptik GmbH (Jenoptik AG)
• Inventors: Zimmerman, Peter, Lueth, Gunter, Enzler, Ruedi, Lembke, Elfrun, Schmidt, Eberhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Cosimano, Edward R.
• Application Number:
  US08/375,006
• Time in Patent Office: 559 Days
• Field of Search: 73/73, 73/54.13, 73/803, 364/502, 364/505, 364/506, 364/507, 364/508, 364/552, 364/424.02, 364/478, 364/479, 364/579, 364/580, 366/140, 366/142
• US Class Current: 702/113
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 11/14 by using rotary bodies, e.g. vane G01N11/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/383 Concrete or cement

Abstract

A rotating testing device can be connected to a base unit. A temperature sensor can also be connected to the base unit. The testing device has probe heads. The probe heads are immersed and rotated in the liquid concrete and the force required for rotation is measured in the base unit. Various concrete recipes are stored in a memory of the base unit. Data concerning the concrete are calculated by comparison with the force required to rotate the testing device with the force derived from a respective stored characteristic line and are read from a display field. A concrete recipe and specific measurements are selected by actuating keys which select the respective electronic processes in the base unit for measurement and comparison with stored characteristic data.

Claims

1. A portable, hand-held device for on-site testing of unset concrete and mortar, comprising:

a base unit and a plurality of selectably attachable testing devices for generating measurement data of different parameters, at least one of said devices being constructed so as to be rotatable, said base unit having at least one connection for a testing device,

an energy source for operating the device independently of a main electrical supply,

a computing unit,

selector means for selecting a test to be carried out and thereby computing processes to be carried out by said computing unit based on measurement data generated by said testing devices, and

a display for reading and displaying output data received from said computing unit.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the base unit has a memory for storing the measurement data and a connection for the transmission of the stored measurement data to an electronic data processing system.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the base unit has a memory unit for storing standardized concrete recipes which can be retrieved by the selector means and fed to the display means.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein a stationary testing device is included which is outfitted with a temperature sensor.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein at least a number of testing devices have a probe head in which an additional measurement probe is installed.

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein a testing device has a plate-shaped probe head which is square as seen from the top.

7. A device according to claim 1, wherein a testing device has a cube-shaped probe head.

8. A device according to claim 1, wherein a testing device has a star-shaped probe head.

9. A device according to claim 1, wherein a testing device has an annular or cylindrical probe head.

10. A device according to claim 1, wherein at least one rotatable testing device has a probe head and a rigid, long connection member, and wherein a drive is included, having a motor, which is arranged in the base unit, and wherein the rigid connection piece is constructed for a detachable connection with the drive.

11. A device according to claim 10, wherein the rotatable testing device has a supporting rod which can be connected to the drive and has two probe heads at its end which are supported by a cross-piece so as to be arranged diametrically opposite one another.

12. A device according to claim 1, wherein at least one testing device has a probe head and a handle portion, at least one electronic circuit or control being installed in the handle portion for converting measured values occurring during operation of the probe head for transmission to the computing unit, which probe head is connected with the handle portion via a long, rigid or flexible connection member.

13. A device according to claim 12, in which the probe head is connected with the handle portion via a rigid connection member, wherein the connection member is connected with a drive which is arranged in the handle portion and serves to generate a rotating movement and/or a vibrating reciprocating movement of the connection member.

14. A device according to claim 13, wherein the connection member is constructed as a tube for the transmission of water under pressure, compressed air or a vacuum.

15. A portable, hand-held device for on-site testing of unset concrete and mortar, comprising:

a base unit and a plurality of selectably attachable testing devices for generating measurement data of different parameters, at least one of said devices being constructed so as to be rotatable, said base unit having at least one connection for a testing device,

an energy source for operating the device independently of a main electrical supply,

a computing unit,

selector means tier selecting a test to be carried out and thereby computing processes to be carried out by said computing unit based on measurement data generated by said testing devices, said computing processes including selective determination of at least one of a) water/cement ratio and c) compressive strength from a test of said rotatable device, and

a display for reading and displaying output data received from said computing unit.

16. A device according to claim 15, wherein the base unit has a memory for storing the measurement data and a connection for the transmission of the stored measurement data to an electronic data processing system.

17. A device according to claim 15, wherein the base unit has a memory unit for storing standardized concrete recipes which can be retrieved by the selector means and fed to the display.

18. A device according to claim 15, wherein a stationary testing device is included which is outfitted with a temperature sensor.

19. A device according to claim 15, wherein at least a number of testing devices have a probe head in which an additional measurement probe is installed.

20. A device according to claim 15, wherein a testing device has a plate-shaped probe head which is square as seen from the top.

21. A device according to claim 15, wherein a testing device has a cube-shaped probe head.

22. A device according to claim 15, wherein a testing device has a star-shaped probe head.

23. A device according to claim 15, wherein a testing device has an annular or cylindrical probe head.

24. A device according to claim 15, wherein at least one rotatable testing device has a probe head and a rigid, long connection member, and wherein a drive is included, having a motor, which is arranged in the base unit, and wherein the rigid connection piece is constructed for a detachable connection with the drive.

25. A device according to claim 24, wherein the rotatable testing device has a supporting rod which can be connected to the drive and has two probe heads at its end which are supported by a cross-piece so as to be arranged diametrically opposite one another.

26. A device according to claim 15, wherein at least one testing device has a probe head and a handle portion, at least one electronic circuit or control being installed in the handle portion for converting measured values occurring during operation of the probe head for transmission to the computing unit, which probe head is connected with the handle portion via a long, rigid or flexible connection member.

27. A device according to claim 26, in which the probe head is connected with the handle portion via a rigid connection member, wherein the connection member is connected with a drive which is arranged in the handle portion and serves to generate a rotating movement and/or a vibrating reciprocating movement of the connection member.

28. A device according to claim 27, wherein the connection member is constructed as a tube for the transmission of water under pressure, compressed air or a vacuum.

29. A portable, hand-held device for on-site testing of unset concrete and mortar, comprising:

a base unit and a plurality of selectably attachable testing devices for generating measurement data of different parameters, at least one of said devices being constructed so as to be rotatable, said base unit having at least one connection for a testing device,

an energy source for operating the device independently of a main electrical supply,

memory means for providing a store of characteristic lines representing standardized concrete recipes,

a computing unit,

selector means for selecting a test to be carried out and thereby computing processes to be carried out by said computing unit based on measurement data generated by said testing devices, said selector means for selecting a signal of a characteristic line from said memory means for processing measurement data of said rotatable device, and a display for reading and displaying output data received from said computing unit.

30. A device according to claim 29, wherein the base unit has a memory for storing the measurement data and a connection for the transmission of the stored measurement data to an electronic data processing system.

31. A device according to claim 29, wherein a stationary testing device is included which is outfitted with a temperature sensor.

32. A device according to claim 29, wherein at least a number of testing devices have a probe head in which an additional measurement probe is installed.

33. A device according to claim 29, wherein a testing device has a plate-shaped probe head which is square as seen from the top.

34. A device according to claim 29, wherein a testing device has a cube-shaped probe head.

35. A device according to claim 29, wherein a testing device has a star-shaped probe head.

36. A device according to claim 29, wherein a testing device has an annular or cylindrical probe head.

37. A device according to claim 29, wherein at least one rotatable testing device has a probe head and a rigid, long connection member, and wherein a drive is included, having a motor, which is arranged in the base unit, and wherein the rigid connection piece is constructed for a detachable connection with the drive.

38. A device according to claim 37, wherein the rotatable testing device has a supporting rod which can be connected to the drive and has two probe heads at its end which are supported by a cross-piece so as to be arranged diametrically opposite one another.

39. A device according to claim 29, wherein at least one testing device has a probe head and a handle portion, at least one electronic circuit or control being installed in the handle portion for converting measured values occurring during operation of the probe head for transmission to the computing unit, which probe head is connected with the handle portion via a long, rigid or flexible connection member.

40. A device according to claim 39, in which the probe head is connected with the handle portion via a rigid connection member, wherein the connection member is connected with a drive which is arranged in the handle portion and serves to generate a rotating movement and/or a vibrating reciprocating movement of the connection member.

41. A device according to claim 40, wherein the connection member is constructed as a tube for the transmission of water under pressure, compressed air or a vacuum.

42. A method for on-site testing of unset concrete and mortar comprising the steps of:

providing a portable, hand-held device having a base unit and a plurality of selectably attachable testing devices for generating measurement data of different parameters, at least one of said devices being constructed so as to be rotatable, said base unit having at least one connection for a testing device, said device having an energy source for operating the device independently of a main electrical supply, a computing unit, selector means for selecting a test to be carried out and thereby computing processes to be carried out by said computing unit, and a display for reading and displaying output data received from said computing unit;

inserting one of said testing devices into a different portion of a batch of unset concrete to provide measurement data;

selecting a test to be carried out with respect to said measured data and related computer processes by said computing unit; and

displaying output data of said computing unit.

43. The method of claim 42, including the steps of repeatedly inserting said testing device into said different portions of said batch of unset concrete to provide measurement data representing and averaging said measured data.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein said test to be carried is based on stored characteristic lines of standardized concrete recipes.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein said computing processes include a determination of at least one of a) slump, b) water/cement ratio and c) compressive strength.