Abstract:
An air powered machine that die cuts tensile test samples of solid  propelt. The machine is remotely controlled, as a safety feature, to permit safe cutting of the propellant. The machine includes a feed mechanism for feeding a propellant slab to a cutter which cuts the slab into a &#34;dog bone&#34; shape.

Description:
DEDICATORY CLAUSE 
     The invention described herein may be manufactured, used, and licensed by or for the Government for Governmental purposes without the payment to me of any royalties thereon. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Bulk propellant is first cut into slabs (approximately 1 × 5 × 1/4 or 1/2 inch) and the slabs are placed into the remote controlled apparatus of the present invention to be cut into the desired &#34;dog bone&#34; shape for mechanical property testing. 
     When cutting solid propellants for such mechanical property testing it is hazardous to the operator to be in the vicinity of the cutting operation, particularly, during the standard guillotine cutting operation. There is a constant possibility of fire or explosion while cutting solid propellants. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Apparatus for cutting a slab of solid propellant into a predetermined &#34;dog bone &#34; shape for mechanical property testing thereof. The apparatus includes a pair of remotely controlled reciprocating air cylinders, the &#34;bone&#34;  first of which moves a feed mechanism into engagement with the propellant slab for displacement thereof from a holder into position beneath the second cylinder. The second cylinder is disposed for downward movement of a cutting mechanism for cutting the slab into the desired &#34;dog bone&#34; configuration. Responsive to the cutting operation, the operator moves a lever to retract the feed device and the cutter for subsequent feeding and cutting operations. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of the apparatus showing the cutter and power cylinder therefor. 
     FIG. 2 is a pictorial view of the apparatus showing the feed mechanism and power cylinder therefor. 
     FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view illustrating both power cylinders and pneumatic lines therefor. 
     FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the &#34;dog bone&#34; configuration of the finished propellant sample. 
     FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic side view of the propellant stop mechanism. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     As shown in FIG. 1, the tensile test sample making machine 10 of the present invention includes a two-way air cylinder 12 supported on a frame 14. The air cylinder 12 includes a rod 16 which has one end attached to the air cylinder piston while the other end is attached to a cutting device 18. Frame 14 includes a pair of spaced upstanding members 20 and 22, a base member 24, and an upper cross-over member 26 to which one end of the cylinder 12 is attached. 
     A second two-way cylinder 26 (FIG. 2) is secured to base member 24 and includes a rod 28 which has one end attached to the air cylinder piston and the other end is attached to a feed device 30. Feed device 30 includes a horizontally extending member having a substantially &#34;L&#34; shaped cross-sectional configuration. The upstanding portion of the &#34;L&#34;; 32 (FIG. 3) is attached to the piston rod and the forwardly extending portion of the &#34;L&#34;; 34 is longer than portion 32 and is disposed in parallel sliding relation with the upper 36 surface of base member 24. 
     A rectangular storage box 38 is secured to frame 14 in spaced relation with upper surface 36. The propellant slabs are stacked in storage box 38 and a weight 39 is placed on top of the stacked slabs to force them downwardly into the space 40 between the box 38 and upper surface 36. Space 40 is just slightly greater than the thickness of the propellant slab 42 (FIG. 4). 
     Cutting device 18 is provided with a cutting surface which cuts the rectangular propellant slab into the &#34;dog bone&#34; configuration shown in FIG. 4. 
     The diagrammatic flow diagram of FIG. 3 illustrates the pneumatic hook-up of the apparatus. As shown in FIG. 3, the forward portion 45 of the first two-way cylinder 12 is connected to a control box 44 through lines 46 and 48 which are connected by a &#34;T&#34; connection 50. A third line 52 from connection 50 is secured to a control valve 53. A line 54 extends from control valve 53 into the aft end 56 of a second two-way air cylinder 26. 
     A second control valve 58 communicates with the forward interior of cylinder 26 and a pneumatic line 60. Line 60 connects into a &#34;T&#34; connection 62. A second line 64 extends from the &#34;T&#34; connection into the aft end of air cylinder 12. The third line 66 from connection 62 extends into control box 44 which is connected to a source of air 68. 
     Control valves 53 and 58 are commercially available valves and are merely utilized to adjust the air flow into and out of the cylinders. 
     A pair of stops 70 (FIG. 1) is disposed to be raised in position as shown in FIG. 5, to hold the specimen 42 beneath cutter 18. The stops 70 are raised into their upward position responsive to engagement of an &#34;L&#34; shaped arm 72 (FIG. 5) with a plate 74 which is secured in biased relation to the underside of base 24. Springs 76 are disposed about a nut 78 which is secured to the underside of base 24 and extends through an opening 80 in plate 74. Springs 76 bias plate 74 upwardly. Engagement of member 72 with a downwardly extending portion 82 of plate 74 extends stops 70 upwardly. The engagement occurs responsive to forward movement of the piston in cylinder 26. 
     In operation, the operator loads the slabs into storage box 38 and places weight 39 on top of the slabs. One of the slabs falls into space 40 between the upper surface 36 and storage box 38. The operator moves lever 69 (FIG. 3) so that air is allowed to flow through line 46 and 52, control valve 53 and line 54 to the aft end of cylinder 26. Forward movement of the piston in cylinder 26 causes feed element 34 to engage specimen 42 for movement thereof under cutting device 18. At this time member 72 engages plate 74 for upward movement of stops 70 to retain the specimen in position. Responsive to movement of specimen 70 into position, air flows through control valve 58 lines 60, 62, and 64 behind the piston in cylinder 12 for downward movement thereof whereby the cutter engages the specimen. The operator then moves lever 69 the opposite direction to retract the pistons in both cylinders so that a slab may fall back into opening 40. Responsive to rearward movement of feed member 30, stops 70 are retracted, a new slab is dropped into space 40 and another sequence can begin. The location of plate 74 relative to member 72 permits the stop 70 to be retracted until a second slab is moved forward to displace the first slab and excess cuttings. After the first cut slab has been displaced by the second slab the pins engage the edges of the second slab for retention thereof under the cutter 18.