Breakaway tooling apparatus

A breakaway tooling apparatus, comprising:

• a detection mount connectable to a manipulator and at least one tool, and said detection mount having a weakened portion created by a narrowed neck region on an outer portion of said detection mount and a stepped throughbore in an inner portion of said detection mount, wherein at least a portion of said stepped throughbore is adjacent to said narrowed neck region of said detection mount for allowing said detection mount to fracture at said weakened portion upon the realization of a predetermined force to said detection mount;
• said detection mount having an air passageway extending from said outer portion of said detection mount to said inner portion of said detection mount;
• said air passageway in communication with a pressurized air source at said outer region of said detection mount such that said pressurized air is prohibited from passing through said air passageway to said inner region of said detection mount when said detection mount is not fractured at said weakened portion, and said pressurized air being allowed to pass through said air passageway to said inner portion of said detection mount when said detection mount is fractured at said weakened portion;
• and
• a pressure sensor in communication with said pressurized air source for determining whether said pressurized air in said air passageway is below a predetermined level of air pressure, thereby indicating whether said detection mount is fractured at said weakened portion.

A breakaway tooling apparatus, comprising:

• a detection mount connectable to a manipulator, and said detection mount having a stepped throughbore adaptable to receive at least one tool, wherein a narrowed neck region is formed on an outer portion of said detection mount adjacent an inner portion of said stepped throughbore for creating a weakened portion of said detection mount for allowing said detection mount to fracture at said weakened portion upon the realization of a predetermined force applied to said detection mount;
• an air passageway extending from an outer surface of said detection mount to an inner surface of said detection mount, wherein said inner surface is in close proximity to said weakened portion of said detection mount;
• said air passageway in communication with a pressurized air source at said outer surface of said detection mount, wherein said pressurized air is prohibited from passing through said air passageway at said inner surface of said detection mount when said detection mount is not fractured at said weakened portion, and wherein said pressurized air is allowed to pass through said air passageway at said inner surface of said detection mount when said detection mount is fractured at said weakened portion of said detection mount;
• a pressure sensor in communication with said pressurized air for determining whether said pressurized air in said air passageway is below a predetermined level of air pressure, thereby indicating whether said detection mount is fractured at said weakened portion;
• and
• an air pressure regulator in communication with said pressurized air source for regulating and monitoring a level of pressurized air to said air passageway in said detection mount.