U.S. patent application number 14/167195 was filed with the patent office on 2015-07-30 for digital ding inspection device.
The applicant listed for this patent is John Z. Ding. Invention is credited to John Z. Ding.
Application Number | 20150211353 14/167195 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45869272 |
Filed Date | 2015-07-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150211353 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ding; John Z. |
July 30, 2015 |
Digital Ding Inspection Device
Abstract
Inspection of an interior bottom of a borehole by means of
measuring the sediment thickness at the bottom. A digital
inspection device to be lowered in the borehole supports an
electrical transformer for the continuous measurement of the
sediment thickness at the bottom of a borehole. A digital readout
unit receives signals from the electrical transformer and displays
the bottom sediment thickness.
Inventors: |
Ding; John Z.; (Midlothian,
VA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Ding; John Z. |
Midlothian |
VA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
45869272 |
Appl. No.: |
14/167195 |
Filed: |
January 29, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
73/152.54 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B 47/09 20130101;
E21B 47/04 20130101; E21B 47/00 20130101 |
International
Class: |
E21B 47/00 20060101
E21B047/00 |
Claims
1. An improved inspection device comprising an upper metal plate,
three legs attached to the upper plate, a position sensor attached
to the upper plate, a digital readout unit, a cable connecting the
position sensor by a waterproof connector and the digital readout
unit, a bottom plate with holes, three lifting eye bolt rings
attached to the upper plate for insertion into a borehole for
measuring sediment thickness at the bottom of the hole.
2. A method of inspecting a borehole, either dry or into a liquid,
by means of measuring the sediment thickness at the borehole bottom
using said device of claim 1.
3. The improved inspection device according to claim 1 wherein the
upper plate comprises a round metal plate and three lifting eye
bolt rings attached to the upper surface of the plate.
4. The improved inspection device according to claim 1 wherein the
three legs comprises metal bars with sharpened tips.
5. The improved inspection device according to claim 1 wherein the
position sensor comprises a device for measuring displacement, said
displacement representing the sediment thickness at the bottom of a
borehole.
6. The improved inspection device according to claim 1 wherein the
digital readout unit comprises a computer having a display,
responds to the signals from the electrical transformer for
displaying the sediment thickness at the bottom of a borehole.
7. The improved inspection device according to claim 1 wherein the
cable connects the digital readout unit and the position sensor
with a waterproof connector.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of application
Ser. No. 12/888,500, filed Sep. 23, 2010, the entire disclosures of
which are incorporated herein by reference.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH (IF
APPLICABLE)
[0002] The invention was not made under a government contract, or
federal fund.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] As a critical part of the drilled shaft quality control
(FHWA, 1999), inspecting the bottom cleanliness of drilled shafts
has always been challenging to contractors, engineers, and field
inspectors, especially in the situation of the wet construction
method, when direct visual inspections are impossible. Even with
the dry construction method, inspectors have been reluctant to
inspect the bottom visually due to safety concerns. On the other
hand, most federal and local agencies, such as states' department
of transportation and city building authorities specify that
drilled shafts be inspected for bottom cleanliness prior to the
placement of concrete. Typically, a minimum of 50 percent of the
base of each shaft should have less than 0.5 inch of sediment at
the time of concrete placement, and the maximum depth of sediment
or any debris at any place on the base of the shaft is not allowed
to exceed 1.5 inches. Conscientious cleaning of the bottom of
drilled shafts has been proven by loads tests to be necessary for
suitable load transfer in end bearing.
[0004] Currently, the Shaft Inspection Device (SID) or Miniature
Shaft Inspection Device (Min-SID) are the only devices recognized
as being relatively accurate to measure the drilled shaft bottom
sediment without an inspector's direct measurement in the hole.
[0005] SID was developed in the early 1980s by Schmertmann and
Crapps, Inc. The SID comprises a television camera sealed inside a
water-tight jacket and is used for inspecting both dry and wet
excavations. The concept of the SID was derived from an Australian
drilled shaft inspection device originally developed by Dr. Jim
Holden of the Country Roads Board. SID is a heavy (over 1000 lb)
and large equipment. The operation is relatively expensive and time
consuming
[0006] Mini-SID was introduced around 1998 with much lighter weight
and easier operation procedures. However, it is still very
expansive and time consuming It also involved the operations of
specifically trained personnel.
[0007] Ding Inspection Device (DID) was developed around 2009 and
was granted a U.S. Patent on Apr. 10, 2012. DID provides a simple,
reliable, and effective way for the inspection of the borehole by
means of measuring the sediment thickness at the bottom of a
borehole. However, the measuring unit must be retrieved from the
bottom of a borehole and a manual reading must be taken and
recorded for each reading, which could be relatively labor
intensive. In addition, the connection between the center steel
piston and the sliding could be worn out quickly due to the
repeated measurement, which could affect the accuracy of the
measurement.
[0008] For these reasons, a digital inspection device with improved
efficiency and accuracy is desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] Embodiments of the invention overcome one or more
deficiencies in the prior art by using digital position sensor
instead of mechanical gauge. The entire measuring unit in the prior
art, including the steel piston and the sliding collar, is replaced
with a position sensor, which provides continuous measurements and
digital readings of the sediment thickness at the bottom of a
borehole without the need of repeated retrieving of the measuring
unit.
[0010] The improved device provide following benefits for the
drilled shaft inspection:
[0011] 1. No need of the human excess into the boring hole
[0012] 2. Significantly improved efficiency of the inspection
[0013] 3. Significantly improved accuracy of the measurement
[0014] 4. Continuous measurement with a digital readout unit
[0015] 5. Easy to operate
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0016] FIG. 1 is the schematic sketch of the measuring unit.
[0017] FIG. 2 is a picture overview of the measuring unit.
[0018] FIG. 3 is a picture of the digital readout unit.
[0019] FIG. 4 is the design details A.
[0020] FIG. 5 is the design details B.
[0021] FIG. 6 is the design details C.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
[0022] Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates the schematic
sketch of the digital Ding Inspection Device (DID). As shown, the
system comprises a metal upper plate, three metal legs attached to
the upper plate, a position sensor attached to the upper plate, a
metal bottom plate with holes, three metal eye bolt lifting rings
attached to the upper plate, a digital readout unit, and a cable
connecting the position sensor and the digital readout unit.
[0023] To perform the inspection, the entire measuring unit is
slowly lowered into a borehole. Once the unit reaches the bottom of
a borehole, the bottom plate stays on top of the sediment and the
three legs penetrate through the sediment and touch the harder
surface. The relative movement between the bottom plate and the tip
of the three legs is measured by the position sensor and displayed
by the digital readout unit outside the borehole.
[0024] FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are the pictures of the measuring and the
digital readout unit.
[0025] FIG. 4, FIG. 5, and FIG. 6 are the design details of the
measuring unit.
[0026] The inspection procedure includes following essential
steps:
[0027] 1. Align the key with the keyway in the connector and
measuring unit. Insert the connector and tighten the nut to secure
the connection.
[0028] 2. Connect the cable to the digital readout unit and tighten
the nut.
[0029] 3. Connect the power source (110V/220V) to the digital
readout unit and turn the power on.
[0030] 4. Slowly lower the measuring unit into a borehole. If there
is liquid in the hole, make sure that the measuring device sinks
into the bottom by its own weight.
[0031] 5. Take reading that is displayed by the readout unit
[0032] 6. Lift the measuring unit to make sure that the tips of the
three legs are on out of the sediment.
[0033] 7. Repeat steps 4 to 6 if additional readings are
required.
* * * * *