# US 2019/0170628 A1 · Intertial torque device for viscometer calibration and rheology measurements

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- Number: US 2019/0170628 A1
- Document ID: US20190170628A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/833,237
- Filed: 2017-12-06
- Published: 2019-06-06
- Earliest claimed: 2017-12-06
- Assignees: Ametek, Inc.
- Applicants: Ametek, Inc.
- Inventors: James A. Salomon; Mark Genovese
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190170628A1

## CPC

- G01N 11/14: by using rotary bodies, e.g. vane (G01N11/16 takes precedence)
- G01L 25/003: {for measuring torque}
- G01N 2011/0006: {Calibrating, controlling or cleaning viscometers}
- G01N 2011/147: {Magnetic coupling}
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)
- G01L: MEASURING FORCE, STRESS, TORQUE, WORK, MECHANICAL POWER, MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY, OR FLUID PRESSURE (weighing G01G)

## Abstract

An embodiment includes an inertial torque device (ITD) for calibrating a viscometer. The ITD comprises a body, a coupling for connecting the body to a viscometer measurement interface, a rotatable inertial load device coupled to the body, an electric motor coupled to the rotatable inertial load device and coupled to the body, and a controller configured to calibrate the viscometer by controlling the electric motor to rotate the rotatable inertial load device at a predetermined acceleration to apply a predetermined torque to the coupling connected to the viscometer.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An inertial torque device (ITD) for calibrating a viscometer, the ITD comprising:
a body;
a coupling for connecting the body to a viscometer measurement interface;
a rotatable inertial load device coupled to the body;
an electric motor coupled to the rotatable inertial load device and coupled to the body; and
a controller configured to calibrate the viscometer by controlling the electric motor to rotate the rotatable inertial load device at a predetermined acceleration to apply a predetermined torque to the coupling connected to the viscometer.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The ITD of claim 1, further comprising:
a user interface for setting the predetermined torque of the ITD.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The ITD of claim 1, wherein the rotatable inertial load is a flywheel for applying the predetermined torque to the coupling.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The ITD of claim 1, further comprising:
an encoder for monitoring the rotation of the electric motor;
wherein the controller is further configured to receive input from the encoder and confirm that the electric motor is rotating at the predetermined acceleration.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The ITD of claim 1, further comprising:
a battery for powering the electric motor; and
a wireless battery charging station for charging the battery.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The ITD of claim 1, wherein the body of the ITD is independent of external connections when the calibration is being performed.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The ITD of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to:
receive a viscosity measurement from the viscometer;
compare the viscosity measurement to a known viscosity associated with the predetermined torque applied by the ITD; and
determine that the viscometer is calibrated if the received viscosity and the known viscosity match.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The ITD of claim 1, further comprising:
an accelerometer which measures a rotational speed of the body of the ITD as driven by the viscometer, the controller using the rotational speed to calibrate the viscometer.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The ITD of claim 1, further comprising:
a temperature sensor which measures ambient temperature, the controller using the ambient temperature to calibrate the viscometer.

### Claim 10

A method of controlling an inertial torque device (ITD) to calibrate a viscometer, the ITD having a coupling for connecting a body of the ITD to a viscometer measurement interface, a rotatable inertial load device coupled to the body of the ITD, an electric motor coupled to the rotatable inertial load device and coupled to the body of the ITD, and a controller configured to control the motor, the method comprising:
receiving, by the controller, an instruction requesting a predetermined torque; and
calibrating the viscometer by controlling, by the controller, the electric motor to rotate the rotatable inertial load device at a predetermined acceleration corresponding to the predetermined torque to apply the predetermined torque to the coupling connected to the viscometer.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of:
setting, by a user interface, the predetermined torque of the ITD.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of:
applying, by a flywheel of the rotatable inertial load device, the predetermined torque to the coupling.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of:
powering, by a battery, the electric motor; and
charging, by a wireless battery charging station, the battery.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of:
receiving, by the controller, input from an encoder of the electric motor; and
confirming, by the controller, that the electric motor is rotating at the predetermined acceleration.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the body of the ITD is independent of external connections when the calibration is being performed.

### Claim 16 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of:
receiving, by the controller, a viscosity measurement from the viscometer;
comparing, by the controller, the viscosity measurement to a known viscosity associated with the predetermined torque applied by the ITD; and
determining, by the controller, that the viscometer is calibrated if the received viscosity and the known viscosity match.

### Claim 17

An inertial torque device (ITD) having a rotatable body for performing rheology measurements, the ITD comprising:
a body;
a coupling for connecting the ITD to a spindle for immersion in a fluid to be tested;
a rotatable inertial load device coupled to the body of the ITD;
an electric motor coupled to the rotatable inertial load device and coupled to the body; and
a controller configured to perform the rheology measurements by controlling the electric motor to rotate the inertial load device at a plurality of different predetermined accelerations to apply a plurality of predetermined torques to the spindle.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The ITD of claim 17, further comprising:
a user interface for setting the plurality of different predetermined torques of the ITD.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The ITD of claim 17, wherein the rotatable inertial load is a flywheel for applying the plurality of different predetermined torques to the coupling.

### Claim 20 (depends on 17)

The ITD of claim 17, further comprising:
an encoder for monitoring the rotation of the body of the ITD;
wherein the controller is further configured to receive input from the encoder and determine rheological properties of the fluid under test.

### Claim 21 (depends on 17)

The ITD of claim 17, further comprising:
a battery for powering the electric motor; and
a wireless battery charging station for charging the battery.

### Claim 22 (depends on 17)

The ITD of claim 17, further comprising: bearings for suspending the ITD above the fluid to be tested.

### Claim 23

A self-contained spindle viscometer for measuring viscosity, the spindle viscometer comprising:
a body having a spindle shape, the body including a weighted bottom section for biasing the spindle viscometer in an upright position when immersed in a fluid to be tested; and
a rotatable inertial load device enclosed within the body of the spindle viscometer, the rotatable inertial load device including:
an electric motor coupled to the rotatable inertial load device,
a controller configured to perform viscosity measurements by controlling the electric motor to rotate the inertial load device to apply a predetermined torque to the body of the spindle viscometer, and determine a viscosity of the fluid under test based on the applied torque, and
a wireless interface for outputting the determined viscosity.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The spindle viscometer of claim 23, further comprising:
a user interface for setting the predetermined torque of the ITD.

### Claim 25 (depends on 23)

The spindle viscometer of claim 23, wherein the rotatable inertial load device further includes a flywheel connected to the electric motor for applying the predetermined torque to body of the spindle viscometer.

### Claim 26 (depends on 23)

The spindle viscometer of claim 23, further comprising:
an accelerometer for monitoring the rotation of the body of the ITD;
wherein the controller is further configured to receive input from the accelerometer and determine viscosity properties of the fluid under test.

### Claim 27 (depends on 23)

The spindle viscometer of claim 23, further comprising:
a wireless power circuit for powering the electric motor.

### Claim 28 (depends on 23)

The spindle viscometer of claim 23, further comprising:
a float incorporated into or attached to the body of the spindle viscometer for biasing the spindle viscometer in the upright position when immersed in the fluid to be tested.

### Claim 29 (depends on 23)

The spindle viscometer of claim 23, further comprising:
a temperature sensor to determine the fluid temperature.