Pneumatic Grip Safety Integration for Material Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional material testing systems often fail to fully comply with international safety standards, requiring costly off-the-shelf safety components like PLCs and relays, which increase system costs and complexity while compromising operator safety.
Innovation Solution
Integration of a safety system within the material testing system, utilizing a processor to control pneumatic grip pressure through precise fill and exhaust valve management, and implementing redundant monitoring and interlock guarding to ensure compliance with ISO safety standards, reducing reliance on external safety components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional material testing systems use off-the-shelf safety components like PLCs and relays, then operator safety can be improved, but system costs and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the safety system directly into the material testing system by incorporating a processor that executes safety logic and controls pneumatic grip pressure. This merging eliminates the need for separate external safety components like PLCs and relays, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining safety functionality through unified control architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The processor in the material testing system performs multiple functions including both primary testing operations and safety monitoring. By making the processor universal and capable of executing both testing protocols and safety logic, the system eliminates dedicated safety components, reducing complexity while preserving safety functions
2Reliability
If conventional material testing systems use off-the-shelf safety components like PLCs and relays, then operator safety can be improved, but system costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines safety system functionality with the existing material testing system processor and control architecture. By integrating safety functions into the primary system rather than adding separate safety components, the patent eliminates the need for expensive off-the-shelf safety equipment while maintaining comprehensive safety coverage
Solution Approach 2:
The material testing system's processor serves itself by executing safety logic and monitoring functions internally. The system uses its own existing hardware resources to perform safety functions, eliminating the need for external safety components and reducing overall system cost
3Reliability
If conventional material testing systems use off-the-shelf safety components, then safety compliance can be achieved, but external wiring and additional components are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges safety system control with the material testing system's existing processor and communication infrastructure. By using the same processor to handle both testing operations and safety monitoring, the system eliminates external wiring connections that would be required for separate safety components, achieving ISO 13849-1 compliance through integrated control
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The integrated safety system enhances operator safety, reduces costs, and improves reliability by providing real-time monitoring and compliance with international safety standards, such as ISO 13849-1, while eliminating the need for external wiring and expensive safety components.
Implementation Method 1
a pneumatic grip configured to grip a specimen under test based on a supplied pressure
Implementation Method 2
controlling a fill valve to increase the supplied pressure
Data Source
AI summary
An example material testing system includes: a pneumatic grip configured to grip a specimen under test based on a supplied pressure; and a processor configured to control the pressure supplied to the pneumatic grip by repeatedly: controlling a fill valve to increase the supplied pressure; allowing the supplied pressure to stabilize after each increase; and adjusting a pressurization time based on comparing an expected pressure increase to an actual pressure increase during the pressurization.