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US 10,371,611 B2Granted
Material testing system and method of use
AssigneesRolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc., ROLLS-ROYCE plc
InventorsJeffrey A. Walston, David J. Thomas, Ted J. Freeman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to a material testing system for use in testing material strength of various gas turbine engine components. The material testing system provides a load force onto portions of gas turbine engine components.
Claims18
A material testing system for loading test articles, the material testing system comprising
- a load rod arranged to move along a load axis to provide a load force to a test article,
- a rocker arm coupled to the load rod for axial movement therewith, the rocker arm including a rocker axis that intersects the load axis, a first end spaced apart from the rocker axis, and a second end spaced apart from the first end to locate the rocker axis between the first end and the second end of the rocker arm, and the rocker arm configured to pivot relative to the load rod about the rocker axis, and
- a load distribution system configured to engage the rocker arm to transfer the load force from the load rod and rocker arm to the test article, the load distribution system including a first load applicator configured to engage the first end of the rocker arm and a second load applicator configured to engage the second end of the rocker arm, the first load applicator and the second load applicator configured to move axially relative to one another and relative to the load axis in response to engaging portions of the test article having different heights to cause the rocker arm to pivot about the rocker axis such that the rocker arm applies the force load equally between the first load applicator and the second load applicator,
- wherein the first load applicator and the second load applicator are blocked from moving radially relative to the load axis.
1 more element
A material testing system comprising
- a load rod arranged to move axially along a load axis to provide a load force,
- a load distribution system coupled to the load rod for movement therewith, the load distribution system including a first load applicator having a first sliding rod and a first shoe configured to articulate about an end of the first sliding rod and a second load applicator spaced apart from the first load applicator and having a second sliding rod and a second shoe configured to articulate about an end of the second sliding rod, and
- a rocker arm coupled to the load rod for axial movement therewith, the rocker arm configured to pivot relative to the load rod about a rocker axis, and the first and second sliding rods are configured to translate axially relative to one another and engage the rocker arm to cause the rocker arm to pivot about the rocker axis and distribute the load force between the first and second sliding rods,
- wherein the first shoe includes a first side formed to define a pocket sized to receive the end of the first sliding rod and a second side formed to receive a plurality of ball bearings that extend part way out of the second side.
1 more element
A method of mechanically testing a test article, the method comprising
- providing a load force along a load axis from a load rod to a rocker arm,
- pivoting the rocker arm about a rocker axis that is perpendicular to the load axis to cause the load force to be transferred to a first load applicator and a second load applicator spaced apart from the first load applicator,
- distributing the load force equally between the first load applicator and the second load applicator as an equally distributed load force, and
- applying the distributed load force to the test article,
- wherein the first load applicator and the second load applicator are configured to move axially relative to one another and relative to the load axis in response to engaging portions of the test article having different heights and the first load applicator and the second load applicator are blocked from moving radially relative to the load axis.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.