Patents by Inventor Ken C. Liu

Ken C. Liu has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Apparatus for pre-stress-straining rod-type specimens in tension for in-situ passive fracture testing
    Patent number: 8230748
    Abstract: A stress-strain testing apparatus imposes a stress-strain on a specimen while disposed in a controlled environment. Each end of the specimen is fastened to an end cap and a strain gage is attached to the specimen. An adjusting mechanism and a compression element are disposed between the end caps forming a frame for applying forces to the end caps and thereby stress-straining the specimen. The adjusting mechanism may be extended or retracted to increase or decrease the imposed stress-strain on the specimen, and the stress-strain is measured by the strain gage on the specimen while the apparatus is exposed to an environment such as high pressure hydrogen. Strain gages may be placed on the frame to measure stress-strains in the frame that may be caused by the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: UT-Battelle, LLC
    Inventors: John Jy-an Wang, Ken C. Liu, Zhili Feng
  • Apparatuses for prestressing rod-type specimens in torsion for in-situ passive fracture toughness testing in an extremely high-pressure environment of hydrogen
    Patent number: 8176795
    Abstract: An in-situ specimen fixture particularly adapted for prestressing rod-type SNTT-type specimens comprising a tube and end cap wherein the specimen is secured at one end to the tube, and at the opposite end to the end cap. The end cap is rotatable relative to the tube, and may be fixedly secured for creating a torsional force prestressing the specimen enclosed within the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: UT-Battelle, LLC
    Inventors: Jy-an Wang, Ken C. Liu, Zhili Feng
  • Apparatus for Pre-Stress-Straining Rod-Type Specimens in Tension for In-Situ Passive Fracture Testing
    Publication number: 20110005332
    Abstract: A stress-strain testing apparatus imposes a stress-strain on a specimen while disposed in a controlled environment. Each end of the specimen is fastened to an end cap and a strain gage is attached to the specimen. An adjusting mechanism and a compression element are disposed between the end caps forming a frame for applying forces to the end caps and thereby stress-straining the specimen. The adjusting mechanism may be extended or retracted to increase or decrease the imposed stress-strain on the specimen, and the stress-strain is measured by the strain gage on the specimen while the apparatus is exposed to an environment such as high pressure hydrogen. Strain gages may be placed on the frame to measure stress-strains in the frame that may be caused by the environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Inventors: John Jy-an Wang, Ken C. Liu, Zhili Feng
  • Apparatuses for Prestressing Rod-Type Specimens in Torsion for In-Situ Passive Fracture Toughness Testing in an Extremely High-Pressure Environment of Hydrogen
    Publication number: 20110005331
    Abstract: An in-situ specimen fixture particularly adapted for prestressing rod-type SNTT-type specimens comprising a tube and end cap wherein the specimen is secured at one end to the tube, and at the opposite end to the end cap. The end cap is rotatable relative to the tube, and may be fixedly secured for creating a torsional force prestressing the specimen enclosed within the tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Inventors: Jy-an Wang, Ken C. Liu, Zhili Feng