Apparatus and method for determining weight loss of a heated material
AssigneeTroxler Electronic Laboratories, Inc.
InventorRobert Ernest Troxler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for accurately determining weight loss of a sample during heating in a furnace. The method includes the steps of placing a sample in a heated furnace, heating the sample while measurements of sample weight are made, determining rate function from the sample weight measurements, producing a weight loss correction factor using the rate function and using the weight loss correction factor to obtain a corrected weight loss for the sample.
Claims36
A method of determining weight loss of a sample during heating, comprising:
- placing a sample in a heated furnace;
- heating the sample while making measurements of sample weight;
- determining a rate function from the sample weight measurements;
- producing a weight loss correction factor using the rate function;
- and
- using the weight loss correction factor to obtain a corrected weight loss for the sample.
A method of determining weight loss of a sample during heating, comprising:
- placing a combustible sample in a heated combustion chamber of a furnace;
- heating the sample while making measurements of the weight of the sample;
- determining a weight loss rate function from the sample weight measurements;
- determining the approximate time at which the onset of sample combustion occurs;
- producing a weight loss correction factor using the combustion onset time and the weight loss rate function;
- and
- using the weight loss correction factor to obtain a corrected weight loss for the sample.
A method of determining weight loss of a sample during heating, the method comprising:
- providing a sample having a combustible portion;
- heating the sample to a temperature and for a time sufficient to remove the combustible portion of the sample;
- measuring and recording the weight of the sample during said heating step to define a weight loss curve;
- defining from the recorded weight measurements a linear weight loss function corresponding to an initial substantially linear portion of the weight loss curve;
- determining the approximate time at which the onset of combustion occurs;
- extrapolating the linear weight loss function to said combustion onset time;
- determining a weight loss correction factor based on the extrapolated weight loss function.
A method of determining weight loss of an asphalt sample during heating, the method comprising:
- providing an asphalt sample comprising asphalt binder and aggregate;
- heating the sample to a temperature and for a time sufficient to remove the asphalt binder;
- measuring and recording the weight of the asphalt sample during said heating step, the sample weight measurements defining a weight loss curve having an initial substantially linear portion and a subsequent non-linear portion;
- defining from the recorded weight measurements a linear weight loss function corresponding to an initial substantially linear portion of the weight loss curve;
- determining the approximate time at which the onset of asphalt binder combustion occurs;
- extrapolating the linear weight loss function to said combustion onset time;
- determining a weight loss correction factor based on the extrapolated weight loss function;
- determining a measured weight loss of the asphalt sample after removal of the asphalt binder;
- and
- generating a corrected weight loss by applying the weight loss correction factor to the measured weight loss.
An apparatus for determining weight loss of a sample, comprising:
- a furnace;
- a scale mounted within said furnace for measuring sample weight;
- a data store operatively connected to said scale for storing sample weight measurements;
- and
- a weight loss correction factor generator for generating a weight loss correction factor using the sample weight measurements in said data store.
An apparatus for determining weight loss of a sample, comprising:
- a furnace, said furnace comprising a combustion chamber and a door providing access to said combustion chamber;
- a scale mounted within said furnace for measuring sample weight;
- a data store operatively connected to said scale for storing sample weight measurements;
- means for determining a weight loss rate function from the sample weight measurements in said data store;
- means for determining the approximate time at which the onset of sample combustion occurs;
- and
- means for generating a weight loss correction factor using the approximate time of combustion onset and the weight loss rate function.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.