The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 26, 2019
Filed:
Aug. 01, 2016
Instrotek, Inc., Raleigh, NC (US);
Dirk M. Steckmann, Raleigh, NC (US);
Ali Regimand, Raleigh, NC (US);
Lawrence H. James, Raleigh, NC (US);
Andrew T. LaCroix, Raleigh, NC (US);
Johnny G. Williams, Jr., Raleigh, NC (US);
Adam C. O'Neill, Durham, NC (US);
InstroTek, Inc., Raleigh, NC (US);
Abstract
A system for conducting a maximum specific gravity test includes a sealable container for receiving and holding an asphalt mixture sample, a vacuum pump in fluid communication with the container for evacuating the container, a valve in fluid communication with the container, a shaker for shaking the container, and a controller. The controller can operate the system in a test mode by: (i) turning on the vacuum pump; (ii) automatically monitoring a vacuum pressure in the container with the vacuum pump on; (iii) automatically turning on the shaker when the monitored vacuum pressure reaches a target vacuum pressure value; (iv) automatically opening or closing the valve such that the monitored vacuum pressure in the container is maintained within a target vacuum pressure range for a predetermined period of time with the shaker on; and (v) automatically turning the shaker off at the end of the predetermined period of time.