Patent US5325701A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
US5325701A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Impact dynamometer

Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
•
Filing: 1992-08-11
•
Granted: 1994-07-05
•
Expires: 2012-08-11
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract An impact dynamometer is provided to determine a force history that has high and low frequency components. An impact plate receives an impact force at a zone of impact and an accelerometer measures the acceleration of the impact plate at the zone of impact. A plurality of posts, located distally from the zone of impact, support the impact plate and transmit the impact force from the impact plate. One or more accelerometers measure acceleration of the impact plate at the posts. The acceleration measured at the zone of impact and at the posts is indicative of the high frequency components of the impact force. Strain gauges measure the impact force at the posts which is indicative of the low frequency components of the impact force. A spring cushion supports the posts and elastically absorbs the impact force passed through the posts in order to maintain the structural integrity of the impact dynamometer.

Inventors

  • 👤 Stephen Zilliacus

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-05 04:12
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01M; G01M7/00; G01M7/08

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim 177 words
An impact dynamometer for determining a force history associated with an impact force that contains high and low frequency components, comprising: means for receiving the impact force at a zone of impact; means for measuring acceleration of said receiving means at said zone of impact; means, in cooperation with said receiving means, for defining a plurality of structural load paths to transmit the impact force from said receiving means, each of said structural load paths being located distally from said zone of impact; means, in cooperation with said defining means, for measuring acceleration of said receiving means at said structural load paths, wherein the acceleration measured at said zone of impact and at said structural load paths is indicative of the high frequency components; means, in cooperation with said defining means, for measuring the impact force at said structural load paths as a measure of the low frequency components; and means, in cooperation with said defining means, for elastically absorbing the impact force via said structural load paths, whereby structural integrity of said impact dynamometer is maintained.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 177 words
An impact dynamometer for determining a force history associated with an impact force that contains high and low frequency components, comprising: means for receiving the impact force at a zone of impact; means for measuring acceleration of said receiving means at said zone of impact; means, in cooperation with said receiving means, for defining a plurality of structural load paths to transmit the impact force from said receiving means, each of said structural load paths being located distally from said zone of impact; means, in cooperation with said defining means, for measuring acceleration of said receiving means at said structural load paths, wherein the acceleration measured at said zone of impact and at said structural load paths is indicative of the high frequency components; means, in cooperation with said defining means, for measuring the impact force at said structural load paths as a measure of the low frequency components; and means, in cooperation with said defining means, for elastically absorbing the impact force via said structural load paths, whereby structural integrity of said impact dynamometer is maintained.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 30 words
An impact dynamometer as in claim 1 wherein said means for measuring acceleration of said receiving means at said zone of impact and at said structural load paths comprise accelerometers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 23 words
An impact dynamometer as in claim 1 wherein said means for measuring the impact force at said structural load paths comprise strain gauges.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 165 words
An impact dynamometer for determining a force history associated with an impact force that contains high and low frequency components, comprising: an impact plate for receiving the impact force at a zone of impact; means for measuring acceleration of said impact plate at said zone of impact; a plurality of posts, located distally from said zone of impact, for supporting said impact plate and for transmitting the impact force from said impact plate; means, in cooperation with at least one of said posts, for measuring acceleration of said impact plate at said at least one post, wherein the acceleration measured at said zone of impact and at said at least one post is indicative of the high frequency components; means for measuring the impact force at said posts as a measure of the low frequency components; and means including a spring for supporting said posts and for elastically absorbing the impact force passed through said posts, whereby structural integrity of said impact dynamometer is maintained.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 165 words
An impact dynamometer for determining a force history associated with an impact force that contains high and low frequency components, comprising: an impact plate for receiving the impact force at a zone of impact; means for measuring acceleration of said impact plate at said zone of impact; a plurality of posts, located distally from said zone of impact, for supporting said impact plate and for transmitting the impact force from said impact plate; means, in cooperation with at least one of said posts, for measuring acceleration of said impact plate at said at least one post, wherein the acceleration measured at said zone of impact and at said at least one post is indicative of the high frequency components; means for measuring the impact force at said posts as a measure of the low frequency components; and means including a spring for supporting said posts and for elastically absorbing the impact force passed through said posts, whereby structural integrity of said impact dynamometer is maintained.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 31 words
An impact dynamometer as in claim 4 wherein said means for measuring acceleration of said impact plate at said zone of impact and at said at least one post comprise accelerometers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 21 words
An impact dynamometer as in claim 4 wherein said means for measuring the impact force at said posts comprise strain gauges.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 45 words
An impact dynamometer as in claim 4, said impact plate having a square cross-section, wherein said zone of impact is located in the center of said impact plate and said plurality of posts comprise four posts located substantially at the vertices of said impact plate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 30 words
An impact dynamometer as in claim 4 wherein said impact plate is situated to receive the impact force from a direction that is substantially perpendicular to said zone of impact.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 131 words
An impact dynamometer for determining a force history associated with an impact force of a torpedo that contains high and low frequency components, comprising: means for receiving the impact force at a zone of impact; a plurality of load paths for transmitting the impact force from said receiving means, each of said load paths being located distally from said zone of impact; means including at least two accelerometers, in cooperation with said receiving and said load paths, for defining the high frequency components of the impact force; means, in cooperation with said load paths, for defining the low frequency components of the impact force; and means including a metal spring, in cooperation with said load paths, for elastically absorbing the impact force, whereby structural integrity of said impact dynamometer is maintained.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 131 words
An impact dynamometer for determining a force history associated with an impact force of a torpedo that contains high and low frequency components, comprising: means for receiving the impact force at a zone of impact; a plurality of load paths for transmitting the impact force from said receiving means, each of said load paths being located distally from said zone of impact; means including at least two accelerometers, in cooperation with said receiving and said load paths, for defining the high frequency components of the impact force; means, in cooperation with said load paths, for defining the low frequency components of the impact force; and means including a metal spring, in cooperation with said load paths, for elastically absorbing the impact force, whereby structural integrity of said impact dynamometer is maintained.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 21 words
An impact dynamometer as in claim 9 wherein said load paths comprise a plurality of posts for supporting said receiving means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 161 words
A reusable dynamometer for determining a force history of an impact force that contains high and low frequency components comprising: an anvil in the form of a square plate having four corners for receiving the impact force; a square toroidal spring; four titanium posts connected between the said spring and the said anvil a first accelerometer mounted near the center of said anvil; a second accelerometer mounted near one of the corners of said anvil; a first strain gage mounted on a first one of said four posts; a second strain gage mounted on a second one of said four poses; whereby the first and second accelerometers provide outputs indicative of high frequency components of the impact force, the first and second strain gages provide outputs indicative of the low frequency components of the impact force and the said spring elastically absorbs a portion of said impact force to maintain structural integrity of said dynamometer, so that it can be reused.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 161 words
A reusable dynamometer for determining a force history of an impact force that contains high and low frequency components comprising: an anvil in the form of a square plate having four corners for receiving the impact force; a square toroidal spring; four titanium posts connected between the said spring and the said anvil a first accelerometer mounted near the center of said anvil; a second accelerometer mounted near one of the corners of said anvil; a first strain gage mounted on a first one of said four posts; a second strain gage mounted on a second one of said four poses; whereby the first and second accelerometers provide outputs indicative of high frequency components of the impact force, the first and second strain gages provide outputs indicative of the low frequency components of the impact force and the said spring elastically absorbs a portion of said impact force to maintain structural integrity of said dynamometer, so that it can be reused.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3456226A Cited
US3597960A Cited
US3775019A Cited
SU688845A2 Cited
US3960013A Cited
SU605143A1 Cited
US4359890A Cited
SU945708A1 Cited
JPS5776427A Cited
US4379401A Cited
US4691556A Cited
US4956999A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1997-07-04 1998-01-03 1998-07-05 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2001-07-04 2002-01-03 2002-07-05 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2005-07-04 2006-01-03 2006-07-05 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag