Patent · US Expired

Rebound hammer

US5311764A · kind A · utility

3Cited by
0References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 19, 1993
Grant dateMay 17, 1994
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 19, 2013

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01N2203/021
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A measuring apparatus which detects defects in underwater concrete structs by measuring the compressive strength of the structure. The measuring apparatus comprises a rebound hammer which has extending from the nose thereof a plunger. The plunger is pressed against the structure whose compressive strength is being measured forcing the plunger into the rebound hammer's housing which releases a spring driven mass. A resistive film strip which is in electrical contact with the mass detects the maximum rebound of the mass and provides an electrical signal indicative of this maximum rebound. A data acquisition and processing circuit comprising a microprocessor and signal conditioning electronics receives, processes and stores the electrical signals provided by the resistive strip. This circuit includes a peak detection circuit which captures the peak output signal from the resistive strip. The peak detection circuit then interrupts the microprocessor and sends an analog signal proportional to the maximum rebound of the mass to an analog to digital converter which converts the analog signal to a digital data for processing by the microprocessor. The microprocessor then calculates the com…

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