Readings produced by an improved slump meter will be the consistent across a wide range of redi-mix units, regardless of the size of the load, make, model, age or condition of the redi-mix unit, therefore any mix consistency can be easily duplicated or created, by producing a common number for each mixer when running and empty, applying a conversion factor to raw hydraulic or electric motor work measurement data, and averaging and to stabilize the output reading on a refreshing period.

The rheological probe generally has a base; an inner member fixedly connected to the base and extending away from the base, the inner member having in succession a base portion proximate to the base, and a tip away from the base, and a deformable portion located between the base portion and the tip; a shell member covering the inner member, the shell member having a proximal portion being pivotally connected to the base for pivoting about a pivot axis when subjected to a resistance pressure imparted by a relative movement of the probe in a rheological substance, and a distal portion, the distal portion being engaged with the tip, the shell member having mating features being pivotally engaged with corresponding features of the base, the mating features being located on transversally opposite sides of the proximal portion; and a deformation sensor mounted to the deformable portion.

Readings produced by an improved slump meter will be the consistent across a wide range of redi-mix units, regardless of the size of the load, make, model, age or condition of the redi-mix unit, therefore any mix consistency can be easily duplicated or created, by producing a common number for each mixer when running and empty, applying a conversion factor to raw hydraulic or electric motor work measurement data, and averaging and to stabilize the output reading on a refreshing period.

A sensor assembly may include a housing made of a non-magnetic material. The housing may define an interior chamber. A shaft may extend from the housing. A bearing may be positioned around the shaft. An impeller may be positioned around the shaft and the bearing, and the impeller may include a magnetized portion. A sensor may be positioned within the interior chamber and/or proximate the magnetized portion. The sensor may detect the magnetized portion of the impeller to sense a rate of rotation of the impeller. The rate of rotation of the impeller may correspond to changes in flow rate of the fluid. As the flow rate of the fluid, and the rate of rotation of the impeller change in predetermined manners, control signals may be conveyed to activate a tool.

Systems and methods to determine the apparent density of a fluid being displaced by a pump. The apparent density may be determined by comparing an expected torque of the pump to an actual torque of the pump. The apparent density can also be used to detect irregular operating conditions.

There are described methods and systems for handling fresh concrete inside a drum . In an aspect, a method of determining calibration data for use in determining workability of fresh concrete inside a rotating drum based on hydraulic pressure is described. This method has receiving a probe pressure value indicative of pressure exerted on a rheological probe mounted inside the drum and immerged in the fresh concrete; determining a workability value indicative of workability of the fresh concrete based on the probe pressure value and on calibration data for the rheological probe; receiving a hydraulic pressure value indicative of pressure of a hydraulic fluid used for rotating the drum; and determining hydraulic calibration data by associating the hydraulic pressure value and the workability value to one another.

A method performs evaluation of properties of a clay rod, with which a honeycomb structural body is produced. The method mixes raw materials to produce a clay, and extrudes the clay and compresses the extruded clay to produce a clay rod. The method performs NMR to detect at least one of a T1 relaxation time and a T2 relaxation time in each of a normal part and an abnormality part extracted from the clay rod. Each of the T1 relaxation time and the T2 relaxation time corresponds to a relaxation time of nuclear spins of water protons magnetically excited in each of the normal part and the abnormality part. The method performs the evaluation of uniformity of a mixed state and a compression state of the clay rod based on a difference in T1 relaxation time and T2 relaxation time between the normal part and the abnormality part.

A method and system for concrete monitoring calibration using truck-mounted mixer drum jump speed data selectively assimilated from previous deliveries. The method involves measuring energy at a first drum speed and a second drum speed. Slump is calculated using low speed energy/speed/slump curve data, or pre-stored equation wherein slump is derived as a function of slope of the line. The energy, speed, slump relationship in the provided concrete is compared to at least two pre-stored data curves across drum speed ranges of 15 0.5 RPM-6 RPM and 6 RPM-20 RPM, to ascertain whether the provided concrete matches any of the stored curve data; either activating the monitoring system for all drum speed ranges where a match is confirmed or allowing the monitoring system to calculate slump only at low drum speeds.

A method is provided for monitoring a flow behavior of mixed components without requiring additional instrumentation or sampling. The method is carried out by determining ratios of the power required to rotate a mixing impeller at different rotational speeds and then comparing the ratios. Characteristics about the mixed components are determined based on differences between the ratios.

A process for making a liquid treatment composition wherein the process includes a step of passing the liquid treatment composition via a Rheology sensor.