# US 12,759,192 B2 · Method for the measurement of the amount of cementitious material in a concrete mixing truck using a resonant electroacoustic transducer

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- Number: US 12,759,192 B2
- Document ID: US12759192B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/740,866
- Filed: 2024-06-12
- Published: 2024-10-03
- Granted: 2026-10-13
- Earliest claimed: 2019-05-10
- Assignees: GCP Applied Technologies Inc.
- Applicants: GCP Applied Technologies Inc.; Massa Products Corporation
- Inventors: Donald P. Massa; Dawn F. Stancavish; Nathan A. Tregger; Mark F. Roberts; David F. Myers; Stephen P. Klaus
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12759192B2

## CPC

- B28C 7/024: {by measuring properties of the mixture, e.g. moisture, electrical resistivity, density}
- B28C 5/0806: {Details; Accessories}
- B28C 5/388: {Methods}
- B28C 5/422: {Controlling or measuring devices (B28C5/4227 takes precedence)}
- B28C 5/4272: {with rotating drum rotating about a horizontal or inclined axis, e.g. comprising tilting or raising means for the drum (B28C5/4279 takes precedence)}
- G01N 29/02: Analysing fluids (using acoustic emission techniques G01N29/14 {; constructional or flow details for analysing fluids G01N29/222; optoacoustic fluid cells G01N29/2425})
- G01N 29/24: Probes {(transducers for acoustic waves B06B, G10K; for measuring G01H)}
- G01N 2291/02433: Gases in liquids, e.g. bubbles, foams
- B28C: PREPARING CLAY; PRODUCING MIXTURES CONTAINING CLAY OR CEMENTITIOUS MATERIAL, e.g. PLASTER (preparing material for foundry moulds B22C5/00)
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)

## Abstract

Method for measuring an amount of cementitious material in a concrete mixing truck using a resonant electroacoustic transducer by rotating the mixing drum so that a radiating surface of the electroacoustic transducer submerges in and then emerges from the cementitious material while measuring with an electronic circuit the driving point impedance magnitude of the resonant frequency fr and antiresonant frequency fa, and calculating the activity of the electroacoustic transducer a plurality of times as the mixing drum rotates. The calculated activities and the corresponding rotational angles, time values or both are used to determine a volume of cementitious material in the concrete mixing truck.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for measuring an amount of cementitious material in a concrete mixing truck, comprising:
(A) placing into contact with the cementitious material at least one electroacoustic transducer comprising a radiating surface that contacts the cementitious material and transmits an acoustic wave as the electroacoustic transducer is supplied an electrical signal, said electroacoustic transducer having a resonant frequency fr and an antiresonant frequency fa, said electroacoustic transducer being connected to an electronic circuit configured to measure the magnitude of driving point impedance of the electroacoustic transducer at its resonance frequency fr and its antiresonant frequency fa and calculate activity of the electroacoustic transducer;
(B) rotating a drum of the concrete mixing truck so that said radiating surface of said electroacoustic transducer submerges in and then emerges from said cementitious material while measuring with said electronic circuit the driving point impedance magnitude of fr and fa, and calculating the activity of said electroacoustic transducer a plurality of times as said drum rotates; and
(C) using the calculated activities and the corresponding rotational angles, time values or both to determine a volume of cementitious material in the concrete mixing truck.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the cementitious material is concrete.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the cementitious material is grey water.

### Claim 4

A method for measuring an amount of cementitious material in a concrete mixing truck, comprising:
(A) providing at least one electroacoustic transducer comprising a radiating surface inside a drum of the concrete mixing truck and applying an excitation signal to said at least one electroacoustic transducer wherein the frequency of said excitation signal is in a range that includes both a resonant and anti-resonant frequency of said electroacoustic transducer;
(B) obtaining electroacoustic impedance magnitudes from the electroacoustic transducer in a frequency band that includes at least one of the resonant or anti-resonant frequency of the electroacoustic transducer as the drum rotates to detect when the electroacoustic transducer is immersed in the cementitious material or not; and
(C) obtaining a detected amount of cementitious material from the obtained impedances.