Abstract: The method for determining density of fresh concrete inside a drum of a mixer truck involves a probe mounted inside the drum, extending in a radial orientation of the drum and being moved circumferentially as the drum rotates. The method has: receiving first and second pressure values indicative of normal pressures exerted on the probe by the fresh concrete at corresponding and different first and second circumferential positions of the drum during rotation of the drum; and determining a density value of the fresh concrete based on the volume of the probe and on a difference between the first and second pressure values.

Abstract: The application concerns a system for measuring the rotational speed of a drum rotatably mounted to a mixer truck, rotating relatively to the mixer truck and having a main axis inclined relative to the mixer truck, even in case that the drum is empty. A sensor is mounted to the empty drum and generates a sinusoidal signal as the drum rotates; the sensor could be a load sensor experiencing forces due to the changing influence of gravity during rotation, or a light intensity sensor responsive e.g. to variations of ambient light during rotation. The sensor signal is transmitted over a wireless connection to a receiver. The frequency of the sinusoidal signal is measured and output as the rotational speed of the rotating drum. The application also concerns the determination of a direction of rotation, based on a phase shift between two periodic signals. One signal could be the periodic intensity variation on a first wireless transmission path during a full rotation.

Abstract: The method of handling fresh concrete generally includes the steps of receiving a viscosity value of the fresh concrete and a pressure value of a pressure exerted on a Theological probe moving in the fresh concrete; using a processor, accessing at least two calibration data sets, the at least two calibration data sets including combinations of different reference pressure values and associated reference workability values for a corresponding one of at least two reference viscosity values; determining a viscosity difference value by comparing the received viscosity value to the at least two reference viscosity values; and determining a workability value of the workability of the fresh concrete based on the reference workability values associated with reference pressure values corresponding to the received pressure value in the at least two calibration data sets and on the viscosity difference value; and handling the fresh concrete based on the determined workability value.

Abstract: The probe can include a base and a resistance member extending from the base and onto which a resistance pressure is imparted by a rheological substance when the resistance member is submerged and moved therein. Rheological properties can be obtained using values indicative of the resistance pressure both in a low speed range and in a high speed range.

Abstract: The system for determining a status of a valve being mounted in a liquid supply line of a concrete mixer and being actuatable via an actuator generally has: an actuator accelerometer mounted to the actuator and being adapted to measure an actuator position associated with a position of the valve; a reference accelerometer mounted to the concrete mixer and being adapted to measure a reference position fixed relative to the concrete mixer, the actuator position and the reference position being measured while the concrete mixer is fixed relative to the ground; a computing device adapted to receive the actuator and reference positions, the computing device being adapted to determine the status of the valve based on the actuator position, the reference position and calibration position data; and to generate status of the valve indicative of the determined status of the valve.

Abstract: The rheological probe generally has a base; an inner member fixedly connected to the base and extending away from the base, the inner member having in succession a base portion proximate to the base, and a tip away from the base, and a deformable portion located between the base portion and the tip; a shell member covering the inner member, the shell member having a proximal portion being pivotally connected to the base for pivoting about a pivot axis when subjected to a resistance pressure imparted by a relative movement of the probe in a rheological substance, and a distal portion, the distal portion being engaged with the tip, the shell member having mating features being pivotally engaged with corresponding features of the base, the mating features being located on transversally opposite sides of the proximal portion; and a deformation sensor mounted to the deformable portion.

Abstract: There is disclosed a computer-implemented method for determining a density value of a fresh concrete sample using an acoustic probe assembly. The acoustic probe assembly has an acoustic path, an acoustic emitter configured to emit an acoustic signal along the acoustic path, and an acoustic receiver configured to receive the acoustic signal after propagation along the acoustic path. The acoustic probe assembly is configured and adapted to generate an electromagnetic signal indicative of a duration of time taken by the acoustic signal to travel from the acoustic emitter to the acoustic receiver across the fresh concrete sample. The method generally has a step of determining the duration of time based on the electromagnetic signal, a step of matching the duration to a density value using reference data, and a step of displaying the density value.

Abstract: The temperature of concrete can be monitored by a temperature probe. Typically, large volumes of concrete such as are typically carried in mixer trucks or mixed in industrial concrete production drums have a relatively stable, or slowly varying temperature, given the high thermal capacity of concrete. A sudden change in temperature can thus be attributed to an external event. A sudden addition of even a relatively small amount of water for instance, which has an even higher thermal capacity, can produce a notable sudden change in temperature. Examples where the detection of the addition of water can be particularly useful in the production and/or transport of concrete are provided herein. Moreover, if the temperature of the added water is known, and the quantity of concrete is also known, the sudden difference in temperature can be correlated to a volume of added water.

Abstract: The temperature of concrete can be monitored by a temperature probe. Typically, large volumes of concrete such as are typically carried in mixer trucks or mixed in industrial concrete production drums have a relatively stable, or slowly varying temperature, given the high thermal capacity of concrete. A sudden change in temperature can thus be attributed to an external event. A sudden addition of even a relatively small amount of water for instance, which has an even higher thermal capacity, can produce a notable sudden change in temperature. Examples where the detection of the addition of water can be particularly useful in the production and/or transport of concrete are provided herein. Moreover, if the temperature of the added water is known, and the quantity of concrete is also known, the sudden difference in temperature can be correlated to a volume of added water.

Abstract: The probe can include a base and a resistance member extending from the base and onto which a resistance pressure is imparted by a rheological substance when the resistance member is submerged and moved therein. Rheological properties can be obtained using values indicative of the resistance pressure both in a low speed range and in a high speed range.

Abstract: The method can determine a density of concrete based on the measured buoyancy of a buoy immersed in fresh concrete contained in a ready mix drum and rotatable therein as the drum is rotated, the method can include obtaining a first measurement of a force applied to the buoy while the buoy is being moved tangentially in the fresh concrete, obtaining a second measurement of a force applied to the buoy while the buoy is being moved tangentially in the fresh concrete by rotation of the cylindrical wall, obtaining an indication of the buoyancy of the buoy in the concrete including factoring out the yield effect based on at least the first measurement and the second measurement.

Abstract: The system for determining a status of a valve being mounted in a liquid supply line of a concrete mixer and being actuatable via an actuator generally has: an actuator accelerometer mounted to the actuator and being adapted to measure an actuator position associated with a position of the valve; a reference accelerometer mounted to the concrete mixer and being adapted to measure a reference position fixed relative to the concrete mixer, the actuator position and the reference position being measured while the concrete mixer is fixed relative to the ground; a computing device adapted to receive the actuator and reference positions, the computing device being adapted to determine the status of the valve based on the actuator position, the reference position and calibration position data; and to generate status of the valve indicative of the determined status of the valve.

Abstract: The probe can include a base and a resistance member extending from the base and onto which a resistance pressure is imparted by a rheological substance when the resistance member is submerged and moved therein. Rheological properties can be obtained using values indicative of the resistance pressure both in a low speed range and in a high speed range.

Abstract: The method can determine a density of concrete based on the measured buoyancy of a buoy immersed in fresh concrete contained in a ready mix drum and rotatable therein as the drum is rotated, the method can include obtaining a first measurement of a force applied to the buoy while the buoy is being moved tangentially in the fresh concrete, obtaining a second measurement of a force applied to the buoy while the buoy is being moved tangentially in the fresh concrete by rotation of the cylindrical wall, obtaining an indication of the buoyancy of the buoy in the concrete including factoring out the yield effect based on at least the first measurement and the second measurement.

Abstract: The probe can include a base and a resistance member extending from the base and onto which a resistance pressure is imparted by a rheological substance when the resistance member is submerged and moved therein. Rheological properties can be obtained using values indicative of the resistance pressure both in a low speed range and in a high speed range.

Abstract: The temperature of concrete can be monitored by a temperature probe. Typically, large volumes of concrete such as are typically carried in mixer trucks or mixed in industrial concrete production drums have a relatively stable, or slowly varying temperature, given the high thermal capacity of concrete. A sudden change in temperature can thus be attributed to an external event. A sudden addition of even a relatively small amount of water for instance, which has an even higher thermal capacity, can produce a notable sudden change in temperature. Examples where the detection of the addition of water can be particularly useful in the production and/or transport of concrete are provided herein. Moreover, if the temperature of the added water is known, and the quantity of concrete is also known, the sudden difference in temperature can be correlated to a volume of added water.

Abstract: The probe can include a base and a resistance member extending from the base and onto which a resistance pressure is imparted by a rheological substance when the resistance member is submerged and moved therein. Rheological properties can be obtained using values indicative of the resistance pressure both in a low speed range and in a high speed range.

Abstract: A method for treating, such as repairing, protecting, sanitizing, and facilitating sanitation of inner surfaces of industrial buildings. This method comprises preparing an inner building surface that is to be treated so as to render the surface able to receive a calcium aluminate-based cement-based mortar with which the deficiencies of the surface are corrected. The surface is then coated with two materials: a primary coating, which provides a regular surface and enhances the adhesion characteristics of the resurfacing system and a final coating such as poly-urea.