A free expansion rate tester

Abstract

This disclosure relates to the field of expansion rate testing technology. One embodiment of this disclosure provides a free expansion rate tester, which includes: a placement tray, a feeding hood disposed on the upper surface of the placement tray, a vibrating feeding component disposed on the feeding hood, and a collection and cleaning component disposed on the placement tray; the vibrating feeding component includes an extension block, a drive motor disposed on a mounting frame, a drive shaft disposed at the output end of the drive motor, and a stirring blade disposed on the drive shaft, the stirring blade being embedded inside the feeding hood. This technical solution solves the problem of manual operation methods in the prior art, such as manually pouring materials and mixing based on experience, which are not only inefficient but also prone to large deviations and poor repeatability in test results due to human factors. Furthermore, in the material feeding stage, it is difficult to ensure consistent feeding speed, quantity, and uniformity each time, which greatly interferes with the accuracy of subsequent expansion tests.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The embodiments disclosed herein relate to the field of expansion rate testing technology, and more specifically, to a free expansion rate tester. Background Technology

[0002] In many engineering fields, such as road construction, building construction, and geotechnical engineering, the expansion characteristics of materials are key factors affecting the stability and durability of projects. Taking road engineering as an example, if the free expansion rate of the subgrade material is too high, it will expand significantly after encountering water, leading to road surface bulging and cracking, which seriously affects the smoothness and service life of the road and increases the later maintenance costs. In building foundation construction, if the free expansion rate of the foundation soil is not accurately determined, the foundation may experience uneven settlement due to soil expansion, threatening the structural safety of the building. Therefore, accurately measuring the free expansion rate of materials is of great significance for the rational selection of engineering materials, optimization of engineering design, and ensuring engineering quality.

[0003] In the early stages, the methods for testing the free expansion rate of materials were relatively limited and had many drawbacks. Traditional manual methods, such as manually pouring materials and mixing based on experience, were not only inefficient but also prone to large deviations and poor repeatability due to human factors. In the material feeding stage, it was difficult to ensure that the speed, quantity, and uniformity of each feeding were consistent, which greatly interfered with the accuracy of subsequent expansion tests. Moreover, there was a lack of effective automated devices for collecting and cleaning materials after testing, which was not only time-consuming and labor-intensive but also prone to leaving material residues that would affect the next test. In addition, some simple testing instruments could only measure in relatively ideal environments and had poor adaptability to materials with complex compositions or changing environmental conditions. For example, in high-temperature and high-humidity environments, some instrument components may deform or corrode, leading to a decrease in measurement accuracy. With the continuous expansion of engineering construction scale and the increasing requirements for engineering quality, it is urgent to develop a high-efficiency, accurate, and adaptable free expansion rate tester to meet the needs of modern engineering for accurate evaluation of material properties and to provide a solid guarantee for the safety and stability of engineering projects. Utility Model Content

[0004] To overcome the above-mentioned defects, the embodiments of this disclosure provide a free expansion rate tester, which solves the technical problem that the manual operation methods in the prior art, such as manually pouring materials and mixing based on experience, are not only inefficient, but also prone to large deviations and poor repeatability of test results due to human factors. In the material feeding stage, it is difficult to ensure that the speed, quantity and uniformity of each feeding are consistent, which greatly interferes with the accuracy of subsequent expansion tests.

[0005] According to one aspect, at least one embodiment of this disclosure provides a free expansion rate tester, comprising:

[0006] A placement tray, wherein a feed hood is provided on the upper surface of the placement tray;

[0007] An oscillating feed assembly is disposed on the feed hood;

[0008] A collection and cleaning component is disposed on the placement tray;

[0009] The oscillating feeding assembly includes an extension block disposed on the side wall of the placement tray. An electric push rod is disposed on the extension block, and a positioning sleeve is fitted onto the electric push rod. A feeding tray is disposed on the side wall of the positioning sleeve, and a feeding port is opened on the feeding tray. A feeding cover is inserted into the inside of the feeding port. A mounting frame is disposed at the upper end of the electric push rod, and a drive motor is disposed on the mounting frame. A drive shaft is disposed at the output end of the drive motor, and a stirring blade is disposed on the drive shaft. The stirring blade is embedded inside the feeding cover.

[0010] As a further technical solution, the side wall of the stirring blade is provided with a pressure relief groove, and a sealing cover is provided on the drive shaft, which is fastened to the feed hood.

[0011] As a further technical solution, the collection and cleaning component includes a placement groove, which is opened on the upper end face of the placement tray. A guide groove is provided inside the placement groove, and a cleaning port is provided inside the placement groove. The bottom of the guide groove is connected to the cleaning port.

[0012] As a further technical solution, a support ring is provided on the lower end face of the placement tray, a dust outlet is provided on the side wall of the support ring, an air blowing port is provided on the inner side wall of the support ring, and an air duct is provided on the side wall of the air blowing port.

[0013] As a further technical solution, a plug is provided at the bottom of the drive shaft, and a discharge port is provided at the bottom of the feed hood, with the plug inserted into the discharge port.

[0014] As a further technical solution, the mounting frame is an inverted U-shaped structure, and the drive motor is located on the side wall of the mounting frame.

[0015] As a further technical solution, the outer wall of the feed hood is provided with a vibration block, and the number of vibration blocks is several, with multiple vibration blocks embedded inside the feed inlet.

[0016] As a further technical solution, the oscillating block is provided with an oscillating cavity inside, the oscillating cavity is provided with an oscillating motor inside, and the output end of the oscillating motor is provided with an oscillating cam.

[0017] The beneficial effects of the embodiments disclosed herein are as follows:

[0018] 1. In this disclosure, through the coordinated operation of the oscillating feeding component, the electric push rod drives the feeding plate to dynamically adjust the feeding position, the stirring plate works with the pressure relief groove to achieve uniform mixing of materials, and the oscillating block generates high-frequency vibration through the oscillating cam. The triple action ensures that the material enters the testing device uniformly at a constant flow rate, completely solving the problems of large fluctuations in speed and deviations in quantity of traditional manual feeding.

[0019] 2. In this disclosure, the collection and cleaning component constructs a fully automatic cleaning system of "airflow blowing + flow guidance collection". After the air outlet is connected to compressed air through the air duct, the residual dust material in the placement tray can be discharged along the dust outlet. The inclined channel formed by the flow guide groove and the cleaning port can make the particulate material automatically slide down for centralized treatment. Attached Figure Description

[0020] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this disclosure, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments of this disclosure will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are merely some exemplary embodiments of this disclosure. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the content of the exemplary embodiments of this disclosure and these drawings without any creative effort.

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a structure in one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0022] Figure 2 This is a side view of the feed pan of this disclosure;

[0023] Figure 3 This is an axonometric view of the mounting frame disclosed herein;

[0024] Figure 4 This is a bottom view of the installation plate disclosed herein;

[0025] Figure 5 This is an isometric view of the feed hood disclosed herein;

[0026] Figure 6 This is a cross-sectional view of the oscillating block disclosed herein;

[0027] In the diagram: 1. Placement tray; 2. Feed hood; 3. Vibrating feed assembly; 3-1. Extension block; 3-2. Electric push rod; 3-3. Positioning sleeve; 3-4. Feed tray; 3-5. Feed inlet; 3-6. Mounting frame; 3-7. Drive motor; 3-8. Drive shaft; 3-9. Stirring blade; 3-10. Pressure relief groove; 3-11. Sealing cover; 4. Collection and cleaning assembly; 4-1. Mounting groove; 4-2. Guide groove; 4-3. Cleaning port; 4-4. Support ring; 4-5. Dust outlet; 4-6. Air outlet; 4-7. Air duct; 5. Blocking head; 6. Discharge port; 7. Vibrating block; 8. Vibrating chamber; 9. Vibrating motor; 10. Vibrating cam. Detailed Implementation

[0028] The present disclosure will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the present disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure.

[0029] To keep the drawings concise, each drawing only schematically shows the parts relevant to the disclosure; these do not represent the actual structure of the product. Furthermore, for ease of understanding, in some drawings, only one of components with the same structure or function is schematically shown, or only one is labeled. In this document, "one" not only means "only one," but can also mean "more than one," and "several" includes "two" and "more than two."

[0030] In this document, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linkage" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; they can refer to mechanical connections or electrical connections; they can refer to direct connections or indirect connections through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this disclosure based on the specific circumstances.

[0031] In this disclosure, unless otherwise expressly 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.

[0032] In the description of this embodiment, terms such as "upper," "lower," "left," and "right" are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of description and simplification of operation, 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. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this disclosure.

[0033] Furthermore, in the description of this application, the terms "first," "second," etc., are used only to distinguish descriptions and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0034] like Figures 1-6 As shown, it illustrates a free expansion rate tester of this disclosure, comprising:

[0035] Placement tray 1, with a feed hood 2 provided on the upper surface of placement tray 1;

[0036] The oscillating feed component 3 is mounted on the feed hood 2.

[0037] Collection and cleaning component 4 is set on placement disk 1;

[0038] The oscillating feeding assembly 3 includes an extension block 3-1, which is disposed on the side wall of the placement plate 1. An electric push rod 3-2 is disposed on the extension block 3-1. A positioning sleeve 3-3 is fitted on the electric push rod 3-2. A feeding plate 3-4 is disposed on the side wall of the positioning sleeve 3-3. A feeding port 3-5 is opened on the feeding plate 3-4. The feeding cover 2 is inserted into the inside of the feeding port 3-5. A mounting frame 3-6 is disposed at the upper end of the electric push rod 3-2. A drive motor 3-7 is disposed on the mounting frame 3-6. A drive shaft 3-8 is disposed at the output end of the drive motor 3-7. A stirring blade 3-9 is disposed on the drive shaft 3-8. The stirring blade 3-9 is embedded in the inside of the feeding cover 2.

[0039] The collection and cleaning component 4 includes a placement groove 4-1, which is located on the upper surface of the placement tray 1. A guide groove 4-2 is provided inside the placement groove 4-1, and a cleaning port 4-3 is provided inside the placement groove 4-1. The bottom of the guide groove 4-2 is connected to the cleaning port 4-3.

[0040] In some examples, the placement tray 1 is placed stably on a suitable workbench to ensure its stability. The feed hood 2 is installed on the upper surface of the placement tray 1, ensuring a tight connection without shaking or gaps to prevent material leakage. The extension block 3-1 is installed on the side wall of the placement tray 1, which can be fixed by bolts or welding to ensure a firm connection. The electric push rod 3-2 is installed on the extension block 3-1, and the installation direction of the electric push rod 3-2 should ensure that it can move up and down smoothly. The positioning sleeve 3-3 is fitted on the electric push rod 3-2 so that the positioning sleeve 3-3 can slide freely on the electric push rod 3-2. The feed tray 3-4 is installed on the side wall of the positioning sleeve 3-3. The feed port 3-5 on the feed tray 3-4 must be precisely matched with the size of the feed hood 2 so that the feed hood 2 can be smoothly inserted into the feed port 3-5. The feed tray 3-4 is installed horizontally to avoid material deviation during the feeding process.

[0041] Install the drive shaft 3-8 on the output end of the drive motor 3-7, ensuring a tight connection and smooth transmission. Install the stirring blade 3-9 on the drive shaft 3-8. The size and shape of the stirring blade 3-9 should be designed according to the internal space of the feed hood 2 so that it can effectively stir the material inside the feed hood 2.

[0042] A placement groove 4-1 is made on the upper surface of the placement tray 1. The size and position of the placement groove 4-1 should be designed according to actual usage requirements. A guide groove 4-2 is set inside the placement groove 4-1. The shape and slope of the guide groove 4-2 should ensure that the material flows smoothly to the cleaning port 4-3. A cleaning port 4-3 is set inside the placement groove 4-1. The bottom of the guide groove 4-2 is connected to the cleaning port 4-3 to ensure that the material can enter the cleaning port 4-3 through the guide groove 4-2 for cleaning. Turn on the power to the electric push rod 3-2 and test whether it can move up and down normally. Adjust the stroke and speed of the electric push rod 3-2 to meet the material feeding requirements. Observe the sliding of the positioning sleeve 3-3 on the electric push rod 3-2 to ensure that its movement is smooth and without jamming. Drive motor 3-7, test the rotation of drive shaft 3-8 and stirring blade 3-9, check the stirring effect of stirring blade 3-9 in feed hood 2 to ensure uniform stirring of materials, adjust the speed of drive motor 3-7 to adapt to the stirring requirements of different materials, turn on the vibration motor 9 in vibration block 7, test the rotation of vibration cam 10, observe the vibration effect of vibration block 7 on feed hood 2 to ensure effective material feeding, adjust the frequency and amplitude of vibration motor 9 to achieve the best feeding effect, deliver airflow to air outlet 4-6 through air duct 4-7, check the wind force and direction of air outlet 4-6 to ensure effective blowing out of dust and other impurities in the material, adjust the airflow pressure in air duct 4-7 to adapt to the cleaning requirements of different materials.

[0043] Take a representative air-dried soil sample, crush it, and ensure it passes through a 0.5mm sieve. After mixing evenly, take about 50g and place it in a soil container. Transfer it to an oven and dry it at 105-110℃ until it reaches a constant temperature. Remove it and place it in a desiccator to cool to room temperature. Pour the cooled soil sample into the feed hood 2. Start the vibrating feed assembly 3. The electric push rod 3-2 drives the feed plate 3-4 to move up and down. At the same time, the drive motor 3-7 drives the stirring plate 3-9 to stir the soil sample in the feed hood 2. The vibrating motor 9 in the vibrating block 7 drives the vibrating cam 10 to rotate, vibrating the feed hood 2 to promote the smooth passage of the soil sample through the feed inlet 3-5 into the feed plate 3-4, and then through the discharge port 6 into the subsequent testing device. During the feeding process, the stroke and speed of the electric push rod 3-2, the speed of the drive motor 3-7, and the frequency and amplitude of the vibrating motor 9 can be adjusted according to the actual situation to ensure smooth and uniform feeding.

[0044] like Figures 1-6 As shown, in this embodiment, the side wall of the stirring blade 3-9 is provided with a pressure relief groove 3-10, and a sealing cover 3-11 is provided on the drive shaft 3-8. The sealing cover 3-11 is fastened to the feed hood 2.

[0045] In some examples, the sidewall of the stirring blade 3-9 has a pressure relief groove 3-10 to balance the pressure during the stirring process. At the same time, a sealing cover 3-11 is installed on the drive shaft 3-8. The sealing cover 3-11 should be able to be tightly fastened to the feed hood 2 to prevent material leakage and the entry of external impurities.

[0046] For example, such as Figure 4 As shown, a support ring 4-4 ​​is provided on the lower end face of the placement tray 1. A dust outlet 4-5 is opened on the side wall of the support ring 4-4. An air outlet 4-6 is provided on the inner side wall of the support ring 4-4. An air duct 4-7 is provided on the side wall of the air outlet 4-6.

[0047] In some examples, a support ring 4-4 ​​is installed on the lower end face of the placement tray 1. The support ring 4-4 ​​can be fixed to the placement tray 1 by welding or bolting. A dust outlet 4-5 is opened on the side wall of the support ring 4-4 ​​to discharge dust and other impurities generated during the test. An air outlet 4-6 is installed on the inner side wall of the support ring 4-4. The side wall of the air outlet 4-6 is connected to an air duct 4-7. Airflow is delivered to the air outlet 4-6 through the air duct 4-7 to blow out dust and other impurities in the material and discharge them through the dust outlet 4-5.

[0048] For example, such as Figure 2 As shown, a plug head 5 is provided at the bottom of the drive shaft 3-8, and a discharge port 6 is provided at the bottom of the feed hood 2. The plug head 5 is inserted into the discharge port 6.

[0049] In some examples, a plug head 5 is installed at the bottom of the drive shaft 3-8, and a discharge port 6 is set at the bottom of the feed hood 2. The size and shape of the plug head 5 should be precisely matched with the discharge port 6 so that it can be smoothly inserted into the interior of the discharge port 6 and plugged when needed to control the discharge of materials.

[0050] For example, such as Figure 1 As shown, the mounting frame 3-6 is an inverted U-shaped structure, and the drive motor 3-7 is located on the side wall of the mounting frame 3-6.

[0051] In some examples, a mounting bracket 3-6 is installed on the upper end of the electric actuator 3-2. The mounting bracket 3-6 adopts an inverted U-shaped structure and is fixed to the electric actuator 3-2 by welding or bolting. The drive motor 3-7 is installed on the side wall of the mounting bracket 3-6 to ensure that the drive motor 3-7 is firmly installed and its output end can work normally.

[0052] For example, such as Figure 5 As shown, the outer wall of the feed hood 2 is provided with a vibration block 7, and there are several vibration blocks 7. Multiple vibration blocks 7 are embedded inside the feed inlet 3-5.

[0053] In some examples, an oscillating block 7 is installed on the outer wall of the feed hood 2. The number of oscillating blocks 7 is determined according to actual needs, and multiple oscillating blocks 7 should be evenly embedded inside the feed inlet 3-5.

[0054] For example, such as Figure 6 As shown, the oscillating block 7 has an oscillating cavity 8 inside, the oscillating cavity 8 has an oscillating motor 9 inside, and the output end of the oscillating motor 9 has an oscillating cam 10.

[0055] In some examples, an oscillating motor 9 is installed inside the oscillating block 7, and an oscillating cam 10 is installed at the output end of the oscillating motor 9. The oscillating motor 9 drives the oscillating cam 10 to rotate, thereby achieving the oscillation effect on the feed hood 2 and promoting smooth material feeding.

[0056] During use, after the material is poured into the feed hood 2, the electric push rod 3-2 starts working, moving up and down to move the positioning sleeve 3-3 and the feed plate 3-4, providing a dynamic feeding environment for the material. The drive motor 3-7 starts, and the drive shaft 3-8 drives the stirring blade 3-9 to rotate inside the feed hood 2. The pressure relief groove 3-10 on the side wall of the stirring blade 3-9 can balance the pressure generated during the stirring process and prevent excessive internal pressure from affecting the material flow. At the same time, the oscillating block 7 on the outer wall of the feed hood 2 plays its role. The oscillating motor 9 inside the oscillating block 7 drives the oscillating cam 10 to rotate, generating oscillation force that is transmitted to the feed hood 2. Under the dual action of stirring and oscillation, the material flows more smoothly through the feed inlet 3-5 into the feed plate 3-4, and then through the discharge outlet 6 at the bottom of the feed hood 2, into the subsequent testing device evenly and stably. The sealing cover 3-11 is fastened on the feed hood 2 to prevent material leakage and the entry of external impurities, ensuring the accuracy of the feeding process.

[0057] Test principle: The material entering the subsequent testing device (such as a graduated cylinder) is mixed with pre-injected distilled water and sodium chloride solution. The mixture is stirred by a stirrer to ensure that the material is fully dispersed in the solution. Subsequently, the material expands in the solution. As time progresses, the sample volume is recorded at regular intervals. When the difference between two readings is no greater than 0.2 mL, the expansion is considered to be stable. The free expansion rate is calculated according to the formula FS=(V-V0) / V0×100 (where V is the volume of the soil sample after expansion and stabilization in the graduated cylinder, and V0 is the volume of the soil measuring cup, i.e., the free accumulation volume of dry soil). This reflects the expansion characteristics of the material under specific conditions.

[0058] Collection and Cleaning Principle: During and after the test, the collection and cleaning component 4 plays its role. The placement groove 4-1, the guide groove 4-2, and the cleaning port 4-3 on the placement tray 1 constitute the material collection channel. Under the action of gravity, the material flows through the guide groove 4-2 to the cleaning port 4-3, achieving centralized collection. The air outlet 4-6 on the inner wall of the support ring 4-4 ​​is connected to the air pipe 4-7. When airflow is delivered to the air outlet 4-6, the airflow blows out the dust and other impurities in the residual material on the placement tray 1 and discharges them through the dust outlet 4-5 on the side wall of the support ring 4-4, completing the cleaning of the instrument, keeping the instrument clean, and preparing it for the next test. At the same time, the plug head 5 at the bottom of the drive shaft 3-8 can be inserted into the discharge port 6 at the bottom of the feed hood 2 to control the material discharge when feeding is not required, avoiding material waste and unnecessary leakage.

[0059] It should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this disclosure and are not intended to limit it. Although this disclosure has been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications or equivalent substitutions can be made to the technical solutions of this disclosure without departing from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of this disclosure, and all such modifications and substitutions should be covered within the scope of the claims of this disclosure.

Claims

1. A free swell rate tester characterized by, include: Placement tray (1), the upper end surface of which is provided with a feed hood (2); An oscillating feed assembly (3) is disposed on the feed hood (2); A collection and cleaning component (4) is disposed on the placement tray (1); The oscillating feeding assembly (3) includes an extension block (3-1), which is disposed on the side wall of the placement tray (1). An electric push rod (3-2) is disposed on the extension block (3-1), and a positioning sleeve (3-3) is fitted on the electric push rod (3-2). A feeding tray (3-4) is disposed on the side wall of the positioning sleeve (3-3), and a feeding port (3-5) is opened on the feeding tray (3-4). The feeding cover (2) is inserted into the inside of the feeding port (3-5). A mounting frame (3-6) is disposed at the upper end of the electric push rod (3-2), and a drive motor (3-7) is disposed on the mounting frame (3-6). A drive shaft (3-8) is disposed at the output end of the drive motor (3-7), and a stirring blade (3-9) is disposed on the drive shaft (3-8). The stirring blade (3-9) is embedded in the inside of the feeding cover (2).

2. A free swell rate tester according to claim 1, wherein, The side wall of the stirring blade (3-9) has a pressure relief groove (3-10), and a sealing cover (3-11) is provided on the drive shaft (3-8). The sealing cover (3-11) is fastened to the feed hood (2).

3. A free swell rate tester according to claim 1 wherein, The collection and cleaning component (4) includes a placement groove (4-1), which is located on the upper surface of the placement tray (1). A guide groove (4-2) is provided inside the placement groove (4-1), and a cleaning port (4-3) is provided inside the placement groove (4-1). The bottom of the guide groove (4-2) is connected to the cleaning port (4-3).

4. A free swell rate tester according to claim 3, wherein, The lower end face of the placement tray (1) is provided with a support ring (4-4), the side wall of the support ring (4-4) is provided with a dust outlet (4-5), the inner side wall of the support ring (4-4) is provided with an air outlet (4-6), and the side wall of the air outlet (4-6) is provided with an air duct (4-7).

5. A free swell rate tester according to claim 1 wherein, A plug (5) is provided at the bottom of the drive shaft (3-8), and a discharge port (6) is provided at the bottom of the feed hood (2). The plug (5) is inserted into the discharge port (6).

6. A free swell rate tester according to claim 1 wherein, The mounting frame (3-6) is an inverted U-shaped structure, and the drive motor (3-7) is located on the side wall of the mounting frame (3-6).

7. A free swell rate tester according to claim 1 wherein, The outer wall of the feed hood (2) is provided with a vibration block (7), and there are several vibration blocks (7), with multiple vibration blocks (7) embedded inside the feed inlet (3-5).

8. The free expansion rate tester according to claim 7, characterized in that, The oscillating block (7) is provided with an oscillating cavity (8), the oscillating cavity (8) is provided with an oscillating motor (9), and the output end of the oscillating motor (9) is provided with an oscillating cam (10).

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