US 12,441,487 B1
Hydraulic over elastic separation mechanism
Christopher Sheridan Kelly, Colorado Springs, CO (US)
Assigned to United Launch Alliance, L.L.C., Centennial, CO (US)
Filed by United Launch Alliance, L.L.C., Centennial, CO (US)
Filed on Apr. 11, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/133,274.
Int. Cl. G01N 3/36 (2006.01); B64F 5/60 (2017.01); G01L 5/00 (2006.01); G01N 3/14 (2006.01); G01N 3/307 (2006.01)
CPC B64F 5/60 (2017.01) [G01L 5/00 (2013.01)] 24 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A testing apparatus for fluid fittings, comprising:
a base;
a first rail and a second rail connected to and extending in the same direction from the base, the first rail spaced from the second rail;
a cross yoke slidably mounted on the first and second rails and movable toward and away from the base;
at least one biasing mechanism disposed between the base and the cross yoke and configured to apply a force separating the cross yoke from the base;
a first hydraulic cylinder and a second hydraulic cylinder, each first and second hydraulic cylinder comprising a barrel defining a chamber, the chamber having a first end and a second end spaced from the first end, a piston movably positioned in the chamber and a piston rod connected to the piston and extending outside of the barrel, each chamber having a first fluid port proximate the first end and a second fluid port proximate the second end, the barrel of each hydraulic cylinder connected to one of the base and the cross yoke, and each piston rod of each hydraulic cylinder connected to the other of the base and the cross yoke;
a fluid reservoir containing a fluid;
a fluid supply circuit in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir and the first fluid ports and second fluid ports of the first and second hydraulic cylinders, the fluid supply circuit including:
a first variable position control valve positioned between the fluid reservoir and the first and second fluid ports of the first and second hydraulic cylinders to control a flow of fluid in and out of the first and second fluid ports;
a second variable position control valve positioned between the fluid reservoir and the first and second fluid ports of the first and second hydraulic cylinders to control the flow of fluid in the fluid supply circuit; and
an adjustable throttle valve in fluid communication with the first and second fluid ports of the second hydraulic cylinder to control a rate of fluid flow out of the chambers of the first and second hydraulic cylinders and thereby control a release of energy stored in the at least one biasing mechanism;
a pump in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir and configured to circulate the fluid within the fluid supply circuit and each chamber of the first and second hydraulic cylinders;
a first bracket associated with the base and configured to secure a first fitting;
a second bracket associated with the cross yoke and configured to secure a second fitting, wherein the first and second fittings are configured to mate; and
a force measuring device associated with the first bracket or second bracket and configured to measure a compression force applied to the first fitting by the second fitting,
wherein the pump supplies fluid to the fluid supply circuit, including the chambers of the first hydraulic cylinder and the second hydraulic cylinder and wherein the first and second variable position control valves control a direction of fluid flowing with the fluid supply circuit.