High strain rate tester for materials used in sports balls
AssigneeSpalding Sports Worldwide, Inc.
InventorsJohn D. Axe, Vincent J. Simonds, Thomas A. Veilleux
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A high strain rate tester for elastomeric materials used in sports balls includes a base on which a sample of the material is mounted and a striker which delivers an impact to the sample, preferably in the vertical direction. A load cell adjacent to the sample measures the reaction force of the impact from the sample and an optical detector measures the displacement of the sample in the vertical direction. The force and displacement measurements are processed to determine the time dependent strain of the material.
Claims18
Apparatus for measuring strain rate of a sample of material used in sports balls, comprising:
- (a) a fixed base on which the sample is mounted;
- (b) a striker for delivering an impact to the sample in a first direction;
- (c) a first detector connected with said base for measuring the reaction force of the impact from the sample;
- and
- (d) a second detector connected with said base for measuring the displacement of the sample in said first direction, whereby said reaction force and said displacement can be processed to determine the time dependent strain of the material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.