US4034603A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of an apparatus for testing the hardness of materials
Assignee: Proceq SA
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Filing: 1976-07-09
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Granted: 1977-07-12
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Expires: 1996-07-09
Abstract
Abstract A method of, and apparatus for, testing the hardness of a material by means of an impact device wherein an impact body having a test tip or point which is either integrated, e.g., connected with, or separate from, the impact body is brought to impact against the material to be tested. There is determined the velocity of the impact body and/or the test tip both directly before and after impact, and there is then formed a characteristic value from both velocities which is utilized as criterion for the hardness of the material.
Inventors
- 👤 Dietmar Leeb
- 👤 Marco Brandestini
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 11:23
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N3/00; G01N3/40; G01N3/48; G01N2203/00; G01N2203/0058; G01N2203/0076; G01N2203/0083
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
A method of testing the hardness of a material by means of an impact device, comprising the steps of: a. providing an impact body member and a separate test member having a test tip; b. providing means for driving said impact body member to engage said test member; c. employing said driving means to drive the impact body member towards the material to be tested and to engage the test member thereby causing the test tip to impact said material and the test member to rebound therefrom; d. determining the velocity of at least one of said members immediately prior to impact; e. determining the velocity of at least one of said members immediately after impact; and f. forming a measure of the hardness of the material from said velocities.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
130 words
A method of testing the hardness of a material by means of an impact device, comprising the steps of: a. providing an impact body member and a separate test member having a test tip; b. providing means for driving said impact body member to engage said test member; c. employing said driving means to drive the impact body member towards the material to be tested and to engage the test member thereby causing the test tip to impact said material and the test member to rebound therefrom; d. determining the velocity of at least one of said members immediately prior to impact; e. determining the velocity of at least one of said members immediately after impact; and f. forming a measure of the hardness of the material from said velocities.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein steps (d) and (e) comprise determining the velocity of said impact body member immediately prior to impact and immediately after impact.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein steps (d) and (e) comprise determining the velocity of said test member immediately prior to impact and immediately after impact.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein step (d) comprises determining the velocity of said test member immediately prior to impact.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein step (d) comprises determining the velocity of said impact body member immediately prior to impact.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein step (e) comprises determining the velocity of said test member immediately after impact.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein step (e) comprises determining the velocity of said impact body member immediately after impact.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein prior to step (c) said test member bears freely against the material to be tested, and steps (d) and (e) comprise determining the velocity of said impact body member immediately prior to impact with the test member and immediately after rebound therefrom.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
61 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein prior to step (c) the test member bears freely against the material to be tested and steps (d) and (e) comprise determining the maximum velocity of the test member after being struck by the impact body member and the maximum velocity of the test member on rebound from the material to be tested.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein step (f) comprises forming the quotient of the two velocities.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, including the step of forming the square of the quotient of the two velocities.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
109 words
A method of testing the hardness of a material by means of an impact device, comprising the steps of: a. providing an impact body member having a test tip integral therewith; b. providing means for driving said impact body member towards the material to be tested; c. employing said driving means to drive the impact body member towards the material to be tested so that the test tip impacts said material and the impact body member rebounds therefrom; d. determining the velocity of said impact body member immediately prior to impact and immediately after impact; and e. forming a measure of the hardness of the material from said velocities.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
109 words
A method of testing the hardness of a material by means of an impact device, comprising the steps of: a. providing an impact body member having a test tip integral therewith; b. providing means for driving said impact body member towards the material to be tested; c. employing said driving means to drive the impact body member towards the material to be tested so that the test tip impacts said material and the impact body member rebounds therefrom; d. determining the velocity of said impact body member immediately prior to impact and immediately after impact; and e. forming a measure of the hardness of the material from said velocities.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein step (e) comprises forming the quotient of the two velocities.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein step (e) comprises forming the square of the quotient of the two velocities.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
127 words
An apparatus for testing the hardness of a material, comprising an impact body member, a separate test member having a test tip, means for driving said impact body member to engage said test member and thereby cause the test tip to impact the material to be tested, and transducer means comprising a first element fixedly connected to one of said members and a second element relative to which said one member moves said transducer mans being capable of detecting the velocity of said one member immediately prior and immediately after impact of the test tip with the material to be tested and of generating therefrom electrical signals approximately proportional to these velocities and means for forming a measure of hardness of the material from said electrical signals.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
127 words
An apparatus for testing the hardness of a material, comprising an impact body member, a separate test member having a test tip, means for driving said impact body member to engage said test member and thereby cause the test tip to impact the material to be tested, and transducer means comprising a first element fixedly connected to one of said members and a second element relative to which said one member moves said transducer mans being capable of detecting the velocity of said one member immediately prior and immediately after impact of the test tip with the material to be tested and of generating therefrom electrical signals approximately proportional to these velocities and means for forming a measure of hardness of the material from said electrical signals.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein said first element is fixedly connected with said impact body member.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein said first element is fixedly connected with said test member.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 15, further comprising guide means for guiding movement of said impact body member, and wherein said first element comprises magnetic material and said second element comprises a winding secured to said guide means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein said first element comprises permanent magnet material.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 18, further comprising circuit means for measuring, storing and processing electrical signals, said circuit means being connected to receive electrical signals generated in said winding.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
64 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the mass of the impact body member and the velocity with which such mass can be moved by the driving means are matched to one another such that the kinetic energy of the impact body member prior to impact is large in comparison to changes in energy of the impact body member due to gravitational effects.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
45 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 15, further comprising circuit means connected with said transducer means for receiving electrical signals generated thereby and detecting maximum values of said electrical signals and for directly forming a digital display of a quotient value formed from such signals.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
120 words
An apparatus for testing the hardness of a material, comprising an impact body member having a test tip integral therewith, means for driving said impact body member thereby to cause the test tip to impact the material to be tested, and transducer means comprising a first element fixedly connected to said impact body member and a second element relative to which said impact body member moves, said transducer means being capable of detecting the velocity of said member immediately prior and immediately after impact of the test tip with the material to be tested and of generating therefrom electrical signals approximately proportional to these velocities and means for forming a measure of hardness of the material from said electrical signals.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
120 words
An apparatus for testing the hardness of a material, comprising an impact body member having a test tip integral therewith, means for driving said impact body member thereby to cause the test tip to impact the material to be tested, and transducer means comprising a first element fixedly connected to said impact body member and a second element relative to which said impact body member moves, said transducer means being capable of detecting the velocity of said member immediately prior and immediately after impact of the test tip with the material to be tested and of generating therefrom electrical signals approximately proportional to these velocities and means for forming a measure of hardness of the material from said electrical signals.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 23, further comprising guide means for said impact body member, and wherein said first element comprises magnetic material and said second element comprises a winding secured to said guide means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 24, wherein said magnetic material is permanent magnet material.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 24, further comprising circuit means for measuring, storing and processing electrical signals, said circuit means being connected with the winding means to receive electrical signals generated therein.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
64 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 23, wherein the mass of the impact body member and the velocity with which such mass is moved by the driving means are matched to one another such that the kinetic energy of the impact body member prior to impact in large in comparison to changes in the energy of the impact body member due to gravitational effects.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
45 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 23, further comprising circuit means connected to said transducer means for electronically detecting maximum values of the electrical signals generated by the transducer means, and for forming directly a digital display of a quotient value formed from such signals.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-07-11 | 1981-01-10 | 1981-07-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-07-11 | 1985-01-10 | 1985-07-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-07-11 | 1989-01-10 | 1989-07-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |