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US 6,591,690 B1Granted
Material testing machine with dual test space and integral axisymmetric triaxial measurement system
OwnerWilliam Crockfordinventor
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OwnerWilliam Crockfordinventor
Estimating the term…
The present invention relates to a material testing device. The device includes a load frame and pressure vessel (16) which comprises a dual test space having an open section (22) and a pressure vessel cavity (24). The pressure vessel cavity (24) accepts an axisymmetric triaxial module (18) which can be configured with or without instrumentation means (60) and with or without a mounted membrane (52). In the preferred embodiment, an actuator (40) is mounted below the open section of the load frame and a reaction rod (42) is mounted so that it extends below the top of the pressure vessel cavity. In triaxial (pressurized) testing, the specimen under test (36) is positioned by lifting with the actuator (40) until it begins loading the reaction rod (42), at which point the role of the actuator changes from specimen positioning to specimen testing. In unpressurized testing, the reaction rod (42) is adjusted downward prior to testing so that a loading fixture with a specimen in it, or a specimen without a loading fixture, placed in the open test space will begin loading the reaction rod (42) before the actuator can lift it into the triaxial test space. The membrane-mounted instrumentation means (60) may accommodate both vertical displacement transducers (76) and horizontal displacement transducers (78).
A materials testing machine comprising:
A materials testing machine comprising:
A materials testing machine comprising:
A materials testing machine for conducting two different tests on a specimen, said machine comprising an integral elongated frame, said frame having an enclosed chamber portion with an inner pressure vessel cavity and an open unconfined testing portion, said chamber portion having a sealable access opening, an axisymmetric testing module removably enclosed in said chamber, a load transmission device for applying a load to a specimen, said load transmission device in mechanical contact with one end of an actuator, the other end of said actuator located outside said chamber, said actuator movably mounted in said open unconfined testing space, said actuator adapted to apply a load in said open unconfined testing space and extend into said chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.