MEASUREMENT OF BUNDLE STRENGTH OF FIBRES

摘要

This invention concerns an apparatus for the measurement of the bundle strength of fibres, and in a further aspect a method for measuring the bundle strength of fibres. The apparatus and method have application to testing the fibre strength of fibre bundles, and in particular but not exclusively to the measurement of wool fibre tensile strength. The apparatus comprises four clamps (9, 12, 16, 17) arranged along a common axis and operable independently of each other. One of the clamps, the "fixed" clamp (9), is positioned at one end of the apparatus, and is movable along the common axis relative to the remainder of the apparatus. The "fixed" clamp (9) and the next adjacent "moving" clamp (12) may be used to secure fibre bundles during measurement of the bundle strength. The remaining two clamps are used exclusively for preparation of sample bundles. A "combing" clamp (17) at the other end of the apparatus is used for combing fibres, and a "pre-tensioning" clamp (16) between the "combing" clamp and the "moving" clamp is used for pre-tensioning the fibres.