Mechanical movement and pressure for a thermal conductivity meter
AssigneeThermtest Inc.
InventorsGenaro Ortega, Keegan Copage, Michael Barnhill
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatuses and methods for using the guarded heat flow meter technique are provided. The apparatuses use the guarded heat flow meter method to measure the thermal conductivity of solid materials in the temperature range of about ambient to 300° C. The material being tested is compressed between two plates with a controlled temperature difference. The thermal conductivity of the material is calculated by measuring the heat flux through a reference sample in series with the material under test. The apparatuses and methods comprise mechanical mechanisms for stack and guard movements and methods of stack compression and measurement for the testing.
Claims16
An apparatus comprising:
- a stack comprising a first plate in contact with a top surface of a sample material and a second plate in contact with a bottom surface of the sample material;
- a gimbal joint coupled to the first plate at one end and coupled to a linear actuator at an opposite end;
- and
- a spring surrounding the gimbal joint, wherein the linear actuator is configured to cause compression of the spring, and compression of the spring transmits a force to compress the stack.
A method of compressing a stack, the stack comprising a first plate in contact with a top surface of a sample material and a second plate in contact with a bottom surface of the sample material, the method comprising:
- receiving a set force of compression to be applied to the stack;
- compressing the stack by compressing a spring surrounding a gimbal joint, the gimbal joint coupled to the first plate at one end and coupled to a linear actuator at an opposite end, the linear actuator configured to cause compression of the spring;
- measuring, with a load cell, an upward force received from the stack;
- and
- adjusting the linear actuator to adjust compression of the spring until the upward force received from the stack corresponds to the set force.
A method of compressing a stack, the stack comprising a first plate in contact with a top surface of a sample material and a second plate in contact with a bottom surface of the sample material, the method comprising:
- receiving a set material thickness;
- compressing the stack by compressing a spring surrounding a gimbal joint, the gimbal joint coupled to the first plate at one end and coupled to a linear actuator at an opposite end, the linear actuator configured to cause compression of the spring;
- measuring a distance between the top and bottom plates of the stack;
- and
- adjusting the linear actuator to adjust the stack until the distance between the top and bottom plates of the stack corresponds to the set material thickness.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.