# US 2018/0024034 A1 · System and method for testing or calibrating in a pressurized and/or wet environment

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- Number: US 2018/0024034 A1
- Document ID: US20180024034A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/547,889
- Filed: 2016-02-04
- Published: 2018-01-25
- Earliest claimed: 2015-02-04
- Assignees: ATS Automation Tooling Systems Inc.
- Applicants: Ats Automation Tooling Systems Inc.
- Inventors: Theodore Robert BROWN; John GRAHAM
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180024034A1

## CPC

- G01N 3/12: Pressure testing
- G01N 3/04: Chucks
- G01L 5/0076: {Force sensors associated with manufacturing machines (G01L5/0066, G01L5/0071 and B23Q17/09 take precedence; for the specific machine or operation involved see relevant class, e.g. B21 - B42)}
- G01N 2203/0048: Hydraulic means
- G01N 2203/0242: With circulation of a fluid
- G01N 2203/0405: Features allowing alignment between specimen and chucks
- G01N 2203/0411: using pneumatic or hydraulic pressure
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)
- G01L: MEASURING FORCE, STRESS, TORQUE, WORK, MECHANICAL POWER, MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY, OR FLUID PRESSURE (weighing G01G)

## Abstract

A system for testing or calibrating a part, the system including: a plurality of test stations, each test station including a container and a clamping mechanism, wherein the clamping mechanism includes: a clamp frame including: two clamp plates; a plurality of clamp bars configured to securely hold the clamp plates at a distance relative to each other; a seal manifold provided on one of the two clamp plates; and a clamping module, located opposite the seal manifold on another of the two clamp plates, wherein the clamping module includes: a plurality of pistons to hold the part against the seal manifold for the test operation; and at least one cleaning station comprising a spin mechanism for spinning the part to remove excess fluid; and a robotic system for moving individual parts to and from the plurality of test stations and to and from the at least one cleaning station.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for testing or calibrating a part, the system comprising:
a plurality of test stations, each test station comprising a container and a clamping mechanism, wherein the container is configured to hold a fluid and the clamping mechanism is configured to receive the part in a vertical orientation and clamp the part horizontally with sufficient force to withstand a predetermined pressure to be placed on the part while submerged in the fluid, wherein the clamping mechanism comprises:
a clamp frame comprising:
two clamp plates;
a plurality of clamp bars configured to securely hold the clamp plates at a distance relative to each other;
a seal manifold provided on one of the two clamp plates; and
a clamping module, located opposite the seal manifold on another of the two clamp plates, wherein the clamping module comprises:
a plurality of pistons to hold the part against the seal manifold for the test operation; and
at least one cleaning station comprising a spin mechanism for spinning the part to remove excess fluid; and
a robotic system for moving individual parts to and from the plurality of test stations and to and from the at least one cleaning station.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A system according to claim 1, wherein the robotic system comprises:
a gantry located above the plurality of test stations;
a robotic module comprising:
at least one moving mechanism configured to move along the gantry; and
a robot gripper attached to each moving mechanism and configured to grip and transport the part.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A system according to claim 2, wherein the robot gripper is configured to maintain the vertical orientation of the part.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

A system according to claim 2, further comprising a pallet for carrying the part and wherein the robot gripper comprises a lock/release mechanism configured to interact with the pallet.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A system according to claim 1, wherein the robotic system comprises:
a floor mount; and
a robotic arm attached to the floor mount, wherein the robotic arm moves the part to and from the plurality of test stations.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A system according to claim 1, wherein the spinning mechanism maintains the part in a vertical orientation.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A system according to claim 1 further comprising:
a plurality of test panels, wherein each of the plurality of test panels engage with one of the plurality of test stations such that each of the engaged test panels and test stations can be slidably removed from the system.

### Claim 8

A method for testing or calibrating a part, the method comprising:
receiving the part from a conveyor;
transporting the part to a test station while orienting the part in a vertical orientation;
inserting the part in a clamping mechanism in the test station while maintaining the part in a vertical orientation;
applying pressure to the part via the clamping mechanism, wherein the pressure is applied in a horizontal direction;
testing or calibrating the part, while maintaining the part in a vertical orientation and while under pressure;
releasing the pressure and removing the part from the clamping mechanism; and
returning the part to the conveyor.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

A method according to claim 8, wherein the test station comprises a fluid and the part is tested in a fluid, the method further comprising cleaning the part at a cleaning station by spinning the part to remove excess fluid.

### Claim 10

A system for testing or calibrating parts under pressure, the system comprising:
a plurality of test stations, each test station comprising:
a clamping mechanism configured to receive the part in a vertical orientation and clamp the part horizontally with sufficient force to withstand a predetermined pressure to be placed on the part; and
a robotic system for moving individual parts to and from the plurality of test stations.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

A system according to claim 10, wherein the clamping mechanism comprises:
a clamp frame comprising:
two clamp plates;
a plurality of clamp bars configured to securely hold the clamp plates at a distance relative to each other;
a seal manifold provided on one of the two clamp plates; and
a clamping module, located opposite the seal manifold on another of the two clamp plates, wherein the clamping module comprises:
a plurality of pistons to hold the part against the seal manifold for the test operation.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

A system according to claim 10, wherein the robotic system comprises:
a gantry located above the plurality of test stations;
a robotic module comprising:
at least one moving mechanism configured to move along the gantry; and
a robot gripper attached to each moving mechanism and configured to grip and transport the part.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

A system according to claim 12, wherein the robot gripper is configured to maintain the vertical orientation of the part.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

A system according to claim 12, further comprising a pallet for carrying the part and wherein the robot gripper comprises a lock/release mechanism configured to interact with the pallet.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

A system according to claim 10, wherein the robotic system comprises:
a floor mount; and
a robotic arm attached to the floor mount, wherein the robotic arm moves the part to and from the plurality of test stations.

### Claim 16 (depends on 10)

A system according to claim 10, further comprising at least one cleaning station comprising a spin mechanism for spinning.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

A system according to claim 16, wherein the spinning mechanism maintains the part in a vertical orientation.

### Claim 18 (depends on 10)

A system according to claim 10 further comprising:
a plurality of test panels, wherein each of the plurality of test panels engage with one of the plurality of test stations such that each of the engaged test panels and test/calibration stations can be slidably removed from the system.