Claims
- 1. An apparatus for testing elastomeric joints, said joints comprising a length of sealant spanning a gap between adjacent substrates, said apparatus comprising:
(a) a frame (b) a first fluid cylinder, said cylinder comprising
(i) a first end wall, (ii) a first tubular cylinder wall (iii) a first piston (iv) a first shaft, said first shaft response to movement of said piston, said first shaft having a probe connection portion; (c) a probe, said probe affixed to said probe connection portion; (d) a second fluid cylinder, said second fluid cylinder having an internal pressure equalization chamber defined by
(i) a second end wall, (ii) a second tubular cylinder wall (iii) a second piston (e) a fluid supply port for receiving a substantially constant pressure fluid supply to said internal pressure equalization chamber; and (f) wherein movement of said first piston transfers fluid pressure to said internal pressure equalization chamber of said second piston, thereby maintaining a substantially constant pressure on said first piston, and thus a substantially constant reaction force on said probe.
- 2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a pressure gage connected to said substantially constant pressure internal chamber.
- 3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said frame further comprises a handle, said handle adapted for manual support and use by a single workman.
- 4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said probe comprises a rolling wheel of preselected width WW.
- 5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein said probe comprises a rolling wheel of preselected diameter WD.
- 6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said probe comprises a non-rolling indenter.
- 7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein said indenter comprises a smoothly radiused working end.
- 8. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said frame further comprises a cover, said cover moveable between an open position, wherein internal components are accessible, and a closed position, wherein internal components are not accessible.
- 9. The apparatus as set forth in claim 8, further comprising a hinge, and wherein said cover is hinged to said frame.
- 10. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a first gas supply line, said gas supply line having a delivery end affixed to said second cylinder and in fluid communication with said substantially constant pressure chamber.
- 11. The apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein said first gas supply line comprises a second end, and wherein said frame further comprises a handle, and wherein said second end exits said frame at said handle.
- 12. The apparatus as set forth in claim 11, wherein said first gas supply line further comprises, at said second end, a quick disconnect fitting.
- 13. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising an infrared sensing device.
- 14. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a moisture sensing device.
- 15. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a ultrasound sensing and testing device.
- 16. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a video camera.
- 17. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a global positioning position receiver.
- 18. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising an on/board digital data output device.
- 19. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a wireless data transfer device.
- 20. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a digital data recording device.
- 21. A method for testing an elastomeric seal joint, said joint running longitudinally between a first and a second substrate, said seal joint having a first edge adjacent to said first substrate, and a second edge adjacent to said second substrate, said joint seal having a width W and an elastomeric seal thickness T, said method comprising:
(a) providing probe carriage having a probe adapted to provide a substantially constant force against said joint seal to depress said joint seal to create an elongation strain on said joint seal, said probe having a contact footprint of about one-third of said joint width W; (b) elongating said joint seal with said probe a preselected distance; (c) running said probe along a selected longitudinal length of said joint seal; (d) observing the locations along said longitudinal length of said joint seal where said joint seal fails adhesively at said first or at said second edge.
- 22. The method as set forth in claim 21, wherein said probe comprises a rolling wheel.
- 23. The method as set forth in claim 21, wherein said probe carriage further comprises a pressure gage connected to said substantially constant pressure internal chamber.
- 24. The method as set forth in claim 21, wherein said probe carriage further comprises a handle, said handle adapted for manual support and use by a single workman.
- 25. The method as set forth in claim 21, wherein said probe carriage further comprises a rolling wheel of preselected width.
- 26. The method as set forth in claim 21, wherein said probe carriage further comprises a rolling wheel of preselected diameter WD.
- 27. The method as set forth in claim 21, wherein said probe carriage further comprises a non-rolling indenter.
- 28. The method as set forth in claim 27, wherein said probe carriage further comprises a smoothly radiused working end.
- 29. The method as set forth in claim 21, wherein said probe carriage further comprises a cover, said cover moveable between an open position, wherein internal components are accessible, and a closed position, wherein internal components are not accessible.
- 30. The method as set forth in claim 29, wherein said probe carriage further comprises a hinge, and wherein said cover is hinged to said frame.
- 31. The method as set forth in claim 21, wherein said probe carriage further comprising a first gas supply line, said gas supply line having a delivery end affixed to said second cylinder and in fluid communication with said substantially constant pressure chamber.
- 32. The method as set forth in claim 21, wherein said probe carriage further comprises a second end, and wherein said frame further comprises a handle, and wherein said second end exits said frame at said handle.
- 33. The method as set forth in claim 32, wherein said first gas supply line further comprises, at said second end, a quick disconnect fitting.
- 34. The method as set forth in claim 21, wherein said probe carriage further comprises an infrared sensing device.
- 35. The method as set forth in claim 21, wherein said probe carriage further comprises a moisture sensing device.
- 36. The method as set forth in claim 21, wherein said probe carriage further comprises a ultrasound sensing testing device.
- 37. The method as set forth in claim 21, wherein said probe carriage further comprises apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a video camera.
- 38. The method as set forth in claim 21, wherein said probe carriage further comprises a global positioning position receiver.
- 39. The method as set forth in claim 21, wherein said probe carriage further comprises an on/board digital data output device.
- 40. The method as set forth in claim 21, wherein said probe carriage further comprises a wireless data transfer device.
- 41. The method as set forth in claim 21, wherein said probe carriage further comprises a digital data recording device.
- 42. The method as set forth in claim 21, wherein said probe carriage further comprises an ultrasonic signal generator to provide a series of acoustical pulses, and a ultrasonic signal transducer to convert a received series of reflected acoustical signals from said corresponding to said acoustical pulses;
a means to clock and to drive said acoustical transducers; a sealant joint thickness signal generating means responsive to said reflective acoustical signals to provide thickness data in response to each transducer pulse; a computer means programmed to record said thickness signal and a location displacement encoder signal so as to store thickness of said sealant joint by specific location.
RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS
[0001] This invention is related to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/31 1,011, filed on Aug. 8, 2001, entitled Joint Sealant Adhesion Indicator, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60311011 |
Aug 2001 |
US |