Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
241 words
A device for testing the coring characteristics of an elastomer comprising a base, a support column mounted upon said base, an indexing bracket, adjustable coupling means connecting said indexing bracket at a selectable distance from a sample of said elastomer, a carriage, a force gauge mounted on said carriage, a cannula support rod, a motion-permitting coupling connecting said cannula support rod to said carriage and to said force gauge whereby said force gauge provides an indication of the force applied against a cannula mounted on said cannula support rod, a reciprocal motion guide mounting said carriage on said indexing bracket for movement from a retracted position of said cannula to an advanced position, a force-applying means reacting between said indexing bracket and said carriage in a direction urging said carriage and said cannula support rod towards said advanced position and to allow said force-applying means to move said cannula into said advanced position for piercing said elastomer whereby a cannula upon said support rod is uniformly urged to pierce a sample of elastomer disposed of in its path of movement, a releasable cocking mechanism reacting between said carriage and said indexing bracket in a direction to dispose said carriage in said retracted position, and an aperture in said cannula support rod for insertion of wire through a cannula mounted on said support rod for dislodging cores of elastomer contained within said cannula after it has pierced through said sample of elastomer.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
241 words
A device for testing the coring characteristics of an elastomer comprising a base, a support column mounted upon said base, an indexing bracket, adjustable coupling means connecting said indexing bracket at a selectable distance from a sample of said elastomer, a carriage, a force gauge mounted on said carriage, a cannula support rod, a motion-permitting coupling connecting said cannula support rod to said carriage and to said force gauge whereby said force gauge provides an indication of the force applied against a cannula mounted on said cannula support rod, a reciprocal motion guide mounting said carriage on said indexing bracket for movement from a retracted position of said cannula to an advanced position, a force-applying means reacting between said indexing bracket and said carriage in a direction urging said carriage and said cannula support rod towards said advanced position and to allow said force-applying means to move said cannula into said advanced position for piercing said elastomer whereby a cannula upon said support rod is uniformly urged to pierce a sample of elastomer disposed of in its path of movement, a releasable cocking mechanism reacting between said carriage and said indexing bracket in a direction to dispose said carriage in said retracted position, and an aperture in said cannula support rod for insertion of wire through a cannula mounted on said support rod for dislodging cores of elastomer contained within said cannula after it has pierced through said sample of elastomer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said adjustable coupling comprises a rack and pinion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said adjustable coupling includes a manually operable clamp.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said reciprocal motion guide comprises a rod and slide bearings.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said force applying means comprises a compression spring.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
A device as set forth in claim 5 wherein said reciprocal motion guide comprises a slide rod and bearings, and said force applying means, comprising a compression spring being mounted upon said slide rod for reaction between the end of said rod remote from said indexing bracket and said carriage.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
72 words
A device as set forth in claim 6 wherein said slide rod and bearing comprise a pair of rods mounted parallel to each other upon said indexing bracket, a pair of slide bearings in said carriage engaged upon said rods, a bridge connecting the ends of said rod remote from said indexing bracket, and said compression spring being mounted on one of said rods and reacting between said bridge and said carriage.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said motion permitting coupling comprises a hole in said carriage disposed substantially parallel to the direction of movement of said reciprocal motion guide and a piston sliding within said hole which is connected to said cannula support rod.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
A device as set forth in claim 8 wherein said force gauge has a force sensing element, and said force sensing element being disposed in said hole for forceable contact with said piston.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device as set forth in claim 9 wherein a gauge compression spring is mounted in said hole between said piston and said force sensing element.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
76 words
A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said releasable cocking mechanism comprises a follower roller mounted on said carriage and a rotatable eccentric roller mounted on said indexing bracket, and said rollers contacting each other to permit said carriage to be moved against said force applying means to set said carriage in said retracted position and to be moved by said force-applying means to said advanced position when said releasable cocking mechanism is released.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
A device as set forth in claim 11 wherein said releasable cocking mechanism includes latching means for holding said carriage in said retracted position against said force applying means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
71 words
A device as set forth in claim 12 wherein said latching mechanism comprises an offset disposition of the axes of rotation of said rollers relative to each other and to the direction of movement of said carriage, and a projection on the surface of said eccentric roller offset from its peak in the same direction as its axis of rotation is offset from the axis of rotation of said follower roller.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the end of said cannula support rod remote from said carriage includes a cannula coupling.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device as set forth in claim 14 wherein said cannula coupling comprises a slightly tapered end of said support rod.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
43 words
A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein a cannula clearing wire is movably mounted on said aperture in said cannula support rod for clearing cores of elastomer from a cannula mounted on said support rod after it has pierced an elastomer.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
A device as set forth in claim 16 wherein a portion of said cannula clearing wire is movably mounted on said carriage.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
A device as set forth in claim 17 wherein said portion of said cannula clearing wire mounted on said carriage is inserted within a slide bushing on said carriage.