Gas comparison pycnometer
AssigneeSystems, Science and Software
InventorsPhilip L. Turner, Robert W. Gilkey, Peter L. Lagus
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A pycnometer apparatus is disclosed for accurately determining the volume of a condensed material sample. Equal free space volumes are established in a pair of gas filled chambers before and after insertion of a sample of the condensed material within one of the chambers. The volume of the sample receiving chamber is increased to maintain equal free space volumes after the sample is inserted, the adjusted increase in volume providing a highly accurate determination of the volume of the sample. The apparatus may also be employed to determine the compressibility or the porosity of a material sample.
Claims8
A gas comparison pycnometer apparatus comprising housing means defining a pair of substantially equal volume chambers, said chambers being adapted to receive a gas therein, primary means operatively associated with each of said chambers and selectively operable to vary the free space volumes within said chambers, at least one of said chambers being adapted to receive a condensed material sample therein, auxiliary piston means operatively associated with said sample receiving chamber and incrementally adjustable to selectively vary the free space volume of said sample receiving chamber independently of said primary means, means for effecting selective communication between said pair of chambers to facilitate equalization of gas pressure therebetween, differential pressure measuring means communicating with each of said chambers and adapted to indicate the differential pressure between said chambers, said auxiliary piston means including measuring means adapted to indicate the incremental change in free space volume of said sample receiving chamber effected by incremental adjustment of said auxiliary piston means, and dummy piston means operatively associated with the other of said chambers and having thermal conductivity characteristics substantially identical to said auxiliary piston means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.