Panel bending machine
AssigneeHuber Engineered Woods LLC
InventorsJody Doak, Shannon Guffey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A panel testing device, and a method of its use, for flexing and measuring mechanical properties of a panel are provided comprising a panel bending assembly operable to engage a panel and impart a bending force on the engaged panel, and a linear actuator having an output shaft coupled to the panel bending assembly, wherein the output shaft is operable to be movable relative to the panel bending assembly continuously at a constant rate of linear motion regardless of the torque force resisting such motion at the panel testing assembly.
Claims21
A panel testing device for flexing and measuring mechanical properties of a panel, comprising:
- a panel bending assembly operable to engage a panel and impart a bending force on the engaged panel;
- a linear actuator having an output shaft coupled to the panel bending assembly, wherein the output shaft is operable to be movable relative to the panel bending assembly where movement of the output shaft correspondingly changes a bending force applied to a test panel engaged by the panel bending assembly;
- a position feedback assembly operable to generate signals corresponding to the position and velocity of the output shaft of the linear actuator;
- a deflection measurement assembly operable to measure a deflection of the panel;
- and
- a control system communicating with the linear actuator and the deflection measurement assembly for controlled operation thereof including receiving first signals from the deflection measurement assembly that correspond to the deflection of the panel and second signals from the position feedback assembly that correspond to the position and velocity of the output shaft of the linear actuator, wherein the control system is adapted to adjust the velocity of the output shaft in response to the second signals.
A method for testing a panel of material, comprising:
- (A) providing a panel testing device configured to flex a test panel comprising
- a panel bending assembly operable to engage a panel and impart a bending force on the engaged panel;
- a linear actuator having an output shaft coupled to the panel bending assembly, wherein the output shaft is operable to be movable relative to the panel bending assembly where movement of the output shaft correspondingly changes a bending force applied to a test panel engaged by the panel bending assembly;
- a position feedback assembly operable to generate signals corresponding to the position and velocity of the output shaft of the linear actuator;
- a deflection measurement assembly operable to measure a deflection of the panel;
- and
- a control system communicating with the linear actuator and the deflection measurement assembly for controlled operation thereof including receiving first signals from the deflection measurement assembly that correspond to the deflection of the panel and second signals from the position feedback assembly that correspond to the position of the output shaft of the linear actuator, wherein the control system is adapted to adjust the velocity of the output shaft in response to the second signals;
- (B) inserting a test panel into the testing device;
- (C) powering the linear actuator effective to impart a bending force on the test panel from opposite ends thereof;
- (D) moving the output shaft at a generally constant rate along a plurality of different axial positions relative to the panel bending assembly;
- (E) operating, during step (D), the deflection measurement assembly to measure the deflection of the test panel at said different axial positions and outputting signals corresponding to the amount of deflection thereof at said respective different axial positions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.