US 5,206,518 AGranted

Accelerated weathering apparatus

AssigneeQ-Panel Corporation

InventorsGregory R. Fedor, Douglas M. Grossman

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A Weathering apparatus having a light source which irradiates onto specimens located in a specimen supporting wall which is located on a side of a test chamber. The output of the light source is controlled by independently adjustable control channels. Each of the control channels include a light source detector inserted into the test chamber, control circuitry, and ballasts connected to the light sources. The light sources are controlled by the control channels to deliver an output equivalent to a desired set-point. In order to disperse light in an even manner to the specimens, a barrier is provided which interferes in a predetermined pattern with the passage of light produced by the light sources. The apparatus includes a calibrating device which automatically transfers an irradiance signal from a reference detector selectively positioned immediately adjacent the light source detector. The calibration signal is sent to the controller where the re-calibration of a selected control channel is accomplished.

Claims21

Dependent claims

An accelerated weathering apparatus comprising:

a test chamber;
a specimen supporting means for supporting specimens in the test chamber;
a light source located within the test chamber for producing light in the test chamber;
a power source for powering the light source;
a ballast means connected to the light source, for controlling the amount of power the light source receives from the power source;
a controller, connected to the ballast means, to produce a ballast control signal for controlling operation of the ballast means;
a set-point means connected to the controller for generating and sending a set-point signal to the controller, the set-point signal determining an initial set-point value of the ballast control signal;
a light source detector means inserted into the specimen supporting means for detecting irradiance existing in the test chamber, and for generating an irradiance signal representative of the detected irradiance;
an irradiance signal input means, for inputting the irradiance signal to the controller, the controller using the irradiance signal to adjust the ballast control signal, to maintain the selected set-point value;
a reference detector means designed to detect the irradiance in the test chamber and to produce a reference irradiance signal representative of the detected irradiance;
a reference irradiance signal transmitting means for transmitting the signal to the reference detector means;
a calibration meter arranged for receiving the reference irradiance signal and for producing a calibration signal;
and,
a calibration signal input means for inputting the calibration signal directly to the controller.

11 more elements

An accelerated weathering apparatus comprising:

a test chamber;
a specimen supporting means for supporting a specimen in the test chamber;
an array of light sources located within the test chamber for producing light in the test chamber;
a power source for powering the light sources;
and,
a plurality of automatically adjustable control channels for concurrently controlling outputs of the light sources, each of the channels controlling an output of at least one of the light sources, the plurality of automatically adjustable control channels including a plurality of light source detectors arranged to detect different spatial areas of the specimen supporting means.

3 more elements

A method of accelerated weather testing of specimens in a testing apparatus having a test chamber, a specimen supporting means, light sources powered by a power source controlled by a ballast, a plurality of automatically adjustable control channels for concurrently controlling outputs of the light sources, each of the channels controlling an output of at least one of the light sources, each channel having a light source detector, to detect the irradiance inside the test chamber, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting with each of the light source detectors irradiance existing int he test chamber substantially due to irradiance produced by the light sources associated with the control channel with which the light source is associated, in order to develop an irradiance signal;
transferring the irradiance signal detected by the ultraviolet detector to control circuitry of the control channel;
comparing the irradiance signal with a set-point value to determine if they are equal;
increasing a ballast control signal to the ballast associated with control channel when the set-point signal is greater than the irradiance signal;
decreasing the ballast control signal sequence to the ballast associated with the control channel when the set-point signal is less than the irradiance signal;
altering the ballast output associated with the control channel, based on the increase and decreasing steps in order to alter the output of the light source;
inserting a reference detector immediately adjacent one of the light source detectors;
selecting one of the control channels for calibration;
detecting with the reference detector irradiance existing in the test chamber substantially due to irradiance produced by the light source associated with the selected control channel, in order to develop a calibration signal;
comparing the calibration signal with the irradiance signal developed for the light source associated with the selected control channel;
and,
outputting a signal to the ballast associated with the selected control channel in order to calibrate the output of the selected control channel.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.