US1849055A - Apparatus for ascertaining the compressibility of articles or masses and grading the objects so tested - Google Patents

Description

March 15', 1932. 1, 49,055

APPARATUS FOR ASCERTAINING THE COMPRESSIBILITY OF ARTICLES T. cRoPPEl R 0R MASSES AND GRADING THE OBJECTS SO TESTED Filed Jan. 2, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet awweutoz zvoMzzsckoPPzm March 15, 1932. CRQPPER 1,849,055

APPARATUS FOR ASCERTAINING THE COMPRESSIBILITY OF ARTICLES OR MASSES AND GRADING THE OBJECTS so TESTED Filed Jan. 2, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet '2 avwwtoz 771004145 CHOPPER March 15, 1932. R 1,849,055

APPARATUS FOR ASCERTAINING THE CQMPRESSIBILITY 0F ARTICLES OR MASSES AND GRADING THE OBJECTS SO TESTED Filed'Jan. 2, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 amowto'c March 15, 1932. CROPPER APPARATUS FOR ASCERTAINING THE COMPRESSIBILITY OF 4 0 Ow t m 9 M 00 3 I 11 T v R t A8 8 h S 4 OR MASSES AND GRADING THE OBJECTS SO TESTED Filed Jan. 2, 1929 l L J E Elvwwtoz F 7710/7/70 C/FOPPE/P, 335W afliomu Patented Mar, 15, 1932 THOMAS CHOPPER, F ERD'INGTON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR T'O DUNLOP RUBBER COTMPANY LIMITED, 0]? LONDON, ENGLAND, A BRITISH COMPANY APPARATUS FOR ASOERTAINING THE COMPRESSIBILITY OF ARTICLES OR AND GRADING THE Application filed January 2, 1929, Serial No.

golf balls,the cores for golf balls or rubber 19 balls generally. It is Within the scope of this invention, however, to utilize the apparatus for testing other matter, either in its worked or unworked condition. v

The apparatus is of thattype-devised for performing the tests known to the trade or as required by the rules of the International Lawn Tennis'Federation -and-which consists in principle in first subjecting the objects to t a determined imposition, commonly referred 29 to as the initial load, after which a further determined imposition is imposed, whereupon the deformability or compression which has occurred in respect of the second imposition is defined, the data resulting therefrom forming the basis for classifying the grades of the objects.

According to this invention objects are subjected to two degrees of compression by deif vices forming part of an apparatus mechani- 39 cally driven and actuating automatically as a whole. The first pressure being less in extent than the secondwhereupon having imposed the secondload, the extent of the deformability of the object in respect of the second load beyond that of the first is defined. The devices comprise a pivoted platform for imposing the initial pressure, in

combination with a weight. that may be mounted upon a beam which pivots downwardly according to the compressibility of the object under test, the beam at its end remote from the pivot being adapted tocontrol means for classifying the objects as the result of the test. V

In order that this invention may bejclearly understood I have described it'with reference to the drawings hereunto appended wherein a V Figure 1 is a side elevation in part section OBJECTS SO TESTED 329,729, and in Great Britain April 4, 1928.

of one embodiment of apparatus constructed according to this invention.

Figure 2 is a plan View of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of a further embodiment.

Figure 4 is a plan view of Fig. 3.

Figs. 4a and 4 are enlarged detail views illustrating certain of the mechanism shown at the left end of Fig. 4.

The apparatus illustrated in Figs. 12' comprises a main compressing member in the form of abeam 1 fulcrumed'upon a pivot 2' received within brackets 3 upstanding from the base plate 4 of the apparatus, the beam 1 having a weight 5 mounted thereon in order to occasion the pressure it, is desired to imposevupon the object being tested. f l

The beam is fulcrumed to oscillate both up wardly and downwardly its movement being produced by a cam 6. A roller 6a may be provided secured to the beam. The beam 1 has as. its function to compress the object under test, the object remaining stationary relative to the base plate. To render the test comparative in relation to different objects, the beam 1 must be arranged to commence the pressure from an identical position for each test. This feature is occasioned'by the previously described cam -6 which raises the beam to what may be termed its zero position, the cam 6 for this reason hereinafter conveniently being termed the zero-cam.

; Secured to the beam 1 is the upper part 7 of the object retaining means, the lower part 8 taking the form of a platform pivoted at 9 to a spindle housed in brackets 3 upstanding from the base plate, the platform being adapted to oscillate upwards and downwards, its movement being controlled by a cam 11 (hereinafter termed the Flift cam) whose function is to lift the platform 8 towards the com-' plementary. part of the object retaining means to impose an initial load upon'the objects, and which is imposed by lifting the platform 8 sulficiently to accommodate the object. One means for lifting the platform 8 comprises a slide rod 12 held in brackets 13. The rod 12 is arranged to reciprocate longitudinally and normally under the influence of a spring 14;. engaging a collar 15, moves a rack 16 to rock a complementary sector 17 associated with the cam 11 and thus to raise the platform. The spring 14 effects the initial load.

To lower the platform which is necessary in order that the objects may be imposed or removed therefrom, the rod 12 is fashioned to engage the limb 18 of a rocker arm or lever pivoted at 19, the lever having rotatably secured to it a roller 20 which is adapted'to rest against a cam 21, which owing to its func tion may be termed a retracting cam.

The operation of those parts more particu larly associated with the compressing devices is as follows The zero and retracting cams 6 and 21 respectively are set in motion and upon the beam 1 having been raised to the Zero position the rod 12 is retracted allowing the platform 8 to fall, an object is then delivered to and lodged upon the retaining platform. It will now be found that the retracting cam 21 has ceased influencing the lever 18, and that the spring 14 having moved the rod and incidentally the lift cam 11 through the members 16-17, the object is held. Moreover the spring is exerting a pressure upon the object. The beam 1 up to this time is retained 1n its zero position.v

A convenient form of the delivering means comprises a rotary platform mounted upon the base plate and adapted to be rotated by a ratchet and pawl with a step bystep motion, the pawls being reciprocated by any suitable means, as for instance a pivoted lever coacting with a cam, the rotary platform being provided with object retaining or spacing devices which are presented successively underneath the testing devices. Alternatively, or in combination with the rotary platform there may be provided a reciprocating automatically actuating sleeve or plunger device adapted to separate a single object from a bulk and deliver it to the pressure imposing devices, the sleeve or plunger being actuated by a leveror rod contacting at its one end with a cam or other means; Springs and suitably mounted levers being provided if desired for assisting in directing the objects. Figures 1-2 show a suitable delivering means which comprises a member 22 attached to a lever 23 fulcrumed at 24 and acting with a cam It is an important feature in the apparatus after the platform 8 has been raised to embrace the object and to impose an initial load upon it that the platform is held to prevent it yielding during the application of the greater pressure, it is therefore proposed to use a detent or locking means and to associate it with any desired part of the apparatusJ A convenient embodiment of the detent comprises members 30-31 pivotally united. andforced together by a spring and adapted when in their operative condition to embrace the rod 12, such detent or lock being disposed upon the base plate at a position beneath or adjacent a cam 32 which at the required period serves to hold the members 3031 apart.

To resume with the operation of the apparatusthe components of which at this time are exerting an initial load upon the object and the detent is holding the platform 8 against movementthe zero cam 6 further rotates and allows the beam 1 to fall. The object now deforms under the load the extent of the deformation constituting the basis of the test.

A further important feature of the apparatus according to this invention is the provision of means to automatically classify the objects and to direct them into receptacles allotted to the separate classifications.

A convenient construction of the directing means comprises an oscillatory lever 35 fulcrumed at 36 to which movement is imparted through the medium of a cam 37 of the sidefaced type, the lever 35 being held against the cam 37 by a spring 38 anchored to one of the upstanding bearings 39.

(lo-operating with the lever 35 is a selector 41 or stop which is secured to the beam 1, the relation between the selector stop and the lever 35 being such that upon the downward travel of the beam during its action of compressing, the stop coacts with the lever in such way to arrest its further movement should the beam 1 fall to a certain extent. To facilitate adjustment the stop at its end is provided with a threaded sleeve 42. Extending from and secured to the lever 35 is arod or pointer 40 which extends up to and terminates near the object. a

The performance of-the selecting mechanism described with'reference to Figs. 1-2 is as follows It must first be appreciated that the lever 35 and the pointer 40 are oscillated at each downward movement of the beam 1. Should the tested object prove comparatively hard the beam 1 has a small downward movement so that the stop 42 cannot contact the lever 35 which as the result is able to recover its normal position. But should the tested object be comparatively soft the stop 42 due to the greater movement of the beam 1 would engage with and prevent the lever 35 from returning holding the pointer 40 at the other side of the object. The position that the pointer assumes when the object is comparatively soft is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

As will readily be seen the pointer 40 acts to direct the objects into the relative one of the chutes 44.

Of course, it will be understood that the beam 1 has to be raised before the objects can be removed from the testing devices and therefore were it'not prevented the lever 35 would return to its normal position before directing the objects. To prevent this a gapped disc 45 to engage theclaw 46, is provided. This'claw 46 is formedon the upper end of a post carried by the lever 35 as shown in Fig.1. T

.As shown in Figs. 1-2 the cams 6, 21, 32 V alternatives some of which for convenience have been embodied in Figs. 3-4. It should be understood that they need not'be adopted in the entirety.

Referring to Figs. 3-4 the beam 50 as in the other construction is fulcrumed at its one end upon a spindle 51 and at its other end carries a roller 52 which rests upon a zero cam 53. The beam 50 further is provided with a contact stop or selector, 54 secured thereto with an adjustable engagement.

For convenience in this construction the objects to be tested are admitted from above and for this reason the object-retaining plat: form is disposed vertically and comprises an integral upstanding abutment 55. Spring in fluenced flaps 56 may be provided to assist in retaining the objects. I

The complemetary part'of the object retaining means-and moreover the means for applying the initial load-consists in a plunger 57 housed within bearings 58 and in-.

fluenced by a spring 59. To apply the initial load the spring59 moves the plunger 57 towards the object and upon the spring having fully exerted itself the plunger is held against further movement for the time being by a detent or clamp 60 hingedly mounted upon a spindle 61 housed within the bearings 58.

Pressure is imposed upon the clamp 60 by a sprin 64 en aged b a nut 63 carried on- C D .4 y

the threaded shankof a drawbolt 62 passed through the clamp 60. The drawbolt62 is pivotally secured at 65 to a lever 66 fulcrumed to a spindle 67 contained in brackets 68, the

lever 66 being rocked by a cam 69 against which it rests, there being provided a roller 70 at the end of the lever.

There also is provided upon the threaded shank of, the drawbolt 62 a nut 63 that is a face 86 and a notch 87.

gaging a side-face cam 74. Rotatable upon a spindle (rigidly or otherwise) secured to a resilient frame member 76 mounted upon the lever 71, is a roller or rest which as well as having an intermediate position. (as shown in the drawings) to enable it to assist in positioning the objects, has a side to side"movement to direct the objects into the chutes-7 7 and 77*,the sideface cam 74 being so contoured to produce the'oscillation of the lever as v 71 to effect such movement of the member 75.

Provided as an integral or otherwise extension of the lever 71and' adapted to co operate with vthestop54 isa part having The notch 87 is providedfor the reception of a'peg 83 upon a detent or plunger 80 provided with a roller 81 and forced by a spring 84aga-inst a cam 82. In practice should the object prove of such compressibility to allow the stop 54 to engage the edge 88 of the part 85, the peg 83, which at this time will be opposite the notch 87 will enter the notch 87 on account of.

the face of the cam 82 falling away at this point, and hold the lever 71 against movement until the peg is withdrawn. Had the stop 54. not engaged the edge 88 the peg 83' would would have contacted the face 86 and not have restrained the lever.

, A, configured part 90-if desired may be pro with a.

vicled upon the beam 50 to co-operate graduated dial member 91.

The; object feeding means according to this invention'comprises a chute and. theobj cots are held; therein by a hook shaped'member 96 fulcrumed at 97 to a bracket 98, the hookmember having an inwardly extending part 99. r

The member 96 as well as beingprovide'd with a spring loaded plunger 100 is connected byja rod-101 to a bell crank lever 102 pivotally secured to a bracket 103.

' As shown 1 a spring tends to force the screwed contact member 105 within the limb 106 of the-bell crank lever against the closure plate 107 at the top of the beam 50, and as will be understood upon the upward movement of the beam and upon'it contacting the member 105 the hooked part of the member 96 is retracted and allows the object previously engaged by it, to fall, the plunger 100 holding the other objects disposed in the chute 95 from falling also. I

Upon the beam discontinuing contact with the bell crank lever theleverpivots to force the hook inwardly and to withdraw, the plunger 100 outwardly the object previously held by the plunger 100 then falling until it engages the hooked part. i

-Movement in one directionis imparted t the lever 72 by a spring 108.

, VVhilethe test according to this invention has been described as being made upon one diameter of the object,- it mayifdesired: be

' is imposed.

What I claim is 1. An apparatus for determining the deformability of an'article under pressure, a pivoted rest for supporting the article to be tested, a loaded beam for imposing a pressure on the article, a cam controlling the movement of the beam power actuated, moving means for said rest, and holding means for preventing actuation of said moving means during the pressure movement of said beam.

2. An apparatus for determining the deformab-ility of an article under pressure, including a loaded pivotally mounted beam, means controlling the movementof the beam, a movable member adapted to apply an ini tial pressure to the article to be tested, means for applying a yielding force to said member in one direction and holding means restraining the movement of said member in the opposite-direction.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the means for applying the yielding-force comprises aespring actuated plunger, and the holding means comprises a clamp which coacts With said plunger. A A p 4. An apparatus for determining the deformability of an article under pressure including a loaded beam for imposing a pressure onthe article, a cam controlling the mov ment of the beam so that for each article tested the beam starts its pressure movement from an identical position, power driven initial pressure means to apply pressure to the article prior to the'pressure movement of said beam, holding means for preventing the movement of the initial pressure means during the pressure movement of the beam, an oscillatory member adapted to direct the removal of the articles tested, yielding means tending to move said oscillatory member in one direction, power means for moving the latter in the opposite direction, and means movable with the beam and co-acting with said oscillatory member adapted to prevent movement thereof in a predetermined direction.

5. An apparatus for determining the deformability of article under pressure including; aloaded beam for imposing a pressure on the article, a cam controlling the movement of the beam so that for each articletested the beam starts its pressure movement from an identical position, power driven initial pressure means to apply'pressure to the article prior to pressure movement of the beam, holding" means for preventing movement'of the initial pressure meansduring the pressure movement of the beam, means holding a supply of articles, and a pivotally mounted hooked feed control lever connected to and controlled by a member engaging the beam.

6. Apparatus for determining the deformability of an article under pressure in cluding a loaded beam forimposing a pressure on the article, a cam controlling the movement of the beam to bring it to an initial zero positionand releasing it to act on said article, and means to impart a predetermined pressure to said article While confined by said beam in its initial zero position so that for each article tested the beam starts its movement under an identical initial pressure from an identical position.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

THOMAS CHOPPER.

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