Device for tensioning test specimens within an hermetically sealed chamber

Claim 1

In combination with a dewar, a device for tensioning test specimens disposed within a bath of cryogenic fluid confined within a chamber comprising: A. a support column adapted to be received within said chamber comprising a pair of plates including a bottom plate and a top plate and a plurality of compression members for supporting the plates in a mutually spaced relationship, each plate of said pair being of a disk-shaped configuration and characterized by an array of bores formed therein in coaxial alignment with the bores of the other plate of the pair; B. a plurality of anchor pins fixed within the array of bores characterizing the bottom plate, each pin of said plurality being adapted to receive a test specimen in an interconnected relationship therewith for thereby securing a plurality of test specimens to said support column; C. a plurality of axially displaceable pull rods extended into said chamber, each of said plurality being projected through a bore formed in the top plate of said support column and adapted to be connected at one end thereof to a test specimen rigidly secured to said support column, and characterized by a head formed at the opposite end thereof adapted to be received by a female connector; D. a cover plate seated on said dewar for sealing the chamber and characterized by an array of bores through which said plurality of pull rods are extended in an hermetically sealed relationship therewith; E. a spacer of a cylindrical configuration interposed between said cover plate and said support column and connected thereto for securing said support column in place within said chamber; F. an actuator support releasably mounted on said cover plate comprising a base plate and a top plate interconnected through a plurality of vertically oriented compression members; G. an actuator including an axially retractable, vertically oriented shaft mounted on said actuator support; H. a connecting link including a female coupling adapted to receive a head of a pull rod in a coupled relationship therewith; and I. a load cell connected to said link between said shaft and said pull rod for measuring tensile stress induced in the link.