Instrument for gravimetric moisture determination with position-changing device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9360405-B2
Application number	US-201213631291-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 28, 2012
Priority date	Sep 30, 2011
Publication date	Jun 7, 2016
Grant date	Jun 7, 2016

Abstract

An instrument ( 10 ) for gravimetrically determining moisture content has a housing ( 20 ), with a weighing device ( 40 ) arranged inside. The weighing device ( 40 ) has a load receiver ( 60 ) onto which a sample ( 62 ) is placed. The housing has a stationary housing part ( 21 ) and a movable housing part ( 22 ), the movable housing part alternately occupying a measuring position and a loading position. In the loading position, the respective housing parts are spaced apart from each other, allowing a sample to be put on the load receiver. In the measuring position, the respective housing parts form an essentially enclosed testing compartment ( 30 ) that surrounds the load receiver. A means ( 70 ), arranged in the testing compartment, heats a sample that is placed on the load receiver. The movable housing part is moved between the respective positions by a position-changing device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An instrument for gravimetrically determining moisture content of a sample, comprising:
a housing, comprising:
a stationary housing part; and
a movable housing part, movable at least between a measuring position, in which the respective housing parts define a closed test compartment, and a loading position, in which the respective housing parts are spaced apart from each other;

a weighing device, arranged inside the housing and comprising a load receiver, surrounded by the closed test compartment when the movable housing part is in the measuring position and onto which the sample is placed when the movable housing part is in the loading position;
a means for heating the sample placed on the load receiver, arranged in the test compartment; and
a device that changes the position of the movable housing part both vertically and horizontally from the measuring position to the loading position by means of a movement in which the means for heating remains parallel to the load receiver throughout the movement.

2. The instrument of claim 1 , wherein:
the weighing device is arranged in the stationary housing part.

3. The instrument of claim 1 , wherein:
the sample-heating means is arranged in the movable housing part so that, when in the measuring position, the sample-heating means is located above the sample receiver and, when in the loading position, the sample-heating means is located above the stationary housing part.

4. The instrument of claim 1 , wherein:
the movable housing part has a portion, containing the heating means, which swivels about a horizontal pivot axis from the loading position into a service position, in which the heating means is accessible for servicing.

5. The instrument of claim 1 , further comprising:
means for making and breaking an electrical contact, arranged between the movable housing part and the stationary housing part.

6. The instrument of claim 1 , wherein:
the movable housing part is located above the stationary housing part in each of the loading position and the measuring position.

7. The instrument of claim 6 , wherein:
the sample-heating means is arranged in the movable housing part so that, when in the measuring position, the sample-heating means is located above the sample receiver and, when in the loading position, the sample-heating means is located above the stationary housing part.

8. The instrument of claim 6 , wherein:
the sample-heating means moves together with the movable housing part from the measuring position into the loading position.

9. The instrument of claim 6 , wherein:
the sample-heating means extends in a horizontal plane above the sample receiver and between the stationary housing part and the movable housing part when the movable housing part is in at least one of the measuring position and the loading position.

10. The instrument of claim 6 , wherein:
the movable housing part has a portion, containing the heating means, which swivels about a horizontal pivot axis from the loading position into a service position, in which the heating means is accessible for servicing.

11. The instrument of claim 10 , wherein:
the heating means is in essence oriented in a vertical position when in the service position.

12. The instrument of claim 10 , wherein:
the movable housing part is removable without tools when in the service position.

13. The instrument of claim 12 , further comprising:
means for making and breaking an electrical contact, arranged between the movable housing part and the stationary housing part.

14. The instrument of claim 13 , further comprising:
a power connection that connects a portion of the means for making and breaking an electrical contact, arranged on the stationary housing part, to a power source, such that the movable housing part is supplied with electricity only when the means for making and breaking electrical contact is engaged.

15. The instrument of claim 13 , wherein:
the means for making and breaking an electrical contact comprises:
a first part, connected to the stationary housing part; and
a second part, connected to the movable housing part,

the first and second parts arranged so that:
in the measuring position, an electrical contact exists between the stationary housing part and the movable housing part thereby; and
in the servicing position, no electrical contact exists between the stationary housing part and the movable housing part.

16. The instrument of claim 13 , wherein:
the means for making and breaking an electrical contact comprises a plug/socket connection.

Assignees

• Mettler Toledo Ag
• Mettler Toledo Gmbh

Inventors

• Meister Beat
• Albrecht Beat
• Dieffenbacher Kaspar

Classifications

• G01N5/025 Primary

  for determining moisture content · CPC title

• G01N5/045 Primary

  for determining moisture content · CPC title