Guided-bend test apparatus

Claim 1

Apparatus for testing the ductility of a weld located within an elongated specimen, said apparatus for use with a device having a ram supported for raising and lowering over a bed, said apparatus comprising: a base defining an upper surface having a central opening; a pair of rollers, each of said rollers having a pair of ends and a width sufficient for supporting the specimen, each of said rollers further being supported at said ends by said base to extend over said opening; a beam; at least two upright supports mounted to said base to extend upwardly therefrom; said beam being fitted onto said upright supports to be freely vertically slidable thereon; stop means for preventing vertical upward movement of said beam on said upright supports beyond a predetermined height above said base; spring means connected between said base and said beam for biasing said beam upwardly against said stop means; and a downwardly extending mandrel connected to said beam, said mandrel defining at its lower end a working surface; said mandrel having a length and being located, when said beam is biased upwardly against said stop means, with said working surface above but between said rollers; whereby said base may be placed on the bed, the specimen may be positioned upon said rollers with the weld disposed equidistant between said rollers, said mandrel may be contacted by the ram for applying downward force by the ram, and whereby said mandrel may be forced downwardly by the ram to cause said mandrel to contact the specimen along said working surface to bend the specimen into said opening; and whereby upon subsequent upward movement of the ram, said spring means forces said beam upwardly against said stop means.