Test specimen holder for high temperature environments
Inventors
Lemmer, Steven R. • McQuillan, Kevin Patrick
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-9696218-B2
Publication Date
2017-07-04
Expiration Date
Abstract
A test specimen holder includes a specimen engaging portion operable to selectively engage and hold a test specimen. The test specimen holder includes a first shield disposed around the specimen engaging portion wherein a first gap is formed between the shield and the specimen engaging portion to remove heat from the specimen engaging portion.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a test specimen holder for use in a high-temperature environmental chamber. The holder includes a specimen engaging portion operable to selectively engage and hold a test specimen, and a first shield fixedly attached to and disposed around the specimen engaging portion, with a first annular gap formed between an inwardly facing surface of the first shield and an outwardly facing surface of the specimen engaging portion.
Heat is removed from the specimen engaging portion by exhausting fluid from the first annular gap to an outside environment. In additional embodiments, the holder further includes a first gap passageway with an inlet port and an exhaust port, configured to remove heat by transferring heat via gas forced through the passageway, and the disclosed structure can include a second shield and a second gap passageway to remove additional heat from the specimen holder assembly.
In other embodiments, the first gap comprises a sealed cavity under a vacuum, and the vacuum prevents heat transfer to the specimen engaging portion. Temperature control is implemented in the context of an apparatus having an environmental chamber with first and second openings, multiple temperature sensors, and a controller configured to induce and maintain a temperature gradient in which the temperature of a specimen at a specific location is greater than temperatures of the specimen engaging portions.
Claims Coverage
The partial content provides three independent claims: a test specimen holder with a first shield and first annular gap for exhausting fluid, a test specimen holder using a vacuum-sealed gap to prevent heat transfer, and an apparatus for a testing device that uses multiple temperature sensors and a controller to induce and maintain a temperature gradient. Across the dependent claims shown, the inventive features primarily refine how heat removal fluid/gas is routed through gap passageways, add a second shield, and add thermal barrier or low emissivity thermal coatings, as well as add heating-element control refinements in the apparatus family.
Specimen engaging portion with first shield forming a first annular gap for exhausting fluid
A test specimen holder comprising a specimen engaging portion operable to selectively engage and hold a test specimen and a first shield fixedly attached to and disposed around the specimen engaging portion, wherein a first annular gap is formed between an inwardly facing surface of the first shield and an outwardly facing surface of the specimen engaging portion to remove heat from the specimen engaging portion by exhausting fluid from the first annular gap to an outside environment.
First annular gap comprising a sealed cavity under vacuum to prevent heat transfer
A test specimen holder comprising a specimen engaging portion operable to selectively engage and hold a test specimen and a first shield disposed around the specimen engaging portion, wherein a first gap is formed between the first shield and the specimen engaging portion to remove heat from the specimen engaging portion, and wherein the first gap comprises a sealed cavity under a vacuum and wherein the sealed cavity under vacuum prevents heat transfer to the specimen engaging portion.
Environmental chamber temperature gradient control using three temperature sensors and controller
An apparatus for a testing device having a base, left and right supports, a cross head, and an actuator, comprising an environmental chamber having first and second openings; a first specimen engaging portion coupled to the actuator and positioned within the first opening; a second specimen engaging portion coupled to the cross head and positioned within the second opening; a first temperature sensor proximate the first specimen engaging portion; a second temperature sensor proximate the second specimen engaging portion; a third temperature sensor within the environmental chamber to sense a temperature of a specimen at a specific location; and a controller configured to receive signals from the first, second and third temperature sensors and to send a signal to control the temperatures of the first and second specimen engaging portions and to control a temperature of the specimen at the specific location, wherein the temperature of the specimen at the specific location is greater than the temperatures of the first and second specimen engaging portions, and to induce and maintain a temperature gradient at the first and second specimen engaging portions.
The claim set centers on maintaining specimen temperatures in an environmental chamber while reducing heat reaching specimen engaging portions of a test specimen holder. The holder claims achieve this by exhausting fluid from a first annular gap formed between a first shield and the specimen engaging portion, or by using a first gap defined as a sealed cavity under vacuum that prevents heat transfer. The independent apparatus claim complements these holder concepts by using three temperature sensors and a controller to induce and maintain a temperature gradient where the specimen temperature at a specific location is greater than the temperatures of the first and second specimen engaging portions.
Stated Advantages
Removes heat from the specimen engaging portion by exhausting fluid from the first annular gap to an outside environment.
Sealed cavity under a vacuum prevents heat transfer to the specimen engaging portion.
Induces and maintains a temperature gradient at the first and second specimen engaging portions such that the temperature of the specimen at a specific location is greater than the temperatures of the first and second specimen engaging portions.
Documented Applications
Use in a testing device having an environmental chamber with first and second openings, for controlling specimen temperature and maintaining a temperature gradient.
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