Measurement apparatus and method
AssigneeROLLS-ROYCE plc
InventorsJin L Song, Garry Marchington, Simon J Donovan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A measurement apparatus for measuring a flow rate of a powder includes a casing, a nozzle configured to dispense the powder, a fixture plate, a weighing scale, and a powder collector. The fixture plate includes a plurality of pinhole members. Each pinhole member includes a tip, a cylindrical hole extending from the tip, and a discharge passage. The cylindrical hole of each pinhole member has a diameter. The diameters of the cylindrical holes of the plurality of pinhole members are different from each other. The nozzle is configured to dispense the powder selectively into the cylindrical hole, and the powder collector is configured to receive at least a portion of the powder from the discharge passage.
Claims20
A measurement apparatus for measuring a flow rate of a powder, the measurement apparatus comprising:
- a casing;
- a nozzle movably disposed within the casing, the nozzle comprising at least one delivery channel configured to dispense the powder;
- a fixture plate disposed within and mounted to the casing, the fixture plate comprising:
- a main body comprising a top surface facing the nozzle and a bottom surface spaced apart from and opposite to the top surface;
- and
- a plurality of pinhole members extending at least partially from the top surface and spaced apart from each other, wherein each pinhole member from the plurality of pinhole members comprises a tip spaced apart from the top surface, a cylindrical hole extending from the tip towards the top surface, and a discharge passage extending from the bottom surface at least partially through the main body and disposed in fluid communication with the cylindrical hole, wherein the cylindrical hole of each pinhole member has a diameter and is configured to receive the powder from the nozzle, and wherein the diameters of the cylindrical holes of the plurality of pinhole members are different from each other;
- a weighing scale disposed within the casing underneath the fixture plate;
- and
- a powder collector disposed on the weighing scale and facing the fixture plate;
- wherein the nozzle is configured to dispense the powder selectively into the cylindrical hole of each pinhole member, and wherein the powder collector is configured to receive at least a portion of the powder from the discharge passage of each pinhole member.
A method for measuring a flow rate of a powder, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a casing;
- movably receiving a nozzle within the casing, the nozzle comprising at least one delivery channel configured to dispense the powder;
- providing a fixture plate disposed within and mounted to the casing, the fixture plate comprising:
- a main body comprising a top surface facing the nozzle and a bottom surface spaced apart from and opposite to the top surface;
- and
- a plurality of pinhole members extending at least partially from the top surface and spaced apart from each other, wherein each pinhole member from the plurality of pinhole members comprises a tip spaced apart from the top surface, a cylindrical hole extending from the tip towards the top surface, and a discharge passage extending from the bottom surface at least partially through the main body and disposed in fluid communication with the cylindrical hole, wherein the cylindrical hole of each pinhole member has a diameter and is configured to receive the powder from the nozzle, and wherein the diameters of the cylindrical holes of the plurality of pinhole members are different from each other;
- providing a weighing scale underneath the fixture plate within the casing;
- providing a powder collector on the weighing scale and facing the fixture plate;
- filling the casing with an inert gas;
- positioning the nozzle above the cylindrical hole at a predetermined distance from the tip of one pinhole member from the plurality of pinhole members;
- dispensing the powder through the at least one delivery channel for a predetermined period of time;
- and
- recording, via the weighing scale, a weight of the powder received in the powder collector.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.