Back to results
US 12,699,032 B1Granted
Load test apparatus with integrated thermal conditioning
AssigneeUnited Launch Alliance, L.L.C.
InventorChristopher Sheridan Kelly
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for conducting thermal condition testing on a test object or objects where a first test fixture in contact with a test object has a first temperature and a second test fixture in contact with the test object has a second temperature. The test object or objects may also be secured to the text fixtures which permits a force or load placed on one or both test fixtures to be applied to the test object or objects while subjected to a temperature gradient from the test fixtures. The applied force or load may be tensile of compressive.
Claims20
A test apparatus comprising:
- a first test fixture, comprising a first body having a first interface surface and a first fluid pathway disposed in the first body proximate the first interface surface, the first fluid pathway configured to receive a first fluid having a first temperature, wherein a first surface of a test object is removably couplable to the first interface surface of the first test fixture when the test object contacts the first interface surface;
- and
- a second test fixture, comprising a second body having a second interface surface, wherein a second surface of the test object is removably couplable to the second interface surface of the second test fixture when the test object contacts the second interface surface,
- wherein, when the first surface of the test object is coupled to the first interface surface of the first test fixture and the second surface of the test object is coupled to the second interface surface of the second test fixture, the first test fixture is configured to apply a thermal load supplied by the first fluid having the first temperature to the test object, and
- wherein, when the first surface of the test object is coupled to the first interface surface of the first test fixture and the second surface of the test object is coupled to the second interface surface of the second test fixture, at least one of the first test fixture and the second test fixture is configured to apply a tensile load or a compressive load to the test object.
2 more elements
A method of conducting a test on one or more test objects, comprising:
- providing a first test fixture having a first body with a first interface surface, and a first fluid pathway disposed within the first body proximate the first interface surface, wherein the first fluid pathway is configured to receive a first fluid having a first temperature;
- providing a second test fixture having a second body with a second interface surface;
- placing a test object having a first surface and a second surface between the first body and the second body, wherein the first surface of the test object is removably couplable to the first interface surface of the first test fixture when the test object contacts the first interface surface, and wherein the second surface of the test object is removably couplable to the second interface surface of the second test fixture when the test object contacts the second interface surface;
- and
- circulating the first fluid at a first temperature through the first fluid pathway,
- wherein, when the first surface of the test object is coupled to the first interface surface of the first test fixture and the second surface of the test object is coupled to the second interface surface of the second test fixture, the first test fixture is configured to apply a thermal load supplied by the first fluid having the first temperature to the test object, and
- wherein, when the first surface of the test object is coupled to the first interface surface of the first test fixture and the second surface of the test object is coupled to the second interface surface of the second test fixture, at least one of the first test fixture and the second test fixture is configured to apply a tensile load or a compressive load to the test object.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.