US 11,988,644 B1 · In-situ bollard tester

Abstract

An in-situ bollard tester. The in-situ bollard tester may comprise: a frame, cable, and tensioner. The frame may mount onto a pier and around a bollard to provide structural support for the cable and tensioner. The frame may comprise a pair of base assemblies and a spreader bar. Each of the base assemblies may comprise a support frame and a cantilever arm, and the spreader bar may be coupled to the pair of base assemblies. A pair of jacks are coupled near proximal corners of the base assemblies. The tensioner may comprise a pair of hydraulic arms having first ends coupled near a proximal end of the base assemblies and a linear crossmember coupled to the second ends of the hydraulic arms. The cable may fasten to the bollard, and the tensioner may apply tension to the cable at various load angles in order to test the integrity of the bollard.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An in-situ bollard tester, comprising:

a frame, comprising:
a pair of base assemblies arranged in parallel, each comprising:
a support frame having at least one side disposed along a horizontal plane;
and
a cantilever arm attached to a distal end of said support frame and having a projecting end disposed along a vertical plane;
and
a spreader bar coupled to said pair of base assemblies;
a tensioner comprising:
a pair of hydraulic arms disposed in parallel between said pair of support frames and each having a lower end pivotally coupled near proximal ends of said pair of support frames, said pair of hydraulic arms being in an angular relationship with said horizontal plane;
and
a linear crossmember attached to upper ends of said pair of hydraulic arms;
and
a cable having first and second ends coupled near opposing ends of said linear crossmember.

10 more elements

An in-situ bollard tester, comprising:

a frame, comprising:
first and second base assemblies arranged in parallel;
and
a spreader bar coupled to said first and second base assemblies;
wherein said first base assembly comprises:
a first support frame substantially triangular in shape and having a first vertex near a proximal end and second and third vertices near a distal end, said first support frame having at least one side disposed along a horizontal plane;
and
a first cantilever arm coupled to said distal end of said first support frame and having a projecting end disposed along a vertical plane;
wherein said second base assembly comprises:
a second support frame substantially triangular in shape and having a first vertex near a proximal end and second and third vertices near a distal end, said second support frame having at least one side disposed along said horizontal plane;
and
a second cantilever arm coupled to said distal end of said second support frame and having a projecting end disposed along said vertical plane;
a tensioner comprising:
first and second hydraulic arms disposed in parallel between said first and second support frames and each having lower ends pivotally coupled near said first vertices of said first and second support frames, respectively, said first and second hydraulic arms being in an angular relationship with said horizontal plane;
a linear crossmember attached to upper ends of said first and second hydraulic arms;
and
a cable having first and second ends coupled near opposing ends of said linear crossmember.

14 more elements

An in-situ bollard tester, comprising:

a frame, comprising:
first and second base assemblies arranged substantially in parallel;
and
a spreader bar coupled to top portions of said first and second base assemblies;
wherein said first base assembly comprises:
a first support frame substantially triangular in shape and having a first vertex near a proximal end and second and third vertices near a distal end, said first support frame having at least one side disposed along a horizontal plane;
and
a first cantilever arm comprising a first base portion and a first cantilever portion, said first base portion being coupled to said distal end of said first support frame and said first cantilever portion projecting vertically downwardly and having a first projecting end being orthogonal to said horizontal plane, such that said first projecting end is disposed along a vertical plane;
wherein said second base assembly comprises:
a second support frame substantially triangular in shape and having a first vertex near a proximal end and second and third vertices near a distal end, said second support frame having at least one side disposed along said horizontal plane;
and
a second cantilever arm comprising a second base portion and a second cantilever portion, said second base portion being coupled to said distal end of said second support frame and said second cantilever portion projecting vertically downwardly and having a second projecting end being orthogonal to said horizontal plane, such that said second projecting end is disposed along said vertical plane;
a tensioner comprising:
a first hydraulic arm having a lower end pivotally coupled near said first vertex of said first support frame and in an angular relationship with said horizontal plane;
a second hydraulic arm having a lower end pivotally coupled near said first vertex of said second support frame and in an angular relationship with said horizontal plane;
and
a linear crossmember having opposing ends attached to upper ends of said first and second hydraulic arms;
wherein said first and second hydraulic arms are disposed in parallel between said first and second support frames;
and
a cable having first and second ends coupled near opposing ends of said linear crossmember.

17 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

17/705,496Filed 28 Mar 2022 · continuation in part

Priority

30 Jan 2020

Granted

21 May 2024

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification15 codes

G01N 3/10
By applying steady tensile or compressive forces: generated by pneumatic or hydraulic pressure
G01N 3/08
Investigating strength properties of solid materials by application of mechanical stress: by applying steady tensile or compressive forces
B63B 21/06
Fastening or guiding equipment for chains, ropes, hawsers, or the like: bollards
E02B 3/20
Engineering works in connection with control or use of streams, rivers, coasts, or other marine sites ; Sealings or joints for engineering works…:…

Family

Application16/777,460Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 30 Jan 2020

Application17/529,428Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 18 Nov 2021

US 11,215,541 B1Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 4 Jan 2022

US 11,971,391 B1Related patent

US 11,988,644 B1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

In-situ bollard tester

Life of this patent

In-situ bollard tester

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20