Automated profiling of the hardness of wood
The present invention pertains to a device, system, and method for evaluating the condition of a wooden structure by automated profiling of the hardness of the structure. More particularly, the present invention is directed towards a probing device comprising a blade coupled to a resistance mechanism and a mechanical sensor for measuring the hardness of wood in a structure; a system comprising such a device, and a computing device coupled to the device that outputs the hardness measurements of the device; and a method for operating such a device and determining the condition of wood by identifying changes in hardness in a wooden structure.
1. A device for measuring hardness of wooden structures, the device comprising:
a shaft;
a blade moveably coupled to the shaft, the blade being configured to (i) extend outwardly from the shaft and (ii) displace inwardly toward the shaft in response to contacting a wooden structure of sufficient hardness; and
a sensor configured to measure displacement of the blade relative the shaft.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the shaft comprises a hollow portion and at least some of the blade is disposed within the hollow portion.
3. The device of claim 2 , wherein:
the shaft further comprises a hole, and
the blade is configured to (i) extend outwardly from the hole and (ii) retract into the hole in response to receiving an applied force.
4. The device of claim 1 further comprising a biasing mechanism configured to bias the blade toward an extended position.
5. The device of claim 4 , wherein the biasing mechanism comprises a spring.
6. The device of claim 1 further comprising a handle connected to a first end of the shaft, wherein the blade is located proximate a second end of the shaft.
7. The device of claim 1 , wherein said shaft further comprises a probing tip disposed proximate the blade.
8. The device of claim 1 further comprising a controller, the controller configured to receive blade displacement data from the sensor.
9. The device of claim 8 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine a local hardness of the wooden structure based at least in part on the blade displacement data.
10. The device of claim 9 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
determine location data associated with a current location of the blade corresponding to the blade displacement data; and
generate a hardness profile based at least in part on the blade displacement data and the location data.
11. The device of claim 10 further comprising a distance sensor configured to measure distance data, wherein determining the location data is based at least in part on the distance data.
12. The device of claim 11 further comprising an angle detection device configured to detect an angle of the shaft and transmit angle data to the controller, the angle data being indicative of the angle of the shaft with respect to horizontal,
wherein determining the location data is based at least in part on the distance data and the angle data.
13. A system for measuring hardness of a wooden structure, the system comprising:
a device for measuring a local hardness of the wooden structure, the device comprising:
a shaft;
a blade moveably coupled to the shaft, the blade being configured to (i) extend outwardly from the shaft and (ii) displace inwardly toward the shaft in response to contacting a wooden structure of sufficient hardness; and
a displacement sensor configured to measure displacement of the blade relative the shaft; and
a computing device configured to receive blade displacement data from the displacement sensor, the blade displacement data being indicative of the displacement of the blade relative the shaft, wherein the computing device is configured to determine the local hardness of the wooden structure based at least in part on the blade displacement data.
14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the computing device is integrated into the device.
15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the computing device is located remotely with respect to the device.
16. The system of claim 13 , wherein the device further comprises a distance sensor configured to measure distance data, the computing device being configured to determine location data associated with a current location of the blade corresponding to the blade displacement data.
17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the computing device is further configured to:
receive distance data associated with a plurality of blade locations and blade displacement data associated with the plurality of blade locations; and
determine a hardness profile of the wooden structure based at least in part on the distance data and the blade displacement data.
18. The system of claim 17 , wherein:
the device further comprises an angle-detecting device configured to determine angle data indicative of a measured angle of the shaft with respect to horizontal, and
the computing device is further configured to receive angle data associated with the plurality of blade locations,
determining the hardness profile of the wooden structure is based at least in part on the angle data.
19. The system of claim 17 , wherein the hardness profile comprises an indication of a current condition of the wooden structure or an indication of a current strength of the wooden structure.
20. The system of claim 17 , wherein the hardness profile comprises an indication of a current section modulus of the wooden structure.