Device for measuring suspension stability of aggregate particles in low-viscosity asphalt material

Abstract

The utility model discloses a device for measuring the suspension stability of aggregate particles in a low-viscosity asphalt material, which comprises a storage cylinder for storing an asphalt material to be measured; the sensor assembly comprises a first metal sensor and a second metal sensor which are arranged in the length direction of the storage barrel; the testing assembly is arranged at one end of the storage cylinder and comprises a metal ball and a testing element capable of storing and releasing the metal ball; the timing element is electrically connected with the sensor assembly and records the time of signals sent by the first metal sensor and the second metal sensor. According to the device disclosed by the utility model, the oneness that the storage stability of aggregate particles in a low-viscosity asphalt material is represented by a viscosity index is avoided, and the suspension stability of the aggregate particles in the low-viscosity asphalt material is represented by directly adopting the passing time of the metal balls; stability change caused by chemical reaction and viscosity change in the long-term storage process is totally counted through steel ball passing time, and the method is simple and direct.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of municipal engineering material testing, and in particular to a device for determining the suspension stability of aggregate particles in low-viscosity asphalt materials. Background Technology

[0002] Asphalt materials are complex and diverse, with low-viscosity asphalt materials being a major component. Common low-viscosity asphalt materials include emulsified asphalt, diluted asphalt, and asphalt slurry. Low-viscosity asphalt is usually used to prepare slurry systems and mixture systems by stirring and mixing aggregate particles of different sizes at room temperature. Since the viscosity of asphalt at room temperature is low, the suspension stability of aggregate particles in the mixture system design will directly affect important technical indicators such as the storage time of the mixture and the apparent uniformity after paving.

[0003] Existing standard asphalt viscosity testing instruments typically characterize the intrinsic viscosity properties of asphalt materials, such as Brookfield viscometers, standard viscometers, and Cybert viscometers. These instruments measure the viscosity properties of asphalt materials by measuring their reactions under different temperatures, stresses, strains, and response times. However, they cannot express the settling state of aggregates of different particle sizes in low-viscosity asphalt. Utility Model Content

[0004] This invention aims to at least partially solve one of the technical problems in the aforementioned technologies. Therefore, the purpose of this invention is to provide a device capable of determining the settling state of aggregate particles in low-viscosity asphalt materials.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, embodiments of this utility model provide an apparatus for determining the suspension stability of aggregate particles in low-viscosity asphalt materials, comprising:

[0006] Storage container: Used to store asphalt material to be tested;

[0007] Sensor assembly: including a first metal sensor and a second metal sensor, arranged along the length of the storage cylinder;

[0008] Test component: Located at one end of the storage cylinder, it includes a metal ball and a test element capable of storing and releasing the metal ball;

[0009] Timing element: electrically connected to the sensor assembly, used to record the time when the first metal sensor and the second metal sensor are triggered during the falling of the metal ball.

[0010] According to the present invention, an apparatus for determining the suspension stability of aggregate particles in low-viscosity asphalt materials is used in which the asphalt material to be tested is stored in a storage cylinder, which is placed vertically. A metal ball is released from the top testing component and falls into the asphalt. The time between the signals emitted by the two metal sensors is recorded by a timing element. By judging the time difference, the suspension stability time characteristics of aggregate particles in different low-viscosity asphalt materials can be calculated.

[0011] In addition, the device for determining the suspension stability of aggregate particles in low-viscosity asphalt materials according to the above embodiments of this utility model may also have the following additional technical features:

[0012] Optionally, the other end of the storage cylinder is provided with a base.

[0013] Optionally, the storage cylinder is made of acrylic material.

[0014] Optionally, the sensor assembly is detachably disposed outside the storage cylinder.

[0015] Optionally, the test element is a magnetic base, and the metal ball is made of a magnetically attractable metal. By adjusting the magnetic force on the metal ball, the metal ball can be stored or released.

[0016] Optionally, the test element has an inner cavity for accommodating the metal ball, and a valve located between the inner cavity and the outer space. When the valve is closed, the metal ball is stable in the inner cavity; when the valve is open, the metal ball leaves the inner cavity and falls.

[0017] Optionally, it also includes a heating element that stabilizes the temperature of the asphalt material at a set temperature. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of a structure according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 2 This is a perspective view of a structure according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Label Explanation:

[0021] Storage cylinder 1

[0022] Sensor assembly 2 First metal sensor 21 Second metal sensor 22

[0023] Test Component 3, Metal Ball 31, Test Element 32

[0024] Timing element 4

[0025] Base 5. Detailed Implementation

[0026] The embodiments of this utility model are described in detail below. Examples of these embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and intended to explain this utility model, and should not be construed as limiting this utility model.

[0027] In use, the asphalt material to be tested is stored in a storage cylinder, which is placed vertically. A metal ball is released from the top testing component and falls into the asphalt. The time between the signals emitted by the two metal sensors is recorded by a timing element. By judging the time difference, the suspension stability time characteristics of aggregate particles in different low-viscosity asphalt materials can be calculated.

[0028] To better understand the above technical solutions, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Although exemplary embodiments of the present invention are shown in the drawings, it should be understood that the present invention can be implemented in various forms and should not be limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided to enable a more thorough understanding of the present invention and to fully convey the scope of the present invention to those skilled in the art.

[0029] To better understand the above technical solutions, the following will provide a detailed explanation of the technical solutions in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific implementation methods.

[0030] Asphalt materials are complex and diverse, with low-viscosity asphalt materials being a major component. Common low-viscosity asphalt materials include emulsified asphalt, diluted asphalt, and asphalt slurry. Low-viscosity asphalt is usually used to prepare slurry systems and mixture systems by stirring and mixing aggregate particles of different sizes at room temperature. Since the viscosity of asphalt at room temperature is low, the suspension stability of aggregate particles in the mixture system design will directly affect important technical indicators such as the storage time of the mixture and the apparent uniformity after paving.

[0031] Existing standard asphalt viscosity testing instruments typically characterize the intrinsic viscosity properties of asphalt materials, such as Brookfield viscometers, standard viscometers, and Sebert viscometers. These instruments measure the viscosity properties of asphalt materials by measuring their reactions under different temperatures, stresses, strains, and response times. However, they cannot express the settling state of aggregates of different particle sizes in low-viscosity asphalt. The testing instruments are precise, complex, and expensive.

[0032] Compared to conventional hot asphalt, low-viscosity asphalt systems have a more complex composition. For example, emulsified asphalt consists of water, surfactants, and asphalt; diluted asphalt consists of different types of diluents, additives, and asphalt. When using the viscosity characteristics of asphalt itself to characterize the suspension stability of particles in low-viscosity asphalt materials, there are certain limitations. This is because viscosity is only one factor affecting the suspension stability of aggregate particles in low-viscosity asphalt materials. For instance, emulsified asphalt gradually flocculates during storage, and its viscosity changes during storage. Special types of diluted asphalt undergo continuous physicochemical reactions, and changes in particle size and solubility of the asphalt itself during storage also cause viscosity changes. Therefore, using the above viscosity indicators (Rookfield viscometer, standard viscometer, Seibert viscometer) to characterize the storage stability of aggregate particles in low-viscosity asphalt is unsuitable and inaccurate.

[0033] Figures 1 to 2 An apparatus for determining the suspension stability of aggregate particles in low-viscosity asphalt material according to an embodiment of the present invention includes:

[0034] Storage cylinder 1: Stores the asphalt material to be tested; when in use, storage cylinder 1 needs to be set vertically. Therefore, a base 5 can be added to the other end of storage cylinder 1. The base 5 can be detachably set from storage cylinder 1. In this way, when storage cylinders 1 are stacked, the base 5 can be removed to save space when stacking. The base 5 can be composed of a base plate and several vertical support elements set on the base plate. There is a hole in the support element for the storage cylinder 1 to be inserted. The base 5 and storage cylinder 1 are combined by a socket joint or by a thread.

[0035] Optionally, the storage container 1 is made of acrylic. In addition to being transparent and easy to observe, acrylic does not react with the components in the asphalt, thus avoiding changes in the state of the asphalt being tested after prolonged storage.

[0036] The storage cylinder 1 can be used once. Under this premise, the entire structure of this utility model, all parts are movable relative to the storage cylinder 1, so as to facilitate the replacement of the storage cylinder 1.

[0037] By adjusting the length of storage cylinder 1, it is possible to adapt to low-viscosity asphalt materials of different viscosities, control the overall testing time, and make it more widely applicable.

[0038] Storage cylinders 1 with different diameters and metal balls 31 with different diameters can be used to measure the differences in suspension stability of aggregates with different particle sizes in the slurry system.

[0039] Sensor assembly 2 includes a first metal sensor 21 and a second metal sensor 22, arranged along the length of the storage cylinder 1. The metal sensors are existing solutions, such as commercially available ring proximity switches, which can be fitted onto an acrylic tube. When energized, the metal ball 31 passing through the ring proximity switch will generate a signal. Other similar solutions can also be used, fixing them to the storage cylinder 1 to achieve the same effect. Optionally, sensor assembly 2 can be detachably mounted outside the storage cylinder 1. As mentioned above, this solution allows for easy replacement of the storage cylinder 1. Furthermore, the distance between the two metal sensors in sensor assembly 2 is fixed by a fixing rod, so that after replacing the storage cylinder 1, it is not necessary to adjust the relevant parameters.

[0040] Test component 3: Located at one end of storage cylinder 1, it includes a metal ball 31 and a test element 32 that can store and release the metal ball 31;

[0041] Optionally, the test element 32 is a magnetic base 5, and the metal ball 31 is made of metal that can be magnetically attracted. By adjusting the magnetic attraction force on the metal ball 31, the metal ball 31 can be stored or released. The principle of this scheme is to utilize the magnetism of the magnetic base 5: the magnetic force of the magnetic base 5 is used to attract the ball to the worktable, and it can also generate a sufficiently large attraction force for objects such as steel balls.

[0042] In some embodiments, the test element 32 may be an electromagnet, which attracts steel balls when energized during testing and releases steel balls when de-energized.

[0043] Optionally, the test element 32 has an inner cavity for accommodating the metal ball 31, and a valve located between the inner cavity and the external space. When the valve is closed, the metal ball 31 is stable in the inner cavity. When the valve is opened, the metal ball 31 leaves the inner cavity and falls. In this scheme, the test element 32 can be a structure similar to a ball valve. The metal ball 31 is no longer limited to being attracted by magnetic force. By rotating the valve, the connection is achieved, and the metal ball 31 naturally falls.

[0044] Timing element 4: Electrically connected to sensor assembly 2, it records the time of signals emitted by the first metal sensor 21 and the second metal sensor. Timing element 4 can be very simple, i.e., receiving one signal to start timing and receiving another signal to stop timing. Such solutions are already available, such as the H7ET series time counters from OMRON.

[0045] A microcontroller can also be used.

[0046] Optionally, a heating element is also included to stabilize the temperature of the asphalt material at a set temperature. The heating element can be external: such as a heating wire mesh wrapped around the storage cylinder 1, or a heating rod inserted into the storage cylinder 1. The purpose of this scheme is to control experimental variables so that the experiment can be conducted at a specific temperature, thereby reducing the influence of changes in ambient temperature on the experimental results.

[0047] When using the device of this utility model, the measurement avoids the single-dimensionality of viscosity index in characterizing the storage stability of aggregate particles in low-viscosity asphalt materials. It directly uses the passing time of the metal ball to characterize the suspension stability of aggregate particles in low-viscosity asphalt, and takes into account the stability changes caused by chemical reactions and viscosity changes during long-term storage through the overall passing time of the steel ball, which is simple and direct.

[0048] In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description, and are not intended to indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this utility model.

[0049] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can include direct contact between the first and second features, or contact between the first and second features through another feature between them. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature includes the first feature directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature includes the first feature directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0050] In the description of this specification, the references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. The illustrative expressions of the above terms in this specification should not be construed as necessarily referring to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples. In addition, those skilled in the art can combine and integrate the different embodiments or examples described in this specification.

[0051] Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described above, it is understood that the above embodiments are exemplary and should not be construed as limiting the present invention. Those skilled in the art can make changes, modifications, substitutions and variations to the above embodiments within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. Apparatus for determining the stability of suspension of aggregate particles in a low viscosity bituminous material, characterised in that: include: Storage container: Used to store asphalt material to be tested; Sensor assembly: including a first metal sensor and a second metal sensor, disposed on the outside of the storage cylinder along its length; Test component: Located at one end of the storage cylinder, it includes a metal ball and a test element capable of holding and releasing the metal ball; Timing element: electrically connected to the sensor assembly, used to record the time when the first metal sensor and the second metal sensor are triggered during the falling of the metal ball.

2. The apparatus for determining the stability of aggregate particle suspension in a low viscosity asphalt material as claimed in claim 1, wherein: The other end of the storage cylinder is equipped with a base.

3. The apparatus for determining the stability of aggregate particle suspension in a low viscosity asphalt material as claimed in claim 1 wherein: The storage cylinder is made of acrylic.

4. The apparatus for determining the stability of aggregate particle suspension in a low viscosity asphalt material as set forth in claim 1, wherein: The sensor assembly is detachably mounted outside the storage cylinder.

5. The apparatus for determining the stability of aggregate particle suspension in low viscosity asphalt material as claimed in claim 1 wherein: The test element is a magnetic base, and the metal ball is made of metal that can be magnetically attracted. By adjusting the magnetic attraction force on the metal ball, the metal ball can be held or released.

6. The apparatus for determining the stability of aggregate particle suspension in low viscosity asphalt material as claimed in claim 1 wherein: The test element has an internal cavity for accommodating the metal ball, and a valve located between the internal cavity and the external space. When the valve is closed, the metal ball is stable in the internal cavity; when the valve is opened, the metal ball is released from the internal cavity and falls.

7. The apparatus for determining the stability of aggregate particle suspension in low viscosity asphalt material as claimed in claim 1 wherein: It also includes a heating element that stabilizes the temperature of the asphalt material to be tested at a set temperature.

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