Automated continuous CPT system (AUTOCOSON)
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The CPT robot is designed for fully automated electrical Cone Penetration Testing. Wireless optical data transmission replaces the measuring cable with equally reliable results. It makes Cone Penetration Testing more accurate, easier, quicker and safer.
The CPT robot sets a new standard in design, control and operation. Features include: - fully automatic placement and removal of Cone Penetration Test rods
At the basis of these innovations lie masterly examples of engineering and technology, that are also expressed in low hydraulic speeds, less heat production, lower weight, fewer sensitive parts, less maintenance and a longer lifetime. |
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Automatic pick-and-place unit Placement and removal of CPT rods by hand belong to the past. The Cone Penetration Test rods are automatically picked up from the rotating storage turret and taken over by the combined pick-and-place unit/screwer. The screwer places the CPT rod on top of the Cone Penetration Test string which is pushed into the soil at a constant speed. During this process the screwer screws the CPT rod on the Cone Penetration Test string. This requires very precise positioning and timing, since the CPT string moves continuously at a constant speed and does not stop at one meter intervals.
A take-over principle ensures a fully continuous Cone Penetration Testing progress. The CPT unit consists of two hydraulic cylinder sets installed on top of each other, instead of the usual one. Both are provided with a hydraulic clamp. The upper clamp holds the Cone Penetration Test string when a new rod is placed during downward movement. When the upper hydraulic cylinders have finished their downward stroke, the upper clamp opens and the lower clamp holds the CPT string, while the lower cylinder set takes over the downward movement. The clamps are suitable for several diameters. The continuous Cone Penetration Testing progress eliminates dissipation effects on the CPT data. Also a greater test depth is achievable with the same pushing force. |
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Man-Machine Interface Another special feature of the Cone Penetration Test robot is the control by means of a touch-screen man-machine interface. All control functions are accessible on the screen, while an animation shows the CPT progress simultaneously. The operator has an overview of the process at any given time. |
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Wireless data transmission Optical transducers inside the CPT rods send the Cone Penetration Test data to the data acquisition system, which is located in the operator's cabin. The wireless system starts with an adapter on top of the cone. It contains all electronics for the optical transmission of 6 soil parameters and has a memory for back-up data. Every five seconds a scan is made, which is sent to a camera through the optical transducers. The camera travels alongside the top of the Cone Penetration Test string. When a new CPT rod is placed, the light transducers align automatically without having to be connected to each other. The camera travels upwards, and already during placement the signals are received again from the top of the new rod. |
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Extra security The camera sends the data to the data acquistion system where the data is stored and reproduced on the screen. From the camera, commands can be sent to the cone. In this way back-up data from the cone's memory can be read out, for instance, to make sure that all measuring results are registered correctly. |
