Patent ID: 8567252
Filing Date: 2013-10-29
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. An automatic sonic/ultrasonic data acquisition device that is constructed and arranged to be moved across the surface of a concrete structure, to collect data from the structure, comprising: a frame; a plurality of sensor wheels carried by the frame such that they roll along the surface as the device is moved along the surface of the concrete structure; one or more pressure transducers embedded in each wheel such that they each project slightly from the surface of the wheel at one particular circumferential location of the wheel, so that the pressure transducers momentarily contact the structure as the wheels roll along a surface of the structure, where the pressure transducers are operable to sense pressure without a power supply; a timing structure that causes the sensor wheels to rotate in unison as the device is moved across the surface of the structure such that one of the pressure transducers of each sensor wheel simultaneously contacts the surface of the structure; a projectile energy source that fires a projectile against the concrete structure so as to initiate compressional and/or shear waves in the structure that are sensed by the pressure transducers; and a projectile energy source timing mechanism that triggers the projectile energy source to fire the projectile when the pressure transducers are simultaneously in contact with the surface of the structure, such that such pressure transducers detect the compressional and/or shear waves that are initiated in the structure by the impact of the projectile.