Real time asphalt pavement quality sensor using a differential approach
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of determining when the optimal level of compaction of asphalt pavement has been achieved comprising the steps of:
- compacting the asphalt pavement with a roller;
sensing a first property of the asphalt in front of the roller;
sensing the first property of the asphalt behind the roller;
determining the variance of the sensed property in front of the roller and the variance of the sensed property behind the roller; and
monitoring the determined variance of the sensed property in front of the roller and the determined variance of the sensed property behind the roller to determine whether the optimal level of compaction has been achieved.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A real time differential asphalt pavement quality sensor of the present invention is adapted to measure asphalt density in real time using a differential approach. Two sensors, one in the front of a roller and another behind the roller, measure reflected signals from the asphalt. The difference between the reflected signals provides an indication of the optimal compaction and density of the asphalt pavement. The invention looks at the change in variance over successive passes to determine when the optimal level of compaction has been reached.
90 Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A method of determining when the optimal level of compaction of asphalt pavement has been achieved comprising the steps of:
-
compacting the asphalt pavement with a roller; sensing a first property of the asphalt in front of the roller; sensing the first property of the asphalt behind the roller; determining the variance of the sensed property in front of the roller and the variance of the sensed property behind the roller; and monitoring the determined variance of the sensed property in front of the roller and the determined variance of the sensed property behind the roller to determine whether the optimal level of compaction has been achieved. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
-
-
4. An apparatus for determining in real time the density of a material on a ground surface during a rolling operation comprising:
-
a roller for compacting material on the ground surface; a first microwave antenna disposed in front of the roller; a second microwave antenna disposed behind the roller; and a processor electrically connected to the first and second microwave antennas for generating data relating to the density of the material based on information from the first and second microwave antennas. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A method of determining in real time when the optimal level of compaction of asphalt pavement has been reached comprising the steps of:
-
compacting the hot asphalt pavement by traveling over the asphalt pavement with a roller; successively sensing a property of the asphalt related to density in front of the roller; successively sensing a property of the asphalt related to density behind the roller; determining the difference between the sensed property of the asphalt in front of the roller and the sensed property of the asphalt behind the roller; and using the differences between the sensed properties to determine whether the optimal level of compaction has been achieved.
-
-
11. A method of determining the density of material on a ground surface while operating a rolling device comprising the steps of:
-
sensing information in front of the rolling device using a microwave sensor; sensing information behind the rolling device using a microwave sensor; and comparing the sensed information to determine the density of the material.
-
-
12. A method of determining when the optimal level of compaction of asphalt pavement has been achieved comprising the steps of:
-
compacting the asphalt pavement with a roller; sensing a first property of the asphalt in front of the roller using microwave signals; sensing the first property of the asphalt behind the roller using microwave signals; and using the sensed properties to determine whether the optimal level of compaction has been achieved. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A method of determining in real time when the optimal level of compaction of asphalt pavement has been reached comprising the steps of:
-
compacting the hot asphalt pavement by traveling over the asphalt pavement with a roller; successively sensing a property of the asphalt related to density in front of the roller; successively sensing a property of the asphalt related to density behind the roller; determining the variance of the sensed property of the asphalt in front of the roller and the variance of the sensed property of the asphalt behind the roller; and using the variances of the sensed properties to determine whether the optimal level of compaction has been achieved. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
-
Specification