US4658639A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for measuring load bearing capacity of traffic-carrying surfaces
Assignee: RST Sweden AB
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Filing: 1985-09-16
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Granted: 1987-04-21
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Expires: 2005-09-16
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus are provided for measuring the load bearing capacity of a surface by continuously transporting a known load along the surface and measuring the resulting deformation thereof. In one embodiment a contactless laser transducer is mounted directly in front of and behind a loaded wheel for measuring the elevation of the surface before and after the load. A computer determines the difference between the measured elevations which is indicative of the load bearing capacity of the surface. Conventional recording, display, and storage equipment are provided for recording, displaying, and storing the elevation values and the corresponding differences. The load velocity and longitudinal position may also be determined and stored with the corresponding elevation and difference values. In another embodiment, the contactless laser transducers directly in front of and behind the loaded wheel are replaced with racks of laser transducers which also extend laterally of said wheel to produce transverse elevational surface profiles in place of individual elevation points directly in front of and behind the wheel.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter W. Arnberg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 03:17
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01M; G01M5/00; G01M5/0041; G01M5/005; G01M5/0058; G01N; G01N3/00; G01N3/08; G01N2203/00; G01N2203/0058; G01N2203/0076; G01N2203/0085; G01N2203/0092; G01N33/00; G01N33/42
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
84 words
A method for measuring the load bearing capacity of a traffic-carrying surface, comprising the steps of: (a) continuously transporting a load along said surface; (b) measuring the elevation of the surface in front of the load with respect to a first reference elevation to produce a first measured value; (c) measuring the elevation of the surface behind the load with respect to a second reference elevation to produce a second measured value; and (d) determining the difference between the first and second measured values.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
84 words
A method for measuring the load bearing capacity of a traffic-carrying surface, comprising the steps of: (a) continuously transporting a load along said surface; (b) measuring the elevation of the surface in front of the load with respect to a first reference elevation to produce a first measured value; (c) measuring the elevation of the surface behind the load with respect to a second reference elevation to produce a second measured value; and (d) determining the difference between the first and second measured values.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of: determining the velocity of the load; and delaying the measurement of the elevation of the surface behind the load as a function of said velocity so that the elevation of the surface behind the load is measured at substantially the same point where the elevation in front of the load was measured.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of: determining the longitudinal position of the load when the elevation of the surface is measured; and storing said longitudinal position with the corresponding value of the difference between the first and second measured elevation values.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of: determining the velocity of the load when the elevation of the surface is measured; and storing said velocity with the corresponding value of the difference between the first and second measured elevation values.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
80 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of measuring the elevation of the surface in front of the load comprises measuring said elevation in front of the load at a plurality of points transverse to the direction of travel of the load, and wherein the step of measuring the elevation of the surface behind the load comprises measuring said elevation behind the load at a plurality of points corresponding to said points of measurement in front of the load.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said first reference elevation is measured at a point on said surface lying laterally from and in front of said load, and wherein said second reference elevation is measured at a corresponding point on said surface lying laterally from and behind said load.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said first and second reference elevations are measured without contacting said surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the steps of measuring the elevation of the surface in front of and behind the load comprise measuring said elevations without contacting said surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the steps of measuring the elevation of said surface in front of and behind said load include measuring said elevation in measuring pulses.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 9 wherein each said measuring pulse is of sufficient duration to cover approximately 1-10 centimeters of said surface in the direction of travel of said load.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of: forming the mean value of successively measured elevations of the surface in front of and behind the load over a selected distance; and forming the mean value of the differences between successively measured elevations of the surface in front of and behind the load over a selected distance.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of measuring the elevation of the surface behind the load includes measuring the elevation at a selected angle and compensating the measured value for said angle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said first and second reference elevations have the same value.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
90 words
An apparatus for measuring the load bearing capacity of a traffic-carrying surface, comprising: a load for continuously travelling along said surface; means for determining a first and a second reference elevation; measuring means for measuring the elevation of said surface in front of said load with respect to said first reference elevation and for measuring the elevation of said surface behind said load with respect to said second reference elevation; and means for determining the difference between the measured elevation of said surface in front of and behind said load.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
90 words
An apparatus for measuring the load bearing capacity of a traffic-carrying surface, comprising: a load for continuously travelling along said surface; means for determining a first and a second reference elevation; measuring means for measuring the elevation of said surface in front of said load with respect to said first reference elevation and for measuring the elevation of said surface behind said load with respect to said second reference elevation; and means for determining the difference between the measured elevation of said surface in front of and behind said load.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said measuring means further comprises: first measuring means located in front of said load; and second measuring means located behind said load.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
88 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said first measuring means comprises a plurality of distance measuring devices positioned transversely to the direction of travel of said load for measuring the elevation of said surface directly in front of and laterally of said load; and wherein said second measuring means comprises a plurality of distance measuring devices in positions corresponding to the positions of said plurality of distance measuring devices comprising said first measuring means for measuring the elevation of said surface directly behind and laterally of the load.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising means for determining the velocity of said load, and means for delaying the corresponding measurement of said elevation by said second measuring means as a function of said velocity so that the elevation values measured by said first and second measuring means correspond to substantially the same point or section of said surface.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said second measuring means comprises means for measuring said elevation of said surface behind said load at an angle, and means for compensating said measured elevation for the angle of measurement.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising: means for determining the longitudinal position of the load when an elevation measurement is taken; and means for storing said longitudinal position with the corresponding value of the difference between the measured elevation of said surface in front of and directly behind said load.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising: means for determining the velocity of the load when an elevation measurement is taken; and means for storing said velocity with the coresponding value of the difference between the measured elevation of said surface in front of and directly behind said load.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
74 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said means for determining said first reference elevation comprises means for contactlessly measuring the surface elevation of said surface at a point on said surface in front of and laterally spaced from said load, and wherein said means for determining said second reference elevation comprises means for contactlessly measuring the elevation of said surface at a corresponding point on said surface behind and laterally spaced from said load.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said measuring means comprise means for measuring said elevation of said surface in measuring pulses.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
232 words
An apparatus for measuring the load bearing capacity of a traffic-carrying surface, comprising: a weight supported on at least two surface-contacting wheels mutually spaced on at least one substantially horizontal axle for continuously proceeding along said surface; a plurality of first racks mounted in front of said wheels transversely to the direction of travel of said weight and extending transversely to the direction of travel beyond said wheels; a plurality of second racks mounted behind said wheels in line with said first racks; a first plurality of contactless distance measuring means mounted on each of said first racks for measuring the elevation of said surface at a plurality of points in front and laterally of said wheels, the elevation value measured by one of said first plurality of contactless distance measuring means being a reference elevation; a second plurality of contactless distance measuring means mounted on each of said second racks in positions corresponding to said first plurality of contactless distance measuring means for measuring the elevation of said surface at a plurality of points behind and laterally of said wheels, the elevation value measured by one of said second plurality of contactless distance measuring means being a reference elevation; and means for determining the difference between the surface elevation values measured by corresponding ones of said first and second plurality of contactless distance measuring means with respect to said reference elevations.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
232 words
An apparatus for measuring the load bearing capacity of a traffic-carrying surface, comprising: a weight supported on at least two surface-contacting wheels mutually spaced on at least one substantially horizontal axle for continuously proceeding along said surface; a plurality of first racks mounted in front of said wheels transversely to the direction of travel of said weight and extending transversely to the direction of travel beyond said wheels; a plurality of second racks mounted behind said wheels in line with said first racks; a first plurality of contactless distance measuring means mounted on each of said first racks for measuring the elevation of said surface at a plurality of points in front and laterally of said wheels, the elevation value measured by one of said first plurality of contactless distance measuring means being a reference elevation; a second plurality of contactless distance measuring means mounted on each of said second racks in positions corresponding to said first plurality of contactless distance measuring means for measuring the elevation of said surface at a plurality of points behind and laterally of said wheels, the elevation value measured by one of said second plurality of contactless distance measuring means being a reference elevation; and means for determining the difference between the surface elevation values measured by corresponding ones of said first and second plurality of contactless distance measuring means with respect to said reference elevations.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
94 words
The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said one of said first plurality of contactless distance measuring means comprises the contactless distance measuring means mounted on said first rack at the greatest lateral distance from said wheels, and wherein said one of said second plurality of contactless distance measuring means comprises the contactless distance measuring means mounted on said second rack at the greatest lateral distance from said wheels, said one of said second plurality of contactless distance measuring means being in line with said one of said first plurality of contactless distance measuring means.
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-04-20 | 1990-10-20 | 1991-04-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-04-20 | 1994-10-20 | 1995-04-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-04-20 | 1998-10-20 | 1999-04-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |