Automated profiling of the hardness of wood
AssigneeOsmose Utilities Services, Inc.
InventorsRandal K. More, Nelson G. Bingel, III, Thomas Pope, Lawrence J. Geitner
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Abstract
The present invention pertains to a device, system, and method for evaluating the condition of a wooden structure by automated profiling of the hardness of the structure. More particularly, the present invention is directed towards a probing device comprising a blade coupled to a resistance mechanism and a mechanical sensor for measuring the hardness of wood in a structure; a system comprising such a device, and a computing device coupled to the device that outputs the hardness measurements of the device; and a method for operating such a device and determining the condition of wood by identifying changes in hardness in a wooden structure.
Claims43
A device for measuring the hardness of a wooden structure, comprising:
- (a) a shaft;
- (b) a distance sensor coupled to said shaft;
- (c) a blade coupled to said shaft, wherein said distance sensor is capable of measuring a location of said blade in said wooden structure;
- (d) a resistance mechanism coupled to said blade;
- and
- (e) a mechanical sensor coupled to said blade, wherein said mechanical sensor is capable of measuring an amount that said blade penetrates said wooden structure at said location.
A device for measuring the hardness of a wooden structure, said device comprising:
- (a) a substantially rigid shaft having a first end and a second end;
- (b) a sonar instrument coupled in close proximity to said first end of said shaft;
- (c) a blade coupled in close proximity to said second end of said shaft,
- wherein said sonar instrument is capable of measuring a location of said blade within said structure;
- (d) a resistance mechanism, wherein said blade is coupled to said resistance mechanism such that said blade protrudes from said shaft at a non-zero angle, and wherein said resistance mechanism is coupled to said shaft such that said blade is retractable into said shaft in response to an applied force on said blade;
- and
- (e) a mechanical sensor coupled to said blade, wherein said mechanical sensor is capable of measuring an amount that said blade penetrates said wooden structure at said location.
A method for measuring the hardness of a wooden structure, comprising the steps of:
- (a) inserting a blade into said wooden structure, wherein said blade is coupled to a resistance mechanism;
- (b) determining a location of said blade in said wooden structure with a distance sensor;
- (c) measuring an amount that said blade penetrates said wooden structure at said location using a mechanical sensor;
- and
- (d) repeating steps (b) through (c) at a second location.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.