US2100332A - Wear testing, measuring, and recording apparatus and method - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 30, 1937. E. F. HA'rHAwAY ET AL 2,100,332

WEAR TESTING, MEASURING, AND RECORDING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed Deo. 13, 1934 6 Sheets-Shea? l Nm'. 30, 1937. E, F HATHAWAY ET AL 2,100,332

J'A T'S, MESURNG, AND 'FiC/RDNG APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed Dec. 13, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inve w/Zo vus:

Nov. 30, 1937. E. F. HATHAWAY ET AL 2,100,332

WEAR TESTING, MEASURNG, AND RECORDING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed Dec. 13, 1954 6 Sheets-Sheell 3 gy 540,7, m,

Nov. 30, 1937. E. F. HATHAWAY -:T AL 2,100,332l

MEASURING, AND RECORDING APPADATUS AND METHOD WEAR TESTIN,

Filed Dec. 115, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Nv 30 E. F. HATHAWAY ET AL WEAR TESTING, MEASURING, AND- RECORDING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed Deo. 13, 19254 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 y .92 93 lllllllllllllllllllllll /46 NOV 30, 1937 E, F'. HAr'HAwAY ET' AL 2,100,332

WEAR TESTING, MEASURING, AND RECORDING APPARATUS AND METHOD e Sheets-sheets Filed DeC. l5, 1954 4 s om QQ@ 1 ,3 m m\ m l 3 l oO m 1 6. O 1 my m wm w F7. 9 4 M 4 6 3 a vw /L k651 Invenows: @uw FIl'aZaJ/Uacy.

Patented Nov. 30, 1937 PATENT oEEicE WEAR TESTING, M

EASURING, AND RE- CORDING APPARATUS AND METHOD Edgar F. Hathaway, Wellesley, and Walter-Bixby, Dorchester, Mass.

Application December 13, 1934, Serial No. '157,358

41 Claim..

Our present invention relates to apparatus and methods for testing the wearing qualities, under simulated use conditions, of sheet material, fabrics, webbing and the like, and aims to provide novel and improved means and methods for the purpose stated. The means and methods as herein disclosed have been found to be especially adapted for use in testing iloor coverings, including carpets, rugs, matting, linoleum and others.

In the drawings illustrating by way of example certain embodiments of the invention and showing Illustratively means thereof may be practised,

Fig. 1 is a perspective of the machine or apparatus as a whole;

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section substantially centrally through the machine of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of an upper central portion of the mechanism of Figs. 1 and 2, showing a part of the channel for carrying oil.' worn particles;

Fig. 4 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section showing the motor and a portion of the drive mechanism, looking from the right in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a plan, with parts in section, substantially as on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective oi a portion of the movable mechanism for supporting the material to be tested;

Fig. 'l is a bottom plan of the upper member or spider oi Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section on the line [-8, Fig. 2, with parts omitted, showing the cam for the material platen in plan together with a portion oi' the drive for oscillating the wear-effecting head;

Figs. 8 and 8b are wiring diagrams illustrating the control for the motor circuit, in connection with a single-phase motor and with a three-phase motor, respectively;

Figs. 9 and 10 are vertical sections respectively on the lines 9 9 and ill-i0 of Fig. 8;

Figs. 11 and 12 are diagrams illustrating the resultant movement of the material platen;

Fig. 13 is a horizontal section on the line i-il, Fig. 2;

Fig. 14 is a vertical section, with the main parts in elevation, of the mechanism of Fig. 13;

5 Fig. 15 is a side elevation showing a cam and associated parts appearing in Figs. 13 and 14, as viewed from the right in Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a front elevation of the recorder drum and associated parts, upon a somewhat larger 5 scale than in Figs. 1 and 2;

by which the methods4 (Cl. 'lL-51) Fig. 17 is a partial parts oi' Fig. 16;

Figs. 18 and 19 are horizontal sections looking downwardly, respectively, on the lines il-il and n n, Fig. 2; 5

Fig. 19* illustrates the control switch and recorder-setting parts as arranged in connection with a three-phase motor;

Fig. 20 is a view partly in vertical section and partly in elevation showing the lower portion oi' 10 the wearer head and the material platen;

Fig. 21 is an enlarged vertical section of the wearer head of Fig. 20;

Figs. 22 and 22* are views similar to Fig. 2l, illustrating modified constructions for the lower 15 portion of the wearer head;

Fig. 23 is a bottom plan looking upwardly at Fig. 20;

Fig. 23 shows a different the test material; and 20 Figs. 24 and 25 are respectively an enlarged cross-sectional view of a. test material, such as an Axminster or pile fabric rug, and, in association therewith, a form oi chart adapted for use with the recorder mechanism herein illustrated.

Referring first more particularly to Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 13, theA mechanism as a whole is illustrated in portable'form so that it may be readily moved about and plugged into an electric circuit at any convenient point of use. The main frame of the machine comprises a plurality oi' supports i, two oi' which appear in Fig. 2, while a third support i is seen in Figs. 8 and 13. On and between these supports is a cover plate or table 2, and upper and lower horizontal connecting brackets I and I. The supports rise from a floor or base 5 on the underlying bottom frame 6.

The main drive mechanism, between the table 2 and base I, preferably is enclosed in a cabinet or housing including corner uprights 1, Figs. 1, 2 and 13, and the removable sides 8. These latter may consist of panels of any suitable material demountably held between the corner pieces l, the table 2 and iloor 5, being retained in position as by the latches 9, 9, Fig. 1. The entire machine, as illustrated,'is mounted on wheels or casters i0 secured to the oor 5. One or more of the wheels i0 may be provided with a brake Ii and foot-operable cam lever I2 i'or readily applying or releasing the brake. Thus the whole testing machine may easily be moved about to the desired point oi' use.

As previously noted, the apparatus and method of our invention are adapted for testing the wearing qualities of fabrics and other flexible or yieldplan ot the said recorder i'lorm of clamp for able sheet material, particularly auch pile fabrics as rugs and carpets. Such floor-coverings are subjected in use to a wearing action of a complex nature. In being walked upon, a rug revceives the impact of the persons foot and its tion or blowsand oi compression, bending, twistl ing and shearing, with the accompaniment oi a normal abrasive effect. These several compo-l nents of the total wearing edort maybe varied and adjusted as to their relative contribution to the total effect, any or all of them beingincreased or lessened or otherwise modified or rendered inactive to suit any particular test conditions. In the illustrative embodiment of the invention the rug or other material (it being understood that the term "rug as herein used is inclusive or any of the various materials to the testing of which our invention is applicable) is held in a substantially horizontal position and is moved about in the plane oi its support, following a special path. During such movement it is intermittently acted upon by an oscillatory and vertically reciprocating element, wearer head or shoe, indicated as'a whole by the numeral it, Figs. l, 2 and 20 to 22a. The cooperative relation between the means for supporting and moving the test sample or rug, and the drive for the wearer head desirably is such that the latter contacts diiferent portions of the rug. For example, in making' any two succeeding contacts upon a given portion of the test area ofthe specimen. the wearer head or shoe engages the rug while the latter is moving in a direction opposite ,to its movement during the previous contact. Hence the pile yarns are successively bent in various directions transversely, in addition to the one or more other wearing actions vwhich' they receive, including impaction, compression, twisting, shearing or pulling and abrading, as will be apparent from the following description.

We Will refer first to the mechanism illustrated for supporting and moving the rug itself, or rather the sample section of the rug or other material to be tested, and then to the structure and operation of the wearer head or shoe.

Referring now to Figs. l and 2, and more particularly to Figs. 5 to 12 and 20 vto 23,v the top frame or table 2 is apertured substantially centrally as indicated at 2a. Fixed along opposite sides of the aperture are two parallel guides it, i@ which support a slidable element or spider il seen in Fig. 6 and inV bottom plan in Fig. 7. This spider comprises a base portion including spaced parallel ribs it received between and guided by the guides It, and a pair of cross rails l@ disposed at right angles to the guides it. These upper cross rails i9 of the spider form the support and guide means for the rug supporting element or platen, which is best seen, separately, in-Figs. 20 and 23.

This rug platen, indicated as a whole by the numeral 2d, comprises an underlying slide 2i which is received and slidably guided between the opposed faces of the cross rails i9 of the spider. Referring particularly to Figs. 20 and 23,-

the latter being a bottom view oi the parts seen in Fig. 20, a plate 22 is secured to or formed integrally with the slide 2| and is slidably received upon the upper faces of the rails i9. A second plate 23 is positioned on and adjustably secured to the plate 22 as by means ofthe bolt and slot connections 24, as seen in Fig. 2O and in dotted lines in Fig. 23. Secured to the upper plate 23 is a block or platen proper 25 upon which the test material is directly placed; The piece of test material is laid atwise on the platen and its edge portions are bent downwardly and anchored by suitable clamping or holding means. For this purpose we have illustrated in Figs. 20 and 23 a clamping bar 26 and tightening screw 21 at eachof the four sides of the platen. In Fig. 23a a modied form of holding means for the material is` illustrated, comprising a. clamping frame in which the four side members or clamping bars 2@a each have lateral engagement at one end with the adjacent bar and endwise engagement at the other end, the frame as a whole being adjustably tightened by the screws 2B. In either instance the platen 25 may have a ange 29 about its upper periphery cooperating with the clamping means to hold the rug against vertical displacement.

From the foregoing it will be understood that ha platen 20 for the test material or rug is bodily movable upon and relative to the spider il, and that the latter together with the platen which it carries is bodily movable upon and relatively to the guide rails i6 and in a direction at right angles to the rst movement mentioned. By means of thek cam mechanism about to be described these two movements, at right angles to each other, are eected simultaneously 'and in such manner that the resultant movement of the rug platen is that illustrated by way of example in the diagrammatic Figs. l1 and 12. It will be understood that various paths of movement might be given to the platen, but the one shown by way of example is particularly eiective in simulating actual Vwear conditions upon a rug. The path in the diagrams may be described generally as an S movement followed by a similar but reverse S movement, repeated alternately, as indicated by the numbers l and 2 in association with the arrows on the diagrammatic Figs. 1l and l2.

Noting particularly Figs. 8, 9 and 10, we have herein provided for the described purpose a cam plate 3D having an upper cam path 3l at its top face, and a lower cam path 32 at its under face, the upper path 3| having somewhat the formof a three-leaf clover and the under path 32 having the sinuous but somewhat irregular form as illustrated, the two cams being calculated with respect to each other to give the desired resultant movement of the platen.

Working in the upper path 3i is a cam roll 33 on an arm Sd journaled as at 85 on a studA 3d carried by the adjacent vhorizontal bracket 3. The other end of the ann 34 is extended beyond the roll 33 and is plvoted as at 3l to a link 33, the opposite end of which is pivotally engaged with the center post 39 of the platen element 2t; see also Figs. 20, 5 and 6. Thus the directly communicated movement of the platen is controlled by the upper cam.

Referring still to Figs. 8 to 10, a cam roll 40 works in the path 32 of the under cam, said roll being on an arm di underlying the cam 30 and projecting from a sleeve 42 rotatable on a stud 43 carried by the adjacent cross bracket 3. At a level above the cam 3D said sleeve 42 carries a second arm 44 disposed parallelly with the under arm 4|. 'I'he outer end of the arm 44 is pivoted as at 45 to a short link 46, Figs. 5, 6 and 10, the other end of which carries a pin 41, Fig. 5, pivotally received in a socket 48, Figs. 6 and 1, in the under face of the spiderl I1. Thus the movement of the spider, upon and relatively to the guides I8, is afforded by the under cam 32.

The cam plate 30 is driven in any suitable manner,and through the medium of the two cams and described connections, gives the resultant combined movement to the material platen as a whole. Referring to Figs. 2, 4, 5, 8 and 13, the cam plate l30 is keyed on the upper end of a vertical shaft 48 supported in suitable journals in the cross-brackets 3 and 4. At its lower portion the cam shaft 48 has xed to it a worm gear 58, Figs 2 and 13, meshing with a worm 5|, see also Fig. 4, on a short horizontal shaft 52 rotatably supported in a bracket 53 on the adjacent threearmed cross-bracket 4. Said short shaft 52 carries at one end a large gear 54 driven by a pinion 55, Figs. 2, 4 and 13, on a 'second' horizontal shaft 56 journaled in a bracket 51 on the upper threearm cross-bracket 3. Thissecond shaft 56 has keyed on one end a pulley 58 drivingly connected by a belt 59 with a pulley 60 on the shaft of the motor 6I, Figs. 2 and 4. Thus there are substantial speed reductions in the drive connections 'cetween the motor and the cam 3D, first between the pinion 55 and the large gear 54 and again between the worm l and worm wheel 50, the cam as a result receiving an even and positive rotary movement, at a relatively slow speed, and in such manner that the cam movement-is not interfered with by the operation of the shoe upon the test material. As seen in Fig. l, the marginal portions of the opening 2a in the table may be closed in operation, to exclude worn particles, dirt, ctc. as by an apron 2b carried by the spider I1.

Turning now to the oscillatory and vertically reciprocated wearer head or slice, previously designated as a whole by the numeral i4, the construction of its rug engaging lower portion is seen in detail in Figs. 2O to 22. Referring to said gures, this wearer element i4 comprises a block 82 centrally apertured as at 63 in alignment with a tube 64 at the lower end of which the block 62 is anchored. On the under face of the block 62 there is removably secured a layer of somewhat yielding but wear-resistant material such as leather, as indicated at 65. 'I'ne latter is held in place as by the buttons 56 extending upwardly through it and having threaded engagement with vscrews 81 projecting downwardly through the block. The layer B5 has cemented to its under face a renewable element comprising one or more layers 68 of suitable material, such as leather, composition or the like. Thus the portion of the shoe I4 which has the actual Contact with the rug presents an even and uninterrupted surface to the latter, save for the cent-ral'aperture G3. and all securing parts such as the buttons 66 are Covered. The two layers 85 and 68, however, may readily be removed together, for replacement. It will also be noted that the wearing or engagng portion of the shoe resembles in its physical characteristics an ordinary shoe, the article of wearing apparel. In Fig. 22 we have illustrated a modified construction for ic base oi the shoe in which the engaging element 65e consists of a single layer of leather or the like bent up about the sides of the block 62 and removably secured as by the screws 68.

Another construction for the wearer head or shoe is illustrated in Fig. 22a. In this instance the contact-making foot or shoe proper comprises a unitary block or plate 65b which may be of any suitable molded composition or other material. It is removably mounted as by means of a boss 65 set into a recess at the bottom of the block 62 and there held as by one or more set screws 65d.

The shoe-carrying tube 64 is mounted for both vertical reciprocating and oscillatory movement. Near its lower end it is slidably and rotatably received in a bearing in an arm 1l, see Fig. 2, extending inwardly from and comprising a portion of. the top frame or arch 12. The upper portion of this top frame or arch 12 spans the machine as a whole. Its main support, at one side of the machine, the left in Figs. 1 and 2, is provided by a hollow tubular post 13 mounted on the table 2. The top frame 12 is additionally supported and braced at its other end, at the opposite side of the machine, as by means of the stationary upright 14 having its lower end set into the table or upper frame 2 and removably receiving, at its upper end, the socket formed on the top frame. The shoe-carrying tube 64 is slidably and rotatably positioned and guided 'at its upper end in a bearing 16 set into a boss 11 on the top frame 12; see Fig. 3.

'I'he up and down reciprocating action oi' the shoe, whereby it intermittently affords impact and compression to the test material or rug, is effected by any suitable mechanism, preferably including means whereby a variable and adjustable pressure and impaction are obtained. As herein illustrated, andreferring now particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 19, at a point spaced between the upper arch 12 and its lower arm 1l the shoecarrying tube 84 extends loosely through a block 18 having oppositely disposed pintles 18 journaled in the forked horizontal rock arm 88. Fixed on theliollow shaft or tube 64, above and below the block 18, are thrust collars 8l, 8|. The end of the rock arm 80, nearer the post 13 is pivoted as at 82, Figs. 1 and 2, to fingers 83, see also Fig. 19, one at each side of the top frame 12 and pivotally attached thereto as at 84. The opposite end of the rock arm 80 carries a pin 85 receiving an eye 86 at the upper. end of a lift rod 81 vextending downwardly through a suitable opening 88 in the table 2 into the interior of the main casing of the machine. The rod 81 carries at its lower end the adjustable weight 89, Fig. 2.

At a suitable point above the weight 89 the rod 81 carries a transverse pin 9D on which is pivoted a.yoke 9|, see Fig. 13, formed at one end of a substantially straight horizontal lever 92 which is pivotally suspended at its opposite end on a stud 83 extending from the adjacent cross-bracket 4. At a point intermediate its ends the lever 92 is recessed as at 84 and has journalcd therein a roll 85, Figs. 13 and 14, which rests upon a cam or eccentric 96 keyed o-n the shaft 52 which carries the large gear 54 previously described; see also Figs. 2 and 4. The cam or eccentric 86 is accordingly driven through the gears 54, from the motor 6I in synchrony with the drive for the cam 30 as previously described. For each rotation of eccentric or cam 86 the horizontal lever 82 and rod 81 are caused to rise, through the action of the eccentric upon the roll 95, and are subsequently moved down, by the weight 89, as the cam or wide portion of the eccentric passes out from below the roll. Through the rock arm 80 and the described connections the tube 84 and wearer shoe I4 as a whole are accordingly raised and lowered intermittently. By reference to Figs. 2 and 13 it will be noted that thepin 90 for connecting the cam lever 92 and the rod 81 is readily accessible for removal to disconnect said lever and rod at such times when the intermittent impacting action of the wearer is not desired, the latter then remaining down in continuous engagement on the test sample or specimen, other parts then operating similarly as when the impacting action is employed.

Manual means may be provided forlifting the shoe I4, as when changing the test samples or installing a new one, or for inspection of the test sample while the machine is running, without interfering with its other operations. For this purpose the pin 85, Fig. 19, is extended into the path of a hook 91 pivoted as at 98 to the short arm of a bell crank 99 mounted for rocking movement on the top frame 12 as at |00. A

handle |0I is attached to the bell crank, for swinging it outwardly, to the right in Figs. 1 and 2, to engage the hook 91 with the pin 85 and so elevate shoe I4 into an inoperative raised position. The bell crank 99 may be so designed and mounted that its short arm to which the hook is attached will be caused to cross center l ment is herein effected through suitable means,

driven from the motor 6| herein through the belt and pulley connections 58, 59, 60 previously described. On the shaft 56 with the pulley 58 is a crank disk I 03, Figs. 2, 4 and 8, carrying a crank pin |04 pivoted to one end of a pitman |05 pivoted at its other end as at |06, Fig. 8, to a finger |01 secured to a hollow shaft |08. Said hollow vertical shaft |08 extends upwardly through the post 13 of the top frame and through the lower extension thereof 13 and is supported and guided for rocking movement therein by the lower collar |09 and the upper supporting collar IIO, the finger |01 previously mentioned being secured to said lower collar |09. Projecting from the upper collar |I0, referring now to Fig. 18, is'a finger III carrying a removable eye ||2 which is pivotally connected by a link I|3 to an ear |I4.on a collar II5 keyed uponthe supporting tube 64 of the shoe I4. Hence through the described connections the tube 64 and shoe I4 receive one complete oscillation for each rotation of the shaft 56, and herein the construction and relation of the parts are such that the shoe I4 is oscillated a number of times, herein, for example, through eight oscillations for each up and down cycle of the shoe and its weight 89. It will therefore be understood that during the entire time that the shoe is descending into, engagement with, and is impacting and compressing the test material, and during the reverse or retracting movement, the shoe is being oscillated about its vertical axis. Hence the test material and its tufting yarns, in the case of a rug, carpet or other pile fabric, receive a sideways twisting, pulling and shearing action as well as an internal abrasive action between the various bers or between them and the shoe. The resultant wear upon the test material as a compound effect of the several actions above described is closely analogous to that received by a floor covering in actual use, but concentrated into a relatively short space of time.

As the wearing operation proceeds in the conduct of a test, particles of the test material are worn oif. In the illustrated embodiment of our invention we have provided means for carrying off these waste particles. To that end a suction is maintained over the top of the test material, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 20. 'I'he draft and path of Vthe waste particles is upwardly through the hollow tube 64 of the shoe and into the hollow interior I I6 of the top frame, see particularly Fig. 3, and through the latter to the hollow post 13, the lower portion 13B is in closed communication with a pipe I|1 leading downwardly to a suction fan I I8 mounted on a bracket II8a on an adjacent upright support I. The fan is driven through a belt connection ||9 with a second pulley |20 on the shaft with the motor 6I.A The opposite side of the fan I I8 is connected to a bag or other removable receptacle lI2| into which the waste particles are blown and collected. Referring again to Fig. 3, a cleanout aperture |22 is conveniently provided in the top frame 12, the aperture being normally closed by a removable cap |23.

` In the illustrated lembodiment of our invention We have provided means for reading or measuring the extent of wear and for recording the same graphically, either automatically at predetermined intervals or manually whenever desired. Noting particularly Figs. 13, 14 and l5, the main vertical shaft 49 has a beveled pinion v|24 at its lower end meshing with a like pinion The shaft |28 carries a second Worm |29 meshing with a worm wheel |30 fast on a vertical shaft |3I. The latter extends up through the hollow pillar 13. The recorder drum |32, Figs. 1 and 2, is removably mounted at the upper end of said shaft' |3I.

It will be seen that there is a large reduction throughfthe two sets of worm gearing, so that the recorder drum |32 receives a very slow but positive, constant-speed rotation during the operation of the machine. plete rotation of the drum may be variously selected and adjusted, as by substitution oi' different gearing. One time period which we have found convenient with the illustrated mechanism is that of approximately seventy-two hours, the mechanism accordingly having a recording capacity for a test operation continued uninterruptedly over a period of three days, operating twenty-four hours a day, or, if necessary, the test may be continued beyond one turn of the recorder drum, the plotted curve continuing and recommencing at the initial side of the chart sheet |15, to be referred to.

For making the actual measurement upon the test specimen we provide a plunger or feeler |33 guided for up and down movement in an eye |34 on the arm 1| of the top frame. At the lower end of the feeler |33 is a feeler head |35 having an under face of relatively small area, as compared with that of the wearer head I4, so that the measurement may be taken at various points The time for one comupon the test specimen. 'lhe feeler head |25 may be removable, permitting the ready substitution of heads of'dinerent weights, sizes or other characteristics, in accordance with the character of the fabric or other specimen being tested.

- 'I'he feeler |22 is hung at its upper end as at tem of parallel linkage, whereby both the feeler and the marker or stylus |10, to be described, at

- the upper end of the rod |40, have a straight line up and down path of movement. On the stud |42 there is also pivoted a ilnger |44 connected at |45 to the upper end of a lift rod or wire |46 which extends downwardly into the cabinet housing the drive mechanism.

Turning now to Figs. 14 and 15, the lift rod |48 is connected at its lower end as at |41 to an arm |40 having a fixed pivot |48 on the stationary bracket |25.. On the arm |48 is a cam roll |40* riding on a disk cam |50 fixed on the short horizontal shaft |25 previously referred to. The cam |50 is formed with a notch or depression |51 oi relatively short extent and steepwalled, whereby the arm |48 and lift rod |40 are adapted to drop sharply into the cam depression and again to be lifted out after a brief interval, once for each rotation of the cam disk |50, when the other mechanism about to be described so permits.

The lift rod |48, as best seen in Fig. 14 and also in Fig. 13, has at its lower portion a laterally projecting pin |52. This pin normally overlies the upper end of a finger |52 on a rock shaft |54 on the adjacent cross member 4. A second, depending arm |55 on said rock shaft carries a cam roll |50 at its lower end riding on a cam |51 having a notch |58 generally similar to that of the cam |50. Bo4 long as the cam roll |50 is on the main dwell portion of the cam |51, the finger |52 is held toward the right in Fig. 14, standing immediately below the pin |52 and so preventing the lift rod |40` irom dropping even though the cam |50 might permit. The second cam disk |51 turns considerably more slowly than the cam |50 and so aiiords a primary control of the lift rod |40. 'Ihe latter accordingly may drop only when the ilnger |52 has been moved away, by dropping of the cam roll |50 into the depression |50 of cam |51, and at the same time the notch of the secondary cam |00 has come opposite the cam roll |48.. A

It will be observed that the upright rod |40 adjacent the recorder drum and the lifter rod or drop wire |48 are' capable of independent movement although both are pivotally supported upon the stud |42, through the link |42 and the i iin'ger |44 respectively, Said two members |42 and |44,- however,.are operatively associated one with the other, herein by means of .a springpressed pin |58, Fig. 1, which normally projects laterally across the top of the ilnger |44 but may be withdrawn whenever it is desired to take a reading manually. 'Ihus normally ther finger |04 controls the position of the rod |40, the latter being-held\up, through the pin |58, whenever the lift rod |40 is in up position, as determined by the calas |50, |51, and, when the cams permit the lift rod |40 to drop, the rod |40 follows down with the latter. In Fig. 1 the feeler |22 and assof ciated parts are shown in down position, as if touching and measuring upon the test specimen, and it will be noted that the rod |46 and its connected ilnger |44 have moved down to a. greater extent than has the rod |40 and its arm |42. Advantage is herein taken of this differential movement to effect the actual marking or indication upon the recording sheet or chart on the recorder drum |22.

On the Same stud |42 previously mentioned there is also mounted a bell-crank |00. One arm of this bell-crank carries a pin |6| which lies in the path of and is adapted to be struck by the finger |44 when thev lift rod |46 drops. Said action rocks the bell-crank and causes its other arm to move a short link |62 connected thereto, the other end of which is pivoted to a finger |62 fast at the lower end of an upright rod or shaft |04, the latter extending up through suitable eyes or guides |65, |66 on the top frame 12.

Projecting laterally at the upper end of the vertical shaft |64 is -a vertical iin |61. The outer or free edge portion of the n |61 is positioned in a notch |68 in a bushing 69 slidably supported at the upper end of the vertically movable rod |40. I'he actual marking element, point or stylus |10 projects from the bushing toward and into close proximity with the `chart sheet on the recorder drum. It will accordingly be understood that whenever the feeler |22 is dropped for a measurement, as permitted by the controlling cams, or as accomplished manually by withdrawing the connecting pin |50, the bell crank |60 is rocked, thereby turning the upright shaft |04 and its iln |61 and forcing the stylus |10 in against the recorder chart upon the drum |32, making an indicating punch or prick mark. The elongated vertical fin |01 provides for continuing operative engagement with the stylus |10 irrespective of the vertical position of the latter with reference to the recorder drum. The chart or graph sheet |15, one form oi' which is seen separately in Fig. 25, is removably held in place about the periphery of the drum as by means of the upper and lower clips |1| and |12 respectively.

The described linkage system between the feeler and the stylus is constructed and arranged to aflord a substantial multiplication of the dimensional extent of the wear upon the test sample, preferably at least in the order oi' ten to one. Thus extremely minute ditierences in the amount of wear may be recorded on the chart and are readily recognizable upon it. As previously noted, the load and area for the wear or thickness measurements may be varied and adjusted, either by substituting dinerent contact heads for the feeler, or additionally as by shifting the position of a slldable weight |21Il along and upon the arm |21 of the linkage system.

In association with the chart or graph sheet v |15, Pig. 25, I have shown in Fig. 424 an enlarged section oi an Axminster rug or other pile fabric, as an aid to the description. From a comparison of Figs. 24 and 25, it will be seen that at the start ofa test operation, assuming that the test sample is in new condition, the initial measurement or' reading by the feeler will be upon the top of the pile tufts |10, 'as at the level a. Such rst reading may be taken manually, and marks the startingpointvfor the curve to be plotted on the sheet. During the ensuing early stages of the test operation the pile is compacted, bent over and compressedcomparatively quickly. This is immediately apparent in the initial sharp drop of the plotted curve |11 on the chart.l Thereafter the curve flattens out very distinctly, continuing gradually down, dependent upon the character and quality ofthe test specimen. 'Ihe test operation vand recording may be continued until the specimen is worn to any desired extent, for example, down to the upper weft, as indicated at b, Figs. 24 and 25 or down to the stuiler H8, Fig. 24, as indicated at the level c ln said figures, or entirely through the test specimen if such destructive test is required. A condition of complete wearing ofi of the nap or pile, however, is indicated by descent of the plotted curve ill to or just below the level b. The levels corresponding to diierent vertical portions of the test sample may be indicated initially upon the chart, dierent charts being supplied for use in conjunction with dii.- ferent fabrics. For example, the chart itself may have at one end or elsewhere a diagrammatic representation of a, cross-section through the fabric similarly as shown in Fig. 24. or the different layers or levels of the fabric may be indicated by lines and wording or other appropriate designations on the recorder chart, such as the lettering a, b, c, etc., Fig.V 25. r the chart may be calculated and designed for graphing the wearing action in any arbitrary or standardized units of wear plotted against units of time. Thus the progress of any test may be quickly observed upon the chart at any time, the machine continuing its operation without interruption, or a special reading may be taken at any point in the test.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that in accordance with our invention and its methods there is aiiorded a realistic tt of the wearing qualities of such materials as floor coverings, under conditions approximating those of actual use. The total composite Wearing effort includes not only the actions of abrasion, compression, twisting, squeezing, pulling and shearing, but also the important action oi' impact, these several elements being subject to relative adjustment and proportioning of their individual contribution to the whole. And for conducting a test there is required but a small specimen of the'fabric, web or other material to be examined. The apparatus as illustratedis arranged for convenient control by an operator, as to starting and stopping, the arrangement desirably being such that the drive is automatically stopped, subject to immediate resumption at the same point, when a special or manual reading on the chart sheet is desired. The construction and wiring of the control mechanism/desirably also is such as to accommodatethe machine for operation either by a single-phase or a three-phase motor.

The starting and stopping switch is indicated at i80, Figs. 1 and 2, and diagrammatically in Fig. 8a. One side of the main motor circuit is led through the pin |59, with proper insulation, and through a contact member on the nger i so that the pin closes the circuit when in its normal opera ive position, but opens the circuit when l the pin is withdrawn, or when 'the cams allow the lift rod to drop as indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 8l. Thus, when a manual reading or measurement is made, as at the start of atest operation or at any desired subsequent time, withdrawal of the pin |59 to' effect such manual reading, automatically and necessarily cuts out the motor, and also provides for automatically ,rem starting it, upon manual re-elevation of rod IIB and its link M2 and replacement o the pin, after the reading has been taken.

In Figs. 8b and 19 we have illustrated the cirandasse cuit arrangement in connection with a threephase motor. As seen in Fig. 19B, the arm I in such instance has a depending curved contact finger I8I, included in one side of the threephase circuit. The pin i59, during normal automatic operation of the parts, is maintained in contact with the finger |8l, but when it is withdrawn, for the purposes of manual reading, the circuit is interrupted, as shown by the position of the parts in Fig. 19B- and in the diagram, Fig. 8b,

similarly as described for the single-phase arrangement, Fig. 8.

It will be understood that our invention, either as to means or as to method, is not limited to the exemplary embodiments or steps herein illustrated and/or described, its scope being set forth the specimen, and drive mechanism' for eiecting said engagement of the wearer element and simultaneously oscillating it during its contact with the test specimen.

2. Wear-testing apparatus for the purpose described, comprising a substantially at holder for a test specimen, means to move the holder ina predetermined sinuous, endless path, in the plane of the supported specimen, an opposed wearer element mounted for intermittently impacting, pressing and turning upon and in engagement with the specimen on the holder, and means to operate said element.

3. Wear-testing apparatus for floor coverings, fabrics and the like, comprising, in combination, a supporting frame, a holder for a test specimen, a cross-head and guides whereon the holder is movable, other guides on which said cross-head is movable angularly with respect to the movement of the holder, and cam and drive means for moving said cross-head and said holder with a compound movement in a sinuous closed path repeated substantially in its entirety alternately in one and the opposite directions. A

4. Wear-testing apparatus for ioor coverings, fabrics and the like, comprising, in combination, a supporting frame, a holder for a test specimen, means to move the holder alternately in one and the opposite directions in a closed path, a wearer element having a specimen-engaging portion of less area than the specimen and being intermittently engageable under pressure with a specimen upon the holder, and driveconnections for throughout.

5. In a wear-testing machine for pile fabrics and the like comprising normally upstanding surface-forming' elements and holding or base elments, a horizontally movable substantially flat support for a test specimen, a vertically movable and oscillatory wearer element intermittently engageable with a specimen on said support, and

means to move the support and to reciprocate and simultaneously oscillate the wearer element thereby to effect on the specimen a wearing action compounded of the elements of abrasion, bending,

4 twisting, shearing, compression and impaction of table. a motor and drive connection in the vhousing for gyrating the holder in a predetermined path, an upper frame above the table, a wearer ,shoe mounted on the upper frame for intermittent engagement with the presented specimen, substantially enclosed drive connections between the shoe and motor including means for effecting said intermittent engagement of the shoe with the specimen, and means for simultaneously oscillating the shoe.

7. Wear-testing apparatus for oor coverings, fabrics and the like comprising, in combination, a platen for presenting a test specimen in substantially horizontal, at position, cam means and drive connections for continuously moving the platen and specimen in a predetermined path in the plane of the latter, a .wearer element for intermittentv impacting engagement with the specimen during its movement, said element comprising a shoe having a centrally disposed vertical passage through it, a reciprocating support for said element, a dust collecting channel in said support, in communication with the passage in said shoe, and means in closed communication with said channel for maintaining a suction to carry oi worn particles of the test specimen.

8. In combination, in a wear-testing machine for door coverings, fabrics and the like, a movable support for the test specimen and means to move the same, an intermittently acting wearer element cooperable with said support to effect wear upon the specimen thereon, a feeler adapted intermittently to contact worn portions of the specimen to measure the extent of wear, a driven recording chart and associated marker means, connections between the feeler and the marker means, and vautomatic means operatively associating the feeler and the wearer element to cause the feeler to feel upon the wearing portion of the specimen and to actuate the marker means thereby to place on the chart a visual indication corresponding to the extent of wear as detected by the feeler.

9. In combination, in a wear-testing machine for floor coverings, fabrics and the like, means for supporting a test specimen and producing wear upon it, and means for graphically recording the progress of the wearing action at predetermined intervals with respect to the operation of 'the wear producing means, said recording means including a rotating drum, a removable chart on the drum,

a marker operative on the chart sheet, a wear detecting and measuring element, and automatic means periodically operable to cause said element to function and to cause the marker to record upon the chart the extent of wear then detected.

10. In combination, in a wear-testing machine for floor coverings. fabrica and the like, means for supporting a test specimen and producing wear upon it, and means for graphically recording the progress of the wearing action at predetermined intervals with respect to the operation of the wear producing means, said recording means including a rotating drum, a removable chart on the drum, a. marker operatiik: on the chart sheet, a wear detecting and measuring element, and automatic means periodically operable to cause said element to function and to cause the marker to record upon the chart the extent of wear then detected, and means associated with said feeler and marker mechanism for effecting a manually controlled wear measurement and recording at any desired time.

11. In combination, in a wear-testing machine for floor coverings, fabrics and the like, means for supporting a test specimen and producing wear upon it, a motor and drive connections for said wear-producing means, a wear-measuring detector, recording mechanism including a chart and marker operatively associated with the de tector, automatic means periodically operable to effect a detecting and recording operation, said automatic means including a connecting member manually releasable to condition the parts for 'effecting a measurement and recording thereof at the will of the operator, and circuit-controlling means associated with said manually releasable member to stop the motor during, and start it after, said optional measurement and recording.

12. The method of testing the wearing qualities of floor coverings, fabrics and the like which comprises supporting a test specimen flatwise in position to be acted uponovera selected limited area thereof, continuously moving the specimen along a predetermined path in its own plane, intermittently impacting and compressing the specimen and simultaneously effecting a local twisting action upon the impacted and compressed area of the specimen by engaging a wearing instrumentality therewith at spaced localities along said path, and effecting each successive engagement of a given locality during movement of the specimen in a direction opposite to that during the preceding engagement thereof.

13. The method of testing the wearing qualities of floor coverings, fabrics and the like which comprises supporting a test specimen ilatwise in position to be acted upon over a selected limited area thereof, moving the specimen continuously during predetermined periods and along a repeating sinuous closed path in its own plane, intermittently impacting portions of the total selected area of the specimen along said path, and effecting each successive engagement of a given portion of said area during movement of the specimen in a direction opposite to that during the preceding engagement thereof.

14. The method of testing the wearing qualities of floor coverings, fabrics and the like which comprises supporting a test specimen flatwise in position to be acted upon over a selected limited area thereof, continuously moving the specimen along a predetermined path in its own plane, and intermittently impacting and compressing the specimen and simultaneously effecting a local twisting action upon the impacted and compressed areak ofthe specimen by engaging a wearing instrumentality therewith at spaced localities along said path.

15. 'I'he method as set forth in claim 14 including the coordinated step of periodically measuring the extent of lwear effected.

16. In an apparatus for testing the wearing qualities of floor coverings, fabrics and the like, a plate-like holder for a test specimen to be examined, a supporting spider for said holder having means for guiding the holder formovement relative to the spider and in the plane of the test specimen,- guide means whereon the spider is bodily movable in a parallel plane but angularly with respect to the first mentioned movement, controlling cam means and drive connections for the holder, and associated cam means and drive connections for the spider, said two cam means being shaped, constructed and arranged with respect to each other to move the holder and test specimen with a predetermined compound movement alternately in one and the reverse directions along a recurring closed path.

17. In an apparatus of the class described, an under frame and housing, a. specimen holder and clamping means movably supported above the housing, a motor and drivev connection for said holder contained within said housing, an upper frame, a wearer shoe supported by said frame for intermittent wear-effecting engagement with a specimen on said holder, drive connections between the motor and said shoe, a detector element for intermittently measuring the extent of the progressing wear, said element including a supporting member movable toward and away from the ,wearing portion of the test specimen, a feeler on said member having a flat underface for feeling engagement upon said wearing portion, operating means for the feeler associated ywith said motor and drive connections to eiect .periodic measuring engagements of the feeler,

Tand` means for adjusting the pressure under which said f eeler effects said measuring engagement; I

18. In an apparatus forv testing the wearing vqualities of floor coverings, fabrics and the like, a

holding platen for a test specimen to be examined and whereon .the specimen is presented-in normal,

. -iiat condition, means to move the platen and n specimen in a given path in their own plane, a

wearer shoe having Aa longitudinally movable and y rotatively oscillatory supporting shaft, means to means supporting and guiding said element for movement substantially perpendicularly to said iixed operative plane of the platen and into and out of engagement with the specimen, operating mechanism for' said element including a cam and connections therewith for moving the element away from the specimen, adjustable weighting means to effect an impacting and compressing engagement of said element -upon the specimen,

"as controlled by said cam, and cooperating means for'rotatively oscillating said element during such engagement. v v

20. In a wear-testing machine for floor cover- I ings, fabrics and the like, a supporting platen for a test specimen, a plunger-like wearer elementv carrying a shoe i'or wearing engagement upon' a supported specimen, means supporting and guidingsaid element for movement into and out of engagement with the specimen, operating mechanism ior'said element including a cam and connectionsl therewith for moving the element away from the, specimen, weighting means to effect an impacting and compressing engagement of said element upon the specimen, as controlled by said cam, and means for withdrawing and locking said wearer element out of operative relation with its operating mechanism, at the will of the operator.

2l. In a wear-testing machine for lfloor coverings, fabrics and the like, a supporting platen for a test specimen, said platen having a ilxed operative plane, means to move the platen and .specimen insaid plane, a plunger-like wearer element carrying a shoe for wearing engagement upon a supported specimen, means supporting and guiding said element for movement substantially perpendicularly to said xed operative plane of the platen and into and out of engagement with lthe specimemoperating mechanism for said element including a cam and connections therewith for moving the element away from the specimen and permitting its return movement, and other drive means coordinated with said wearer operating mechanism for oscillating said wearer about an axis parallel with its path of movement toward and from the specimen.

22. I n a wear-testing machine for floor coverings, fabrics and the like, a supporting platen for a test specimen, a plunger-like wearer element carrying a shoe for wearing engagement upon a supported specimen, means supporting and guiding said element for movement into and out of engagement with the specimen; a motor and associated means drivingly connecting it with said wearer element, a wear-detecting and measuring feeler adapted for feeling engagement upon a wearing portion of the specimen, feeler operating means coordinated with the wearer element and its drive means thereby to cause the feeler to feel upon the test specimen periodically, a rotary drum and means thereonfor recording a visual indication of the progress of wear upon the test specimen, means operatedby the i'eeler for cooperating with said visual indicating means on the drum, and drive connections between the motor and the recorder drum 4for turning the latter at a constant and greatly reduced rate proportionate to the rate of operation of the wearer element. Y

23. In a wear-testing machine for oor coverings, fabrics and the like, a supporting platen for a test specimen, a plunger-like wearer element carrying a shoe for wearing engagement upon a supported specimen, means supporting and guiding said element for movement into and out of engagement with the specimen, a motor and associated means drivingly connecting it with said wearer element, cam means operatively connected with the motor, and cooperating mechanism associated with said cam means to move the specimen-supporting platen predeterminedly in the .plane of the specimen, a wear-detecting and measuring feeler adapted for feeling engagement upon a wearing portion of the specimen, feeler operating means coordinated .with the wearer ele- Ament and its drive' means thereby to cause the on the drum, and drive connections between the motor and the recorder drum for turning `the latter at a constant and greatly reduced rate proportionate to the rates of operation oi' the wearer element and of the specimen-supporting platen.'

24.1n a wear-testing machine .for floor coverings, fabrics and the like, a supporting platen for a test specimen, a plunger-like wearer element carrying a shoe for wearing engagement upon a supported specimen, means supporting and guiding said element for movement into and out of engagement with the specimen, operating mechanism for the wearer element including a motor, a cam driven thereby, and cam-controlled connections with said element, a wear-detecting and measuring feeler adapted to contact a wearing portion of a supported .test specimen, and controlling cam mechanism for the feeler, operatively associated with said motor, to effect operation of the feeler at intervals timed with respect to the rate of operation of the wearer element.

25. In ya wear-testing machine for floor coverings, fabrics and the like, a supporting platen for a test specimen, a plunger-like wearer element carrying a shoe for wearing engagement upon a supported specimen, means supporting'and guiding said element for movement into and out of engagement with the specimen, operating mechanism for the wearer element including a motor, a cam driven thereby, and cam-controlled connections with said element, a wear-detecting and measuring feeler adapted to contact a wearing portion of a supported test specimen, controlling cam mechanism for the feeler, operatively associated with said motor, to effect operation of the feeler at intervals timed with respect to the rate of operation of the wearer element, and automatic means operated by the motor and associated with said feeler automatically to form a visual record of the wear as measured by the feeler.

26. In apparatus for testing the wearing qualities of iioor coverings, fabrics and the like, in combination, a support for a test specimen, a wearer element having intermittently reciprocating and oscillatory engagement with a supported specimen, means for periodically feeling upon the wearing portion of such specimen, and recording mechanism including a rotary drum, a chart adapted to receive a plotted wear curve, means for removably holding the chart in operative recording position on the drum, marker means operable by said feeler means, and indicia on the chart in association with the area upon which the curve is to be plotted, said indicia representing, to scale, various planes in and through a particular specimen to be tested and operating means driven from a common power source to actuate the wearer element, the feeler means and the recording mechanism in predetermined timed relation.

27. In an apparatus of the class described, an under frame and housing, a specimen holder and clamping means movably supported above the housing, a motor and drive connections for said holder contained within said housing, a wearer element for intermittent wear-effecting engagement with a specimen on said holder, and drive connections between the motor and said wearer element, the latter including an elongated supporting member having a longitudinal closed channel, a specimen-engaging shoe having a through aperture in communication with said channel, and means for detachably securing said shoe in position upon the supporting element.

28. In a wear-testing apparatus for the purpose described, a frame, an approximately flat supporting element on the frame for a test specimen, a wearer element having a substantially at surface for engagement with a supported specimen, one of said elements being movable in an endless path in the plane of the supported specimen, said elements being mounted for relative intermittent impacting engagement and one of them also being oscillatory about an axis approximately normal to the plane of the specimen, during such engagement.

29. In a wear-testing apparatus for thec purpose described, a frame, an approximately flat supporting element on the frame for a test specimen, .a wearer element having a substantially flat surface for engagement with a supported specimen, one of said elements being movable in an endless path in the plane of the supported specimen, said elements being mounted for relative intermittent impacting engagement and one oi them also being oscillatory about an axis approximately normal to the plane of the specimen, during such engagement, and means operatively associated with said elements and successively to subject different portions of the specimen to said wearing engagement and to subject uniformly the entire desired area thereof to such wearing engagement in the course of a cyclic series thereof.

30. In a wear-testing apparatus for the purpose described, a frame, an approximately flat supporting element on the frame for a test specimen, a wearer element having a substantially at surface for engagement with a supported specimen, one of said elements being movable in an endless path in the plane of the supported specimen, said elements being mounted for relative intermittent impacting engagement and one oi' them also being oscillatory about an axis approximately normal to the plane of the specimen, during such engagement, said supporting element comprising a plate-like member of the size and shape of the desired total test area of the specimen, said member having a thickness at least approximately equaling that of a test specimen, whereby any portion of the latter outside the periphery of said member is relieved from wearing action of said elements.

3l. In a wear-testing apparatus for the purpose described, a frame, an approximately fiat supporting element on the frame for a test specimen, a wearer element having a substantially fiat surface for engagement with a supported specimen, one of said elements being movable in an endless path in the plane of the supported specimen, said elements being mounted for relative intermittent impacting engagement and one of them also being oscillatory about an axis approximately normal to the plane of the specimen, during such engagement, the relative engagements of said wearer element and said supporting element including engagements overlappingly covering the periphery of the test area. the construction and arrangement being such that any portion of the specimen outside said area is relieved from the wearing action.

32. A method of testing the wearing qualities of floor coverings, fabrics and the like comprising supporting and moving a test specimen in a predetermined sinuous closed path described alternately in opposite directions and in its own plane, and intermittently impacting and compressing successive portions of a total test surface of the moving specimen alternately during movement o1' the respective portion in one and the opposite engaging a surface of the test specimen, the engaging portion of said member being of less area. than the test area of the specimen, and driving mechanism for said platen and for said Wearing member, said driving mechanism including means acting to bring different localities of the specimen-carrying platen into position opposite the wearing member and through a different direction of approach thereto for each succeeding engagement of the wearing member upon any given locality.

34. Wear-testing apparatus for iioor Cowerings, fabrics and the like comprising, in combination, a platen for presenting a test specimen, means for moving the platen and specimen in a predetermined path, a wearer element for intermittent impacting engagement with the specimen during its movement, said element comprising a shoe having a passage through its specimen-engaging face, and means in yclosed communication with said passage for pneumatically carrying 01T worn particles of the test specimen.

35. In combination, in a wear-testing machine for floor coverings, fabrics and the like, means for supporting a test specimen and producing 'wear upon it, and means for graphically recording the progress of the wearing action at predetermined intervals with respect to the operation of the wear producing means, said recording means including a chart and a marker operative thereon, a wear detecting and measuring element, and automatic means periodically to cause said element to function and to cause the marker to record on the chart the extentkof wear then detected.

36. Ina wear-testing machine for floor coverings, fabrics and the like, a supporting platen for a test specimen, a plunger-like wearer element carrying a shoe for wearing engagement upon a supported specimen, means supporting and guiding said element for movement into and out of engagement with the specimen, operating mechanism for the wearer element including a motor, a cam driven thereby, and cam-controlled connections with said element, a wear-detecting and measuring feeler adapted to contact a wearing portion of a supported test specimen, and controlling mechanism for the feeler to effect operation thereof at intervals timed with respect to the operation of the wearer element.

37. In an apparatus of the class described, a main frame, a specimen-holding platen movably supported by said main frame, a motor and drive connections for said platen, mounted on said main frame, an upper frame, a wearer element supported on said upper frame for intermittent weareflecting engagement with a specimen on the platen, drive connections between the motor and said wearer element, a detector element for intermittently measuring the extent of the progressing wear, said element including a supporting member movable toward and away from the wearing portion of thev test specimen and a feeler on said member having a nat under face for feeling engagement upon said wearing portion, and operating means for the detector element coordinating it to function periodically with respect to the operation of the wearer element.

38. In an apparatus of the class described, a main frame, a specimen-holding platen movably supported by said main frame, a motor and drive connections for said platen, mounted on said main frame, an upper frame, a wearer element supported on said upper frame for intermittent weareiecting engagement with a specimenl on Vthe platen, and drive connections between the motor and said wearer element, the latter including an elongated supporting member having a longitudinally closed channel, and a specimen-engaging shoe on said supporting member, said shoe having an aperture at its specimen-engaging face and extending into communication with said channel.

39. Ina wear-testing machine for floor coverings, fabrics and the like, a supporting platen for a test specimen, said platen having a fixed operative plane, means to move the platen and specimen in said plane, a plunger-like wearer elementfor wearing engagement upon a supported specimen, means supporting and guiding said element and for causing movement thereof substantially perpendicularly to said fixed operative plane of the platen and into and out of engagement with the specimen, and other coordinated drive means for effecting a plurality of oscillations of said wearer element, during each movement thereof into and out of engagement with the specimen, about an axis parallel with its path of movement toward and from the specimen.

40. Wear-testing apparatus for floor coverings, fabrics and the like, comprising, in combination, a supporting frame, a holder for a test specimen, means to move the holder continuously in a sinuous closed path, a wearer shoe having a specimenengaging face of substantially less area than that of a solid' or uninterrupted area of a specimen to be tested, and operating means for said shoe for intermittently impacting and pressing it upon the specimen at different localities along said path, and means coordinating the holder moving means and the shoe operating means to effect upon the specimen a total impacting and pressing shoe engagement which is uniform throughout the totality of said solid or uninterrupted test area.

4l. Wear-testing apparatus for the purpose described, comprising a substantially flat holder for a test specimen, means to move the holder in a predetermined sinuous, endless path, in the plane of the supported specimen, an opposed wearer element mounted for intermittently impacting, pressing and turning upon and in engagement with the specimen on the holder, and mechanism to operate said wearer element, including connecting means arranged for readily rendering the intermittently impacting action of said element inactive whereby the latter may have continuous engagement with the specimen when so desired, other portions of said operating mechanism then acting similarly as when the impacting action of Ythe wearer element is employed.

EDGAR F. HATHAWAY. WALTER BIXBY.

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