Integrated safety and motion control testing device

• US 10,107,706 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2016
• Issued: 10/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zaxis Inc.
• Original Assignee: Zaxis Inc.
• Inventors: Peeler, Scott C., Guest, Brian W., Jensen, Christopher H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huls, Natalie
• Application Number:
  US15/138,012
• Publication Number:
  US 20160238479A1
• Time in Patent Office: 911 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/02 by using fluid or vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass

Abstract

In accordance with some implementations of the described invention, a testing device is provided which includes a safety shield having one or more motion control cam tracks, wherein the cam tracks are configured to receive a cam follower that is connected to a mounting member onto which is mounted one or more testing modules. The testing modules perform specific functions for testing a sample product. The mounting member is moved within the safety shield as the cam follower tracks within the motion control cam tracks. In such implementations, the mounting member is further connected to two or more hydraulic cylinders or other actuators which are configured to move the mounting member to various positions within an x-axis and a y-axis. The integrated safety and motion control features of the safety shield provide precise, repeatable movement of the mounting member while preventing injuring to a user. Other implementations are also described.

Claims

1. A testing device, comprising:

a base;

a sample adapter coupled to the base;

a mounting member coupled to a first hydraulic cylinder, the first hydraulic cylinder being mounted to a second hydraulic cylinder, the second hydraulic cylinder being fixedly coupled to the base;

a first testing module coupled to the mounting member at a first position;

a second testing module coupled to the mounting member at a second position;

a first cam follower coupled to the mounting member;

a second cam follower coupled to the first hydraulic cylinder;

a safety shield coupled to the base, the shield having a first motion control cam track configured to receive the first cam follower, and further comprising a second motion control cam track configured to receive the second cam follower, wherein the first motion control cam track controls a motion of the first cam follower in an x-axis and a y-axis, and wherein the second motion control cam track controls a motion of the second cam follower in the y-axis.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first and second motion control cam tracks comprise a channel formed in an inner surface of the safety shield.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the safety shield comprises an access door and wherein the device is configured to automatically start a testing procedure when the access door is closed.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the first motion control cam track comprises an upper horizontal channel interconnected to a lower horizontal channel via a vertical channel.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the first testing module is configured to remove a cap from the sample product and wherein the second testing module is configured to conduct a test on the sample product, wherein the test is selected from a leak test, an occlusion test, a pressure decay test, a vacuum decay test, a mass flow test, a burst pressure test, and a valve cracking test on the sample product.