Device for acoustically controlling the setting and hardening characteristics of cements

A cell for acoustically controlling the characteristics such as the setting and hardening characteristics of a material which passes from the liquid or paste-like state to the solid state, such as cement, comprising:

• a cell body defining an internal cavity which forms a chamber and which has communication with at least one passageway adapted to contain a removable sealing plug therefor,
• two electro-acoustic transducers having planar mutually opposed emitting and receiving surfaces arranged in said chamber;
• a cylindrical receptacle for containing material to be tested adapted to be placed in said chamber when said sealing plug is removed,
• said cylindrical receptacle being provided with a sealable aperture for introducing material to be tested into said receptacle,
• said receptacle being provided with a port located in spaced relation to test material contained in the receptacle and in communication with said chamber,
• the interior of said chamber being in communication with hydraulic fluid injection means and pressure control means adapted to control the pressure of said fluid,
• said receptacle containing the material to be tested being immersed and supported in pressure fluid in said chamber, said pressure fluid within and without said receptacle being equalized.

A device for acoustically determining pumpability time and setting and hardening characteristics of a material adapted to pass from a flowable state to a nonflowable solid state under preselected pressures and temperatures, comprising in combination:

• a body member having an internal chamber;
• means on said body member providing access to said chamber to introduce material to be tested into said chamber;
• two electro-acoustic transducers having spaced opposed emitting and receiving surfaces, respectively, in said chamber;
• a receptacle containing material to be tested adapted to be placed in said internal chamber through said access means;
• passageway means in said body member in communication with said internal chamber for introducing pressure fluid into said chamber around said receptacle;
• said pressure fluid supporting said receptacle in said chamber;
• means including a port in said receptacle in communication with said pressure fluid for equalizing pressure within and without said receptacle;
• and means for imparting through said pressure fluid selected pressures to said material to be tested in said receptacle;
• said pressure fluid providing equilibrating support to said transducers.