Bruker Nano Gmbh

Werner, Douglas

Dorfman, Vladislov

Sloan, William

Correa, Adrian

Douglas Werner

Adrian Correa

Vladimir Gulkov

Jair Giovanni Ramirez Gonzalez

James Earle

Vladislov Dorfman

Steven J Shaffer

William Sloan

System for conducting measurements of friction of a chosen material with reduced errors. The system includes a sample holder, a bushing accommodating such holder while permitting reversible repositioning of the holder along a bushing axis, a horizontal force sensor, a vertical force sensor, a sample holder pusher and a subsystem including a linear vertical bearing (disposed in the bushing and separating the holder from the bushing) and/or a horizontally-sliding element between the rod pusher and the vertical force sensor. The subsystem is structured to reduce a rocking motion of the holder in the bushing caused by a relative motion between the sample and an auxiliary body brought in contact with the sample. The method for performing measurements with such system.

Reduction of error in testing friction and wear with the use of high-speed reciprocating motion

A tangential force sensor is used instead of a coaxial strain gauge to measure the torque required to produce the rotation of a part. The force sensor is coupled tangentially to the rotating part through a non-slip contact produced by a force applied radially on the part. A progressively increasing tangential force produced by translating the force sensor in a direction normal to the axis of rotation of the part is then applied to initiate and maintain its rotation. The radial force applied to the part is judiciously selected and measured such that the part is engaged with enough friction to ensure a non-slip condition. By measuring the tangential force applied to the part, the torque characteristics of the rotatable part are determined. By sensing and controlling the radial force applied to the part, damage to the part or the mechanism supporting it is avoided.

Measurement of very low torque values

A universal tester includes modular sample stages, each dedicated to a test configuration. The modules are manually coupled to the base of the tester and automatically recognized for activation of the correct software relevant to its configuration and test scripts. As a result, no extraneous script can be activated erroneously by an operator. A single motor in the frame of the tester actuates the drive of each sample stage through a drivetrain that is automatically engaged by the manual installation of the stage. Means for controlling and/or measuring temperature, humidity, voltage, resistance, and acoustic emissions are provided through dedicated expansion slots and cards that activate respective software. An electronic identification in each card ensures that only relevant software is enabled.

Universal mechanical tester for measuring friction and wear characteristics of materials

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Campbell, CA, United States of America

Douglas Werner