GB2392988A

GB2392988A - Device for measuring the going of a race course

Info

Publication number: GB2392988A
Application number: GB0221270A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Graham Douglas Mulford
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-09-13
Filing date: 2002-09-13
Publication date: 2004-03-17
Also published as: GB0230224D0; GB2392989A; GB0221270D0

Abstract

The device comprises a probe 13 attached to an inner cylinder 10 which is disposed inside an outer cylinder 9. The probe may be dropped or propelled by a calibrated spring into the ground and means 1,7,12 are provided for capturing data relating to the measurement, such as, force, displacement, deceleration peak and time, bounce back height and time, and, displacement peak against time. Various probes and plates 17 may be attached to the inner cylinder to reproduce the force of the impact area, or a percentage of a horse's hoof, as the horse walks, trots or gallops on impact. Impact force may be varied by adding weights to the inner cylinder or changing the calibrated spring. The description describes experiments with various balls to indicate the bounce or run of the ball from various surfaces (note claim 25).

Description

PAGE 1

The MOKE Description

This mobile drop testing and spring calibrated, device relates to the energy measurement and indication of surface displacement in relation to the average racehorse's hoof size.

Telescopic, with its two handles protruding through outer cylinder, dhe inner cylinder moves vertically up and down inside the outer cylinder via the running channels on the outer cylinder.

The calibrated impact force of the formulated probes can be altered by way of adding lead weights to dhe inner oiled cylinder, applying calibrated springs on top of outer cylinder, or by changing the size of the impact head. However, on application of inner cylinder by means of dropping or calibrated spring, any alteration reproduces the desired Pascal force on the various probes and plates.

Made from stainless steel, alloy and plastic, die carefully weighted device records measurements of, depth of the probes into dhe surfaces, duration time and millisecond per LB force, peak time of the applied force as probes enters various surfaces.

The mechanics of the timed impact widh various surfaces are analysed by means of data acquisition, stored and formulated in the data logger and analyzed in various forms, such as, g. deceleration peak and time, bounce back height and time and displacement peak against time which are recorded by means of data capturing via dhe computer. Tensile force is captured in dhe same medhod, but as dhe probe is retracted from surface. Weighted due to computer shelf and wheel chassis, each side of dhe main cylinder, dhe ground ring area of dhe device sits flat on various surfaces.

The various detachable probes and plates, which screw into the sensor chat is attached to tile vertical running inner cylinder. Designed to reproduce the Pascal force of dhe impact area, or a percentage of a horse's hoof, as the horse walks, trots or gallops on impact, dhe moke is totally mobile.

Today's method of testing dhe going consists of the steward of the course pushing a walking stick in dhe ground, which allows him to give his interpretation of the ground condition. The various descriptions of the going are, soft, hard to soft, yielding, hard,

however there is a discrepancy between tracks surfaces and the various stewards' interpretation of dhe ground condition.

The method of surface or track measurement involving the moke would yield a numerical reading. Measurements relating too the probes insertion and retraction from various surfaces can give an indication of the hoofs insertion as the horse that walks trots or gallops. The deceleration of the probe is the main factor and inspecting the mechanics of that time can give change of momentum, impact resistance of the various surfaces. The many variations of the deceleration can give an assessment of any racing surface.

For a general term of the various ground or track surfaces, "surfaces" will cover any man made or natural ground compilation. Depth and all above measurements from the probe insertion into the various surfaces, logged around the map of track or surface map, or as a numerical print out, or a Coloured coded map of the surface.

Plates and probes attached to the inner cylinder record the various surface-cushioning effects of the various surfaces. After the impact of the probe, a detailed spreadsheet of the various data measurements and indications are applied to a map of the surface.

Using the moke, experiments with various balls have been undertaken to give and indication of the bounce or run of the ball from the various surfaces.

In addition, experiments on various surfaces using the Pascal force value of a running or walking human foot have been undertaken and an indication of the rebound energy to the foot and the insertion of the foot have been indicated.

Figure I The complete mobile moke device. Please refer to, figure 1 attached.

Numbered description of the mobile moke device.

_- I Electronics. Charged at the mains.

2 Shelf for holding the computer in place during movement.

3 Spring Clip for holding computer in place.

4 Cabling into electronics (B.N.C connectors and port connectors) via computers.

5 Handle. 6 _ Detachable knobs fixed through inner cylinder - To run up and down inside item 8.

7 CM & Inches scale on inner cylinder for depth measurement.

8 Cut out on outer cylinder so washer and knobs of inner cylinder run up and down.

_, 9 Outer cylinder with too spring lid.

__. . 10 Inner cylinder, various lead weights inside.

11 Cable from transducer.

_. 12 Quartz transducer-accelerometer- strain caue-disDlacement gauge.

_ _. 13 Probe.

14 Circular stand with 3 legs for good vertical drop.

15 Wheels for mobility.

16 Viewing window on outer cylinder [ r0 - of depth scale on inner cylinder (fig 1). _ 17 Various plates and probes. Frown 7 inches diameter to 5 milt 18 Laptop computer.

19 Bauery, for powering hardware.

20 Software, __ 21 Compaction indicator.

Figure 2 Refer to the diagram - Shows the front view of the whole device.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED,

A MOBILE DROP TESTING, BATTERY POWERED, HAND PULLED TRACK

CUSHIONED WEIGHTED DEVICE FOR INDICATING, THE HARDNESS,

SOFTNESS AND REBOUND CAPACITY OF VARIOUS SURFACES,

COMPRISING; VERTICAL FORCE VALUED PROBES AND PRESSURE PLATES;

BEING REPEATEDLY APPLIED INTO AND ONTO VARIOUS SURFACES BY

FORMULATED APPLIED FORCE; AND RECORDINGS OF MECHANICS OF

IMPACT TO GIVE INDICATIONS OF EQUINE CAPACITIES AND HOOF

INSERTION OF SURFACES, SUBSTRATE OR RACE TRACKS AS RELATING TO

THE HORSE, AS ANIMAL WALKS, TROTS OR GALLOPS.

2-A DEVICE, AS CLAIMED IN CLAIM 1, IN WHICH THE IMPACT VELOCITY OF

THE DEVICE IS CALIBRATED TO AN INlDIVIDUAL HORSES LOCOMOTIVE OUTPUT, BY MEANS OF ADDING LEAD WEIGHTS, CHANGING CALIBRATED

SPRING OR CHANGING IMPACT HEAD, OR BY ALTERING DROP HEIGHT OF

INNER CYLINDER.

3-A DEVICE, AS CLAIMED IN CLAIM 1,2, IN WHICH THE IMPACT HEAD OF

VARIOUS PROBES IS THE ACTUAL SIZE, OR PROPORTIONATE TO THE SIZE

OF THE AVERAGE HORSES HOOF.

4-A DEVICE, AS CLAIMED IN CLAIMS 1,2,3, On, WHICH HOOF RELATED

PROBES, ENTER VARIOUS SURFACES AND FORCE, and DECELRATION AND DISPALCEMENT DATA IS COLLECTED AND FORMULATED WITHIN THE

AQUSISTTON AND LOGGING SOFTWARE.

5- A DEVICE, AS CLAIMED IN ANY PRECIOUS CLAIM, IN WHICH HOOF SIZED

PLATES ARE APPLIED ONTO VARIOUS SURFACES, AND MEASUREMENT OF

ROOT STRUCTURE, GRASS, SAND, SYNTHETICS MATERIAL OR MAN MADE

TRACK CUSHIONING ARE RECORDED.

6- A DEVICE, AS CLAIMED IN ANY PREVIOUS CLAIM, IN WHICH THE

VARIOUS PROBES INSERTION INTO VARIOUS SURFACES OR TRACKS WILL

GIVE AN INDICATION OF THE HEAL OR TOE INSERTION OF A HORSE INTO

VARIOUS SURFACES AND THE COLLECTED DATA FROM SAID DEPTH IS

USED TO GIVE AND INDIACATION OF VARIOUS SURFACES, HUMAN OR

EQUINE TRAFFIC CAPABILTY.

7- A DEVICE, AS CLAIMED IN ANY PREVIOUS CLAIM, IN WHICH THE

DECELERATION, IMPACT RESISTANCE OR GENERAL FORCE

MEASUREMENTS OF THE PROBE ARE MEASURED BY MEANS OF A PIEZO

ELECTRIC TRANSDUCER, ACCELEROMETERS, DISPLACEMENT GAUGES, OR

STRAIN GAUGE TECHNOLOGY.

8- A DEVICE, AS CLAIMED IN ANY PREVIOUS CLAIM, IN WHICH

ACCELEROMETERS ARE USED TO INDICATE DECELERATION TIME OR PEAK

OF THE PROBES INSERTION INTO VARIOUS SURFACES.

9- A DEVICE, AS CLAIMED IN ANY PREVIOUS CLAIM, IN WHICH THE POWER

MEANS, BATTERY POWER.

1 O- A DEVICE, AS CLAIMED IN ANY PREVIOUS CLAIM, IN WHICH MAXIMUM,

MINIMUM, RISE TIME AND DURATION OF APPLIED FORCE ON THE VARIOUS

HOOF IMPACT AREAS IS RECORDED.

11- A DEVICE, AS CLAIMED IN ANY PREVIOUS CLAIM, IN WHICH THE

TENSILE FORCE, OR PULL OF SURFACES, IS RECORDED OR BY MEANS OF

EXTRACTING HOOF SIZED PROBE FROM VARIOUS SURFACES.

1 2-A DEVICE, AS CLAIMED IN ANY PREVIOUS CLAIM, WHEREIN VARIOUS

PROBES OR IMPACT HEADS CAN RETRACT INSIDE AN OUTER PROTECTIVE

TUBE AND A DEPTH OF ELASTICITY OF AN Y PENERTRABLE SURFACE

VALUE CAN BE ASSESSED.

1 3-A DEVICE, AS CLAIMED IN ANY PREVIOUS CLAIM, IN, WHICH THE

COMPUTER HELD BY MEANS OF A SPRING CLIP INTO PORT OF

COMPUTERAND AN ASSESEMNT OF THE GOING IS REACH BY MEANS OF.G.

1 4-A DEVICE, AS CLAIMED IN ANY PREVIOUS CLAIM, IN WHICH THE

QUANTITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF "THE GOING" IS THE SURFACE

DISPLACEMENT OF EITHER HEAL OR TOE MEASUREMENT PROBE, OR

AVERAGE OF BOTH, AS RECORDED FROM PROBE INSERTION INTO

VARIOUS SURFACES.

15- A DEVICE, AS CLAIMED IN ANY PREVIOUS CLAIM, IN MACH THE PROBE

INSERTION INTO SURFACE IS QUANTIFIED BY MEANS OF DIGITAL

READOUT AND THE CALLOECTED TIME AND PEAK DATA OF FORCE,

DECELERATION AND DISPALCEMNT IS COMBINATED OR INDIVIDUALY

USED TO MAKE AN ASSESMENT OF THE GOING OF ANY RACING SURFACE.

16- A DEVICE, AS CLAIMED IN ANY PREVIOUS CLAIM, IN WHICH THE

WEIGHT ON GROUND RING OF THE DEVICE IS SUFFICENT TO CANCEL

CUSHOINING OF RACING SURFACES.

17- A DEVICE AS CLAIMED IN ANY PREVIOUS CLAIM, IN WHICH THE

IMPACT FORCE OF THE PROBE IS PROPELLED BY MEANS OF A CALIBRATED

SPRING AND THE IMPACT MECHANICS AFTER TRIGGER EVENTS ARE

COLLECTED BY MEANS OF DATA ACQUISITION, FORMULTED AS

DESCRIBED AND USED TO GIVE AN QUANATIVE ASSESMENT OF THE

GOING OF ANY RACING SURFACE,

18- A METHOD OF MEASURING THE CUSHIONING, HARDNESS OR

DECELERATION OF PROBES OR PLATES INTO VARIOUS SURFACES, WHICH

WOULD CULMINATE IN INDICATING A SUBSTANTIVE ASSESSMENT OF THE

GOING OF AN EQUINE RACING SURFACE. BY A MEANS OF CHANGE OF

MOMENTUM

19- A METHOD OF INDICATING A HORSES HEAL OR TOE INSERTION INTO

VARIOUS SURFACES, AS HORSE WALKS TROTS OR GALLOPS OVER

VARIOUS SURFACES.

20- A METHOD, AS CLAIMED IN ANY PREVIOUS CLAIM, IN WHICH THE

SURFACE DISPLACEMENT, AS INDICATED BY APPLIED PROBE IS APPLIED

TO THE RACETRACK MAP OK SPREADSHEETS, AS TO PROVIDE A

QUANTITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF THE GOING OF THE RACECOURSE OR

GALLOPS.

21- A METHOD, AS CLAIMED PREVIOUS CLAIM, IN WHICH PROBES AND

PLATES ARE FORCIBLY PLACED ONTO VARIOUS SURFACES AND

MEASUREMENTS OF SURFACE CUSHIONING ARE RECORDED ONTO A MAP

OF THE RACING SURFACE, OR SPREADSHEET, FOR AN QUANTITATIVE

ASSESSMENT OF THE GOING.

22- A METHOD AS CLAIMED IN CLAIM, IN, WHICH VARIOUS FORCE VALUES

ARE RECORDED FROM THE PROBES INSERTION INTO VARIOUS SURFACES

TO PROVIDE QUANTITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF THE GOING OF A EQUINE

RACING SURFACE.

23- A METHOD, AS CLAIMED IN ANY PREVIOUS CLAIM, IN WHICH PROBES

OR PLATES ARE CALIBRATED TO THE IMPACT FORCE VALUES OF ANY

LIVING CREATURES FOOT, HOOF OR PAW.

24- A METHOD, AS CLAIMED IN ANY PREVIOUS CLAIM, IN WHICH PROBES

OR PLATES ARE APPLIED WITH IMPACT FORCE WHICH ARE CALIBRATED

TO THE IMPACT PROPERTIES OF ANY SIZED SPERICAL OBJECT OR BALL.

25- A METHOD, AS CLAIMED IN ANY PREVIOUS CLAIM, IN WHICH AN

INDICATION OF ANY BALLS REBOUND HEIGHT CAN BE ASSESSED BY

EXAMINING THE SURFACES, AGAINST THE IMPACT VELOCITY OF THE

PROBES OR PLATES.