Capillary rheometer plunger pressure transducer and measurement technique

A capillary rheometer apparatus comprising;

• a housing
• a plunger,
• said housing having passage means, partially filled with a first liquid, for receiving said plunger and a capillary, contiguous with said passage means, through which said first liquid will be forced,
• means for driving said plunger longitudinally within said passage means to move one end of said plunger toward said capillary,
• said plunger having means defining a second liquid-filled passage extending therein from said one end of said plunger,
• a coupler at said one end of said plunger defining with said plunger a chamber in communication with said second liquid-filled passage and for sensing pressure exerted by said first liquid and transmitting said pressure to said second liquid,
• and means coupled from said second liquid-filled passage responsive to pressure exerted by said second liquid for providing an indication of said sensed pressure.

A capillary rheometer apparatus comprising;

• a housing,
• a plunger,
• said housing having a first passage means, partially filled with a first liquid, for receiving said plunger and a capillary, contiguous with said first passage means, through which said first liquid will be forced,
• means for driving said plunger longitudinally within said first passage means to move one end of said plunger toward said capillary,
• said plunger having a second passage means, filled with a second liquid, extending therein from said one end of said plunger,
• a coupler at one end of said plunger defining with said plunger a chamber in communication with said second passage means and for sensing pressure exerted by said first liquid and transmitting said pressure to said second liquid,
• means coupled from said second passage means responsive to pressure exerted by said second liquid for providing an indication of said sensed pressure, and
• means, coupled to said first passage means, substantially near said capillary, for sensing pressure of said first liquid as it enters said capillary.

A capillary rheometer apparatus for generating information on the compressability of materials, comprising:

• a housing;
• a plunger;
• said housing having a first passage for receiving the plunger and a second passage, contiguous with the first passage;
• a driving mechanism for driving said plunger longitudinally within the first passage to move one end of said plunger toward said second passage;
• said lunger having a liquid-filled capillary passage extending therein from said one end of said plunger;
• a coupler at said one end of said plunger defining with said plunger a chamber in communication with said capillary passage and for sensing pressure in said first passage and transmitting the pressure to the liquid-fill;
• and
• a pressure sensing mechanism, coupled to the capillary passage, responsive to pressure exerted by the liquid-fill for providing an indication of sensed pressure.

A capillary rheometer apparatus for producing information about a material, comprising:

• a housing;
• a plunger;
• the housing having passage means for receiving the plunger;
• an outlet passage, contiguous with the passage means, through which the material flows upon compression;
• means for driving the plunger longitudinally within the passage means to move one end of the plunger toward the outlet passage;
• the plunger having means defining a liquid-filled capillary passage extending therein from the one end of the plunger;
• a coupler at the one end of the plunger defining with the plunger a chamber in communication with the capillary passage and for sensing pressure in the passage means and transmitting the pressure to the liquid-fill;
• and
• means coupled from the capillary passage responsive to pressure exerted by the liquid-fill for providing an indication of sensed pressure.