Apparatus and method for material testing
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorsAndrew Kirby, Audrey Briodeau-Line, Edward Dempsey, Graham Mead
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An example material testing apparatus includes: guide means; sample holding means for holding a sample; force means for applying force to the sample; a crosshead arranged to support at least a portion of one or both of the sample holding means and the force means, wherein the crosshead is moveable about the guide means; automated clamping means configured to apply a releasable clamping force between the guide means and the crosshead to secure the crosshead at a location with respect to the guide means, and a controller configured to control the automated clamping means to apply the clamping force between the guide means and the crosshead.
Claims13
A material testing apparatus, comprising:
- guide means;
- sample holding means for holding a sample;
- force means for applying force to the sample;
- a crosshead arranged to support at least a portion of one or both of the sample holding means and the force means, wherein the crosshead is moveable about the guide means;
- automated clamping means comprising at least one clamping member configured to apply a releasable clamping force, wherein the clamping force is a friction force between the guide means and the at least one clamping member to secure the crosshead at a location with respect to the guide means, wherein the automated clamping means is arranged to maintain the clamping force in an absence of electrical power provided to the automated clamping means;
- and
- a controller configured to control the automated clamping means to apply the clamping force between the guide means and the crosshead;
- the automated clamping means comprising:
- at least a portion of the at least one clamping member is arranged to extend from the crosshead to act as a lever for applying the friction force between the at least one clamping member and the guide means;
- and
- a linear actuator configured to apply a linear force (FL) generally perpendicular to an axis of the at least one clamping member for applying the clamping force, the linear actuator is self-locking to prevent uncontrolled release of the clamping force.
A method of operating a material testing apparatus, wherein the material testing apparatus comprises:
- guide means,
- sample holding means for holding a sample,
- force means for applying force to the sample,
- a crosshead arranged to support at least a portion of one or both of the sample holding means and the force means, wherein the crosshead is moveable about the guide means, and
- automated clamping means comprising a linear actuator, and at least one clamping member arranged to extend from the crosshead to act as a lever, wherein the linear actuator is self-locking to prevent uncontrolled release of the clamping force;
- and
- wherein the method comprises:
- applying a releasable clamping force using at least a portion of the at least one clamping member, wherein the clamping force is a friction force between the guide means and the at least one clamping member to secure the crosshead at a location with respect to the guide means, wherein applying the releasable clamping force comprises:
- applying a linear force (FL) generally perpendicular to an axis of the at least one clamping member for applying the clamping force using the linear actuator;
- the method further comprising controlling the automated clamping means to apply the clamping force between the guide means and the at least one clamping member;
- and
- maintaining the clamping force in an absence of electrical power provided to the automated clamping means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.