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US 9,851,286 B2Granted
Viscosity testing system and method of using the same
AssigneeVibrac Corporation
InventorRobert Searle
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A highly efficient, highly accurate controllable digital viscosity testing system is provided. The system incorporates a variable speed motor, a digital encoder, a beam-deflection and/or magnetic torque resistance for unidirectional or bi-directional measurement of shear, and an API recommended practice 13B-11ISO 10414-1 bob and rotor sleeve measurement device for submerging in a test sample to measure shear forces exerted by the test sample.
Claims13
A digital viscosity measurement system comprising:
- a variable speed drive operatively coupled to a drive shaft;
- a drive coupling member for operatively coupling a rotating sleeve member to the drive shaft;
- a measurement device positioned concentric with the rotating sleeve member and coupled to a lower portion of a torque transmitting shaft, the torque transmitting shaft rotatably coupled with the measurement device;
- a support surface oriented perpendicularly to the torque transmitting shaft;
- a torque sensing device comprising:
- opposite polarity fixed magnets fixed to the support surface and positioned on opposite sides of a movable magnet;
- a torque arm configured to be rotated by the torque transmitting shaft and disposed between the opposite polarity fixed magnets, the torque arm having a first end distal to the torque transmitting shaft with the movable magnet disposed thereon between the opposite polarity fixed magnets and a second end connected to the torque transmitting shaft, wherein rotation of the torque transmitting shaft moves the torque arm and moveable magnet toward one fixed magnet;
- and,
- a digital encoder configured to measure a torque applied to the torque transmitting shaft by the measurement device as ascertained by the force generated between the movable magnet and the one fixed magnet.
6 more elements
A method for testing a viscosity of a fluidic or gelatinous substance comprising:
- providing a viscosity measurement system, the viscosity measurement system including:
- a variable speed drive operatively coupled to a drive shaft;
- a drive coupling member for operatively coupling a rotating sleeve member to the drive shaft;
- a measurement device positioned concentric with the rotating sleeve member and coupled to a lower portion of a torque transmitting shaft, the torque transmitting shaft rotatably coupled with the measurement device, and;
- a support surface oriented perpendicularly to the torque transmitting shaft;
- a torque sensing device comprising:
- opposite polarity fixed magnets fixed to the support surface and positioned on opposite sides of a movable magnet;
- a torque arm configured to be rotated by the torque transmitting shaft and disposed between the opposite polarity fixed magnets, the torque arm having a first end distal to the torque transmitting shaft with the moveable magnet disposed thereon between the opposite fixed polarity magnets and a second end connected to the torque transmitting shaft, wherein rotation of the torque transmitting shaft moves the torque arm and the movable magnet toward one fixed magnet;
- and,
- a digital encoder configured to measure a torque applied to the torque transmitting shaft by the measurement device as ascertained by the force generated between the movable magnet and the one fixed magnet;
- submerging the measurement device and the rotating sleeve member in a fluidic or gelatinous substance;
- rotating the rotating sleeve member to generate at least one shear force on the measurement device;
- measuring, using the digital encoder, a torque applied to the torque transmitting shaft by the measurement device;
- and
- calculating, on a processor, a viscosity of the fluidic or gelatinous substance based on the rotational speed of the rotating sleeve member and the torque measured by the encoder.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.