Wireless temperature sensor for concrete delivery vehicle

{
  "publication_number": "US9518870B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Wireless temperature sensor for concrete delivery vehicle",
  "abstract": "A wireless temperature sensor for a concrete delivery vehicle senses temperatures of the drum, and wirelessly transmits this data to a central processor. The sensor implements power management methods to reduce power consumption and increase battery life, permitting the use of battery power in the sensor. Temperature readings from the sensor may be used qualify or evaluate a load.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A wireless temperature sensor apparatus for measuring and transmitting temperature readings of concrete contained in a mixer drum mounted on a concrete delivery mixing truck, comprising: a processor mounted on the truck configured to receive signals from a temperature sensor via a wireless transmitter, and receive signals from a vibration sensor, the signals relating to a concrete load mixed in the concrete delivery mixing truck drum; a temperature sensor mounted to the mixer drum on the truck, the mixer drum-mounted temperature sensor being effective to measure temperature of the concrete load within the truck-mounted concrete mixer drum; a wireless transmitter mounted to the mixer drum on the truck and communicative with the processor and temperature sensor, the wireless transmitter being effective for transmitting to the processor a signal corresponding to the temperature of the concrete in the mixer drum as detected by the temperature sensor; the vibration sensor mounted to the drum or truck and communicative with the processor to deliver signals indicative of vibration in response to truck, truck engine or drum motion; the processor periodically receiving vibration signals from the vibration sensor, and, during periods of detected vibration, obtaining a temperature reading from the temperature sensor and causing the transmitter to transmit the temperature reading, and in the absence of detected vibration, the processor entering a power consumption mode to conserve energy.",
    "2. The sensor apparatus of claim 1 wherein the temperature sensor may be enabled by the processor, the processor enabling the temperature sensor in response to detection of vibration from the vibration sensor.",
    "3. The sensor apparatus of claim 1 wherein the vibration sensor may be enabled by the processor, the processor enabling the vibration sensor periodically for a sufficient duration of time to measure vibration.",
    "4. The sensor apparatus of claim 2 wherein the vibration sensor may be enabled by the processor, the processor enabling the vibration sensor periodically for a sufficient duration of time to measure vibration.",
    "5. The sensor apparatus of claim 1 wherein the wireless transmitter may be enabled by the processor, the processor enabling the wireless transmitter in response to detection of vibration from the vibration sensor.",
    "6. The sensor apparatus of claim 2 wherein the wireless transmitter may be enabled by the processor, the processor enabling the wireless transmitter in response to detection of vibration from the vibration sensor.",
    "7. The sensor apparatus of claim 3 wherein the wireless transmitter may be enabled by the processor, the processor enabling the wireless transmitter in response to detection of vibration from the vibration sensor.",
    "8. The sensor apparatus of claim 4 wherein the wireless transmitter may be enabled by the processor, the processor enabling the wireless transmitter in response to detection of vibration from the vibration sensor.",
    "9. The sensor apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a rotational sensor mounted on the concrete truck drum and coupled to the wireless transmitter.",
    "10. The sensor apparatus of claim 9 wherein the rotational sensor mounted on the concrete truck drum is an accelerometer, and the apparatus further comprises a wireless receiver mounted on the truck for capturing signals transmitted from the accelerometer, the wireless receiver being communicative with a second processor configured for calculating current slump of the concrete in the mixing drum based on rotational speed of the mixing drum.",
    "11. The sensor apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a hydraulic sensor coupled to the motor or hydraulic drive of the concrete delivery mixing truck.",
    "12. The sensor apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a second processor connected to the temperature sensor and rotational sensor for calculating current slump of concrete in the mixing drum based on inputs from the temperature sensor and rotational sensor mounted on the concrete truck drum.",
    "13. The sensor apparatus of claim 12 wherein the second processor is further configured to calculate when and how much of one or both of water and chemical additive is added into the concrete in the mixer drum.",
    "14. The sensor apparatus of claim 1 wherein the temperature sensor is located on a mixer drum access door.",
    "15. The sensor apparatus of claim 1 wherein the processor, temperature sensor, transmitter, and vibration sensor being powered by battery.",
    "16. A wireless temperature sensor apparatus for measuring and transmitting temperature readings of concrete contained in a mixer drum mounted on a concrete delivery mixing truck, comprising: a processor mounted on the truck configured to receive signals from a temperature sensor via a wireless transmitter, and receive signals from an accelerometer, the signals relating to a concrete load mixed in the concrete delivery mixing truck drum; a temperature sensor mounted to the mixer drum on the truck, the mixer drum-mounted temperature sensor being effective to measure temperature of the concrete load within the truck-mounted concrete mixer drum; a wireless transmitter mounted to the mixer drum on the truck and communicative with the processor and temperature sensor, the wireless transmitter being effective for transmitting to the processor a signal corresponding to the temperature of the concrete in the mixer drum as detected by the temperature sensor; the accelerometer coupled to the drum or truck to detect vibration caused by motion of the drum, and communicative with the processor, the processor determining a rotational speed and direction of the concrete mixer drum using data from the accelerometer; the processor periodically receiving motion signals from the accelerometer, and, during periods of detected motion, obtaining a temperature reading from the temperature sensor and causing the transmitter to transmit the temperature reading, and in the absence of detected vibration, the processor entering a power consumption mode to conserve energy.",
    "17. The sensor apparatus of claim 16 wherein the processor, transmitter, temperature sensor and accelerometer are mounted on a concrete mixer drum access door.",
    "18. The sensor apparatus of claim 17 further comprising a second processor coupled to valves controlling water and chemical additive supply to the drum.",
    "19. The sensor apparatus of claim 18 wherein the second processor is configured to calculate when and how much one or both of water and chemical additive is added into the concrete in the mixer drum and to control addition of one or both of water and chemical additive."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present invention generally relates to instrumentation used on delivery vehicles and particularly to mobile concrete mixing trucks that mix and deliver concrete. More specifically, the present invention relates to the gathering of temperature data using a sensor mounted to the drum on a concrete truck.\n\nMobile concrete mixing trucks are used to mix concrete and to deliver that concrete to a site where the concrete may be required. Generally, the particulate concrete ingredients are loaded at a central depot, and liquid component is added at the central depot and while in transit. The liquid component traditionally includes water, but in more modern applications may also include chemical additives of various types.\n\nA number of patent filings have explored the possibility for monitoring the mixing of concrete, or controlling the process of adding liquid component.\n\nZandberg et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,713,663 (the '663 patent), the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference, describes a method and apparatus of measuring slump of concrete in a mixing barrel from the driving force required to rotate the mixing barrel. The system monitors the torque loading on the driving means used to rotate the mixing barrel, and adds liquid component in attempt to approach a predetermined minimum torque loading related to the amount of the particulate ingredients in the drum.\n\nBuckelew et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,484,079 (the '079 patent), the disclosure of which is also hereby incorporated herein by reference, describes a method that remotely monitors and reports sensor data associated with a concrete delivery vehicle.",
  "cpc": [
    "G01K 1/024",
    "B28C 7/024",
    "G01K 2215/00",
    "G01K 7/24"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "G01K 13/00",
    "G01K 7/22",
    "G01K 1/02",
    "G01K 13/04",
    "G01K 13/08",
    "G01K 7/24"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Verifi LLC"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Steve Verdino"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2011-08-17",
  "publication_date": "2016-12-13",
  "grant_date": "2016-12-13",
  "priority_date": "2007-06-19",
  "application_number": "US-201113818046-A",
  "family_id": "52667949",
  "cited_by_count": 25,
  "citations": [
    "US1328765A",
    "US1410126A",
    "US1781549A",
    "US2169236A",
    "US2273750A",
    "US2342749A",
    "US2543883A",
    "US2726074A",
    "US3160398A",
    "US3603084A",
    "US3593966A",
    "US3731909A",
    "US3767170A",
    "US4008093A",
    "US3891193A",
    "US3924447A",
    "US4356723A",
    "US4097925A",
    "US4072435A",
    "US4117906A",
    "US4117901A",
    "US4318177A",
    "JPS58112707A",
    "JPS5916531A",
    "JPS59128024A",
    "US4544275A",
    "US4585356A",
    "JPS606412A",
    "EP0126573A1",
    "JPS6039235A",
    "DE3539550A1",
    "US4846581A",
    "US4900154A",
    "US5149192A",
    "GB2233100A",
    "US5169236A",
    "US5152605A",
    "US5752768A",
    "US5707474A",
    "DE4237543A1",
    "US5407299A",
    "US5526841A",
    "DE4437970A1",
    "US6126307A",
    "US5608383A",
    "US5713663A",
    "US5948970A",
    "US6042258A",
    "US6042259A",
    "US6224250B1",
    "US5895116A",
    "GB2329027A",
    "CA2246191A1",
    "US6227039B1",
    "GB2344296A",
    "EP1184353A1",
    "US6866047B1",
    "US20050004733A1",
    "US7835838B2",
    "US20080103662A1",
    "US7729831B2",
    "US20020048212A1",
    "US6695208B1",
    "US6286987B1",
    "DE19952462A1",
    "US6611755B1",
    "US7489993B2",
    "US6805478B2",
    "US6484079B2",
    "US20020015354A1",
    "US20020032517A1",
    "US6682655B2",
    "WO2002094526A1",
    "US20040218462A1",
    "US7064677B2",
    "US6938716B1",
    "US7006009B2",
    "JP2003341413A",
    "US20040031793A1",
    "GB2392502A",
    "GB2426347A",
    "US7722244B2",
    "US20050159843A1",
    "US6876904B2",
    "US6862521B1",
    "US20040233971A1",
    "US20050043631A1",
    "US7384180B2",
    "WO2005080058A1",
    "US20070185636A1",
    "US20100312406A1",
    "US20100312438A1",
    "US8118473B2",
    "US20060054056A1",
    "US7740936B2",
    "US7950841B2",
    "US7386368B2",
    "US20080027583A1",
    "US20060287773A1",
    "US20080027584A1",
    "US20080009976A1",
    "US20070194019A1",
    "US20070189108A1",
    "US7824096B2",
    "US20070247964A1",
    "US20070263478A1",
    "US7530728B2",
    "US20090231949A1",
    "US7722243B2",
    "US20080144424A1",
    "US20090295367A1",
    "US20090037026A1",
    "WO2008157690A2",
    "US20120004790A1",
    "US8020431B2",
    "US20080316856A1",
    "US20090064903A1",
    "US20090103392A1",
    "WO2009126138A1",
    "US20110029134A1",
    "US20090292572A1",
    "US20110077778A1",
    "WO2009144523A2",
    "WO2010111204A1",
    "WO2010110814A1",
    "US20110004444A1",
    "US20110004332A1",
    "US20110004333A1",
    "US20150298351A1",
    "US20160018383A1"
  ]
}