# US 9,518,944 B2 · Temperature-controlled bath > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,518,944 B2 - Document ID: US9518944B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/295,781 - Filed: 2014-06-04 - Published: 2015-01-01 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2013-06-27 - Assignees: Mitutoyo Corporation - Applicants: Mitutoyo Corporation - Inventors: Yuichiro Yokoyama; Takeshi Hagino - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9518944B2 ## CPC - G01N 25/16: by investigating thermal coefficient of expansion - G01N 1/44: Sample treatment involving radiation, e.g. heat - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract A temperature-controlled bath capable of swiftly changing the temperature of a sample to a target temperature and maintaining the temperature of the sample at a fixed temperature after the temperature change is provided. A temperature-controlled bath includes a temperature changing means, a temperature-controlled chamber, a sample holding chamber, and connection cut-off means. The temperature changing means is disposed in the temperature-controlled chamber, and the temperature of the temperature-controlled chamber is adjusted by the temperature changing means. The sample holding chamber is separated from the temperature-controlled chamber by a thermally conducive wall, and contains a sample therein. The connection cut-off means change a connection between the temperature-controlled chamber and the sample holding chamber to a connected state or a cut-off state. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A temperature-controlled bath comprising: temperature changing means for heating or cooling a gas so that the temperature of the gas is adjusted to a set temperature; a temperature-controlled chamber whose temperature is adjusted by the temperature changing means, the temperature changing means being disposed in the temperature-controlled chamber; a sample holding chamber containing a sample therein, the sample holding chamber being separated from the temperature-controlled chamber by a thermally conductive wall; and connection cut-off means for changing a connection between the temperature-controlled chamber and the sample holding chamber to a connected state or a cut-off state. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The temperature-controlled bath according to claim 1, further comprising first blower means for sending a gas whose temperature is adjusted by the temperature changing means mainly into the temperature-controlled chamber. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The temperature-controlled bath according to claim 1, further comprising an air hole that serves as an inlet/outlet of the gas between the temperature-controlled chamber and the sample holding chamber; second blower means for sending the gas in the temperature-controlled chamber into the sample holding chamber through the air hole; and third blower means for sending out the gas in the sample holding chamber toward the temperature-controlled chamber through the air hole. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The temperature-controlled bath according to claim 1, wherein the thermally conductive wall comprises at least one of a radiator plate protruding toward the temperature-controlled chamber and a radiator plate protruding toward the sample holding chamber. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The temperature-controlled bath according to claim 1, wherein the sample holding chamber comprises a probe inserting hole for inserting a probe into the sample holding chamber, the probe inserting hole being able to be opened and closed. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The temperature-controlled bath according to claim 1, wherein the sample holding chamber comprises an optically transparent window for enabling optical measurement of the sample. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The temperature-controlled bath according to claim 1, wherein the connection cut-off means is an open/close shutter that opens/closes by rotating a plate member, and the plate member is an air-permeable plate member capable of letting a gas pass through the plate member. ### Claim 8 A linear expansion coefficient measuring device comprising: a temperature-controlled bath; measurement means for measuring a length of the sample at different temperatures; and calculation means for calculating a coefficient of linear expansion of the sample based on the length of the sample at each temperature, wherein the temperature-controlled bath comprises: temperature changing means for heating or cooling a gas so that the temperature of the gas is adjusted to a set temperature; a temperature-controlled chamber whose temperature is adjusted by the temperature changing means, the temperature changing means being disposed in the temperature-controlled chamber; a sample holding chamber containing a sample therein, the sample holding chamber being separated from the temperature-controlled chamber by a thermally conductive wall; and connection cut-off means for changing a connection between the temperature-controlled chamber and the sample holding chamber to a connected state or a cut-off state. ### Claim 9 A temperature-controlled bath comprising: a temperature changing unit that heats or cools a gas so that the temperature of the gas is adjusted to a set temperature; a temperature-controlled chamber whose temperature is adjusted by the temperature changing unit, the temperature changing unit being disposed in the temperature-controlled chamber; a sample holding chamber containing a sample therein, the sample holding chamber being separated from the temperature-controlled chamber by a thermally conductive wall; and a connection cut-off unit that changes a connection between the temperature-controlled chamber and the sample holding chamber to a connected state or a cut-off state. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The temperature-controlled bath according to claim 9, further comprising a first blower unit that sends a gas whose temperature is adjusted by the temperature changing unit mainly into the temperature-controlled chamber. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The temperature-controlled bath according to claim 9, further comprising an air hole that serves as an inlet/outlet of the gas between the temperature-controlled chamber and the sample holding chamber; a second blower unit that sends the gas in the temperature-controlled chamber into the sample holding chamber through the air hole; and a third blower unit that sends out the gas in the sample holding chamber toward the temperature-controlled chamber through the air hole. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The temperature-controlled bath according to claim 9, wherein the connection cut-off unit is an open/close shutter that opens/closes by rotating a plate member, and the plate member is an air-permeable plate member capable of letting a gas pass through the plate member.