Methods for measuring properties of rock pieces
US11204241B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 15, 2018 |
| Grant date | Dec 21, 2021 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 18, 2038 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06T2207/30181
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Provided herein is a method for measuring the size distribution and/or hardness of free falling rock pieces. The method comprises projecting at least one laser line on the falling rock pieces by a laser device; capturing images of the falling rock pieces at an angle from the at least one laser line by at least one camera; and obtaining size distribution data of the falling rock pieces based on data obtained from a topographical map generated from the captured images. Certain embodiments further comprise: obtaining at least one of the volume and area of individual rock pieces from the topographical map; conducting a data analysis on at least one of the volume and area measurements of the rock pieces to reduce at least one of sampling and measurement errors; determining the size distribution of the falling rock pieces based on the data analysis and, optionally, evaluating a rock hardness index for the rock. Further provided is a method comprising: producing two topographical maps of the pieces from captured images; and obtaining the volume of pieces from the topographical map by adding half-volumes from each of the topographical maps.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.