INSTRUMENT CHANGING ASSEMBLY AND METHODS

摘要

An instrument changing assembly includes a magazine having one or more probe assembly stations. The assembly further includes at least one probe change tool including a receptacle socket. One or more probe assemblies are retained within the one or more probe assembly stations. The one or more probe assemblies each include a probe receptacle including a probe retention recess and a common socket fitting configured for complementary fitting with a common receptacle socket. The probe change tool is configured to install or extract the respective probes from a mechanical testing instrument according to the complementary fit between the common socket fitting and the common receptacle socket of the probe assemblies. Alternatively, the instrument changing assembly includes an instrument array housing including a plurality of instruments. Each of the one or more instruments (probe and transducer combination) are deployed relative to the instrument array housing with an instrument deployment actuator.