System and method for testing or calibrating a manufactured part in a wet environment

• US 10,444,129 B2
• Filed: 02/04/2016
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ATS Automation Tooling Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ATS Automation Tooling Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Brown, Theodore Robert, Graham, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Hopkins, Brandi N
• Application Number:
  US15/547,889
• Publication Number:
  US 20180024034A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,349 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/0076 Force sensors associated with manufacturing machines G01L5/0066, G01L5/0071 and B23Q17/09 take precedence; for the specific machine or operation involved see relevant class, e.g. B21 - B42
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2203/0048 Hydraulic means
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2203/0242 With circulation of a fluid
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2203/0405 Features allowing alignment between specimen and chucks
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2203/0411 using pneumatic or hydraulic pressure
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 3/04 Chucks
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 3/12 Pressure testing

Abstract

A system for testing or calibrating a part, the system including: a plurality of test stations, each test station including a container and a clamping mechanism, wherein the clamping mechanism includes: a clamp frame including: two clamp plates; a plurality of clamp bars configured to securely hold the clamp plates at a distance relative to each other; a seal manifold provided on one of the two clamp plates; and a clamping module, located opposite the seal manifold on another of the two clamp plates, wherein the clamping module includes: a plurality of pistons to hold the part against the seal manifold for the test operation; and at least one cleaning station comprising a spin mechanism for spinning the part to remove excess fluid; and a robotic system for moving individual parts to and from the plurality of test stations and to and from the at least one cleaning station.

Claims

1. A system for testing or calibrating a manufactured part, the system comprising:

a plurality of test stations, each test station comprising a container and a clamping mechanism, wherein the container is configured to hold a liquid and the clamping mechanism is configured to receive the manufactured part in a vertical orientation and clamp the manufactured part horizontally with sufficient force to withstand a predetermined pressure to be placed on the manufactured part while submerged in the liquid, wherein the clamping mechanism comprises;

a clamp frame comprising;

two clamp plates;

a plurality of clamp bars configured to securely hold the clamp plates at a distance relative to each other;

a seal manifold provided on one of the two clamp plates; and

a clamping module, located opposite the seal manifold on another of the two clamp plates, wherein the clamping module comprises;

a plurality of pistons to hold the manufactured part against the seal manifold for a test operation; and

at least one cleaning station comprising a spin mechanism for spinning the manufactured part to remove excess liquid; and

a robotic system for moving manufactured parts to and from the plurality of test stations and to and from the at least one cleaning station.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the robotic system comprises:

a gantry located above the plurality of test stations;

a robotic module comprising;

at least one moving mechanism configured to move along the gantry; and

a robot gripper attached to each moving mechanism and configured to grip and transport the manufactured part.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein the robot gripper is configured to maintain the vertical orientation of the manufactured part.

4. A system according to claim 2, further comprising a pallet for carrying the part and wherein the robot gripper comprises a lock/release mechanism configured to interact with the pallet.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein the robotic system comprises:

a floor mount; and

a robotic arm attached to the floor mount, wherein the robotic arm moves the manufactured part to and from the plurality of test stations.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein the spinning mechanism maintains the manufactured part in a vertical orientation.

7. A system according to claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of test panels, wherein each of the plurality of test panels engage with one of the plurality of test stations such that each of the engaged test panels and test stations can be slidably removed from the system.

8. A method for testing or calibrating a manufactured part, the method comprising:

receiving the manufactured part from a conveyor;

transporting the manufactured part to a test station while orienting the manufactured part in a vertical orientation;

inserting the manufactured part in a clamping mechanism in the test station while maintaining the manufactured part in a vertical orientation, wherein the test station comprises a liquid;

applying pressure to the manufactured part via the clamping mechanism, wherein the pressure is applied in a horizontal direction;

testing or calibrating the manufactured part, while maintaining the manufactured part in a vertical orientation and while under pressure and inserted into the liquid;

releasing the pressure and removing the manufactured part from the clamping mechanism; and

returning the manufactured part to the conveyor.

9. A method according to claim 8, the method further comprising cleaning the part at a cleaning station by spinning the part to remove excess liquid.

10. A system for testing or calibrating manufactured parts under pressure, the system comprising:

a plurality of test stations, each test station comprising;

a clamping mechanism configured to receive a manufactured part in a vertical orientation and clamp the manufactured part horizontally with sufficient force to withstand a predetermined pressure to be placed on the manufactured part;

a liquid into which the manufactured part is submerged during testing; and

a robotic system for moving individual manufactured parts to and from the plurality of test stations.

11. A system according to claim 10, wherein the clamping mechanism comprises:

a clamp frame comprising;

two clamp plates;

a plurality of clamp bars configured to securely hold the clamp plates at a distance relative to each other;

a seal manifold provided on one of the two clamp plates; and

a clamping module, located opposite the seal manifold on another of the two clamp plates, wherein the clamping module comprises;

a plurality of pistons to hold the manufactured part against the seal manifold for the test operation.

12. A system according to claim 10, wherein the robotic system comprises:

a gantry located above the plurality of test stations;

a robotic module comprising;

at least one moving mechanism configured to move along the gantry; and

a robot gripper attached to each moving mechanism and configured to grip and transport the manufactured part.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein the robot gripper is configured to maintain the vertical orientation of the manufactured part.

14. A system according to claim 12, further comprising a pallet for carrying the manufactured part and wherein the robot gripper comprises a lock/release mechanism configured to interact with the pallet.

15. A system according to claim 10, wherein the robotic system comprises:

a floor mount; and

a robotic arm attached to the floor mount, wherein the robotic arm moves the manufactured part to and from the plurality of test stations.

16. A system according to claim 10, further comprising at least one cleaning station comprising a spin mechanism for spinning.

17. A system according to claim 16, wherein the spinning mechanism maintains the manufactured part in a vertical orientation.

18. A system according to claim 10 further comprising:

a plurality of test panels, wherein each of the plurality of test panels engage with one of the plurality of test stations such that each of the engaged test panels and test/calibration stations can be slidably removed from the system.