System and method for determining structural characteristics of an object
First Claim
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1. A device for determining structural characteristics of an object, comprising:
- a housing having an open end and a longitudinal axis;
an energy application tool mounted inside said housing for movement, said energy application tool having a resting configuration and an active configuration, said active configuration being an extended form of said resting configuration;
a sleeve protruding from said open end of said housing for a distance, said sleeve being adapted for resting directly against said object with at least a resting portion of said open end;
a drive mechanism supported inside said housing, said drive mechanism being adapted for moving said energy application tool between said resting and active configurations; and
a sensor located inside said housing adapted for sensing an amount of a contact force when said sleeve rests on said object, said energy application tool passing through said sensor.
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Abstract
The present invention relates generally to a system and method for measuring the structural characteristics of an object. The object is subjected to an energy application processes and provides an objective, quantitative measurement of structural characteristics of an object. The system may include a device, for example, a percussion instrument, capable of being reproducibly placed against the object undergoing such measurement for reproducible positioning. The structural characteristics as defined herein may include vibration damping capacities, acoustic damping capacities, structural integrity or structural stability.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A device for determining structural characteristics of an object, comprising:
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a housing having an open end and a longitudinal axis; an energy application tool mounted inside said housing for movement, said energy application tool having a resting configuration and an active configuration, said active configuration being an extended form of said resting configuration; a sleeve protruding from said open end of said housing for a distance, said sleeve being adapted for resting directly against said object with at least a resting portion of said open end; a drive mechanism supported inside said housing, said drive mechanism being adapted for moving said energy application tool between said resting and active configurations; and a sensor located inside said housing adapted for sensing an amount of a contact force when said sleeve rests on said object, said energy application tool passing through said sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for determining structural characteristics of an object, comprising:
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a device having a housing with an open end and a longitudinal axis; an energy application tool mounted inside said housing for applying energy to said object, said energy application tool having an active form and a resting form, said active form is an extended form of said resting form; a drive mechanism supported inside said housing, said drive mechanism adapted for moving said energy application tool; a sleeve protruding from said open end of said housing for a distance, said sleeve being adapted for resting directly against said object with at least a portion of said open end; a sensor positioned inside said housing adapted for monitoring an amount of a force between said sleeve and object when said sleeve rests on the object, said energy application tool passing through said sensor; and a disposable feature for enveloping at least a portion of said device, said disposable feature having a retracted form and an extended form adapted for accommodating the resting and active forms of the energy application tool during a measurement. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system for determining structural characteristics of an object, comprising:
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a device having a housing with an open end at its front portion and a longitudinal axis; an energy application tool mounted inside the housing for movement between an active form and a resting form; a sleeve protruding from the open end of the housing for a distance, said sleeve being adapted for directly resting against said object with at least a resting portion of its open end; a sensor positioned inside said housing adapted for sensing an amount of a force between said sleeve and object when said sleeve rests on the object, said energy application tool passing through said sensor; and a measuring device coupled to the energy application tool. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification