System for nondestructive testing of roads and the like

Abstract

Abstract A NONDESTRUCTIVE ROAD TESTING SYSTEM COMPRISING A HOUSING IN WHICH A VIBRATORY MASS IS POSITIONABLE AT A NULL POSITION BY MEANS OF SETS OF BALANCED AIR SPRINGS. THE HOUSING IS COUPLED TO THE BUMPER OF A VEHICLE, SUCH AS A TRUCK, THROUGH HYDRAULIC ELEVATOR CYLINDERS, WHICH LOWER THE HOUSING ONTO A TEST SURFACE AND RAISE IT THEREFROM. THE HOUSING SUPPORTS A SENSOR WHICH COMES IN CONTACT WITH THE TEST SURFACE WHEN THE HOUSING IS POSITIONED THEREON, THEREBY APPLYING A STATIC FORCE THERETO. THE FORCE PRODUCES A DEFLECTION IN THE SURFACE WHICH IS SENSED BY THE SENSOR AND WHICH IS MEASURED AND/OR RECORDED. THE VIBRATORY MASS IS COUPLED TO A PISTON IN A DOUNLE CHAMBER HYDRAULIC ACTUATOR. A SINUSOIDAL ALTERNATING CURRENT FROM AN ELECTRICAL OSCILLATOR IS SUPPLIED TO A CONTROL VALVE WHICH IN TURN CONTROLS THE OSCILLATION OF THE PISTON AND THE MASS COUPLED THERETO BY CONTROLLING THE SUPPLY OF FLUID TO THE HYDRAULIC ACTUATOR. THE OSCILLATING MASS PRODUCES A DYNAMIC FORCE WHICH IS APPLIED TO THE TEST SURFACE, WITH THE RESULTING DEFLECTIONS BEING SENSED BY THE SENSOR.

Inventors

• 👤 John William Johnson

Bibliographic Details