| Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
|---|
| 073078000 | HARDNESS | 65 |
| 20130111981 | MULTI-AXLE JOINT SHIFTING LOADING APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING CENTER AND DETECTION METHOD FOR STATIC STIFFNESS DISTRIBUTION - Disclosed is a processing center multi-axis joint deflection loading apparatus comprising a load-receiving test piece and a load-exerting component. The load-exerting component is constituted by a steel ball, a cap, a ball socket, a bent board, a force sensor, a connection component A, and a connection component B. The connection component A is fixedly connected to a blade handle of the processing center; the blade handle is pulled tight within a bored hole on a main axle; and the connection component A is connected to a main housing via the connection component B. In a method using the apparatus for an inspection of static stiffness distribution, by means of a multi-axle joint movement, moving the load-exerting component and the load-receiving test piece to a preset loading position, allowing the normal at a load-receiving point on a load-receiving face of the load-receiving piece to be aligned with the axis of the ball socket; with the amount of shift measured by position-shift sensors fitted on the main axle, the main axle housing, and a working platform, and the amount of simulated load measured by the force sensor of the loaded-exerting component, deriving a stiffness measurement of the load-exertion position under a simulated load; changing the load-exertion position by means of a multi-axle joint movement, repeating in sequence the previous steps, thus deriving a stiffness distribution under the simulated load. | 05-09-2013 |
| 20130019666 | BEARING PART, BEARING, AND METHOD FOR INSPECTING BEARING PART - An inspection method which quantitatively and simply assures a nitrogen concentration in a carbonitriding-treated bearing part, and a bearing part and a bearing for which a nitrogen concentration is quantitatively assured are obtained. An inner race, an outer race, and balls as bearing parts are each a bearing part made of JIS standard SUJ2 and having a carbon nitrided layer formed in a surface thereof, wherein, after heat treatment at a heating temperature of 500° C. for a retention time of one hour is performed, a Vickers hardness at a position with a depth of 30 μm from the surface is higher than a Vickers hardness at a core portion, which is a region where the carbonitrided layer is not formed in a thickness direction of the bearing part, by not less than 130 HV. | 01-24-2013 |
| 20100281962 | ALL ELECTRIC PIEZOELECTRIC FINGER SENSOR (PEFS) FOR SOFT MATERIAL STIFFNESS MEASUREMENT - A PEFS (Piezoelectric Finger Sensor) acts as an “electronic finger” capable of accurately and non-destructively measuring both the Young's compression modulus and shear modulus of tissues with gentle touches to the surface. The PEFS measures both the Young's compression modulus and shear modulus variations in tissue generating a less than one-millimeter spatial resolution up to a depth of several centimeters. This offers great potential for in-vivo early detection of diseases. A portable hand-held device is also disclosed. The PEF offers superior sensitivity. | 11-11-2010 |
| 20130019665 | Testing of Concrete Using Existing Voids Within Concrete - A penetration head and related apparatuses are placed within a void to measure the in-place compressive strength of the surrounding material. An electronic load cell is attached to the penetration head and is forced against an opposite side of the void. A hydraulic ram or other device is connected between the penetration head and load cell. As the hydraulic ram pushes the penetration head and load cell in opposite directions and into the interior walls of the void, penetration depth is measured and mapped to load and material hardness is derived. | 01-24-2013 |
| 20090084168 | PROTOCOL FOR CHARACTERIZING ROCK, METHOD FOR CHARACTERIZING ROCK HARDNESS AND METHODS FOR USE THEREWITH - A protocol for characterizing a rock is provided. The protocol includes a crushing operation, wherein a test column of the rock in granular form is subjected to a compressive force orientated parallel to the axis of the column. The protocol further includes a measurement operation, wherein the amount by which the axial length of the test column is reduced through the application of the force is measured. The protocol yet further includes a calculation operation, wherein a characteristic of the rock is calculated using the product of the force applied and the amount by which the length of the test column is reduced through the application of the force. A method for characterizing the hardness of a subject rock is also provided. | 04-02-2009 |
| 20100313637 | Device of Testing Robustness of Photovoltaic Module Terminal - A terminal is tested for its robustness. The terminal is for a photovoltaic module. The photovoltaic module is put on a frame unit and is connected with a load unit. The present invention reduces human errors, improves test accuracy and achieves easy operation. | 12-16-2010 |
| 20110214492 | SOFT WATER MONITORING APPARATUS - The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for monitoring the soft water conducted in a main flow, which includes a hardness measuring cell, a first secondary flow line branching off from the main flow and leading to the hardness measuring cell, and a second secondary flow line leading away from the hardness measuring cell and feeding into the main flow, wherein the two secondary flow lines and the hardness measuring cell are connected to a multiway valve. | 09-08-2011 |
| 20110302998 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR COMPACTION MEASUREMENT - A system for compaction measurement, including at least two compaction measurement systems for determining the compaction state of various portions of a material region at a worksite and a display system for displaying aggregated data from the compaction measurement systems. | 12-15-2011 |
| 20120247192 | Apparatus for Determining Deformation Response - One aspect of the inventive technology may be generally described as a method for determining test object deformation response that comprises the steps of moving a deformation force deliverer | 10-04-2012 |
| 20110041592 | METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR COMFORT/SUPPORT ANALYSIS OF A SLEEP SUPPORT MEMBER - A method of testing a sleep support member, the method including: identifying the sleep support member; determining a tested comfort/support value for the identified sleep support member before the identified sleep support member is provided to a customer; and determining whether the tested comfort/support value is within a predetermined tolerance level of a goal comfort/support value for the identified sleep support member. An apparatus for testing a sleep support member, the apparatus including: an identification unit configured to identify the sleep support member; a comfort/support testing unit configured to determine a tested comfort/support value for the identified sleep support member before the identified sleep support member is provided to a customer; and an analysis unit configured to determine whether the tested comfort/support value is within a predetermined tolerance level of a goal comfort/support value for the identified sleep support member. | 02-24-2011 |
| 073081000 | By penetrator or indentor | 55 |
| 20090193881 | Method, Apparatus, and Nanoindenter for Determining an Elastic Ratio of Indentation Work - A method for determining an elastic ratio of indentation work of an indentation of a material surface to a sampling depth is described. The method may include: placing an indenter probe on the material surface; indenting the material surface to a maximum depth greater than the sampling depth by increasing a vertical force on the probe, while recording the force as a first function of depth; retracting the probe from the material surface by decreasing the force, while recording the force as a second function of depth; and calculating the elastic ratio of indentation work for the sampling depth from the recorded functions. | 08-06-2009 |
| 20090158826 | MATERIAL TESTING APPARATUS WITH NON-CONTACT SENSOR - A non-contact sensor is attached to the indenting module with its working range encompassing the tip of the indenter. The sensor directly measures penetration depth of the indenter during scratch, wear or instrumented hardness testing. During the test, the non-contact sensor records the height of the surface as the indenter penetrates the surface of the testing specimen. | 06-25-2009 |
| 20090165538 | Indentation testing instrument and indentation testing method - Disclosed an indentation testing instrument including: a loading lever supported pivotally; an indenter provided on the loading lever; an indenter linkage section; a loading lever driving section; a reference lever supported pivotally having a same shaft center as the loading lever; an indenter reference section provided on the reference lever as a positional reference of a tip portion of the indenter; an indenter position detection section; a reference lever driving section; a stopper to stop the reference lever; a specimen surface reference measurement member to turn the loading lever from the state that the indenter reference section touches the specimen surface, and to measure a first indentation depth amount; and a machine frame reference measurement member to turn the loading lever from the state that the reference lever touches the stopper and the indenter reference section is spaced apart from the specimen surface, and to measure a second indentation depth amount. | 07-02-2009 |
| 20100024534 | METHOD TO MEASURE THE ELASTIC MODULUS AND HARDNESS OF THIN FILM ON SUBSTRATE BY NANOINDENTATION - A method of measuring the elastic modulus and hardness of a thin film on substrate using nanoindentation technique is provided. The method includes calculating a series of experimental corrected stiffness and contact radius pairs associated with one or more presumed parameters and information obtained from a loading curve associated with the thin film and substrate. Also, the method includes calculating a series of theoretical corrected stiffness and contact radius pairs associated with the same one or more presumed parameters and information obtained from the loading curve associated with the thin film and substrate. Furthermore, the method includes using results obtained from the experimental and theoretical corrected stiffness and contact radius pairs to compute the elastic modulus and hardness of the film material. | 02-04-2010 |
| 20130047713 | HARDNESS TESTER - A hardness tester includes a CCD camera, a monitor, a clipper (a CPU and a clipping program), and a display controller (the CPU and a display control program). The CCD camera captures an image of an indentation formed on a surface of a specimen via field lenses. The monitor displays the image of the indentation captured by the CCD camera. The clipper clips a plurality of regions from the image of the indentation captured by the CCD camera, the regions containing predetermined measurement points. The display controller simultaneously displays on the monitor images of the plurality of regions clipped by the clipper. | 02-28-2013 |
| 20130068001 | HARDNESS TESTER AND HARDNESS TEST METHOD - A hardness tester includes:
| 03-21-2013 |
| 20130098144 | MICROELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCER AND TEST SYSTEM - A microelectromechanical transducer and test system is disclosed. One embodiment includes a body, a probe moveable relative to the body, and a micromachined comb drive. The micromachined comb drive includes a plurality of sensing capacitors forming a differential capacitive displacement sensor, each sensing capacitor comprising a plurality of comb capacitors and each configured to provide capacitance levels which, together, are representative of a position of the probe. | 04-25-2013 |
| 20130098145 | METHOD OF MEASURING AN INTERACTION FORCE - A system and method of measuring an interaction force is disclosed. One embodiment includes providing a method of measuring an interaction force including providing a microelectromechanical transducer. The transducer includes a body, a probe moveable relative to the body, and a micromachined comb drive. The micromachined comb drive includes a differential capacitive displacement sensor to provide a sensor output signal representative of an interaction force on the probe. The probe is moved relative to a sample surface. An interaction force is determined between the probe and the sample surface using the sensor output, as the probe is moved relative to the sample surface. | 04-25-2013 |
| 20130125631 | HARDNESS TESTER AND HARDNESS TEST METHOD - A hardness tester includes an image pickup control section, an indentation region extraction section, an indentation apex extraction section and a hardness calculation section. The image pickup control section obtains picked-up image data of a sample's surface. The region extraction section binarizes the image data, determines based on the binarized image data whether an indentation region candidate is extracted, and when determining that the candidate is not extracted, obtains curvature image data, binarizes the curvature image data, erodes and dilates the binarized curvature image data, performs distance transform on the eroded-and-dilated curvature image data, and extracts a closed region corresponding to the indenter's shape using the distance-transformed curvature image data. The apex extraction section extracts an indentation-measurement-use apex based on the closed region. The hardness calculation section calculates the sample's hardness based on the apex. | 05-23-2013 |
| 20110132078 | Universal testing machine - A testing machine includes a stand and a test device. The stand includes a base, box frame, a slide device driven to slide by a motor, and a control system controls the force applied on the test specimen. The test device is coupled at the slide device for performing various hardness tests consisting of Rockwell hardness test, Vickers hardness test, Brinell hardness test, micro-hardness test, and tension-compression test. The test device includes a force sensor and a data processing circuit converting an analog signal of the force sensor into digital data to interface with the control system. | 06-09-2011 |
| 20090145208 | METHOD FOR ANALYZING A SCRATCH TEST - The invention relates to a method for analyzing a scratch from a scratch test, applying a digital image acquisition device, a bulk and an indenter for applying a force on the bulk, | 06-11-2009 |
| 20100122572 | Device and method for measuring mechanical properties of materials - The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for measuring mechanical properties of materials using an indenter which has a predetermined geometry, a device for generating force permitting the indenter to penetrate into a material sample surface of an object of measurement, and a device for measuring the penetration depth, wherein, arranged between a force application portion on which the device for generating force is applied and a shaft with an indenter tip facing towards the material surface of the object of measurement, the indenter has at least one micro-mechanical motion actuator by which at least one radial deflection of the shaft with respect to the force absorption portion of the indenter is capable of being activated or detected. | 05-20-2010 |
| 20100126257 | Large Diameter Hardness Tester - An apparatus for testing the hardness of a metal work piece having a bore, the apparatus having a horizontal support beam with an axis. A hardness tester is connected to a medial portion of the horizontal support beam. A pair of vertical guide beams are positioned on opposite sides of the hardness tester and are adapted to capture a work piece therebetween. Each vertical guide beam is connected on an upper end to the horizontal support beam at a transverse angle to the axis. At least one of the vertical guide beams being is capable of movement along the axis. A horizontal support rod is releasably connected to and extends between the lower ends of the vertical guide beams and is adapted to extend through the bore of the work piece to enable to the work piece to be lifted by the apparatus. | 05-27-2010 |
| 20090165537 | Device and method for optical nanoindentation measurement - This invention relates to a device and method for optical nanoindentation measurement, according to which respective measurement results are obtained by having an indenter tip apply load to a fixed portion of a thin film, having an indenter tip apply load to a non-fixed portion of a thin film, and having a vibrating component transmit the dynamic properties of the vibration to the thin film. By combining the above measurement results in calculations, the Young's modulus, the Poisson's ratio, and the density of the thin film can be obtained. | 07-02-2009 |
| 20090025462 | METHOD OF SELECTING A DRILLING BIT - A drill bit includes a shank having a wasted shear safety section. Each bit is color coded to different shear safety ratings. The shank is fattened at the chuck end with flats extending on both sides of the wasted section. Safety ratings relate to the risk associated with different drilling situations and user expertise. | 01-29-2009 |
| 20090044609 | Test management method for indentation tester and indentation tester - Disclosed a test management method for an indentation tester which includes a control section and forms an indentation on a surface of a heated or cooled sample by pressing an indenter to which a load is applied onto the surface of the sample, the test management method including the steps of: measuring a predetermined reference block as the sample under a plurality of temperature environments to obtain a test result; calculating a test error caused by temperature environment based on the test result by the control section; and judging whether or not the test error is within a predetermined range by the control section. | 02-19-2009 |
| 20100170328 | METHOD FOR MEASURING SANDABILITY OF COATING AND THE USE THEREOF - The present invention is directed to a method for measuring sandability of a coating or an article. This invention is particularly directed to a method for measuring sandability of a coating or an article quantitatively by measuring weight loss of said coating or article after being sanded. This invention is also directed to a system for measuring sandability of a coating or an article using said method. | 07-08-2010 |
| 20100186488 | Article And Method For Stabilizing A Rock Chip - An article and method for stabilizing a rock chip. The article in one embodiment of the invention includes a laminar rock chip substantially surrounded by and imbedded within a plug having a solid material, the plug forming a top planar surface and a bottom planar surface substantially parallel with the top planar surface, the laminar rock chip forming a contact surface portion exposed at the top planar surface of the plug, a laminar plane of the laminar rock chip being substantially perpendicular with the top planar surface. | 07-29-2010 |
| 20100313638 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DETERMINING THE DEGREE OF HARDNESS OF SEMISOLID MATERIALS - The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for determining the degree of hardness of semisolid materials, in particular the present invention relates to a penetrometer for the measurement of the degree of hardness of road surfaces such as asphalt or for the measurement of the degree of hardness of lubricants. | 12-16-2010 |
| 20110005306 | ACTUATABLE CAPACITIVE TRANSDUCER FOR QUANTITATIVE NANOINDENTATION COMBINED WITH TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY - An actuatable capacitive transducer including a transducer body, a first capacitor including a displaceable electrode and electrically configured as an electrostatic actuator, and a second capacitor including a displaceable electrode and electrically configured as a capacitive displacement sensor, wherein the second capacitor comprises a multi-plate capacitor. The actuatable capacitive transducer further includes a coupling shaft configured to mechanically couple the displaceable electrode of the first capacitor to the displaceable electrode of the second capacitor to form a displaceable electrode unit which is displaceable relative to the transducer body, and an electrically-conductive indenter mechanically coupled to the coupling shaft so as to be displaceable in unison with the displaceable electrode unit. | 01-13-2011 |
| 20100064783 | DEVICE FOR DETERMINING A MECHANICAL PROPERTY OF A SAMPLE FOR INVESTIGATION - Provided is a device for determining a mechanical property of a sample to be analyzed, comprising an indenter and means for heating this indenter using laser light. The indenter has an indenter tip at the end directed toward the sample. At least one light guide for conducting the laser light to the indenter, particularly to the indenter tip, is provided as the means for heating this indenter. The aforesaid device relates to an indenter for use in the field of nanotechnology, having an elongated shape, an end region configured as the indenter tip, and means for heating by way of laser light. The indenter may comprise a light guide which is guided at least partially inside the indenter, the light emission end of which is disposed close to the indenter tip. | 03-18-2010 |
| 20110252874 | INDENTER ASSEMBLY - An indentation assembly for sub-micron testing includes an indentation tip and a tip holder coupled with the indentation tip. The tip holder includes a first thermal conductivity and a first coefficient of thermal expansion. A tip holder mount configured for coupling with a transducer and the tip holder, the tip holder mount having a second thermal conductivity greater than the first thermal conductivity, and the tip holder mount has a second coefficient of thermal expansion greater than the first coefficient of thermal expansion. The tip holder mount has a mount length, and the tip holder further has a tip holder length greater that the mount length. The tip holder remotely positions the tip holder mount relative to the indentation tip. The tip holder length, volume and the first thermal conductivity cooperate to throttle heat transfer through the tip holder prior to reaching the tip holder mount. | 10-20-2011 |
| 20120304750 | CONTINUOUS OR INSTRUMENTED INDENTATION DEVICE - This invention relates to a new portable device with no solid frame, which makes it possible to carry out instrumented indentation of a material to deduct its mechanical properties. Continuous or instrumented indentation consists in measuring the force and displacement when an indenter is pushed into the tested material. The device is made up of a sleeve with a reduced volume and its lower base, which may be of variable shapes adapted to that of the material to test, a piston sliding in the sleeve, the displacement of which is controlled by the hand of a user, a manipulating arm, a mechanical column or a robot, an elastic ring or a spring limiting the displacement of the piston, three displacement sensors arranged in an equilateral triangle around a single-piece indenter having any shape, and a force sensor that makes it possible to measure the change in the force depending on the depression made by the indenter in the tested material. | 12-06-2012 |
| 20090107221 | HARDNESS TESTER WITH INDENTER OF HARD METAL OR COMPOUND AND OSCILLATING CROWN FOR TESTING AT HIGH LOAD AND METHOD OF COMPARATIVE ASSESMENT OF THE HARDNESS/DEPTH PROFILE - A device for detecting the depth of penetration of the tip of an indenter of a hardness tester has a terminal crown turnable and slantable with respect to a cylindrical body of a reference sleeve, terminating with two spikes extending from diametrically opposed positions of a circular end surface of the terminal crown, the vertexes of which bear on the surface of the piece to be tested. The terminal crown having an end retained within the body of the sleeve and an inner circular surface defining a cuspid along a diameter orthogonal to the diameter of alignment of said two spikes, abutting on a planar circular end surface of the retaining body of the sleeve such to determine a linear or fulcrum abutment along diametrically aligned vertexes of said cuspid. The tester uses an indenter of a hard metal or compound by periodically recalibrating a hardness tester in function of said depth of penetration originally established on a reference sample of known and homogenous hardness. A method of deriving a hardness profile in terms of Vickers points for a certain depth by using the hardness tester is also described. | 04-30-2009 |
| 20120210777 | Hardness Testing Device and Method for Adjusting the Hardness Testing Device - A hardness testing device has at least one penetrator ( | 08-23-2012 |
| 20120266666 | MICROMACHINED COMB DRIVE FOR QUANTITATIVE NANOINDENTATION - A microelectromechanical nanoindenter including a body, a probe moveable relative to the body, an indenter tip coupled to an end of the moveable probe, and a micromachined comb drive. The micromachined comb drive includes an electrostatic actuator capacitor configured to drive the probe, along with the indenter tip. The micromachined comb drive includes a plurality of sensing capacitors forming a differential capacitive displacement sensor, each sensing capacitor comprising a plurality of comb capacitors and each configured to provide capacitance levels which, together, are representative of a position of the probe, wherein each of the comb capacitors of the actuator capacitor and the sensing capacitors includes a fixed electrode comb coupled to the body and a moveable electrode comb coupled to the probe. | 10-25-2012 |
| 20110239748 | QUANTITATIVE EVALUATION OF SCRATCH-INDUCED DAMAGES ON POLYMERIC AND COATING MATERIALS - Provided is a method for quantitative evaluation of mar- and scratch-induced surface damage on polymeric and coating materials. The method for quantitative evaluation of scratch-induced damage on polymeric and coating materials includes: preparing a test specimen of polymeric and coating materials; inducing a scratch damage on the surface of the test specimen; representing the scratch damage formed on the test specimen as corresponding color coordinates; and calculating a quantitated scratch damage index from a combination of a load applied to the surface of the test specimen and the color coordinates corresponding to the scratch damage. | 10-06-2011 |
| 20110265559 | 2-D MEMS TRIBOMETER WITH COMB DRIVES - A microelectromechanical (MEMS) nanoindenter transducer including a body, a probe coupled to and moveable relative to the body, the probe holding a removeable indenter tip, a first micromachined comb drive and a second micromachined comb drive. The first micromachined comb drive includes an actuator comprising a plurality of electrostatic capacitive actuators configured to drive the probe along a first axis, including in an indentation direction, in response to an applied bias voltage, and a displacement sensor comprising a plurality of differential capacitive sensors having capacitance levels which together are representative of a position of the probe relative to the first axis. The second micromachined comb drive includes an actuator comprising a plurality of electrostatic capacitive actuators configured to drive the probe along a second axis, which is perpendicular to the first axis, in response to an applied bias voltage, and a displacement sensor comprising a plurality of differential capacitive sensors having capacitance levels which together are representative of a position of the probe relative to the second axis. Each of the electrostatic capacitive actuators and the differential capacitive sensors comprises an electrode comb pair, each electrode comb pair including a fixed electrode comb coupled to the body and a moveable electrode comb coupled to the probe. | 11-03-2011 |
| 20100229637 | INDENTING TYPE MATERIAL TESTING MACHINE, TESTING METHOD, AND TESTING PROGRAM PRODUCT - An indenter is pressed onto a test piece; a displacement of the indenter is detected; and a testing force applied to the test piece through the indenter is detected. FFT analysis is performed on a displacement detection signal detected in a non-load state to detect a frequency band of noise. Filter characteristics are calculated based on the detected frequency band, and filtering is performed on the displacement detection signal based on the filter characteristics. Physical properties of the test piece are evaluated based upon the displacement detection signal after the filtering and the testing force. | 09-16-2010 |
| 20120085154 | HARDNESS TESTER - A hardness tester includes a monitor capable of displaying a main screen and an assistant screen; a first test location setter setting an indentation formation location on a test specimen for an initial test; and a second test location setter setting an indentation formation location on the test specimen for a retest. The second test location setter judges whether a new indentation formation location is suitable for a test based on a surface image of the test specimen and a setting condition obtained during the initial test, and, in a case where it is judged that the new indentation formation location is unsuitable for a test, sets again a coordinate point different from the coordinate point of the new indentation formation location as another new indentation formation location. | 04-12-2012 |
| 20130008241 | HARDNESS TESTER AND TESTING METHOD - A hardness tester and testing method including a focuser, an image capturer, a test position setter, a focus position memory, an indentation creator, an image capture controller, and a measurer. The focuser focuses on the surface of the specimen. The image capturer captures an image of the surface of the specimen. The test position setter sets a test position at which the indentation is formed. The focus position memory measures a focus position, then associates the focus position with a test position within a predetermined range and stores the information in a memory. The indentation creator forms the indentation at the test position with the indenter. The image capture controller displaces the specimen, then captures an image of the formed indentation through the first field lens. The measurer measures the hardness of the specimen based on the indentation whose image has been captured. | 01-10-2013 |
| 073082000 | Impact type | 12 |
| 20130055797 | EVALUATION OF GROUND SURFACE HARDNESS - Evaluating ground surface hardness for a site involves using a mobile data collection device to automatically drop an object including an accelerometer onto a ground surface at sample locations spaced at regular intervals within the site. The acceleration of the object is detected with the accelerometer as the object impacts the ground surface at the sample locations. A value is generated representative of ground surface hardness for each of the sample locations. Evaluation using a handheld hardness measurement device is also disclosed. | 03-07-2013 |
| 20080282783 | Apparatus for Detecting Mechanical Features of Materials - An apparatus ( | 11-20-2008 |
| 20090199625 | Apparatus for Determining Breakage Properties of Particulate Material - An apparatus for determining the breakage properties of a particulate material, the apparatus including: a support; a rotor mounted relative to the support and including at least one guide channel through which a particle of the particulate material is guided in use, the guide channel having an inlet and an outlet; a drive associated with the rotor; a feed channel for feeding particles of the particulate material to the inlet of the guide channel; a stator associated with the rotor and including an impact surface that is radially spaced from a circumferential edge of the rotor; and a collector for collecting pieces of the particulate material following impact; wherein the apparatus is provided with a control system for accurate control and adjustment of impact velocity of the particulate material with the impact surface. | 08-13-2009 |
| 20100212411 | Tip Indenting Apparatus for Testing a Block of Material - The invention relates to a tip indenting apparatus for testing a block of material, characterized in that it comprises: a holder for the tip and a holder for a block of a material to be punched or scratched, said tip holder and said block holder each comprising a solid body made of heat conducting material; securing means for removably securing the tip or the block in thermal-conducting contact to said solid body; an annular sheath having a shape corresponding to that of said solid body and in which said solid body is provided; heating means comprising at least one electric heater; and means for assembling the solid body and the heating means; wherein, during a test, the tip can be heated at a predetermined temperature, in particular a temperature essentially equal to that of the block of material to be tested. | 08-26-2010 |
| 20100132441 | MICROMACHINED COMB DRIVE FOR QUANTITATIVE NANOINDENTATION - A microelectromechanical (MEMS) nanoindenter transducer including a body, a probe moveable relative to the body, an indenter tip coupled to an end of the moveable probe, the indenter tip moveable together with the probe, and a micromachined comb drive. The micromachined comb drive includes an electrostatic actuator capacitor comprising a plurality of comb capacitors configured to drive the probe, together with the indenter tip, along a displacement axis, including in an indentation direction, upon application of a bias voltage to the actuation capacitor. The micromachined comb drive further includes a plurality of sensing capacitors forming a differential capacitive displacement sensor, each sensing capacitor comprising a plurality of comb capacitors and each configured to provide capacitance levels which, together, are representative of a position of the probe, wherein each of the comb capacitors of the actuator capacitor and the sensing capacitors includes a fixed electrode comb coupled to the body and a moveable electrode comb coupled to the probe. | 06-03-2010 |
| 20100281964 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR ASSESSING THE MACHINABILITY OF LAMINATES - A device and method for assessing the machinability, particularly the drillability, of epoxy resin laminates by reproducible indentation and analysis of the delamination area of a laminate sample thus provoked. | 11-11-2010 |
| 20100281963 | NANOINDENTER TIP FOR UNIAXIAL TENSION AND COMPRESSION TESTING - The invention is an indenter tip that is modified to permit both compression testing and tensile testing on samples having dimensions smaller than approximately 1 μm. The modified indenter tip has both a surface that can be used to apply compressive forces, and tines that can be used to engage a free end of a specimen to be tested in tension. The apparatus used to perform the tests includes elements of a scanning electron microscope that permit visualization of the specimen to be tested and the modified indenter tip, so as to permit appropriate alignment and engagement of the same. The apparatus also includes elements of a microindenter that provide mechanical manipulation of the relative position and orientation of the modified indenter tip and of the specimen to be tested, as well as the necessary controls and instrumentation to perform the test and to collect, record and manipulate data. | 11-11-2010 |
| 20100192680 | APPARATUS FOR HARDNESS MEASUREMENT BY IMPACT - The apparatus comprises an actuator ( | 08-05-2010 |
| 20110179857 | METHOD OF TESTING SOFTNESS ATTRIBUTES OF PAPER TOWEL PRODUCTS - An apparatus for conducting demonstrations of the softness properties of consumer products and other materials, plus a method for conducting such demonstrations, is provided. A sample of paper towels, toilet tissue, or facial tissue, or other consumer products is placed in the apparatus. The apparatus drops an egg or other fragile object onto the sample, or the egg may be dropped from an operator's hand into the apparatus and onto the sample. By displaying the egg or fragile object as it either lands safely on a sample or is destroyed on impact, the operator can visually demonstrate to an average consumer either the softness properties of the sample, or the lack thereof. A method of preparing samples in a consistent manner is also provided to ensure that results are as fair, uniform and repeatable as possible. | 07-28-2011 |
| 20090056427 | Methods and instruments for materials testing - Methods and instruments for characterizing a material, such as the properties of bone in a living human subject, using a test probe constructed for insertion into the material and a reference probe aligned with the test probe in a housing. The housing is hand held or placed so that the reference probe contacts the surface of the material under pressure applied either by hand or by the weight of the housing. The test probe is inserted into the material to indent the material while maintaining the reference probe substantially under the hand pressure or weight of the housing allowing evaluation of a property of the material related to indentation of the material by the probe. Force can be generated by a voice coil in a magnet structure to the end of which the test probe is connected and supported in the magnet structure by a flexure, opposing flexures, a linear translation stage, or a linear bearing. Optionally, a measurement unit containing the test probe and reference probe is connected to a base unit with a wireless connection, allowing in the field material testing. | 03-05-2009 |
| 20110226046 | Method and apparatus for testing consistency of frozen beverages - A method and apparatus using a sample test container filled with beverage, a penetrator holder, a penetrator and release means is disclosed. In the method a sample, is drawn into the test container and the penetrator dropped into the sample, and a reading of the stiffness of the sample is made based on the depth of penetration of the penetrator onto the sample. | 09-22-2011 |
| 20120085155 | PORTABLE POLYMER TESTER - The present invention provides a polymer indentation method and tester that includes measuring the time taken by a polymeric material to recover a set portion of an initial deformation and use this duration as a material degradation indicator. The recovery time was found to be more sensitive to cable degradation than the specific compressive stiffness (or indenter modulus) measured during the indentation phase, and this high sensitivity was achieved for both thermally aged and irradiated polymer samples. | 04-12-2012 |
| 073083000 | With successive minor and major load | 1 |
| 20090120172 | NANOINDENTATION SURFACE ANALYSIS METHOD - The present invention provides a novel method for determining the mechanical properties of the surfaces of materials including thin films. Generally, the method is comprised of laterally scanning the surface of the film with an array of cantilever tips varying temperature, load and time to obtain a measurement of mechanical properties, such as hardness and glass transition temperature. The method can be used to obtain mechanical properties of films that would otherwise be unobtainable using standard methods. | 05-14-2009 |
| 073084000 | Soil bearing capacity | 10 |
| 20120174659 | IMPACT PENETROMETER SYSTEMS FOR CHARACTERIZING SOIL PROPERTIES - A dual aerial-drop penetrometer system includes a high-velocity (>30 m/s) penetrometer aerial unit combined with a low-velocity (<10 m/s) penetrometer aerial unit. The primary penetrometer is formed as an outer shell having the secondary penetrometer received in telescoping fashion within, which is ejected by a spring ejection mechanism upon impact of the outer shell. Both penetrometers provide deceleration information as they penetrate the soil of interest. The data from the two penetrometers, after analysis, can be used to assess soil strength as well as trafficability for the deployment of remotely-controlled vehicles, for example. | 07-12-2012 |
| 20090308143 | HYDROSTATICALLY COMPENSATED DEEP SEA PROBE WITH SHEAR STRAIN GAUGES - A hydrostatically compensated soil resistance probe includes a cylindrical body having a distal tip for insertion into a material, a plurality of load gates for transitioning an axial load on said cylindrical body to a shear load, and a plurality of shear load sensors to measure a transverse loading on said probe due to an axial loading. The axial loading can be the result of the resistance on the probe tip to the insertion of the probe in the soil, or the frictional forces acting on a friction sleeve as the probe passes through the soil. | 12-17-2009 |
| 20110203356 | MOBILE TURF INSTRUMENT APPARATUS HAVING DROPPABLE HAMMER TYPE ACCELEROMETER CARRIED ON ROTATING ARM - A mobile turf instrument apparatus has a wheeled frame that may be propelled over the ground by a motive device, such as by a separate vehicle or by its own engine and drive train. A driven arm is carried on the frame and revolves in circles to periodically insert the probe(s) of a probe assembly into the ground during motion of the frame. The drive to the arm is momentarily disengaged when the probe(s) of the probe assembly are inserted into the ground. The probe assembly comprises two parts that rock relative to one another. Two soil measurement devices are connected to the probe assembly. A soil moisture sensor is coupled to the probe assembly for measuring soil moisture when the probe(s) are inserted into the ground. A load cell is responsive to the amount of rocking of the two parts of the probe assembly to measure soil compaction. | 08-25-2011 |
| 20080307863 | PENETROMETER INCLUDING A HAMMER AND AN AUTOMATED ACTUATOR WEIGHT-SUPPORTED BY AN ANVIL THROUGH THE HAMMER - A penetrometer that includes a hammer, an anvil, a penetrating rod, and an automated actuator. The penetrating rod extends from the anvil with the anvil between the hammer and the penetrating rod. The automated actuator is engaged with the hammer and configured to reciprocally impact the hammer against the anvil. The automated actuator is weight-supported by the anvil through the hammer with the penetrometer positioned with the automated actuator above the anvil and upon impact of the hammer against the anvil. | 12-18-2008 |
| 20100257920 | CONE PENETROMETERS FOR MEASURING IMPEDANCE OF GROUND - Provided are cone penetrometers for measuring the impedance of the ground. In an embodiment, the cone penetrometer comprises an inner electrode, an outer electrode, an insulator layer and a penetrating rod. The inner electrode includes a cone, a first contact portion to which terminal cables of an impedance meter are connected, and a metal rod. The metal rod has a diameter smaller than that of the cone. The metal rod has a front end connected to the bottom of the cone and a rear end connected to the first contact portion. The outer electrode has an inner diameter smaller than the diameter of the cone and is in the form of a hollow tube accommodating the metal rod. The insulator layer is formed between the inner electrode and the outer electrode to prevent short circuits between the two electrodes. The penetrating rod is in the form of a hollow tube accommodating the outer electrode. The use of the cone penetrometers improves the accuracy and reliability of the measured results. Further, the cone penetrometers can be miniaturized while maintaining high stiffness against buckling. | 10-14-2010 |
| 20100018297 | Device and Methods for Use of a Dynamic Cone Penetrometer for Evaluating Soil Compaction - The present invention includes a device and method for more particularly evaluating the compaction of soil by automating the use of a prior art dynamic cone penetrometer such that user error and error caused by field conditions are eliminated. Recordation of penetrometer data previously not recorded is made more precise by the present invention such that standardized measurement results. The device further includes means for facilitating the determination of compaction of soils through keyhole openings and a means for automating the collection and processing of the generated compaction data. | 01-28-2010 |
| 20100024535 | Searching Method for Acquiring Ground Information - Provided is a searching method for acquiring ground information by mounting a resistor on the leading end of a rod and by piercing the ground with the same. The searching method acquires the ground information on the strength and deformation of the ground, by piercing the ground with the resistor including a frustum of circular cone or an arcuate member containing a deficient sectional shape, in which the angle made between the side face of the resistor having blades in the same direction as the piercing direction and the piercing direction is 5 degrees or less upward and outward from the leading end of the resistor thereby to measure a plurality of transverse ground reactions, and by rotating the resistor having the blades at that depth thereby to measure a plurality of ground shearing forces. The main information such as CøE can be determined in the ground search by inserting an apparatus of one kind into the search depth without moving it up and down. Thus, an original position ground search can be performed speedily and lightly and applied to various grounds. | 02-04-2010 |
| 20090173147 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SOIL STRENGTH MEASUREMENT - A system and method for characterizing soil shear strength from a vehicle, comprises a plurality of sensors mounted on a vehicle and configured to measure distances from the sensors to the soil surface. The sensors comprise a first sensor disposed on the vehicle and configured to measure a first distance between the first sensor and the soil and a second sensor disposed on the vehicle and configure to measure a second distance between a the sensor and a track made in the soil by the vehicle, wherein the first sensor measures the distance at a location before the vehicle wheel travels over that location and the second sensor measures the distance to the bottom of the track made by the wheel. A processing module is communicatively coupled to the sensors and is configured to calculate track depth as a function of the first and second distance measurements; and to derive soil shear strength as a function of the calculated track depth and the vehicle parameters. | 07-09-2009 |
| 20100018296 | PENETROMETER WITH LIGHT-WEIGHT, ELECTRONICALLY-CONTROLLED HAMMERING MODULE - A light-weight electronically-controlled hammering module is used to apply a repetitive hammering force under electronic control to the top end of a dynamic cone penetrometer rod. In a preferred embodiment, the hammering module has a battery-powered percussive hammer that applies an electrically-generated impulse hammering force to the top of the rod. The depth of penetration is measured with a range-finder and used to compute the rate of penetration of the rod into the ground and correlated to the strength of the soil. The rate of hammering is controlled to cause the rod to penetrate into the soil at a controlled rate correlated with the strength of the soil. | 01-28-2010 |
| 20100199751 | FULL BODY PROBE - A geotechnical or geophysical probe ( | 08-12-2010 |
| 073085000 | Penetrator element | 1 |
| 20090260427 | Measuring Head for Nanoindentation Instrument and Measuring Method Using Same - A measuring head for a nano-indentation instrument capable of positioning a sample relatively to the measuring head, which includes a measuring axis, a reference axis and a component for detecting a depth of penetration of an indentor into the sample. The measuring and reference axes are attached to a frame for connection to the instrument. The measuring axis incorporates an actuator and includes the indentor, the reference axis incorporates an actuator and includes a reference tip, and the measuring and reference axes each have a component for detecting a force applied by its actuator. Penetration depth is detected by measuring a displacement of the indentor relatively to the reference tip. | 10-22-2009 |
