US 9,404,672 B2Granted

Concrete cylinder curing box and method

AssigneeFLIR Commercial Systems, Inc.

InventorsMarshall Dock, II, Michael Fox, Jim O'Daniel

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Abstract

The present disclosure describes a curing box including a circulation assembly which substantially eliminates temperature stratification of a first fluid within the box. Additionally, the curing box includes an internal temperature sensor and an external temperature sensor which provide data to a control module. The control module permits adjustment of the fluid temperature within the box. The present disclosure additionally provides a method for curing a specimen in the curing box. The method compares the temperature signal from the external sensor to the internal sensor and adjusts the temperature of the fluid in the box to match the temperature reported by the external sensor. Additionally, the method controls the flow of a second fluid into the box thereby circulating the first fluid to substantially eliminate temperature stratification of the first fluid in the box. Thus, the method provides a controlled environment for curing the specimen.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A curing box, comprising:

a box containing a liquid;
a fluid conduit positioned within the box, the fluid conduit in fluid communication with an exterior of the box and the fluid conduit carrying a plurality of emitters, wherein the emitters provide fluid communication between the fluid conduit and an interior of the box;
wherein said emitters are arranged in at least one group on said fluid conduit, said group of emitters having at least two emitters and wherein at least two emitters in each group direct fluid flow in different directions;
and,
a fluid source, the fluid source in fluid communication with the fluid conduit, wherein the fluid source is configured to provide a volume of fluid under pressure to the fluid conduit;
a heating element configured to adjust the temperature of the liquid in the box;
a cooling element configured to adjust the temperature of the liquid in the box;
a first sensor positioned to monitor the temperature of the liquid;
a second sensor positioned external to the box to monitor a second temperature;
and,
a control module configured to receive and to record the temperature from the first sensor and to receive and to record the second temperature from the second sensor, wherein the control module is configured to control the activation and deactivation of the cooling element, and the activation and deactivation of the heating element to thereby adjust the temperature of the liquid to substantially correspond to the second temperature.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/979,034Filed 13 Jan 2012 · us provisional application
Priority: 13 Jan 2011
Published: US 2013/0343734 A126 Dec 2013
Granted: 2 Aug 2016
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification15 codes

F24H 9/20
Details: arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
B28B 11/245
For curing, setting or hardening: curing concrete articles
C04B 40/0254
Selection of the hardening environment: hardening in an enclosed space, e.g. in a flexible container
F24H 15/212
Characterised by control inputs: temperature of the water