US 8,151,638 B2 · Spring force component tester

Abstract

A spring force component tester for determining a load distribution on each end of a spring of generally cylindrical shape using three, mutually-parallel load cells. One tester includes a lower plate and an upper plate movable with respect to the lower plate. Each plate includes a plurality of recesses and a load cell positioned in each recess. Each plurality of recesses is positioned such that a center of each recess is a point on a circle coaxial to the plate. The tester also includes a data logger that obtains and stores load cell outputs from the load cells and spring tester electronics that obtain height measurements of the upper plate and send a trigger signal to a computer. The computer executes application software when the computer receives the trigger signal that reads the load cell outputs stored in the data logger, and calculates a spring force acting along the spring axis between approximately 0.5 Newton and 100 Newton.

Claims27

Dependent claims

A system for testing a spring, the system comprising:

a lower plate including a plurality of recesses and a load cell positioned in each of the plurality of recesses, the plurality of recesses positioned such that a center of each recess is a point on a circle coaxial to the lower plate;
an upper plate movable with respect to the lower plate and including a plurality of recesses and a load cell positioned in each of the plurality of recesses, the plurality of recesses positioned such that a center of each recess is a point on a circle coaxial to the upper plate;
a data logger that obtains and stores load cell outputs from the load cells in the lower plate and the upper plate;
spring tester electronics that obtain height measurements of the upper plate and send a trigger signal to a computer;
and
the computer including a processor and a memory module, the memory module storing application software executable by the processor when the computer receives the trigger signal to:
read the load cell outputs stored in the data logger, and
calculate a spring force based on the load cell outputs, wherein the spring force is between approximately 0.5 Newton and 100 Newton.

5 more elements

A method of calibrating a spring tester device comprising:

providing a lower plate including a plurality of recesses and a load cell positioned in each of the plurality of recesses, the plurality of recesses positioned such that a center of each recess is a point on a circle coaxial to the lower plate;
providing an upper plate movable with respect to the lower plate and including a plurality of recesses and a load cell positioned in each of the plurality of recesses, the plurality of recesses positioned such that a center of each recess is a point on a circle coaxial to the upper plate;
providing a first specimen plate positioned on the lower plate and including a plurality of countersinks;
providing a second specimen plate positioned on the upper plate and including a plurality of countersinks;
aligning the lower plate and the upper plate such that the first specimen plate is parallel and concentric with the second specimen plate;
positioning a spring-loaded calibration device perpendicular and between the first specimen plate and the second specimen plate by positioning a first end of the calibration device in one of the plurality of countersinks in the first specimen plate and positioning a second end of the calibration device in one of the plurality of countersinks in the second specimen plate;
calculating a spring force of the spring-loaded calibration device based on load cell outputs generated by the load cells included in the lower plate and the upper plate, wherein the spring force is between approximately 0.5 Newton and 100 Newton;
and
using the calculated spring force, a known spring force for the spring-loaded calibration device, and positions of the plurality of countersinks in the first specimen plate and the second specimen plate to calibrate the spring tester device.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Spring force component tester

Life of this patent

Spring force component tester

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims27