US 5,929,348 AGranted

Micro sled impact test device

AssigneeAutoliv ASP, Inc.

InventorsDouglas J. Stein, Frederick M. Peters

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

An apparatus for dynamic testing by rapidly accelerating a test specimen includes a sled carriage slidably mounted on first and second elevated horizontal tracks attached to a fixed foundation for free movement of the sled carriage along the tracks from a first to a second track location; the sled carriage having an essentially horizontal mounting plate terminating in a leading edge at one end and a trailing edge at an opposite end; and impact block mounted to the bottom surface of the mounting place intermediate the leading and trailing edges; a pressure differential firing component having a moveable thrust surface for striking the impact block; the pressure differential firing component attached to the foundation between the tracks so at least a portion of the bottom surface of the mounting plate of the sled carriage between the leading edge and the impact block can override at least a portion of a firing chamber component of the pressure differential firing component; a high pressure compressed gas storage chamber attached to the foundation between the tracks in a position substantially parallel to the firing chamber; and manifold component fluidly connecting the gas storage chamber with the firing chamber whereby, upon actuation of a trigger component, gas in the gas chamber causes the thrust surface to strike the impact block whereby longitudinal movement is imparted to the sled carriage to cause propelled movement of the sled carriage from the first to the second track location.

Claims14

Dependent claims

Apparatus for dynamic testing by rapidly accelerating a test specimen, comprising in combination:

a sled carriage slidably mounted on opposing, essentially parallel first and second elevated horizontal tracks attached to a fixed foundation for free longitudinal movement of the sled carriage along the first and second tracks from a first location to a second location on the tracks;
the sled carriage having an essentially horizontal mounting plate having top and bottom surfaces terminating in a leading edge at one end and a trailing edge at an opposite end of the mounting plate;
and impact block mounted to the bottom surface of the mounting plate intermediate the leading and trailing edges;
a pressure differential firing means comprising trigger means and a firing chamber means having a moveable thrust surface for striking the impact block;
the pressure differential firing means attached to the fixed foundation between the elevated horizontal first and second tracks so at least a portion of the bottom surface of the mounting plate of the sled carriage between the leading edge and the impact block can override at least a portion of the firing chamber means of the pressure differential firing means;
a high pressure compressed gas storage chamber attached to the fixed foundation between the elevated horizontal first and second tracks in a position substantially parallel to the firing chamber of the pressure differential firing chamber;
and
manifold means fluidly connecting the high pressure compressed gas storage chamber with the pressure differential firing chamber whereby, upon actuation of the trigger means, high pressure gas in the compressed gas chamber causes the thrust surface to strike the impact block whereby longitudinal movement is imparted to the sled carriage to cause propelled movement of the sled carriage from the first location to the second location.

5 more elements

A method of conducting dynamic testing by rapidly accelerating a specimen, the method comprising:

(1) providing,
a sled carriage slidably mounted on opposing, essentially parallel first and second elevated horizontal tracks attached to a fixed foundation for free longitudinal movement of the sled carriage along the first and second tracks from a first location to a second location on the tracks;
the sled carriage having an essentially horizontal mounting plate having top and bottom surfaces terminating in a leading edge at one end and a trailing edge at an opposite end of the mounting plate;
and impact block mounted to the bottom surface of the mounting place intermediate the leading and trailing edges;
a pressure differential firing means comprising trigger means and a firing chamber means having a moveable thrust surface for striking the impact block;
the pressure differential firing means attached to the fixed foundation between the elevated horizontal first and second tracks so at least a portion of the bottom surface of the mounting plate of the sled carriage between the leading edge and the impact block can override at least a portion of the firing chamber means of the pressure differential firing means;
a high pressure compressed gas storage chamber attached to the fixed foundation between the elevated horizontal first and second tracks in a position substantially parallel to the firing chamber of the pressure differential firing chamber;
manifold means fluidly connecting the high pressure compressed gas storage chamber with the pressure differential firing chamber whereby, upon actuation of the trigger means, high pressure gas in the compressed gas chamber causes the thrust surface to strike the impact block whereby longitudinal movement is imparted to the sled carriage to cause propelled movement of the sled carriage from the first location to the second location;
a test buck mounted to an upper surface of the sled carriage and housing therein a test specimen;
(2) actuating the firing means to fire the thrust surface whereby the thrust surface strikes the impact block and accelerates the sled carriage for longitudinal movement along the first and second tracks;
and
(3) observing the effect of the test specimen as the sled is accelerated.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.