IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,429,589
Granted Patent B2
US 12,429,589 · App. 17/943,611 · Granted Sep 30, 2025

Hammering test system

Inventor: Takeshi Kikuchi (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: TOPCON CORPORATION
G01S17/42G01B11/24G01C15/002G01M5/0075G01M7/08G01N29/045G05D1/101
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,429,589
App. No.
17/943,611
Filed
Sep 13, 2022
Granted
Sep 30, 2025
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2852
USPC
73/579
Abstract

A hammering test system includes a hammering test device including a target, a flying unit, and a hammering test mechanism configured to conduct a hammering test on a test object, a surveying instrument including a scanner for acquiring point cloud data by scanning with scanning light, and configured to be capable of performing tracking and distance and angle measurements of the target, and an arithmetic processing unit including a point cloud data analyzing unit configured to calculate shape data by analyzing point cloud data acquired by the scanner, and a flight plan calculating unit configured to calculate a flight plan of the hammering test device based on the shape data calculated by the point cloud data analyzing unit, and the surveying instrument tracks the target of the hammering test device and makes distance and angle measurements when the hammering test mechanism conducts a hammering test.

Claims (20)

1. A hammering test system comprising:

a hammering test device including a target, a flying unit, a hammering test mechanism configured to conduct a hammering test on a test object, and a sound pickup unit;

a surveying instrument including a scanner for acquiring point cloud data by scanning with scanning light, and configured to be capable of performing tracking and distance and angle measurements of the target; and

an arithmetic processing unit including a point cloud data analyzing unit configured to calculate shape data by analyzing point cloud data acquired by the scanner, and a flight plan calculating unit configured to calculate a flight plan of the hammering test device based on the shape data calculated by the point cloud data analyzing unit,

wherein the surveying instrument tracks the target of the hammering test device and makes distance and angle measurements at a timing synchronized with a timing of conducting a hammering test by the hammering test mechanism,

wherein the flight plan calculating unit sets test points to be subjected to a hammering test at intervals of a predetermined distance on a surface of the shape data, and calculates a flight plan in which a hammering test is conducted thoroughly on a surface of the test object,

wherein detection of an abnormal sound by the sound pickup unit in response to the hammering test on the test object is always interpreted as a detection of structural abnormality in the test object, and

wherein the flight plan calculating unit is further configured to change the flight plan upon detection of the structural abnormality in the test object.

2. The hammering test system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the arithmetic processing unit includes a hammering test post-processing unit configured to process a hammering test result obtained by the hammering test device into visually recognizable information based on the shape data calculated by the point cloud data analyzing unit and data acquired by distance and angle measurements made by the surveying instrument.

3. The hammering test system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the arithmetic processing unit includes a hammering test post-processing unit configured to process a hammering test result obtained by the hammering test device into visually recognizable information based on the shape data calculated by the point cloud data analyzing unit and data acquired by distance and angle measurements made by the surveying instrument.

4. The hammering test system according to claim 1 , wherein the flight plan calculating unit changes the flight plan upon detection of an abnormality by reducing the predetermined distance between the test intervals.

5. The hammering test system according to claim 1 , wherein the flight plan calculating unit changes the flight plan upon detection of an abnormality by assigning additional test points circumscribing the test point where the abnormality was detected.

6. The hammering test system according to claim 1 , wherein the flight plan calculating unit changes the flight plan upon detection of an abnormality by repeating the hammering test on the test point where the abnormality was detected.

7. The hammering test system according to claim 1 , wherein the flying unit includes a marking mechanism for marking a portion of the surface of the test object where a structural abnormality is detected.

8. The hammering test system according to claim 1 , wherein the flying unit includes a plurality of landing rods extending from opposite sides that are adjustable such that the flying unit assumes a posture that is parallel to a surface of the test object where it is landed to perform a hammering test.

9. The hammering test system according to claim 1 , wherein the flying unit includes a triaxial sensor for acquiring posture data of the flying unit with respect to the surface of the test object, and the hammering test device acquires the posture data synchronized with a timing of a hammering sound produced by the hammer.

10. The hammering test system according to claim 1 , wherein the flying unit includes at least one detection sensor that detects obstacles on the test object that would interfere with the hammering test device such that the hammering test device avoids the obstacle.

11. The hammering test system according to claim 1 , wherein the flying unit includes a 360° prism configured to retro-reflect light toward a direction opposite to an incident direction of the light such that the surveying instrument can track the flying unit.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 13, 2022
From: KIKUCHI, TAKESHI
To: TOPCON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 061081/0668 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2021-160658 · Sep 30, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230103063A1 · Mar 30, 2023
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