Road roughness meter
US3983746A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 14, 1975 |
| Grant date | Oct 5, 1976 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 14, 1995 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01C19/00
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
This invention detects, indicates and records road surface deviations in the normally-traveled vehicle tracks. Surface deviations detectable range from less than one inch in height to the largest height negotiable by the vehicle carrying the instrument. Final measurements are indicated from a mean surface, and with proper calibration numerical values may be established to give a meaningful quantitative description of the roughness of a given section of road. Description of the surface roughness is expressed by two linear dimensions: one is the height of the encountered deviation; the other is the distance between major deviations. For analysis of the data obtained, the first dimension, the height of the deviation, is used as recorded, and the second dimension is inverted to give frequency of deviation. Measurements are made by maintaining a predetermined reference plane with a gyroscope and sensing the carrying vehicle's roll and pitch. The data can be displayed on a dial or recorded on a chart; chart recordings, when properly calibrated, indicate both amplitude and spacing of road surface deviations.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.