Device and method for measuring the rheological properties of a yield stress fluid
AssigneeWisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
InventorsJoseph R. Samaniuk, Daniel J. Klingenberg, Charles T. Scott, Thatcher W. Root
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Abstract
A device and a method are provided for measuring the yield stress of a fluid. The device includes a container for receiving the fluid therein and an auger having a shaft extending along an axis and a helical flange extending radially about the shaft. The auger is movable in the fluid between a first position and a second position. A sensor is operatively connected to the auger. The sensor measures a force on the auger as the auger moves from the first position to the second position. A linkage is interconnected to the sensor. The linkage translates motion to the auger.
Claims6
A method of measuring shear yield stress of a fluid, comprising the steps of:
- rotatably threading an auger into a portion of the fluid;
- interconnecting the auger to a sensor, the sensor generating a signal corresponding to a force thereon;
- operatively connecting the sensor to a motor with linkage, the motor including a rotatable drive shaft;
- rotating the drive shaft of the motor;
- converting rotary motion of the drive shaft to linear motion with the linkage such that the linkage displaces the auger linearly along an axis without rotation in a predetermined direction;
- determining a point at which the force on the sensor reaches a maximum and generating a maximum force signal in response thereto;
- and
- calculating the shear yield stress of the fluid in response to the maximum force signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.