Patent ID: 8443653

Claim:
A breakaway tooling apparatus, comprising: a rigid, one-piece detection mount that includes a peripheral wall that extends around a bore, wherein the detection mount is connectable to a manipulator, the bore is adapted to receive at least one tool, and a thickness of the peripheral wall varies from a maximum thickness to a minimum thickness at a weakened portion for allowing said detection mount to fracture at said weakened portion upon the realization of a predetermined force to said detection mount; said detection mount having an air passageway that is disposed within the wall of the detection mount and at least partially within the weakened portion thereof and is not in communication with the bore of the detection mount prior to fracturing of the detection mount, and said air passageway in communication with a pressurized air source for delivering pressurized air to said passageway; and a pressure sensor in communication with said pressured air for determining whether said pressurized air in said air passageway is below a predetermined level of air pressure, thereby indicating whether said detection mount is fractured at said weakened portion.