US 4,356,720 A · Burst-pressure test fixture for pressure vessels dynamic rocket motors

Abstract

A method for burst testing a vented pressure vessel accurately measures the rue burst pressure of the vented pressure vessel. The method employs a burstpressure test fixture which comprises a plug and a gauge adapter member for substantially plugging the vent opening in a pressure vessel to be burst tested. The plug and gauge adapter member is adapted for receiving a transducer or pressure gauge that is integrally mounted with a pressure gauge tube which is insertably mounted in the plug and gauge adapter member. The vent opening which is substantially plugged with the tube member of the plug and gauge adapter member is free from stress during pressurization to burst pressure. The method requires that the plug and gauge adapter member be stationary, but the vented pressure vessel is allowed to move outwardly along the tube member during dynamic testing. The fit of the plug to the vent opening (i.e., the throat when the pressure vessel is a rocket motor) is a close enought fit as long as the fly off time of the pressure vessel is greater than the pressure rise time to burst pressure. The fixed position of the plugging member is independent of the pressure vessel during dynamic testing thus allowing the burst pressure that is measured to be the true burst pressure for the vented pressure vessel since the additional forces normally encountered during static testing where the plugging member and vented pressure vessel are stationary are not present in this method.

Claims4

Dependent claims

In a vented pressure vessel having a tubular plug and guage adapter member provided with a pressure gauge therein for measuring the pressurization to burst pressure, said tubular plug and gauge adapter for insertion into the vent opening of said vented pressure vessel for substantially plugging said vent opening during burst testing, the method of burst testing said vented pressure vessel having an internal means for pressurization comprising the steps of:

(i) mounting said plug and gauge adapter in a stationary position so that said tubular member is horizontally positioned;
(ii) inserting a pressure gauge that is integrally mounted with a pressure gauge tube member into said plug and gauge adapter member;
(iii) coating said tubular member of said plug and gauge adapter member with a silicon lubricant to facilitate the positioning of a vented pressure vessel on said tubular member while substantially plugging the vent opening of said vented pressure vessel;
(iv) positioning a vented pressure vessel to be burst tested on said silicon lubricated tubular member, said vent opening of said plug and gauge adapter member being substantially plugged by said tubular member, said vented pressure vessel being provided with means for pressurization that is mounted within said vented pressure vessel;
and,
(v) pressurizing said vented pressure vessel at a predetermined rate to effect bursting of said vented pressure vessel as said vented pressure vessel is moving at a predetermined rate in an outward direction along said tubular member, said bursting being effected prior to said vented pressure vessel exiting from said tubular member;
and,
(vi) measuring said pressure at which bursting of said vented pressure vessel takes place which is the true burst pressure of said vented pressure vessel tested under dynamic conditions.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Burst-pressure test fixture for pressure vessels dynamic rocket motors

Life of this patent

Burst-pressure test fixture for pressure vessels dynamic rocket motors

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims4