Inspection of asphalt during manufacturing
OwnerThomas C. Targoszinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and a method for monitoring a ratio of at least two components being mixed use sensors detecting ferrous taggant particles in the component(s) and the mixture. The sensors include an annular drive coil positioned between inner and outer annular sense coils all surrounding a passage for material being sensed. The ratio is determined by comparing a signal generated by one sensor through which a taggant particle containing component is flowing with a signal generated by another sensor through which the mixture is flowing delayed by the time required for the component to flow from the one sensor to the another sensor. The signals can also be used to control the flow of the components and to check the mixture after use.
Claims20
A method of testing asphalt specimens comprising the steps of:
- a. manufacturing a test specimen in a laboratory;
- b. providing a sensor for measuring a field specimen;
- c. measuring the field specimen with the sensor;
- d. comparing results of the measuring of the field specimen to the test specimen;
- and
- e. determining a mix ratio of the field specimen, wherein said manufacturing of the test specimen comprises the steps of:
- f. providing a container;
- g. placing a predetermined quantity of marbles in the container;
- h. placing a predetermined quantity of tagged material in the container;
- i. mixing the marbles, gelatin and the tagged material in the container;
- and
- j. sensing the tagged material to determine an accuracy of mix ratios of the test specimen,
- wherein the testing is non-destructive to the tested material.
A method of testing asphalt specimens comprising the steps of:
- providing a container;
- placing a predetermined first quantity of marbles in the container, each of the marbles having a predetermined diameter;
- placing a predetermined second quantity of gelatin in the container;
- placing a predetermined third quantity of tagged material in the container;
- mixing the marbles, the gelatin and the tagged material in the container to form a test specimen with a known mix ratio;
- providing a sensor for sensing the tagged material;
- sensing the tagged material in the test specimen with the sensor to determine a sensed first amount of the tagged material;
- providing a field specimen including a fourth quantity of the tagged material;
- sensing the tagged material in the field specimen with the sensor to determine a sensed second amount of the tagged material;
- comparing the sensed first amount of the tagged material with the sensed second amount of the tagged material to determine a mix ratio of the field specimen.
A method of testing asphalt specimens comprising the steps of:
- providing a container;
- placing a predetermined first quantity of marbles in the container, each of the marbles having a predetermined diameter;
- placing a predetermined second quantity of gelatin in the container;
- placing a predetermined third quantity of tagged material in the container;
- mixing the marbles, the gelatin and the tagged material in the container to form a test specimen with a known mix ratio;
- providing an above surface sensor for sensing the tagged material;
- sensing the tagged material in the test specimen with the sensor to determine a sensed first amount of the tagged material;
- providing a field specimen including a fourth quantity of the tagged material;
- sensing the tagged material in the field specimen with the sensor to determine a sensed second amount of the tagged material;
- comparing the sensed first amount of the tagged material with the sensed second amount of the tagged material to determine a mix ratio of the field specimen.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.