Patent ID: 6601457
Filing Date: 2003-08-05
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
An apparatus for testing textile fabric specimens, the apparatus comprising:a horizontal bottom plate having a planar surface separated from and surrounded by a peripheral skirt having a planar surface co-planar with the planar surface of the horizontal bottom plate; a movable horizontal top plate having a planar surface with an area smaller than an area surrounded by the peripheral skirt; a ram moving the top plate vertically relative to the bottom plate, bending a textile fabric specimen relative to the skirt while pressing a central region of the textile fabric specimen against the bottom plate; biasing means resiliently biasing the bottom plate toward the top plate and limiting vertical movement of the bottom plate by the ram when the top plate compresses a central region of the textile fabric specimen against the bottom plate so that thickness and compressibility of the textile fabric specimen can be determined; and mechanical sensors mounted at the skirt for determining the thickness of the textile fabric specimen, shearing and bending characteristics of the textile fabric specimen, and compressibility of the textile fabric specimen.