Tensile specimens can be tested in liquid nitrogen without subjecting the cryostat to tilting during assembly of the specimen in the liquid nitrogen-filled cryostat. A universal joint with a semielliptical head and socket reduces misalignment and permits only limited side travel

Vandergrift, E. F.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

December 1967	 Brief 67-10594 
•
ICY C
	
AEC-NASA TECH BRIEF 
AEC-NASA Tech Briefs describe innovations resulting from the research and development program 
of the U.S. AEC or from AEC-NASA interagency efforts. They are issued to encourage commercial 
application. Tech Briefs are published by NASA and may be purchased, at 15 cents each, from 
the Clearinghouse for Federal Scientific and Technical Information, Springfield, Virginia 22151. 
Self-Aligning Rod Prevents Eccentric Loading of Tensile Specimens 
Tensile Testing 
Mechanism 
Cryostat 
--
-'I
Joint 
The problem: 
To devise a method for testing tensile specimens 
in liquid nitrogen (LN2) without subjecting the cryo-
stat to tilting during assembly of the specimen in the 
LN2-filled cryostat. 
The solution: 
A universal joint with a semielliptical head and 
socket that reduces misalignment and permits only 
limited side travel. 
How it's done: 
The semielliptical head of the universal joint is 
seated in the shoulder attached to the bottom movable 
cross bar, and moves about a pin-loaded joint. The 
universal joint socket also has a semielliptical con-
tour but with the flats at right angles to the flats
Bottom 
Pull Rod 
Universal Joint 
Pins 
Shoulder Attached To - 
Movable Crossbar 
of the head. The socket receives the bottom pull rod 
and also moves about a pin-loaded joint, which is at 
right angles to the pin through the head. With this 
design, misalignment effects are reduced while the 
cryostat (which is attached to the bottom pull rod) 
remains relatively rigid, preventing spillage of LN2 
and facilitating assembly of the specimen. 
Note: 
Inquiries concerning this innovation may be di-
rected to:
Technology Utilization Officer 
AEC-NASA Space Nuclear Propulsion 
Office 
U.S. Atomic Energy Commission 
Washington, D.C. 20545 
Reference: B67-10594 
.	 (continued overleaf) 
Amok,
 
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the Atomic	 liability resulting from the use of the information contained in this 
Energy Commission and/or the National Aeronautics and Space	 document, or warrants that the use of any information, apparatus, 
Administration. Neither the United States Government nor any per- 	 method, or process disclosed in this document may not infringe pri-

son acting on behalf of the United States Government assumes any vately owned rights.
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19670000593 2020-03-11T21:29:46+00:00Z
Patent status: 
No patent action is contemplated by AEC or 
NASA.
Source: E. F. Vandergrift
of Westinghouse Astronuclear Laboratory

under contract to

AEC-NASA Space Nuclear Propulsion Office

(NUC-10525) 
Brief 67-10594	 Category 05
	
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Self-aligning rod prevents eccentric loading of tensile specimens

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