A material-grade vacuum cryogenic environment mechanical testing system

Abstract

This invention relates to a material-grade vacuum cryogenic environment mechanical testing system, belonging to the field of vacuum cryogenic furnace technology. It includes a test host, vacuum equipment, platform components, a mechanical pump assembly, and an exhaust device. The vacuum equipment and platform components are slidably mounted on the test host for support. The vacuum equipment provides a vacuum environment for the test samples and performs various tests on them. The platform components are connected to the vacuum equipment via vacuum pipes. The mechanical pump assembly is connected to the vacuum pipes via a vacuum extraction line to extract gas from the vacuum equipment. The exhaust device is installed on the vacuum equipment for venting gas and monitoring the gas pressure within the vacuum equipment. This invention can provide static mechanical testing, fatigue testing, and material fatigue testing, and is suitable for use in multiple scenarios including tensile, compression, bending, and shear testing.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of vacuum cryogenic furnace technology, specifically to a material-grade vacuum cryogenic environment mechanical testing system. Background Technology

[0002] With the development of aerospace, nuclear fusion energy, hydrogen energy, applied superconductivity, gas industry and some large-scale scientific projects in my country, there are more and more projects involving cryogenic engineering. These fields have an increasing demand for cryogenic materials, and at the same time, the requirements for the performance data of cryogenic materials are becoming more and more comprehensive.

[0003] Cryogenic materials refer to metals and their alloys suitable for use below zero to absolute zero. When materials operate in cryogenic environments, their various mechanical properties differ significantly from those at room temperature. Among these, the mechanical properties of materials are a crucial performance indicator for materials or workpieces in engineering. Testing the mechanical properties of materials at low temperatures is of great significance for the research and optimization of their cryogenic performance, and is also essential for the design and safe use of cryogenic components.

[0004] Currently, commonly used low-temperature environments are obtained through liquid nitrogen (-196℃) cooling. Testing involves immersing a cryogenic mechanical support and the sample under test in a liquid nitrogen testing device to obtain various low-temperature mechanical properties of the material. However, existing testing devices are made of cryogenic stainless steel, and cannot perform multi-scenario material testing, hindering further research on the low-temperature performance of materials.

[0005] Therefore, how to provide a material-grade vacuum cryogenic environment mechanical testing system has become a technical problem that urgently needs to be solved by those skilled in the art. Summary of the Invention

[0006] To address at least one of the technical problems in the background art, the present invention provides a material-grade vacuum low-temperature environment mechanical testing system capable of providing static mechanical tests (tension, compression, creep, relaxation, bending, etc.), fatigue tests (low-cycle fatigue tests, high-cycle fatigue tests), and material fatigue testing. It is applicable to multiple scenarios such as material fatigue testing, tension, compression, bending, and shearing, thereby solving the problems mentioned in the background art.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a material-grade vacuum cryogenic environment mechanical testing system, comprising: a test host, vacuum equipment, platform components, mechanical pump group, and exhaust device;

[0008] Vacuum equipment and platform components are slidably mounted on the test host for supporting the vacuum equipment and platform components;

[0009] The vacuum equipment is used to provide a vacuum environment for the test sample and to perform various tests on the test sample;

[0010] The platform components are connected to vacuum equipment via vacuum pipes;

[0011] The mechanical pump unit is connected to the vacuum pipeline via a vacuum pumping line and is used to extract gas from the vacuum equipment.

[0012] The exhaust device is installed on the vacuum equipment and is used to exhaust gas and monitor the gas pressure inside the vacuum equipment.

[0013] Furthermore, the test host includes a test platform, a base plate is fixedly connected to the test platform, support legs are symmetrically fixedly connected to the rear side of the lower end face of the base plate, guide rails are symmetrically fixedly connected to the base plate near the front side, and brackets for supporting and fixing vacuum equipment are slidably connected on the guide rails.

[0014] Furthermore, the platform component includes a molecular pump slidably connected to a guide rail, a slide gate valve fixed to the molecular pump, a vacuum pipe connected to the slide gate valve, a manual butterfly valve fixed to the vacuum pipe, and one end of the vacuum pipe connected to a vacuum device.

[0015] Furthermore, the mechanical pump assembly includes multiple mechanical pumps, which are connected to a vacuum pipeline via a vacuum pumping line.

[0016] Furthermore, the vacuum equipment includes a vacuum furnace, inside which a furnace body cold shield is fixed, and inside the furnace body cold shield is a vacuum chamber. A cold spray nozzle is provided in the vacuum chamber. A baffle plate is fixed at the bottom front side of the vacuum chamber. A tie rod reducing plate is fixed at the rear side of the baffle plate. Tension clamps are symmetrically fixed to the top of the tie rod reducing plate and the top of the vacuum chamber. A test sample is placed between the two tension clamps.

[0017] Furthermore, tie rod assemblies are fixedly connected between the bottom and the base plate of the vacuum furnace and the top of the vacuum furnace. The two tie rod assemblies pass through the vacuum furnace and are fixed to the tension clamp. A corrugated pipe is sleeved on the outside of the tie rod assembly, and the corrugated pipe is fixed to the tie rod assembly and the vacuum furnace respectively through flanges.

[0018] Furthermore, a door is provided on the front side of the vacuum furnace, and a furnace door cold screen is fixed inside the door. The furnace door cold screen corresponds to the furnace body cold screen, and the door is connected and fixed to the vacuum furnace by a door hinge.

[0019] Furthermore, a door lock for securing the hatch is fixed to the front side of the vacuum furnace, and an observation window is fixed to the front side of the hatch, extending into the interior of the furnace door cold shield.

[0020] Furthermore, a refrigerant inlet and a vacuum connector are fixed to the rear side of the vacuum furnace, with the vacuum connector located below the refrigerant inlet. A refrigerant nozzle is fixed inside the refrigerant inlet, and the refrigerant nozzle corresponds to the test sample. The vacuum connector is connected to the vacuum chamber.

[0021] Furthermore, the exhaust device includes a pressure monitor, a solenoid valve, and an exhaust pipe; the top of the vacuum furnace is connected to the exhaust pipe, a solenoid valve is installed on the exhaust pipe, a vacuum gauge is installed on the vacuum furnace, and a pressure monitor is fixed to one side of the solenoid valve.

[0022] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows:

[0023] This invention can provide static mechanical testing (tension, compression, creep, relaxation, bending, etc.), fatigue testing (low-cycle fatigue testing, high-cycle fatigue testing), and material fatigue testing control system, realizing material fatigue testing, and has multiple application scenarios such as tension, compression, bending, and shear.

[0024] This invention provides a vacuum cryogenic environment system, a specially designed temperature device adapted to material fatigue testing and control systems, which can provide an extreme temperature environment for fatigue testing of structural components; it can be adapted to a residual stress measurement and analysis system, enabling rapid and accurate residual stress testing, and obtaining residual stress results, full width at half maximum (FWHM) results, qualitative analysis of grain size, and texture / orientation information;

[0025] This invention provides a research foundation for scientific innovation in the field of material failure under extreme multi-field coupling damage, enabling testing in vacuum environments, extreme temperature loading, and key information measurement. Attached Figure Description

[0026] Figure 1 This is an overall structural view of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 2 This is a rear view of the overall structure of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 3 This is a left view of the overall structure of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 4 This is a front view of the overall structure of the present invention.

[0030] In the diagram: 1. Test bench; 2. Base plate; 3. Guide rail; 4. Bracket; 5. Furnace door cold shield; 6. Cabin door; 7. Observation window; 8. Furnace body cold shield; 9. Cold spray nozzle; 10. Test sample; 11. Door lock; 12. Pressure monitor; 13. Vacuum gauge; 14. Solenoid valve; 15. Bellows; 16. Tensile clamp; 17. Tie rod assembly; 18. Vacuum chamber; 19. Vacuum pipeline; 20. Slide valve; 21. Molecular pump; 22. Mechanical pump; 23. Support leg; 24. Manual butterfly valve; 25. Refrigerant inlet; 26. Door hinge; 27. Liquid baffle; 28. Tie rod reducing plate; 29. ​​Vacuum connector. Detailed Implementation

[0031] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0032] It should be noted that the terms "first," "second," etc., in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this invention are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such data can be interchanged where appropriate for the embodiments of the invention described herein. Furthermore, the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion; for example, a process, method, system, product, or apparatus that comprises a series of steps or units is not necessarily limited to those steps or units explicitly listed, but may include other steps or units not explicitly listed or inherent to such processes, methods, products, or apparatus.

[0033] In this invention, the terms "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "front," "rear," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "middle," "vertical," "horizontal," "lateral," and "longitudinal" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. These terms are primarily for the purpose of better describing the invention and its embodiments, and are not intended to limit the indicated devices, elements, or components to having a specific orientation, or to be constructed and operated in a specific orientation.

[0034] Furthermore, some of the above terms may be used to express other meanings besides indicating a position or location. For example, the term "on" may also be used to indicate a dependency or connection in certain circumstances. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of these terms in the present invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0035] Furthermore, the terms "installation," "setup," "equipped with," "connection," "linking," and "socketing" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral structure; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, or an internal connection between two devices, components, or parts. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of these terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0036] To achieve the above objectives, such as Figure 1-4 As shown, the present invention provides a material-grade vacuum cryogenic environment mechanical testing system, including: a test host, vacuum equipment, platform components, mechanical pump group and exhaust device;

[0037] Vacuum equipment and platform components are slidably mounted on the test host for supporting the vacuum equipment and platform components;

[0038] The vacuum equipment is used to provide a vacuum environment for the test sample 10 and to perform various tests on the test sample 10;

[0039] The platform component is connected to a vacuum device via vacuum pipe 19;

[0040] The mechanical pump unit is connected to the vacuum pipeline 19 via a vacuum pipeline and is used to extract gas from the vacuum equipment.

[0041] The exhaust device is installed on the vacuum equipment and is used to exhaust gas and monitor the gas pressure inside the vacuum equipment.

[0042] The main testing unit includes a testing platform 1, on which a base plate 2 is fixedly connected. Support legs 23 are symmetrically fixedly connected to the rear side of the lower end face of the base plate 2. Guide rails 3 are symmetrically fixedly connected to the base plate 2 near the front side, and a bracket 4 for supporting and fixing the vacuum equipment is slidably connected to the guide rails 3.

[0043] The platform component includes a molecular pump 21 slidably connected to a guide rail 3, a slide gate valve 20 fixed on the molecular pump 21, a vacuum pipe 19 connected to the slide gate valve 20, a manual butterfly valve 24 fixed on the vacuum pipe 19, and one end of the vacuum pipe 19 connected to a vacuum device.

[0044] The mechanical pump assembly includes multiple mechanical pumps 22, which are connected to the vacuum pipe 19 via a vacuum pumping pipeline.

[0045] The vacuum equipment includes a vacuum furnace, inside which a furnace body cold screen 8 is fixed. Inside the furnace body cold screen 8 is a vacuum chamber 18. A cold spray nozzle 9 is provided inside the vacuum chamber 18. A liquid baffle 27 is fixed at the bottom front side of the vacuum chamber 18. A tie rod reducing plate 28 is fixed at the rear side of the liquid baffle 27. Tensile clamps 16 are symmetrically fixed to the top of the tie rod reducing plate 28 and the top of the vacuum chamber 18. A test sample is placed between the two tensile clamps 16.

[0046] To further optimize the technical solution, a tie rod assembly 17 is fixedly connected between the bottom of the vacuum furnace and the base plate 2, as well as the top of the vacuum furnace. The two tie rod assemblies 17 pass through the vacuum furnace and are fixed to the tension clamp 16. A corrugated pipe 15 is sleeved on the outside of the tie rod assembly 17. The corrugated pipe 15 is fixed to the tie rod assembly 17 and the vacuum furnace respectively through flanges.

[0047] To further optimize the technical solution, a door 6 is provided on the front side of the vacuum furnace, and a furnace door cold screen 5 is fixed inside the door 6. The furnace door cold screen 5 corresponds to the furnace body cold screen 8, and the door 6 is connected and fixed to the vacuum furnace by a door hinge 26.

[0048] To further optimize the technical solution, a door lock 11 for securing the chamber door 6 is fixed to the front side of the vacuum furnace. An observation window 7 is fixed to the front side of the chamber door 6, extending into the interior of the furnace door cold shield 5. A vacuum flange is fixed to the observation window 7, and a vacuum valve body is fixed to the top of the vacuum valve. The observation window 7 is a vacuum tube, with a KF50 observation window fixed to its front. The purpose of the observation window 7 is to enable external optical measurement (DIC) intervention. Since the furnace body and sample will not frost after vacuuming, DIC can directly observe the sample through this observation window 7, obtaining the deformation process and mechanical response of the sample at low temperatures.

[0049] To further optimize the technical solution, a refrigerant inlet 25 and a vacuum connector 29 are fixed on the rear side of the vacuum furnace, wherein the vacuum connector 29 is located below the refrigerant inlet 25, a refrigerant nozzle is fixed inside the refrigerant inlet 25, the refrigerant nozzle corresponds to the test sample, and the vacuum connector 29 is connected to the vacuum chamber.

[0050] The exhaust device includes a pressure monitor, a solenoid valve 14, and an exhaust pipe; the top of the vacuum furnace is connected to the exhaust pipe, the solenoid valve 14 is installed on the exhaust pipe, a vacuum gauge 13 is installed on the vacuum furnace, and a pressure monitor 12 is fixed to one side of the solenoid valve 14. The pressure monitor 12 is a fixed pressure gauge or a pressure transmitter.

[0051] This invention provides static mechanical testing for tension, compression, creep, relaxation, and bending, as well as fatigue testing for low-cycle and high-cycle cycles, and a material fatigue testing control system. It enables material fatigue testing in various scenarios, including tension, compression, bending, and shear. The invention also provides a vacuum cryogenic environment system, a specially designed temperature device adapted to the material fatigue testing control system. This system provides an extreme temperature environment for fatigue testing of structural materials. The vacuum negative pressure further lowers the temperature. The medium used in this invention is liquid helium, typically at 4K. With the addition of a vacuum, the ideal temperature drops to 2K, further reducing the temperature and more accurately simulating extreme temperature environments. Before the test, the furnace is purged with nitrogen to remove internal air. This ensures that when the furnace is evacuated, there is no water vapor inside, preventing frost formation on the sample and ensuring the sample's condition is visible from inside the furnace. Furthermore, this invention is compatible with residual stress measurement and analysis systems, enabling rapid and accurate residual stress testing to obtain residual stress results, full width at half maximum (FWHM) results, qualitative analysis of grain size, and texture / orientation information. This invention provides a research foundation for scientific innovation in materials science regarding extreme multi-field coupled damage and failure, enabling testing in vacuum environments and under extreme temperature loading. This invention combines the advantages of traditional low-temperature environmental chambers and enclosed low-temperature Dewar flares, allowing for both observation of the experiment and ensuring the low temperature of the sample.

[0052] The control parameters of this invention are as follows:

[0053] 1. Operating vacuum level of the vacuum cryogenic environment system: less than 20 Pa within 30 minutes;

[0054] 2. Vacuum chamber leakage rate of the vacuum cryogenic environment system: ≤0.5Pa / h;

[0055] 3. The vacuum cryogenic environment system uses a cryogenic medium cooling method;

[0056] 4. The vacuum cryogenic environment system can ensure that the surface temperature of the test sample is ≤4K;

[0057] 5. Temperature control accuracy of the vacuum cryogenic environment system ≤ ±5℃;

[0058] 6. Frost must not form on the viewing window of the vacuum cryogenic environment system;

[0059] 7. The vacuum cryogenic environment system is equipped with pressure monitoring and overpressure protection devices;

[0060] 8. The vacuum cryogenic environment system is equipped with a cryogenic sensor with a resolution of not less than 45μK;

[0061] 9. The vacuum cryogenic environment system is equipped with a pressure sensor with an accuracy higher than 0.3.

[0062] 10. Cryogenic valve compatibility density for vacuum cryogenic environment systems: ≥124.98 kg / m³ 3 ,work

[0063] Operating temperature: -268.9℃, flow rate: 2L / min, orifice diameter: 1 / 4 inch;

[0064] 11. Fatigue loading function of materials and components under ultra-low temperature vacuum environment;

[0065] 12. The lowest actual temperature of the test specimen is ≥2K (-271℃).

[0066] The working principle of this invention is as follows:

[0067] Place the test sample 10 on the tensile clamp 16 and adjust its position; close the hatch 6.

[0068] A vacuum is drawn into the vacuum chamber 18. The rough vacuum is achieved by the mechanical pump 22, followed by a high vacuum drawn by the molecular pump 21. After completion, the manual butterfly valve 24 is closed to disconnect the vacuum chamber 18 from the vacuum pipeline 19 to prevent frost formation on the pipeline. A separate small pump is used between the shell layers to achieve a rough vacuum to prevent ambient temperature from being conducted into the chamber.

[0069] At this point, a high vacuum environment has been established within the vacuum chamber 18, and water vapor and other gases have been almost completely expelled. Then, cryogenic injection of liquid nitrogen or liquid helium begins to cool the sample. The injection rate of the refrigerant is controlled by solenoid valve 14, forming a closed-loop control system with the temperature sensor and controller. A cooling shield is designed inside the chamber to insulate against temperature, and the inner layer of the shell has also been evacuated to further isolate it from the ambient temperature. When the refrigerant begins to be injected, it causes an increase in pressure inside the existing vacuum chamber. When the pressure sensor detects the increased pressure, it opens the exhaust valve. The exhaust valve opens almost simultaneously with the refrigerant injection to ensure that no water vapor condenses on the observation window 7. An observation device is used to monitor the sample's changes through the observation window 7.

[0070] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and does not constitute any limitation on the technical scope of the present invention. Therefore, any minor modifications, equivalent changes, and alterations made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of the present invention shall still fall within the scope of the technical solution of the present invention.

Claims

1. A material-grade vacuum cryogenic environment mechanical testing system, characterized in that, include: Test host, vacuum equipment, platform components, mechanical pump set and exhaust device; Vacuum equipment and platform components are slidably mounted on the test host for supporting the vacuum equipment and platform components; The vacuum equipment is used to provide a vacuum environment for the test sample (10) and to perform various tests on the test sample (10); The platform component is connected to a vacuum device via a vacuum pipe (19); The mechanical pump unit is connected to the vacuum pipeline (19) through a vacuum pipeline and is used to extract gas from the vacuum equipment; The exhaust device is installed on the vacuum equipment and is used to exhaust gas and monitor the gas pressure inside the vacuum equipment. The test host includes a test platform (1), a base plate (2) is fixedly connected to the test platform (1), and a support leg (23) is symmetrically fixedly connected to the rear side of the lower end face of the base plate (2). A guide rail (3) is symmetrically fixedly connected to the base plate (2) near the front side, and a bracket (4) for supporting and fixing the vacuum equipment is slidably connected to the guide rail (3). The platform assembly includes a molecular pump (21) slidably connected to a guide rail (3), a slide gate valve (20) fixed on the molecular pump (21), a vacuum pipe (19) connected to the slide gate valve (20), a manual butterfly valve (24) fixed on the vacuum pipe (19), and one end of the vacuum pipe (19) connected to a vacuum device; The vacuum equipment includes a vacuum furnace, inside which a furnace body cold screen (8) is fixed. Inside the furnace body cold screen (8) is a vacuum chamber (18). Inside the vacuum chamber (18) is a cold spray nozzle (9). A baffle plate (27) is fixed at the bottom front side of the vacuum chamber (18). A tie rod reducing plate (28) is fixed at the rear side of the baffle plate (27). Tension clamps (16) are symmetrically fixed to the top of the tie rod reducing plate (28) and the top of the vacuum chamber (18). A test sample is placed between the two tension clamps (16). Tie rod assemblies (17) are fixedly connected between the bottom of the vacuum furnace and the base plate (2) and the top of the vacuum furnace. The two tie rod assemblies (17) are respectively fixed through the vacuum furnace and the tension clamp (16). A corrugated pipe (15) is sleeved on the outside of the tie rod assembly (17). The corrugated pipe (15) is fixed to the tie rod assembly (17) and the vacuum furnace respectively through flanges.

2. The material-grade vacuum cryogenic environment mechanical testing system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The mechanical pump assembly includes multiple mechanical pumps (22), which are connected to a vacuum pipeline (19) via a vacuum pumping pipeline.

3. The material-grade vacuum cryogenic environment mechanical testing system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The vacuum furnace is provided with a door (6) on the front side. A furnace door cold screen (5) is fixed inside the door (6). The furnace door cold screen (5) corresponds to the furnace body cold screen (8). The door (6) is connected and fixed to the vacuum furnace by a door hinge (26).

4. The material-grade vacuum cryogenic environment mechanical testing system as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The front side of the vacuum furnace is also fixed with a door lock (11) for fixing the hatch (6), and the front side of the hatch (6) is fixed with an observation window (7), which extends into the interior of the furnace door cold screen (5).

5. The material-grade vacuum cryogenic environment mechanical testing system as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The vacuum furnace is fixed with a refrigerant inlet (25) and a vacuum connector (29) on the rear side, wherein the vacuum connector (29) is located below the refrigerant inlet (25), and a refrigerant nozzle is fixed inside the refrigerant inlet (25). The refrigerant nozzle corresponds to the test sample, and the vacuum connector (29) is connected to the vacuum chamber.

6. A material-grade vacuum cryogenic environment mechanical testing system as described in claim 1 or 5, characterized in that, The exhaust device includes a pressure monitor, a solenoid valve (14) and an exhaust pipe; the top of the vacuum furnace is connected to the exhaust pipe, the solenoid valve (14) is installed on the exhaust pipe, the vacuum furnace is equipped with a vacuum gauge (13), and the pressure monitor (12) is fixed on one side of the solenoid valve (14).

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