Temperature-controlled bath

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9518944-B2
Application number	US-201414295781-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 4, 2014
Priority date	Jun 27, 2013
Publication date	Dec 13, 2016
Grant date	Dec 13, 2016

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

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.

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.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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.

Assignees

• Mitutoyo Corp

Inventors

• Yokoyama Yuichiro
• Hagino Takeshi

Classifications

• G01N1/44

  Sample treatment involving radiation, e.g. heat · CPC title

• G01N25/16 Primary

  by investigating thermal coefficient of expansion · CPC title