US 4,667,509 AGranted

Digital tester for measuring the hardness of the material

AssigneePage-Wilson Corporation

InventorsEdward Tobolski, Ronald F. Grosso, Joseph Cieplak, Elliot Lang, Ralph Hershberger

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Abstract

An automatic tester for the hardness of materials is disclosed in which the operations are automated and in which the possibility of human error is significantly eliminated. Particularly, a linear digital encoder is employed which is attached to the capstan and elevating table arrangement. Pulses are developed according to the movement of the penetrator in the workpiece and are utilized to standardize and measure the time during which the major and minor loads are applied to the workpiece. Additionally, use of a CPU according to certain preset procedures and methods allows for enhanced reliability of the testing procedures. Conversions from different testing scales as well as corrections of certain factors is easily accomplished. Still further, the tester includes the provision to insure that certain ASTM standards are met by testing the device with standard test blocks and comparing results with those preset in the CPU.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A machine for testing the hardness of a material according to a predetermined scale, said machine comprising

a platform on which a workpiece to be tested is carried,
an elevating unit for elevating the platform,
a penetrator penetrating the workpiece as the platform is raised toward the penetrator to apply a minor load to the workpiece,
means to apply a major load to the workpiece and moving the penetrator further into the workpiece,
means to remove the major load from the workpiece,
means to determine the hardness of the workpiece by comparing the relative depths of penetration of the penetrator under conditions of the application of the major and minor loads,
an improvement comprising
means to generate a series of pulses representative of the relative movement between said penetrator and said workpiece, said means to generate a series of pulses comprising means to indicate the relative direction of movement between said penetrator and workpiece while the workpiece is being moved,
means to sense when the direction of relative movement between said penetrator and workpiece is reversed while said minor load is being applied,
and means to abort the operation of the machine when there is a reversal of direction of said movement.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.