Device and method for calibrating and correlating slump in a concrete mixer

1. A process for automatically calibrating and correlating a slump meter that is connected to a concrete mixer to provide a user digital reading display of a similar batches of freshly mixed concrete, independent of concrete mixer size, make, or model, comprising:

receiving, by a microprocessor, from a user entry, a Batch Identifier value;

retrieving, by a microprocessor, from a motor power-to-slump correlation table stored in computer readable memory, at least one conversion factor corresponding to the specific concrete mixer and corresponding to the Batch Identifier value; and

subsequent to the receiving the Batch Identifier value:

receiving, by a microprocessor, from a specific concrete mixer, a plurality of real-time unadjusted concrete mixer drum motor hydraulic input pressure values measured periodically by a hydraulic pressure sensor at an input to the mixer drum motor;

applying, by a microprocessor, the retrieved at least one conversion factor to each of the received concrete mixer drum motor hydraulic input pressure values to yield a plurality of real-time slump values independent of other operating conditions of the specific concrete mixer;

periodically, averaging, by a microprocessor, over an averaging period, the plurality of real-time slump values; and

periodically, refreshing a digital display, by a microprocessor, on a user interface, of the periodic averaged slump value.

2. The process as set forth in claim 1 wherein the second set of values comprises values received from a vehicle-mounted concrete mixer motor.

3. The process as set forth in claim 1 wherein the second set of values comprises values received from a stationary concrete mixer motor.

4. The process as set forth in claim 1 wherein the Batch Identifier value comprises at least one portion indicating a target slump value and at least one portion indicating a batch volume.

5. The process as set forth in claim 4 wherein the target slump indication portion comprises a target slump value in inches.

6. The process as set forth in claim 4 wherein the target slump indication portion comprises a target slump value in centimeters.

7. The process as set forth in claim 4 wherein the batch volume indication portion comprises a concrete load size in cubic yards.

8. The process as set forth in claim 4 wherein the batch volume indication portion comprises a concrete load size in cubic meters.

9. The process as set forth in claim 1 further comprising:

receiving, by a microprocessor, from a user interface, a calibration update value; and

modifying, by a microprocessor, in the motor power-to-slump correlation table stored in computer readable memory, at least one conversion factor corresponding to the Batch Identifier value and corresponding to the specific concrete mixer.

10. A computer program product for automatically calibrating and correlating a slump meter that is connected to a concrete mixer to provide a user digital reading display of a similar batches of freshly mixed concrete, independent of concrete mixer size, make, or model, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium; and

one or more program instructions stored by the non-transitory computer-readable medium which, when executed by a microprocessor, performing steps of:

receiving from a user entry a Batch Identifier value;

retrieving from a motor power-to-slump correlation table stored in computer readable memory, at least one conversion factor corresponding to the specific concrete mixer and corresponding to the Batch Identifier value; and

subsequent to the receiving the Batch Identifier value:

receiving, from a specific concrete mixer, a plurality of real-time unadjusted concrete mixer drum motor hydraulic input pressure values measured periodically by a hydraulic pressure sensor at an input to the mixer drum motor;

applying, by a microprocessor, the retrieved at least one conversion factor to each of the received concrete mixer drum motor hydraulic input pressure values to yield a plurality of real-time slump values independent of other operating conditions of the specific concrete mixer;

periodically, averaging, by a microprocessor, over an averaging period, the plurality of real-time slump values; and

periodically, refreshing a digital display, by a microprocessor, on a user interface, of the periodic averaged slump value.

11. A system for automatically calibrating and correlating a slump meter that is connected to a concrete mixer to provide a user digital reading display of a similar batches of freshly mixed concrete, independent of concrete mixer size, make, or model, comprising:

one or more microprocessors;

a non-transitory computer-readable medium; and

one or more program instructions stored by the non-transitory computer-readable medium which, when executed by a microprocessor, performing steps of:

receiving from a user entry a Batch Identifier value;

retrieving from a motor power-to-slump correlation table stored in computer readable memory, at least one conversion factor corresponding to the specific concrete mixer and corresponding to the Batch Identifier value; and

subsequent to the receiving the Batch Identifier value:

receiving, from a specific concrete mixer, a plurality of real-time unadjusted concrete mixer drum motor hydraulic input pressure values measured periodically by a hydraulic pressure sensor at an input to the mixer drum motor;

applying, by a microprocessor, the retrieved at least one conversion factor to each of the received concrete mixer drum motor hydraulic input pressure values to yield a plurality of real-time slump values independent of other operating conditions of the specific concrete mixer;

periodically, averaging, by a microprocessor, over an averaging period, the plurality of real-time slump values; and

periodically, refreshing a digital display, by a microprocessor, on a user interface, of the periodic averaged slump value.