Method and equipment for measuring the moisture content of soil materials

Abstract

To provide a measuring method of a moisture content of a soil material, and measurement equipment.SOLUTION: A method for measuring a moisture content of soil materials 22 includes: moving a dump truck 24 loaded with the soil materials at a soil material storage yard 20 to a carry-out port 20a of the storage yard; and at the carry-out port, using a near-infrared moisture meter 16 to measure the moisture content at one part or a plurality of parts of a surface 22a of the soil materials loaded on the dump truck. Measurement equipment 10 includes a gate 12 installed at the carry-out port of the soil material storage yard and allowing passage of dump trucks loaded with the soil materials, a support mechanism 14 provided at the gate, the near-infrared moisture meter 16 with a near-infrared radiation port 16a supported by the gate via the support mechanism so as to be movable in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction respectively, and a sunshade 18 attached to the near-infrared moisture meter for covering the near-infrared moisture meter except for the near-infrared radiation port.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method and measuring equipment for measuring the water content of soil materials (filling materials) such as waterproofing materials used in the construction of rockfill dams. [Background technology]

[0002] The soil material is selected and collected at the quarry, transported to a storage area where its moisture content is adjusted, and then loaded onto a dump truck and transported from the storage area to the embankment construction site.

[0003] Since the moisture content of soil material stored in a storage area changes over time due to the influence of the surrounding environment, the moisture content of the soil material is measured before it is removed from the storage area.

[0004] 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 rays emitted by the near-infrared moisture meter are irradiated onto the surface of the soil material in the container's container, thereby measuring the moisture content of the soil material. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-191048 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The present invention provides a new method and equipment for measuring the moisture content of soil material with reference to the previously proposed methods and devices for measuring the moisture content of soil material. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] 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, and measuring the moisture content of the soil material by a near-infrared moisture meter at the exit. The near-infrared moisture meter is moved vertically while being guided by a guide device consisting of a pair of double tubes extending vertically, and placed at a predetermined height. The near-infrared moisture meter is then moved horizontally by a traveling device suspended so as to be able to run along two rail members, and the near-infrared moisture meter The method includes measuring the moisture content at one or more points on the surface of the soil material loaded onto the dump truck. 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 storage site and soil material whose moisture content has not been adjusted.

[0008] According to the present invention, when the soil material is transported from the storage site to the banking construction site, the moisture content of the soil material itself can be measured. If the measured value is within an appropriate range, the soil material loaded onto the dump truck can be sent to the banking construction site as is, and therefore quickly.

[0009] 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.

[0010] The equipment for measuring the moisture content of soil material according to the present invention includes a gate installed at an exit of a soil material storage area to define a space for allowing a dump truck loaded with the soil material to pass through, 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 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 includes two rail members extending horizontally, a running 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.

[0011] 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 successively toward the surface of the soil material loaded on 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 on 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 on the dump truck can be measured outdoors.

[0012] The equipment for measuring the moisture content of soil material preferably further includes a distance meter for detecting the distance between the surface of the soil material loaded on the dump truck and the near-infrared radiation port of the near-infrared moisture meter. This makes it possible to detect the distance from the near-infrared radiation port of the near-infrared moisture meter to the surface of the soil material, thereby enabling the moisture content to be measured at a more appropriate distance.

[0013] The support mechanism of 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. According to this, the near-infrared moisture meter can be moved vertically.

[0014] In addition, it is preferable that a roof is provided on the gate, which serves to block sunlight and raindrops that are detrimental to the measurement of the moisture content of the soil material loaded into the dump truck. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a front view of the equipment for measuring the moisture content of soil material. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a side view of equipment for measuring the moisture content of soil material. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] With reference to Figures 1 and 2, equipment used to implement a method for measuring the moisture content of soil materials (filling materials) such as waterproofing materials used in the construction of rockfill dams, i.e., equipment for measuring the moisture content of soil materials, is generally indicated by the reference numeral 10.

[0017] 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 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 a surface 22a of a soil material 22 loaded on a dump truck 24 and a 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 then 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.

[0018] The gate 12 is installed at an exit 20a provided in a storage yard 20 where the soil material is stocked. The soil material is composed 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 yard 20 and stored in the storage yard 20 after or without adjusting its moisture content.

[0019] 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 the one point on the surface 22a of the soil material 22, it is not necessarily required 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.

[0020] The illustrated gate 12 has a pair of portal frames 26 spaced apart from each other in the traveling direction of the dump truck 24 (see FIG. 2). Each portal frame 26 has a pair of support columns 26a and a beam 26b (see FIG. 1) connected to the support columns 26a and extending horizontally. The support columns 26a and the 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 columns 26a, respectively.

[0021] The support mechanism 14 of the near-infrared moisture meter 16 comprises 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 both winding up and winding down, a support plate 38 suspended from the wire 36a and able to move in the vertical direction, and a guide device 40 fixed to the traveling device 34 and used to linearly guide the support plate 38 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 downwards.

[0022] According to 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. Also, 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 restricts lateral vibration of the near-infrared moisture meter 16.

[0023] Each of the rail members 32 shown in the figure is made of an H-shaped steel, and both ends thereof are fixed to both connection members 30 of both portal frames 26, respectively.

[0024] The travel device 34 shown in the figure includes a horizontally disposed plate body 42 and two sets of wheel assemblies 44 disposed 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 disposed 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 sandwiching the web of the H-shaped steel constituting each rail member 32.

[0025] The illustrated guide device 40 is composed of a pair of double pipes 46 that are spaced apart from each other in the extending direction of the connecting member 30 of both portal frames 26 and that 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 iron 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 both plate members 48 and fixed to both plate members 48 at the outer pipe 46a, and both plate members 48 are fixed to the plate member 50. Both 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.

[0026] 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 generally box-shaped, with its lower end open downward. The sunshade 18 acts to block sunlight from entering the near-infrared moisture meter 16 placed outdoors. This enables the near-infrared moisture meter 16 to measure the moisture content of the soil material 22 more accurately outdoors.

[0027] 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 in the horizontal direction. Next, the near-infrared moisture meter 16 is moved in the vertical direction to place the near-infrared radiation port 16a at a predetermined height position above the surface 22a of the soil material 22. At this time, 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 is detected by the distance meter 19. 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 in a straight line 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 measurements of multiple moisture contents at multiple points on a straight line on the surface 22a of the soil material 22. Using the distance meter 19 makes it possible to measure the moisture contents at a more appropriate distance. It is possible to measure one moisture content at one point on the surface 22a of the soil material 22.

[0028] 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.

[0029] The measurement facility 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 instruct the start and end of the operation, operation, and confirmation can be provided on the support 26a of the portal frame 26 of the gate 12. [Explanation of symbols]

[0030] 10. Measurement Equipment 12 Gates 14 Support mechanism 16 Near-infrared moisture meter 16a Near-infrared emission port 18 Sunshade 19 Rangefinder 20 Storage 20a Exit 22 Soil materials 24 Dump Truck 26 Gate Frame 26a, 26b Columns and beams 32 Rail parts 34 Running gear 36 Hoist 38 Support plate 40 Guidance device 46 Double pipe

Claims

1. 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.

2. The measuring method according to claim 1 , wherein the soil material has a moisture content previously adjusted in the storage area.

3. 3. The measuring method according to claim 1, further comprising leveling a surface of the soil material loaded into the dump truck before measuring the water content.

4. 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 wheels of the dump truck are washed at the discharge exit.

5. A measurement method described in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the near-infrared moisture meter is moved vertically by a hoist suspended from the running device.

6. 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. 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. 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.

9. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 8, further comprising a roof provided on the gate. Measurement equipment.

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