Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for monitoring state of polymeric materials

US5170667A · kind A · utility

8Cited by
3References
6Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 4, 1990
Grant dateDec 15, 1992
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 4, 2010

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01N2291/0421
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An ultrasonic wave is emitted from an ultrasonic wave transducer for transmission to polymeric materials and received by an ultrasonic wave transducer for reception arranged at a predetermined distance away from the transducer for transmission. A propagation time of the ultrasonic wave and the level of the reception wave are measured during the process to heat or cool the polymeric materials. A state of the polymeric materials is discriminated on the basis of a characteristic curve which is determined by the propagation time and the reception wave level of the ultrasonic wave. In the case of measuring an asphalt paved road, when shoulder characteristics appear on the characteristic curve which is determined by the propagation time of the ultrasonic wave and the reception wave level, it is determined that a solid state in which a traffic lane can be opened was obtained.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.