JP7633916B2 - Method and equipment for measuring the moisture content of soil materials - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a method and measurement equipment for measuring the water content of soil materials (filling materials), such as waterproofing materials used in the construction of rockfill dams.

The soil material is selected and collected at the quarry and transported to a storage area where its moisture content is adjusted. The soil material with its moisture content adjusted is then loaded onto a dump truck and transported from the storage area to the embankment construction site.

However, the moisture content of soil material stored in a storage area changes over time due to the influence of the surrounding environment. For this reason, the moisture content of soil material is measured before it is removed from the storage area.

A method and device for measuring the moisture content of soil materials using a near-infrared moisture meter has been proposed. In this proposal, a portion of the soil material is placed as a sample in a groove-shaped container, and the container's container is moved relative to the near-infrared moisture meter along a circumference or line, which is the extension direction of the container's container. During this relative movement, near-infrared light emitted by the near-infrared moisture meter is irradiated onto the surface of the soil material inside the container's container, thereby measuring the moisture content of the soil material.

JP 2019-191048 A

The present invention provides a new method and equipment for measuring the moisture content of soil materials, with reference to the previously proposed methods and devices for measuring the moisture content of soil materials.

The method for measuring the moisture content of soil material according to the present invention includes moving a dump truck loaded with soil material to an exit of a site for storing the soil material, moving a near-infrared moisture meter vertically at the exit while being guided by a guide device consisting of a pair of double tubes extending vertically, and placing the near-infrared moisture meter at a predetermined height, while moving the near-infrared moisture meter horizontally by a traveling device suspended so as to be able to run along two rail members, and measuring the moisture content at one or more points on the surface of the soil material loaded on the dump truck with the near-infrared moisture meter . The soil material may be, for example, a single type of soil or a mixture of multiple types of soil. In the present invention, the soil material to be measured for moisture content includes both soil material whose moisture content has been adjusted in advance at the site and soil material whose moisture content has not been adjusted.

According to the present invention, when soil material is transported from its storage site to a banking construction site, the moisture content of the soil material itself can be measured. When the measured value obtained is within an appropriate range, the soil material loaded onto the dump truck can be sent directly to the banking construction site, and therefore quickly.

Preferably, the method includes leveling the surface of the soil material loaded on the dump truck before measuring the moisture content, for example after loading the soil material on the dump truck. This allows the intervals (distances) between multiple points on the surface of the soil material and the near-infrared moisture meter, more specifically the near-infrared radiation port of the near-infrared moisture meter, to be approximately the same, thereby making it possible to measure the moisture content at the multiple points more accurately and quickly. The moisture content of the soil material loaded on the dump truck can be measured at the discharge port while the wheels of the dump truck are being washed. The near-infrared moisture meter can be moved vertically by a hoist suspended from the traveling device.

In addition, the equipment for measuring the moisture content of soil material according to the present invention comprises a gate installed at the exit of a soil material storage area to define a space allowing the passage of a dump truck loaded with the soil material, a support mechanism provided on the gate, a near-infrared moisture meter having a near-infrared radiation port facing downward and supported on the gate via the support mechanism so as to be movable in both the horizontal and vertical directions, and a sunshade attached to the near-infrared moisture meter and covering the near-infrared moisture meter except for the near-infrared radiation port, the support mechanism comprising two rail members extending horizontally, a traveling device suspended so as to be able to run along the two rail members and moving the near-infrared moisture meter horizontally, and a guide device consisting of a pair of double tubes extending vertically and guiding the near-infrared moisture meter vertically.

According to the present invention, while a dump truck is parked in a space defined by a gate installed at the exit of a soil material storage area, the near-infrared moisture meter supported by the gate via the support mechanism can be moved horizontally and vertically in sequence toward the surface of the soil material loaded onto the dump truck. The near-infrared moisture meter is then moved horizontally, and during this movement, near-infrared rays are emitted from the near-infrared radiation port of the near-infrared moisture meter toward the surface of the soil material loaded onto the dump truck, thereby measuring the moisture content of the soil material. In addition, since the near-infrared moisture meter is covered by a sunshade except for its near-infrared radiation port, the moisture content of the soil material loaded onto the dump truck can be measured outdoors.

The equipment for measuring the moisture content of the soil material preferably further includes a distance meter for detecting the distance between the surface of the soil material loaded onto the dump truck and the near-infrared radiation port of the near-infrared moisture meter. This allows the distance from the near-infrared radiation port of the near-infrared moisture meter to the surface of the soil material to be detected, making it possible to measure the moisture content at a more appropriate distance.

The support mechanism for the near-infrared moisture meter preferably includes a hoist that is suspended from the traveling device and moves the near-infrared moisture meter in the vertical direction . This allows the near-infrared moisture meter to be moved in the vertical direction.

It is also preferable to have a roof provided on the gate. The roof serves to block sunlight and raindrops that are harmful to the measurement of the moisture content of the soil material loaded into the dump truck.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the equipment for measuring the moisture content of soil material. FIG. 2 is a side view of equipment for measuring the moisture content of soil material. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the equipment used to carry out the method of measuring the moisture content of soil materials (filling materials) such as waterproofing materials used in the construction of rockfill dams, i.e., the equipment for measuring the moisture content of soil materials, is generally indicated by the reference numeral 10.

The measurement equipment 10 includes a gate 12, a support mechanism 14 provided on the gate, a near-infrared moisture meter 16 supported on the gate 12 via the support mechanism so as to be movable in both the horizontal and vertical directions, and a sunshade 18 attached to the near-infrared moisture meter. The measurement equipment 10 preferably further includes a distance meter 19 for detecting the distance between the surface 22a of the soil material 22 loaded on the dump truck 24 and the near-infrared radiation port 16a of the near-infrared moisture meter 16. The near-infrared moisture meter 16 is placed in a standby state at the right end position as viewed in FIG. 1, and is moved horizontally to the left a predetermined distance to measure the moisture content and is stopped. Next, it is moved vertically downward a predetermined distance, and then stopped, and the moisture content is measured. After the measurement, it is moved vertically upward, then moved horizontally to the left end position, and finally moved horizontally to the original right end position, which is the standby position.

The gate 12 is installed at the discharge port 20a provided in the storage area 20 where the soil material is stocked. The soil material consists of a single type of soil or a mixture (blend) of multiple types of soil that have been selected and collected at a soil mining site (not shown). The soil material is transported from the soil mining site to the storage area 20 and stored in the storage area 20 after adjusting its moisture content or without adjusting it.

The soil material 22 is loaded onto a dump truck 24 at the storage site 20, and preferably after the surface 22a is leveled, the dump truck 24 moves the soil material 22 to the discharge port 20a of the storage site 20. The soil material 22 loaded onto the dump truck 24 is subjected to measurement of the moisture content at one or more points on the surface 22a at the discharge port 20a using a near-infrared moisture meter 16. When the moisture content of the soil material 22 is measured at one point on the surface 22a of the soil material 22, it is not necessarily necessary to level the surface 22a of the soil material 22. If the measured moisture content is appropriate, the soil material 22 is transported by the dump truck 24 to a banking construction site such as the construction site of the rockfill dam. On the other hand, if the measured moisture content is inappropriate, the soil material 22 is returned to the storage site 20, and the moisture content is readjusted or adjusted.

The illustrated gate 12 has a pair of portal frames 26 spaced apart from each other in the direction of travel of the dump truck 24 (see FIG. 2). Each portal frame 26 has a pair of support posts 26a and a beam 26b (see FIG. 1) that is connected to the support posts 26a and extends horizontally. The support posts 26a and beam 26b of each portal frame 26 define a space 28 (FIG. 1) that allows the dump truck 24 to pass through. The portal frames 26 are connected to each other via a pair of elongated connecting members 30 (FIG. 2) that face each other and are fixed to the upper ends of the two pairs of support posts 26a, respectively.

The support mechanism 14 of the near-infrared moisture meter 16 is composed of two rail members 32 arranged at a distance from each other and extending parallel to the beams 26b of the gate-shaped frame 26, a traveling device 34 suspended from the two rail members 32 so as to be able to run along the rail members, an electric hoist 36 suspended from the traveling device 34 and having a wire 36a (Figure 2) capable of being wound up and wound down, a support plate 38 suspended from the wire 36a and movable in the vertical direction, and a guide device 40 fixed to the traveling device 34 and guiding the support plate 38 linearly in the vertical direction. The near-infrared moisture meter 16 is fixed to the underside of the support plate 38 of the support mechanism 14, with its near-infrared radiation port 16a facing downward.

With this support mechanism 14, the near-infrared moisture meter 16 can be moved horizontally together with the support plate 38 by running the traveling device 34 along the two rail members 32. In addition, the wire 36a can be wound up or down by operating the hoist 36, thereby moving the support plate 38 and the near-infrared moisture meter 16 supported thereby in the vertical direction. When the near-infrared moisture meter 16 moves, the guide device 40 of the support plate 38 regulates the lateral swing of the near-infrared moisture meter 16.

Each rail member 32 shown in the figure is made of H-shaped steel and is fixed at both ends to the two connecting members 30 of the two portal frames 26.

The traveling device 34 shown in the figure includes a horizontally arranged plate body 42 and two sets of wheel assemblies 44 arranged on the plate body. Each set of wheel assemblies 44 includes a pair of support members 44a made of angle steel having one side and the other side, a pair of wheels 44b arranged between the two support members 44a and facing each other and rotatably supported on the one side of both support members 44a, and an electric motor 44c supported on one of the two support members 44a for applying rotational power to one of the wheels 44b of each pair. Each set of wheel assemblies 44 is fixed to the plate body 42 at the other side of the support member 44a. As a result, each pair of wheels 44b can roll on the lower flange of the H-shaped steel by sandwiching the web of the H-shaped steel that constitutes each rail member 32.

The illustrated guide device 40 is composed of a pair of double pipes 46 that are spaced apart from each other in the extension direction of the connecting members 30 of the two gate-shaped frames 26 and extend in the vertical direction with the hoist 36 between them. Each double pipe 46 is composed of an outer pipe 46a and an inner pipe 46b that is arranged inside the outer pipe and is vertically slidable relative to the outer pipe 46a. As shown in FIG. 3, each double pipe 46 is fixed to the plate body 42 of the traveling device 34 via a pair of plate members 48 made of angle iron and a plate member 50 made of channel steel extending in the vertical direction. The plate member 50 is fixed to the plate body 42 at its upper end. Here, the double pipe 46 is arranged between the two plate members 48 and fixed to the two plate members 48 at the outer pipe 46a, and the two plate members 48 are fixed to the plate member 50. The two plate members 50 are connected to each other by a pair of rod-shaped bodies 52. According to this, when the hoist 36 is operated and the wire 36a is wound down to lower the support plate 38 and the near-infrared moisture meter 16, the inner tube 46b descends within the outer tube 46a. Conversely, when the wire 36a is wound up to raise the support plate 38 and the near-infrared moisture meter 16, the inner tube 46b ascends within the outer tube 46a. This allows the support plate 38 and the near-infrared moisture meter 16 to be guided straight in the vertical direction, preventing the support plate 38 and the near-infrared moisture meter 16 from shaking sideways.

The sunshade 18 covers the near-infrared moisture meter 16 except for the near-infrared radiation port 16a. The sunshade 18 shown in the figure is box-shaped overall, with its lower end open downward. The sunshade 18 acts to block sunlight from entering the near-infrared moisture meter 16 placed outdoors. This allows the near-infrared moisture meter 16 to measure the moisture content of the soil material 22 more accurately outdoors.

In order to measure the moisture content of the soil material 22 on the dump truck 24 (more specifically, on the loading platform) that has been moved to the discharge port 20a, the dump truck 24 is stopped so that the soil material 22 is located under the two rail members 32. After that, the support mechanism 14 moves the near-infrared moisture meter 16 horizontally. Next, the near-infrared moisture meter 16 is moved vertically to place its near-infrared radiation port 16a at a predetermined height position above the surface 22a of the soil material 22. At this time, the distance meter 19 detects the distance from the near-infrared radiation port 16a of the near-infrared moisture meter 16 to the surface 22a of the soil material 22. Next, the near-infrared moisture meter 16 is moved in a direction (horizontal direction) across the loading platform of the dump truck 24. As a result, the near-infrared radiation port 16a crosses linearly above the surface 22a of the soil material 22, during which the near-infrared moisture meter 16 intermittently radiates near-infrared rays from the near-infrared radiation port 16a toward the surface 22a. This allows multiple moisture content measurements to be taken at multiple locations along a straight line on the surface 22a of the soil material 22. Using the distance meter 19 allows the moisture content to be measured at a more appropriate distance. It is also possible to measure one moisture content at one location on the surface 22a of the soil material 22.

The moisture content of the soil material 22 loaded onto the dump truck 24 can be measured while the wheels 24a of the dump truck 24 are being washed at the discharge port 20a. Since the soil material 22 is usually transported by the dump truck 24 via public roads, mud that has adhered to the wheels 24a while traveling in the storage area 20 is washed off in advance at the storage area 20. The moisture content can be measured during this washing time. The washing time for the wheels 24a of the dump truck 24 is usually about 30 seconds, and the moisture content of the soil material 22 loaded onto the dump truck 24 can be measured, for example, every 3 seconds.

The measurement equipment 10 may further include an automatic control mechanism (not shown) that enables the operation of the support mechanism 14, the operation of the near-infrared moisture meter 16, and the confirmation of the measured value of the moisture content to be performed automatically. In this case, for example, an operation button (not shown) that can be operated by the driver of the dump truck 24 to start and end the operation, operation, and confirmation can be disposed on the support 26a of the portal frame 26 of the gate 12.

10 Measuring equipment 12 Gate 14 Support mechanism 16 Near-infrared moisture meter 16a Near-infrared radiation port 18 Sunshade 19 Distance meter 20 Storage area 20a Delivery port 22 Soil material 24 Dump truck 26 Gate-shaped frames 26a, 26b Support columns and beams 32 Rail member 34 Traveling device 36 Hoist 38 Support plate 40 Guide device 46 Double pipe

Claims (9)

Moving the dump truck loaded with the soil material to an exit of the soil material storage area;
A method for measuring the moisture content of a soil material includes: at the discharge exit, moving a near-infrared moisture meter vertically while guiding it with a guide device consisting of a pair of double tubes extending vertically, to place it at a predetermined height, moving the near-infrared moisture meter horizontally using a traveling device suspended so as to be able to run along two rail members, and using the near-infrared moisture meter to measure the moisture content at one or more points on the surface of the soil material loaded onto the dump truck. The measurement method according to claim 1, wherein the soil material has a moisture content that has been adjusted in advance at the storage site. The measurement method according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising leveling the surface of the soil material loaded onto the dump truck before measuring the water content. The measurement method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the moisture content of the soil material loaded onto the dump truck is measured while the wheels of the dump truck are being washed at the discharge exit. The measuring method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the near-infrared moisture meter is moved in the vertical direction by a hoist suspended from the traveling device. A gate installed at an exit of a soil material storage area to define a space through which a dump truck loaded with the soil material can pass;
A support mechanism provided on the gate;
a near-infrared moisture meter supported on the gate via the support mechanism so as to be movable in both horizontal and vertical directions, the near-infrared moisture meter having a near-infrared radiation port facing downward;
a sunshade attached to the near-infrared moisture meter and covering the near-infrared moisture meter except for the near-infrared radiation port ;
The support mechanism includes:
Two rail members extending horizontally;
a travel device that is suspended so as to be capable of running along the two rail members and that moves the near-infrared moisture meter in a horizontal direction;
An equipment for measuring the moisture content of soil material , comprising a pair of double pipes extending vertically and a guide device for guiding the near-infrared moisture meter vertically . 7. The measuring facility according to claim 6 , further comprising a distance meter for detecting a distance between a surface of the soil material loaded onto the dump truck and a near-infrared radiation port of the near-infrared moisture meter. 8. The measurement facility according to claim 6 , wherein the support mechanism further comprises a hoist suspended from the traveling device for moving the near-infrared moisture meter in a vertical direction . The measurement facility according to any one of claims 6 to 8 , further comprising a roof provided on the gate.

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