Test sample heating apparatus and method
AssigneeOFI Testing Equipment, Inc.
InventorsRichard Lukay, Jarod Hammar
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A test sample heating apparatus and method includes a heating jacket that applies heat to a sample vessel containing a test sample. The heating jacket has a vessel-receiving recess that is sized and shaped to allow the sample vessel to be placed within the recess with limited annular spacing between at least part of the sample vessel exterior surface and at least part of the heating jacket recess interior surface. Proximate surfaces of at least one of the heating jacket and the sample vessel may be coated with a dark coating to enhance heat transfer.
Claims16
A viscometer apparatus comprising:
- a viscometer;
- said viscometer having a viscometer body, a sample cup, a bob operable to be positioned in said a sample cup, a bob shaft connecting said bob to said viscometer body;
- a heating unit having a heat jacket;
- said heat jacket defining a heating unit recess;
- said sample cup having a cup exterior wall surface;
- said heat jacket having a jacket interior wall surface;
- an annular space between said sample cup exterior wall surface and said heat jacket interior wall surface, wherein there is no direct physical contact between said sample cup exterior wall surface and said heat jacket interior wall surface;
- said heat jacket operable to emit radiant heat energy to said sample cup;
- and
- said jacket interior wall surface spaced from said cup exterior wall surface a distance in a range of 0.127 mm (0.0005) inches to 6.25 mm (0.25 inches).
A viscometer apparatus comprising:
- a viscometer;
- said viscometer having a viscometer body, a sample cup, a bob operable to be positioned in said a sample cup, a bob shaft connecting said bob to said viscometer body;
- a heating unit having a heat jacket;
- said heat jacket defining a heating unit recess;
- said sample cup having a cup exterior wall surface;
- said heat jacket having a jacket interior wall surface;
- an annular space between said sample cup exterior wall surface and said heat jacket interior wall surface, wherein there is no direct physical contact between said sample cup exterior wall surface and said heat jacket interior wall surface;
- and
- said heat jacket operable to emit radiant heat energy to said sample cup without use of a conductive liquid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.