US 12,411,067 B2
Torque and combined load fixture and test method
Matthew Sanders, Cypress, TX (US); and Jack E. Miller, Houston, TX (US)
Assigned to Stress Engineering Services, Inc., Houston, TX (US)
Filed by Stress Engineering Services, Inc., Houston, TX (US)
Filed on Apr. 18, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/639,623.
Application 18/639,623 is a division of application No. 17/431,140, granted, now 12,235,245, previously published as PCT/US2019/066669, filed on Dec. 16, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/805,577, filed on Feb. 14, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2024/0264056 A1, Aug. 8, 2024
Int. Cl. G01N 3/22 (2006.01); G01N 3/10 (2006.01); G01N 3/20 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 3/22 (2013.01) [G01N 3/10 (2013.01); G01N 3/20 (2013.01); G01N 2203/0019 (2013.01); G01N 2203/0021 (2013.01); G01N 2203/0023 (2013.01); G01N 2203/0028 (2013.01); G01N 2203/0048 (2013.01); G01N 2203/04 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for testing a specimen comprising:
a tubular housing with a first end and a second end;
a first end assembly, coupled to a first end of a tubular, further comprising a first cylindrical body having a plurality of recessed, axially oriented cylindrical half grooves located radially outward;
a second cylindrical body having a plurality of evenly spaced, recessed, axially oriented cylindrical half grooves located radially inward, wherein the first cylindrical body is disposed within, and axially aligned with, the second cylindrical body with the grooves of both cylindrical bodies align with, and complement each other to form a first plurality of cylindrical cavities within the assembly;
a sphere located within each of the first plurality of cylindrical cavities, forming a plurality of spheres, where the sphere can move during axial movement of the first cylindrical body relative to the second cylindrical body, and transmits a torque about the axis resulting from rotational movement of the first cylindrical body relative to the second cylindrical body;
a second end assembly, coupled to a second end of the tubular, further comprising a third cylindrical body having a plurality of recessed, axially oriented cylindrical half grooves located radially outward;
a fourth cylindrical body having a plurality of evenly spaced, recessed, axially oriented cylindrical half grooves located radially inward, wherein the third cylindrical body is disposed within, and axially aligned with, the fourth cylindrical body with the grooves of both cylindrical bodies align with, and complement each other to form a second plurality of cylindrical cavities within the assembly;
a sphere located within each of the second plurality of cylindrical cavities, forming a plurality of spheres, where the sphere can move during axial torque of the third cylindrical body relative to the fourth cylindrical body, and transmits a movement about the axis resulting from rotational movement of the third cylindrical body relative to the fourth cylindrical body;
a first plate axial aligned with and fixed to the second end assembly; and
a second plate axially aligned with and rotatingly coupled to the second end assembly, wherein the second plate can rotate independently of the first plate.