SATEC™ SERIES GRIP HANGERS AND FILLER PLATES

All SATEC universal testing machines with in-head grip pockets, whether they use pinion grip actuators or hydraulic lever arm actuators, will require replacement gripping components to maintain optimum gripping performance. Common components that wear over time include grip jaws, filler plates, pinions and grip jaw hangers.

Filler plates allow the grip jaw opening to be adjusted to a range of specimen thicknesses and maximize the full use of the grip jaw range. These components are essential to prevent the grip jaws from protruding out of the grip pocket which may result in damage to the machine.

Pinions are used only with systems that are configured with manual, crank and pinion style gripping. The pinions extend through the machine crosshead, front to back, and engage with the rack teeth of the wedge grip jaws inserted in the grip pocket to open or close the grip jaws to clamp or unclamp the test specimen.

Principle of Operation

An equal quantity and thickness of filler plate(s) is inserted behind each of the four wedge grip jaws and rest on the top side of each crosshead. Various thicknesses of filler plates are available and are dependent on the machine model and capacity. Filler plates are easily replaced and minimize wear of the grip pocket.

One pinion is installed through each of the machine’s crosshead and secured. The gear teeth of the pinion are exposed in the grip pocket and when the wedge grip jaws are inserted their rack teeth will engage with one another. A crank handle is then secured to the pinion shaft. The handle is the mechanism to turn to close or open the wedge grip jaws to grip or release the test specimen.

Grip jaw hangers are bolted to the top of each of the four wedge grip jaws. Each grip and hanger assembly is then fitted to the upper or lower hydraulic lever arm grip actuator. The hanger than transmits the pivoting motion of the lever arm into the linear motion of the grip jaw, and provides clearance so that the pivot bar of the actuator assembly does not interfere with the self-tightening action of the wedge grip pocket and jaws as load increases on the tensile specimen.

Application Range

• Filler plates allow adjustment of grip jaw opening to maintain in-head grips inside the pocket

• Additional hangers allow quicker changeover of grip jaws when using hydraulic grip actuators