US3134139A - High pressure apparatus - Google Patents

Description

y 1964 R. H. WENTORF, JR ,1

HIGH PRESSURE APPARATUS Filed Feb. 28. 1961 /nvemar: Robe/'2 H, Wenforf, Jr,

United States Patent Q 3,134,139 HIGH PRESSURE APPARATUS Robert H. Wentorf, Jr., Schenectady, N.Y., assignor to v General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Filed Feb. 28,1961, Ser. No. 92,341

2 Claims. {131. 18-16) This invention relates to an improved high pressure high temperature apparatus, more particularly, to a high pressure high temperature apparatus of the multiple punch type with improved high strength pressure resisting members together with improved lateral support for the punches.

Previous multiple punch high pressure high temperature apparatuses employ a plurality of punches which move along a predetermined line towards a central point to define a reaction chamber in which a specimen material is placed to be subjected to high pressures and high temperatures. These plural punch apparatuses generally include punches whose configurations are usually trapezoidal and which interfit to define a central reaction chamber. A suitable example of such a multiple punch apparatus is disclosed in copending application Serial No. 855,867-Bundy, filed November 27, 1959, now Patent No. 3,107,395 and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention. In the aforementioned application 6 or more inwardly directed and interfitting trape- "at a minimum for proper alignment and other operating purposes, so that the lesser the number of punches that need be moved, the more efiicient the apparatus. These multiple punch apparatuses also include provision for gasketing between all mating punch surfaces, and motion of the punches occurs together with compression of the gasketin-g. Accordingly, a considerable amount of press force is lost because it is necessary to compress the gaskets, so that an apparatus with minimum amounts of gasketing is also more desirable.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved high pressure high temperature apparatus.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved high pressure high temperature multiple punch apparatus with fewer than all punches being moved to provide pressure in a specimen material.

It is a further object of this invention to minimize gasketing in a multiple punch apparatus.

=I-t is yet another object of this invention to provide multiple punch apparatus where vertical anvils are used in combination with lateral punches.

It is another object of this invention to provide improved lateral support means for multiple punches.

Briefly described, this invention in one form includes a pair of wide, massive anvil members with opposed substantially flat faces which are spaced apart, and a plurality of lateral punches moving radially inwardly between the said flat faced anvil members to define a reaction volume in which a specimen material is placed to be subjected to high pressures and high temperatures.

This invention will be better understood when taken in connection with the following description and the drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a partial elevation and cross sectional view of a preferred form of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial and top view of FIG. 1 taken on the FIG. 3 is a modification of the invention illustrated in FIG. 1 with respect to the lateral punches; and

FIG. 4 is a partial cross sectional top View of FIG. 3 illustrating the arrangement and gasketing of the lateral punches.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a preferred form of a high pressure high temperature apparatus 10 :which includes essentially a pair of oppositely directed and spaced apart massive anvil members ill and 12 and a plurality of lateral punches 13 and 14- (FIG. 1), and 15 and 16 (FIG. 2). Anvil members 11 and 12 and punches 13 through 16 define a reaction volume 17 in which a specimen material, or a reaction vessel containing a specimen material, may be subjected to high pressures and high temperatures. 'Because anvil members 11 and 12 are made very massive and large, and because their opposed faces 18 are generally fiat, they inherently possess very high strength and are extremely resistant to fracture at high pressures and temperatures. While these anvils may be of a one piece. material, such as for example, high grade steel, it is, however, contemplated that they may comprise a plurality of press fitted or shrunk fitted rings about a central hard block of,.for example, Carboloy cemented carbide, as indicated in US. Patent 2,941,248- Hall. Anvils 11 and 12 are positioned oppositely to each other and are adapted to be moved towards each other although movement of these punches to compress a specimen in chamber 17 is not necessary. These anvils do not interfit to provide a reaction chamber and thus may be manufactured in the wide fiat configuration, as disclosed, with inherent high lateral support and strength characteristics. Because of the high strength characteristics, the particular structure and the arrangement of parts as illustrated in FIG. 1, anvils 11 and 12 may merely be vertically adjustable to provide a desired spacing therebetween or adjustable for various pressures with in the reaction volume. A simple means of adjusting anvils 11 and 12. include, a piston and cylinder arrangernent 19, as illustrated in FIG. 1, with a hydraulic cylinder 2i and piston 21. Anvil 11 (and similarly anvil 12) is made separate from piston 21 and suitably attached thereto to facilitate assembly, disassembly, and replacement. Hydraulic or pneumatic fluid under pressure enters cylinder 20 by means of conduit 22 to move anvil members 11 and 12 towards each other. It is, however, contemplated that various mechanical means may also be utilized to adjust and move the anvil members 11 and 12 because they are not employed primarily to compress a specimen material in volume 17.

Positioned between and radially within the spaced apart anvil members 11 and 12 and laterally thereof are the prism like extremities of a plurality of lateral punches 1'3 and 14 (FIG. 1) and 1-5 and 16 (FIG. 2). It is under stood that 2, 3, 4, 5, or more lateral punches may be employed, however, in a preferred form of this invention four circumferentially spaced lateral punches 13 through 16 are employed. Each punch, for example punch 13, comprises a base 23 and straight shank portion 24 the latter having its prism-like extremity with the upper and lower bases thereof of trapezoidal shape as seen in FIG. 2. Lateral punches 13 through 16 are adapted to be moved towards each other to compress a specimen in reaction Volume 17. Means to provide the required motion include individual or interconnected hydraulic cylinders 25 together with pitsons 26 to which the lateral punches are attached. A suitable pressure fluid is introduced into cylinder 25 by means of conduit 27 to move the lateral punches towards each other.

FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of the lateral punches 13 through '16. Punches 13 through 16 may be described as having a cross sectional trapezoidal configuration, or alternatively, are tapered towards one end. These punches 13 through 16 are positioned equidistantly in circumferential relationship to provide a substantially closed reaction volume 17. Each punch is also in interfittin'g relationship with, or between, adjacent punches for support purposes. In accordance with US. Patent 2,94l,248-Hall, and copending application Serial No. 855,867B undy, suitable gasketing 27 is provided between each lateral punch, not only to provide static sealing of the reaction volume 17, or a reaction vessel therein, but also to provide motion of the lateral punches simultaneously with compression of the gaskets so that a specimen material in reaction volume 17 may be suitably compressed. Various materials may be used for gasketing 27. Examples of preferred materials, include pyrophyllite, catlinite, talc and other such ceramic and stone-like materials. Alternatively, however, gasketing may be provided by extrusion of an oversize reaction vessel material, or specimen material within the reaction volume 17, into the intervening spaces between punches 13 through 16. It is an important criteria of gasketing that sufiicient gas-keting be employed between adjacent punches 12 to provide the required lateral support so that each punch 12 may in turn support an adjacent punch for a high strength apparatus. Accordingly, depending on the size of the apparatus, gasketing should extend on the order of one-half to several widths of a lateral punch face 28, extending radially outward from the reaction volume 17. However, care must be taken not to employ too much gasketing because compression of too much gasketing will limit radially inward punch motion or stroke available, or limit the pressure that can be reached in the reaction vessel since too much applied punch force will be employed to compress the gaskets and not enough force will remain to attain high pressure in the specimen in volume 17. Referring again to FIG. 1, one of the advantages of this invention is the elimination of the type of gasketing described, bet-ween surfaces 18 of anvils 11 and 12 and lateral punches 13 through 16. In order to provide relative freedom for radially inward motion of lateral punches 13 through 16 with respect to anvil members 11 and 12, a suitable medium 29 in the form of a lubricant and/or gasket material is employed. A coefficient of friction of .0 5 or lower may be reached between highly loaded surfaces such as between punches 13 through 16 and anvils 11 and 12 by use of proper lubricants, for example, MoS castor oil, Teflon, soft metals, AgC l, etc. Additionally, that portion '24 of lateral punches 13 through 16 may include a very slight taper (not shown) converging towards the inner face portion or volume 17 to retain light forms of gasketing. Either pontions 24 of lateral punches 13 through 16 or the anvils 11 and 12, or both, may be suitably (slightly) tapered to provide this type of gasketing, sealing, or lubricating means. It is to be understood, however, that a taper on the order of 5 may be employed, which, in conjunction with a large flat anvil member, does not weaken the members. Such tapering also may act as a compensation for distortions of the apparatus under high loading conditions. Medium 29 is not, however, primarily a gasket because sealing at this position is a relatively simple matter where motion across a very narrow space is non-existent or extremely limited. Lubrication is far more important than sealing here.

Motion of lateral punches may be limited to less than all of the punches and yet provide high pressure subjection of the reaction vessel. For example, in FIG. 2, upper punch 15 may be stationary while punches 13 and 14 may be moved towards punch 15. In this manner only motion of punch 16 is required to compress a specimen in volume 17. By the same token, it is understood also that only two punches may move, and, by similar arrangement, any number of punches may be moved. It is, of course, obvious that reaction volume 17 may have various configurations both geometrical and irregular, such as, cubic, rectangular parallelepiped, and various other plural sided figures both curved and/or 41 linear. The specific configuration of reaction volume 17 depends on the shape of the faces of punches 13 through 16 and on the number of such punches employed.

An electrical circuit is established to heat a specimen in volume 17 by resistance heating. In FIG. 1, electrical conductors 3i) and 31 are connected to, for example, anvils 11 and 12, respectively, and to a source of power (not shown). Punches 13 through 16 are electrically insulated from anvils 11 and 12 preferably by means of lubricant or gasket 28, as described. Reaction volume 17 may contain an electrical resistance heater, a reaction vessel incorporating electrical circuitry, or the specimen itself be or made electrically conductive. An electrical circuit is thus established between anvils 11 and 12 and through reaction volume 17. Reference is made, in this respect, to the aforementioned Hall patent and copending Bundy application.

In an exemplary operation of this invention, anvils 11 and 12 are withdrawn or adjustably spaced vertically, and punches 13 through is withdrawn radially outward so that described gasketing 27 may be positioned between punches and anvils if gasketing is not provided by extrusion. Thereafter, a specimen or reaction vessel is positioned in volume 17 and the lateral punches 13 through 16 and anvils 11 and 12 brought together snugly with, of course, a lubricant gasket 29 between the punches and the anvils. From this point, high pressure is generated in reaction volume 17 by inward motion of one or more of the lateral punches 13 through 16 with anvils 11 and 12 being adjusted to maintain the pressure. Alternatively, anvils 11 and 12 may be preadjusted to maintain these pressures or may have some motion towards or away from each other at the same time punches 13 through 16 move. It is an important feature of this invention that anvils 11 and 12 are not ordinarily required to be movable in the same sense as those punches of the aforementioned Hall patent or Bundy application. In essence, anvils 11 and 12 define a pair of very strong platelike surfaces describing a hollow disc-like volume in which punches 13 through 16 slide.

A modification of the invention of FIG. 1 is shown in FIG. 3. Referring now to FIG. 3, the apparatus of FIG. 1 is modified so that at least one and preferably both opposed flat faced anvils 32 and 33 contain a shallow frustoconical depression 34 therein. Within depression 34 a plurality of, for example, 4 lateral punches 35 and 36 (FIG. 3), and 37 and 38 (FIG. 4) are positioned. These punches 35 through 38 convergingly taper from their innermost ends or faces 39 to their outermost end 40 to provide a shallow trapezoidal cross sectional configuration. The taper of depression 34 and avils 32 and 33 coincides with the taper of the frustoconical cross sectional configuration of punches 35 through 38. When lateral punches 35 through 38 are placed in depression 34 as illustrated, and anvil members 32 and 33 are caused to move together, punches 35 through 38 are also caused to slide inwardly to compress a specimen material, or reaction vessel containing a specimen material, in volume 17.

FIG. 4 is a top and sectional view of FIG. 3 illustrating four lateral punches 35 through 38 residing within a depression 34. Gasketing 27 may be employed between the lateral punches 35 through 38 much in the same manner as gasketing 27 is employed as disclosed in FIG. 2. Depression 34 is shallow enough so as not to weaken anvil members 32 and 33 but is deep enough to provide inward motion of the lateral punches 35 through 38 without excessive force on the anvil members. An angle of about 10 to 20 provides proper distribution of forces for satisfactory operation. It is understood that movement of anvils 32 and 33 as anvils 11 and 12 is limited and that they act primarily as force blocks. The taper of punches 35 through 38 with corresponding depression 34 taper is used primarily for punch sliding purposes and not primarily to provide motion of anvils 32 and 33 with compression of gasketing as in interfitting multiple punch apparatus. Also, because the anvils posses high strength in the illustrated configuration, they are not in need of lateral support such as by adjacent punches.

It can thus be seen that this invention provides a high pressure high temperature apparatus having a minimum number of parts which require extensive motion and a maximum number of parts which are of massive shape and hence of high inherent strength to thus be resistant to breakage. There is also provided an improved sealing and gasketing arrangement which overcomes the disadvantages of too much gasketing with inherent stroke and sealing problems. In some instances lubrication may be dispensed with between the punches and the anvils depending on the mode of adjustment of parts during operation, the material and finish of the parts. Lubrication is a preferred form of the invention.

Accordingly, while specific apparatuses have been described and shown, it is not intended that they be limited to this invention and it is contemplated that all modifications known to those skilled in the art be included herewith as indicated in the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters 7 Patent of the United States is:

l. A high pressure, high temperature apparatus comprising in combination:

(a) a pair of massive anvil members each having an extensive substantially fiat face;

(1) said faces being in apposition to each other in substantially parallel spaced relation;

(b) at least three punches having substantially identical prism-like extremities extending into the space between said faces;

(1) said extremities each having a first and a second flat side mutually parallel and trapezoidallyshaped, a relatively small front fiat punch face at the distal end of the extremity and two flat rectangular side portions converging inwardly of said space to meet said punch face;

(2) said extremities being disposed between said anvil members having all said first fiat sides contiguous with and slidably engaging one of the flat anvil faces, having all said second flat sides contiguous with and slidably engaging the other of the flat anvil faces and having each converging rectangular side portion of each extremity located adjacent to and substantially coextensive with a converging rectangular side portion of another extremity;

(c) sealing means disposed between said adjacent rectangular side portions;

(1) said punch faces, sealing means and flat anvil faces cooperating to define a centrally-located closed reaction volume;

(d) means for providing relative movement between said anvil members to fixedly space said anvil members in slidable contact with said first and second flat sides, and

(e) means for laterally sliding at least one of said extremities radially inwardly of said space relative to said fixed fiat anvil faces,

whereby said sealing means are compressed and a specimen of material contained in said reaction volume is subjected to high active lateral force application and high passive resistance at 90 to the active force application.

2. A high pressure, high temperature apparatus comprising in combination:

(a) a pair of massive anvil members each having an extensive substantially flat face;

(1) said faces being in apposition to each other in substantially parallel spaced relation;

(b) at least three punches having substantially identical prism-like extremities extending into the space between said faces;

(1) said extremities each having a first and a second flat side mutually parallel and trapezoidally-shaped, a relatively small front flat punch face at the distal end of the extremity and two flat rectangular side portions converging inwardly of said space to meet said punch face;

(2) said extremities being disposed between said anvil members having all said first flat sides contiguous with one of the flat anvil faces, having all said second fiat sides contiguous with the other of the fiat anvil faces and having such converging rectangular side portion of each extremity located adjacent to and substantially co extensive with a converging rectangular side portion of another extremity;

(c) a layer of lubricant disposed between said flat anvil faces and the first and second flat sides of said extremities;

(1) said lubricant being adapted to reduce the coefficient of friction therebetween to 0.05 or lower;

(d) sealing means disposed between said adjacent rectangular side portions;

(1) said punch faces, sealing means and flat anvil faces defining a centrally-located closed reaction volume;

(2) means for providing relative movement between said anvil members to fixedly space said anvil members in slidable contact with said first and second flat sides, and

(1) means for laterally sliding at least one of said extremities radially inwardly of said space relative to said fixed flat anvil faces,

whereby said sealing means are compressed and a specimen of material contained in said reaction volume is subjected to high active lateral force application and high passive resistance at to the active force application.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 574,404 Du Brul Jan. 5, 1897 588,938 Albrecht et al Aug. 31, 1897 921,489 Webb May 11, 1909 1,352,160 Willard Sept. 7, 1920 2,043,366 Bech .Tune 9, 1936 2,125,068 Dempsey July 26, 1938 2,941,244 Wentorf June 21, 1960 2,968,837 Zeitlin et al. Jan. 24, 1961 3,044,113 Gerard et al July 17, 1962 3,061,877 Custers et al. Nov. 6, 1962 3,088,168 Lloyd et al. May 7, 1963 FOREIGN PATENTS 681,847 France Feb. 4, 1930 820,327 Great Britain Sept. 16, 1959

Claims (1)

1. A HIGH PRESSURE, HIGH TEMPERATURE APPARATUS COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: (A) A PAIR OF MASSIVE ANVIL MEMBERS EACH HAVING AN EXTENSIVE SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT FACE; (1) SAID FACES BEING IN APPOSITION TO EACH OTHER IN SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL SPACED RELATION: (B) AT LEAST THREE PUNCHES HAVING SUBSTANTIALLY IDENTICAL PRISM-LIKE EXTREMITIES EXTENDING INTO THE SPACE BETWEEN SAID FACES: (1) SAID EXTREMITIES EACH HAVING A FIRST AND A SECOND FLAT SIDE MUTUALLY LPARALLEL AND TRAPEZOIDALLYSHAPED, A RELATIVEL SMALL FRONT FLAT PUNCH FACE AT THE DISTAL END OF THE EXTREMITY AND TWO FLAT RECTANGULAR SIDE PORTIONS CONVERGING INWARDLY OF SAID SPACE TO MEET SAID PUNCH FACE; (2) SAID EXTREMITIES BEING DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID ANVIL MEMBERS HAVING ALL SAID FIRST FLAT SIDES CONTIGUOUS WITH AND SLIDABLY ENGAGING ONE OF THE FLAT ANVIL FACES, HAVING ALL SAID SECOND FLAT SIDES CONTIGUOUS WITH AND SLIDABLY ENGAGING THE OTHER OF THE FLAT ANVIL FACES AND HAVING EACH CONVERGING RECTANGULAR SIDE PORTION OF EACH EXTREMITY LOCATED ADJACENT TO AND SUBSTANTIALLY COEXTENSIVE WITH A CONVERGING RECTANGULAR SIDE PORTION OF ANOTHER EXTREMITY; (C) SEALING MEANS DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID ADJACENT RECTANGULAR SIDE PORTIONS; (1) SAID PUNCH FACES, SEALING MEANS AND FLAT ANVIL FACES COOPERATING TO DEFINE A CENTRALLY-LOCATED CLOSED REACTION VOLUME; (D) MEANS FOR PROVIDING RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN SAID ANVIL MEMBERS TO FIXEDLY SPACE SAID ANVIL MEMBERS IN SLIDABLE CONTACT WITH SID FIRST AND SECOND FLAT SIDES, AND (E) MEANS FOR ALATERALLY SLIDING AT LEAST ONE OF SAID EXTREMITIES RADIALLY INWARDLY OF SAID SPACE RELATIVE TO SAID FIXED FLAT ANVIL FACES, WHEREBY SAID SEALING MEANS ARE COMPRESSED AND A SPECMEN OF MATERIAL CONTAINED IN SAID REACTION VOLUME IS SUBJECTED TO HIGH ACTIVE LATERAL FORCE APPLICATION AND HIGH PASSIVE RESISTANCE AT 90* TO THE ACTIVE FORCE APPLICATION.

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