US 11,788,932 B2
Snap button device for non-destructive characterization of materials
Francesco Timpone, Naples (IT); Aleksandr Sakhnevych, Naples (IT); and Flavio Farroni, Modena (IT)
Appl. No. 16/975,567
Filed by Francesco Timpone, Naples (IT); Aleksandr Sakhnevych, Naples (IT); and Flavio Farroni, Modena (IT)
PCT Filed Feb. 4, 2019, PCT No. PCT/IB2019/050858
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Aug. 25, 2020,
PCT Pub. No. WO2019/171183, PCT Pub. Date Sep. 12, 2019.
Claims priority of application No. 202018000002034 (IT), filed on Mar. 7, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2020/0400532 A1, Dec. 24, 2020
Int. Cl. G01M 17/02 (2006.01); G01N 3/307 (2006.01); G01N 3/48 (2006.01); G01N 33/44 (2006.01)
CPC G01M 17/02 (2013.01) [G01N 3/307 (2013.01); G01N 3/48 (2013.01); G01N 33/445 (2013.01); G01N 2203/0035 (2013.01); G01N 2203/0094 (2013.01)] 5 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A device for nondestructive viscoelastic characterization of materials, comprising:
a tubular shell (1), cylindrically shaped and such dimensioned that the tubular shell is capable of being grasped by hand, having inside a through recess provided with at least a first shrinkage (19) provided inside the axial development of said through recess and a second shrinkage (5) provided at an upper base of said tubular shell (1);
a first rod (2) provided at an end with a cap (18) and a ferrule (11) projecting to the same, and at the other end with a base of ferromagnetic material (8), fastened so that the first rod (2) can slide inside said tubular shell (1) between a first position, in which said ferrule (11) does not project to the lower base (12) of said tubular shell (1), and a second position, in which said ferrule (11) projects to the said lower base (12); a first spring (20) configured to push said ferrule (11) of said first rod (2) outwards, from the side of said lower base (12);
a displacement sensor (10) configured to read the displacement of said first rod (2) while sliding along the tubular shell (1); a button (3) sliding between a first and a second position inside said tubular shell (1) with a stroke greater than the one of said first rod (2), and integral to a second rod {21} coaxial to said first rod (2), said second rod (21) being provided, at the end facing said first rod (2), with a magnet (7);
a push spring (6), with elastic rigidity greater than said first spring (20) configured to push said button (3) to an upper portion of said tubular shell (1), said device being configured so that after pressing the button (3) said magnet (7) comes in contact to said base of ferromagnetic material (8), thus fastening the magnet (7) by magnetic attraction, and so that after the button is released, said base of ferromagnetic material is separated from said magnet (7) when a stop (9) prevents another movement of said first rod (2), thus allowing said first rod (2) to fall freely always at the same height.