Structure for sand testing

Claim 2

Structure for measuring at least one of the compactibility and moisture content of a sample of granular material comprising a sample cylinder having an axis of generation, means adjacent the top of the sample cylinder for placing a sample of granular material in the sample cylinder, piston and cylinder structures positioned in line with the axis of generation of the sample cylinder at the top and bottom thereof, plunger means connected to the piston and cylinder structures movable along the axis of generation of the sample cylinder into and out of the sample cylinder on actuation of the piston and cylinder structuRes, a differential transformer coil secured to one of the plunger means, a linkage pivotally secured to the one plunger member, a transformer core positioned within the transformer coil and pivoted to the linkage for movement within the transformer coil on pivotal movement of the linkage, a plate secured to the other of the plunger means having an oblique scale secured thereto, a slide on said oblique scale engageable with the linkage for pivoting the linkage in accordance with the relative position of the plunger means and the setting of the slide thereon and a stationary scale adjacent the plate for indicating the setting of the slide on the oblique scale in accordance with the length of the sample cylinder.

Claim 3

Structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the means for measuring at least one of the compactibility and moisture content of the sample of granular material further includes moisture probes positioned in one of the plunger means for sensing the moisture content of the sample of granular material simultaneously with the measuring of the compactibility of the sample of the granular material.

Claim 4

Structure for determining the permeability of a compacted sample of granular material comprising a sample cylinder having an axis of generation, means adjacent the top of the sample cylinder for placing a sample of granular material in the sample cylinder, piston and cylinder structures positioned in line with the axis of generation of the sample cylinder at the top and bottom thereof, plunger means connected to the piston and cylinder structures movable along the axis of generation of the sample cylinder into and out of the sample cylinder on actuation of the piston and cylinder structures, an annular groove around one of the plunger means, a support fixed in relation to the sample cylinder, a locking member carried by the fixed support one end of which is adapted to fit within the annular groove on the one plunger means in one position thereof for locking the one plunger means in a predetermined position with respect to the sample cylinder and automatic means for moving the locking means into the annular groove around the one plunger means, a source of air under pressure and means to pass the air under pressure into the sample cylinder below the compacted sample of granular material therein and between the one plunger means and the sample.

Claim 5

Structure for determining the permeability of a compacted sample of granular material comprising a sample cylinder having an axis of generation, means adjacent the top of the sample cylinder for placing a sample of granular material in the sample cylinder, piston and cylinder structures positioned in line with the axis of generation of the sample cylinder at the top and bottom thereof, plunger means connected to the piston and cylinder structures movable along the axis of generation of the sample cylinder into and out of the sample cylinder on actuation of the piston and cylinder structures, an annular groove around one of the plunger means, a support fixed in relation to the sample cylinder, a locking member carried by the fixed support one end of which is adapted to fit within the annular groove on the one plunger means in one position thereof for locking the one plunger means in a predetermined position with respect to the sample cylinder and automatic means for moving the locking means into the annular groove around the one plunger means, a source of air under pressure and means to pass the air under pressure into the sample cylinder below the compacted sample of granular material therein and between the one plunger means and the sample.

Claim 6

Structure for measuring at least one of the deformation and ultimate strength of a compacted sample of granular material comprising a sample cylinder having an axis of generation, means adjacent the top of the sample cylinder for placing a sample of granular material in the sample cylinder, piston and cylinder structures positioned in line with the axis of generation of the sample cylinder at the top and bottom thereof, plunger means connected to the piston and cylinder structures movable along the axis of generation of the sample cylinder into and out of the sample cylinder on actuation of the piston and cylinder structures, a force ring positioned in one of the plunger means, a coil of a differential transformer secured to the force ring, a core for the differential transformer secured to the opposite side of the force ring from the coil of the differential transformer and extending thereinto on the axis of generation of the sample cylinder, a carriage positioned between the force ring and the one piston and cylinder structure in the one plunger means, a second differential transformer coil secured to the carriage, a second differential transformer core secured to the first differential transformer core on the axis of the sample cylinder extending into the second differential transformer core on the axis of generation of the sample cylinder and means for selectively securing the carriage to the other plunger means for movement toward the one plunger means whereby the deformation and strength of the single sample of granular material may be measured simultaneously.

Claim 7

Structure for measuring at least one of the deformation and ultimate strength of a compacted sample of granular material comprising a sample cylinder having an axis of generation, means adjacent the top of the sample cylinder for placing a sample of granular material in the sample cylinder, piston and cylinder structures positioned in line with the axis of generation of the sample cylinder at the top and bottom thereof, plunger means connected to the piston and cylinder structures movable along the axis of generation of the sample cylinder into and out of the sample cylinder on actuation of the piston and cylinder structures, a force ring positioned in one of the plunger means, a coil of a differential transformer secured to the force ring, a core for the differential transformer secured to the opposite side of the force ring from the coil of the differential transformer and extending thereinto on the axis of generation of the sample cylinder, a carriage positioned between the force ring and the one piston and cylinder structure in the one plunger means, a second differential transformer coil secured to the carriage, a second differential transformer core secured to the first differential transformer core on the axis of the sample cylinder extending into the second differential transformer core on the axis of generation of the sample cylinder and means for selectively securing the carriage to the other plunger means for movement toward the one plunger means whereby the deformation and strength of the single sample of granular material may be measured simultaneously.