Endosseous dental implant loading fixture
An apparatus for fatigue testing an article includes a base having a platform for receiving an article to be tested, a shaft extending toward said platform for applying a force to said article, a coupling assembly connected to said shaft, said coupling assembly comprising a joint that pivots about an axis, and flex pivots disposed to be aligned with said axis about which said joint pivots.
1. An apparatus for fatigue testing an article, said apparatus comprising:
a base having a platform for receiving an article to be tested,
a shaft extending toward said platform for applying a force to said article,
a coupling assembly connected to said shaft, said coupling assembly comprising a joint that pivots about an axis, and
flex pivots aligned with said axis about which said joint pivots.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said flex pivot is configured to rigidly transmit an axial force.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said base further comprises a curved holder, and wherein said platform is mounted to slide along said curved holder thereby causing an angle between said shaft and said article to vary.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said shaft comprises a distal tip having a contact face for loading said article, and wherein said contact face comprises zirconia.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said shaft comprises a distal tip having a contact face for loading said article, and wherein said contact face comprises a material having a hardness between 1000 Hv and 8000 Hv.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said shaft comprises a distal tip having a contact face for loading said article, and wherein said contact face comprises a material having a hardness between 1000 Hv and 8000 Hv.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said coupling assembly comprises a first clevis, a second clevis, and a pivot block, and wherein said flex pivots pivotally couples said first clevis and said second clevis to said pivot block.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of said flex pivots comprises concentric cylinders having resilient webbing extending across said cylinders for applying a restoring force to urge said cylinders to maintain a relative position therebetween.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said platform can receive a dental implant.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said platform can receive an orthopedic implant.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said shaft is configured for backlash-free transmission of a compressive force against said article.
12. An apparatus for fatigue testing an article, said apparatus comprising:
means for receiving an article to be tested,
means for transmitting a compressive force to said article,
means for coupling said means for transmitting a compressive force to an actuator, said means for coupling comprising flex pivots aligned with an axis about which said means for coupling pivots to apply a restoring force in response to pivot of said joint.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein said means for coupling comprises a first clevis, a second clevis, and a pivot block, and wherein said flex pivots pivotally couples said first clevis and said second clevis to said pivot block.