AUTOMATED CONCRETE TESTING MACHINE

MACHINE D'ESSAI DE BETON AUTOMATISE

English Abstract

The invention is of an automated machine which can do concrete testing without
the need of a man.
The automated concrete testing machine is capable of doing slump test, air
entrained test and temp
check without any assistance of a human being. Automatic concrete testing
machine will perform these
tests within the time period of two minutes meanwhile standard completion of
these test requirement
is fifteen minutes. This machine will perform slump, air and temp test all
together to save up time. This
machine will benefit the concrete suppliers by having a quick test of concrete
at the plant to make sure
the concrete is within the engineering required specification. This machine
will also benefit the concrete
buyers to make sure that the concrete they purchased are within the desirable
specification and value
for money which they paid.

Claims

The Embodiment of the Invention in Which an Exclusive property or privilege
claimed are denied as follow.
1. The main body (4' x 3' x 2') of the apparatus, having all side covered
with gadgets fitted inside.
2. Modified, concrete air entrainment gauge with concrete drum fixed in
between poles and fix ed
with vibratos and collars with brush and electric magnetic locks for the
container.
3. The cover of the concrete cylinder, modified by providing water inlet,
outlet and air inlet with
specific pressure.
4. Concrete pouring bucket with rotating and opening valves into the
concrete cylinder and
concrete cone simultaneously.
5. The main LCD and the mother board (control panel) controlling all the
automated system to
complete the test
6. Laser beam to read the level of the slump
7. Modified concrete cone for slump test
8. Modified rodding system with automated rotating disc
9. Lifting of cone by a controlled and automated system.
10. Resetting of the whole apparatus by control panel after auto washing/
cleaning

Description

CA 02846904 2014-03-17
Background of the invention
The slump and air entrainment test of concrete is performed priorto the
pouring of concrete for
quality control and assurance purposes. It has been noticed and observed that
optimum concrete
strength cannot be obtained without obtaining desired values of the concrete
slump and air.
The slump and air test has been in practice forthe last many years.
Considering the human resources,
time and ultimate accuracy, an effort is made to combine both tests in the
machine to obtain more
accurate results by using automated method. It has been calculated that by
using this machine the
following would be the salient and ultimate achievements.
a. Accurate results
b. Quick results
c. Less labor involvement
d. Easy to handle and operate
e. Less maintenance

CA 02846904 2014-03-17
Detail Description of Invention
This apparatus handles two tests, slump and airsimultaneously by preprogrammed
system
described below.
Air Entrainment Gauge
Concrete is poured into the bucket (2) and flow through concrete pouring pipe
(11) . While the concrete
drum (14) is beingfilled with concrete, it is vibrating by an electricvibrator
(23). Afterfi llingthe drum
with concrete, vibratorstops automatically. Concrete wiping stick (12) will
start and wipe of the
excessive concrete from the lips of the drum. The n the airgauge lid (15)
moves down onto the concrete
drum (14) by brushing the top lips of the drum. When the air gauge lid (15)
settles down on to the top of
the concrete drum (14) it will be sealed by the use of electric magnet locks
(19). After lockingthe
system, waterstarts flowing in from inlet (3) and releases from the otherside
to ensure that the voids
and pores are filled with water. After locki ng the flow of water, compressed
air(4) will release into the
concrete drum and it will give air percentage in the concrete. Afterthe test
is completed the airgauge
lid (15) will be unlocked and will move up. The lowerconcrete drum (14) will
tilt to one side to spill out
the tested concrete. Meanwhile the water nozzle (21) will open up to clean the
drum and wash the
apparatus for 40 seconds. Afterwashing, the drum will go back to original
position.
Slump Test
The slump test starts simultaneously, along with the airtest. The concrete is
poured through the
concrete pouring pipe (11) from the concrete bucket (2) intothe concrete cone
(22) till the slump cone
is full. When the concrete is being poured rodding will begin by the automated
revolving circular rodding
disc. Afterrodding, the concrete wiper (12) shall start automatically to wipe
off the excessive concrete
overthe concrete cone to level it off. The slump cone will move up, within 5-7
secvertically. The laser
beam (18) fitted at the top will then read the top pointfrom middle of the
concrete surface and shall be
displayed on the main LCD in mm. After 20 seconds the bottom concrete wiper
(20) will startto move
and clearoff the concrete and at the same time the water outlet (22) will open
to wash the concrete
cone and the cone apparatus.
Afterwashingfor 40 seconds the whole apparatus shall set backto its original
position and will be ready
for the next test.