Riehle Tensile Test Machine (2296 ALT)

Riehle Tensile Test Machine (2296 ALT)

Civil Engineering, Asphalt Creep

Physical Description: This civil engineering instrument consists of a base, a ground stand, and a lowercase “r” shaped frame. The frame holds a scale arm with an English pound sliding weight. One end of the scale arm holds a bucket. Extending off the frame, below the bucket is a funnel. On the opposite side of the frame, there are two claws. The top claw extends off of a lever arm. The bottom claw extends from a wheel on the ground stand of the base. The bottom claw contains a claw stabilizer that extends from the base. Also extending off the base is a crank handle that rotates the wheel on the ground stand. On the front of the frame, there is a front frame bracket.

Functional Description: In order to perform an asphalt creep test, a sample brick is placed between the claws of the machine. The handle is turned to operate the wheel and used to stabilize the claw hands, thereby holding the sample steady. On the opposite side of the machine, a substance is dumped into the bucket, putting a strain on the asphalt brick. When the brick breaks, the bucket can be weighed using the scale arm and counterweight, where the weight is tensile strength of the asphalt in pounds per area.

Joe Iwanicki, Clare Biolchini, Virginia Cistaro, Steve Wright

Engineers Club of Philadelphia, Library of the University of California, Google Books.

1890-1920

physical object

English

Physical Object

No accession number

United States

[overall height] 38 in.
[base] 13.75 x 9.5 x 3.5 in.
[scale bucket] 10.75 in. diam.

cast iron, steel

Riehle Brothers, Philadelphia, PA

Dillman Hall sub basement

Humphries, Richard L. (1896) "The Cement Laboratory of the City of Philadelphia its Equipment and Methods," Engineers and Engineering 13: 184-213; engraving of a similar cement testing machine on 208.

PracticalMachinist.com. (2019) Riehle Brothers Machine Company.