Impact testing apparatus
First Claim
1. In testing apparatus for determining impact characteristics of a test specimen placed at a prescribed location in a testing station, the test specimen being subjected to impact by a test element traveling under free-fall at a predetermined velocity and level of kinetic energy, the improvement comprising:
- holding means for holding the test specimen at the prescribed location in the testing station;
impact means carrying said test element and moveable between a first position located at the testing station and a second position spaced above the testing station;
elevating means for elevating the impact means and the test element from the first position to the second position to impart potential energy to the impact means related to the height of the second position above the first position;
coupling means for coupling the impact means with the elevating means;
supplemental energy-input means responsive to movement of the impact means beyond an intermediate position located between the first position and the second position, during movement of the impact means in the direction from the first position toward the second position to impart additional energy to the impact means;
guide means for guiding the impact means for elevation by the elevating means between the first position and the second position and for essentially free-fall between the intermediate position and the first position; and
control means for determining the height of the second position above the first position and above the intermediate position, said height being determined by the total energy available to the impact means to provide the predetermined velocity and level of kinetic energy in the impact means at the testing station, said control means being coupled to the coupling means for operating the coupling means to release the impact means at the second position for downward movement and essentially free-fall between the intermediate position and the first position, whereby the test element will impact the test specimen during free-fall and at the desired predetermined velocity and level of kinetic energy.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Impact testing apparatus in which a weighted dart is dropped from a prescribed height to penetrate a test specimen when traveling at a desired velocity and level of kinetic energy, the acceleration of the dart being assisted by a spring force in the direction of travel so that the prescribed height is maintained at a minimum for a given desired velocity and the dart being guided to the test specimen by a generally tubular guide within which the dart is loosely fitted. A force transducer is located at the tip of the dart for providing impact force information as the tip penetrates the test specimen.
59 Citations
25 Claims
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1. In testing apparatus for determining impact characteristics of a test specimen placed at a prescribed location in a testing station, the test specimen being subjected to impact by a test element traveling under free-fall at a predetermined velocity and level of kinetic energy, the improvement comprising:
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holding means for holding the test specimen at the prescribed location in the testing station; impact means carrying said test element and moveable between a first position located at the testing station and a second position spaced above the testing station; elevating means for elevating the impact means and the test element from the first position to the second position to impart potential energy to the impact means related to the height of the second position above the first position; coupling means for coupling the impact means with the elevating means; supplemental energy-input means responsive to movement of the impact means beyond an intermediate position located between the first position and the second position, during movement of the impact means in the direction from the first position toward the second position to impart additional energy to the impact means; guide means for guiding the impact means for elevation by the elevating means between the first position and the second position and for essentially free-fall between the intermediate position and the first position; and control means for determining the height of the second position above the first position and above the intermediate position, said height being determined by the total energy available to the impact means to provide the predetermined velocity and level of kinetic energy in the impact means at the testing station, said control means being coupled to the coupling means for operating the coupling means to release the impact means at the second position for downward movement and essentially free-fall between the intermediate position and the first position, whereby the test element will impact the test specimen during free-fall and at the desired predetermined velocity and level of kinetic energy. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification