Sneak water detection for concrete delivery vehicles
First Claim
1. A process for detecting fluid addition into concrete contained within a delivery vehicle mixing drum, comprising:
- (A) monitoring changes in a rheology property of a concrete mix contained within a delivery vehicle mixing drum on a continuous basis by means of a computer processor unit (hereinafter “
CPU”
);
(B) detecting when a change in monitored rheology property of said concrete mix exceeds a predetermined minimum rheology change value which has been inputted into or made accessible to said CPU;
(C) determining, for each detected rheology change beyond said predetermined minimum rheology change value, whether such rheology change beyond said predetermined minimum rheology change value is due to fluid addition not added using pump, valve, or flow meter monitored by said CPU (hereinafter “
sneak fluid”
) and is sustained beyond a predetermined minimum period of time, a predetermined minimum number of drum rotations, or both (hereinafter “
sneak fluid condition”
); and
(D) reporting the occurrence of a sneak fluid condition as determined in (C) or otherwise preventing or restricting further fluid additions by at least one of the following modalities;
(i) initiating an audible alarm, a visual alarm, or both;
(ii) providing an indication of the amount of the sneak fluid added into the mixing drum;
(iii) providing an indication of total fluid amounts including said sneak fluid added into the mixing drum; and
/or (iv) preventing or limiting further fluid additions using valve, flow meter, or fluid tanks on said delivery vehicle into the mixing drum.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides a method and system for detecting “sneak” additions of water or other fluid into the mixing drum of a concrete delivery vehicle having an automated rheology (e.g., slump) monitoring system. Sneak fluid additions are detected based on continuous rheology monitoring, even where valves and flow meters on the delivery vehicle are not used for the fluid addition. The invention is effective for monitoring additions by truck drivers who might add water from an undocumented water source (e.g., hose) along the delivery route or at the site, to hasten pouring, placement, and finishing at the time of delivery. Once sneak fluid addition is detected, the methods and system provide for reporting in the form of alerts, alarms, or other indications that sneak fluid addition has occurred, including monitor graphs or printouts confirming existence and/or extent of sneak fluid added into the vehicle mixing drum.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A process for detecting fluid addition into concrete contained within a delivery vehicle mixing drum, comprising:
-
(A) monitoring changes in a rheology property of a concrete mix contained within a delivery vehicle mixing drum on a continuous basis by means of a computer processor unit (hereinafter “
CPU”
);(B) detecting when a change in monitored rheology property of said concrete mix exceeds a predetermined minimum rheology change value which has been inputted into or made accessible to said CPU; (C) determining, for each detected rheology change beyond said predetermined minimum rheology change value, whether such rheology change beyond said predetermined minimum rheology change value is due to fluid addition not added using pump, valve, or flow meter monitored by said CPU (hereinafter “
sneak fluid”
) and is sustained beyond a predetermined minimum period of time, a predetermined minimum number of drum rotations, or both (hereinafter “
sneak fluid condition”
); and(D) reporting the occurrence of a sneak fluid condition as determined in (C) or otherwise preventing or restricting further fluid additions by at least one of the following modalities;
(i) initiating an audible alarm, a visual alarm, or both;
(ii) providing an indication of the amount of the sneak fluid added into the mixing drum;
(iii) providing an indication of total fluid amounts including said sneak fluid added into the mixing drum; and
/or (iv) preventing or limiting further fluid additions using valve, flow meter, or fluid tanks on said delivery vehicle into the mixing drum. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A system for detecting fluid addition into concrete contained within a delivery vehicle mixing drum, comprising:
- an automated rheology monitoring system effective for monitoring changes in a rheology property of a concrete mix contained within a delivery vehicle mixing drum on a continuous basis by means of a computer processor unit (hereinafter “
CPU”
);
said CPU being programmed to detect when a monitored rheological property of a concrete mix change exists due to fluid addition not added by pump, valve, or flow meter monitored by said CPU (hereinafter “
sneak fluid”
) and is beyond a predetermined minimum rheology change value;
said CPU being further programmed to determine for each detected rheology change beyond said predetermined minimum rheology change value whether such rheology change beyond said predetermined minimum rheology change value is sustained beyond a predetermined minimum period of time, a predetermined minimum of drum rotations, or both (hereinafter “
sneak fluid condition”
); and
said CPU being programmed to report the occurrence of a sneak fluid condition, using at least one of the following modalities;
(i) initiating an audible alarm, a visual alarm or display, or both;
(ii) providing an indication of the amount of the sneak fluid added into the mixing drum;
(iii) providing an indication of total fluid amounts including said sneak fluid added in the mixing drum; and
/or (iv) preventing or limiting further fluid additions using valve, flow meter, or fluid tanks on said delivery vehicle into the mixing drum. - View Dependent Claims (19)
- an automated rheology monitoring system effective for monitoring changes in a rheology property of a concrete mix contained within a delivery vehicle mixing drum on a continuous basis by means of a computer processor unit (hereinafter “
Specification