Tribometer, rheometer, module and a method for tribological measurements

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9702809-B2
Application number	US-201414479525-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 8, 2014
Priority date	Sep 6, 2013
Publication date	Jul 11, 2017
Grant date	Jul 11, 2017

Abstract

A method and a device measure tribological values of samples with a rheometer. Wherein measuring parts of the rheometer are replaced by the samples and the surfaces of the samples are moved into frictional contact relative to each other. Accordingly, it is provided that all parts of the rheometer supporting the samples in frictional connection or frictional contact and forming the rheometer power circuit, including a spring unit pressing the samples against each other, are regarded as an oscillatory circuit. Oscillation properties of the spring unit are relevant to oscillation properties of the oscillatory circuit. The oscillation properties of the spring unit are adjusted taking into consideration resonance oscillations or effects produced by changing or different measurement conditions expected with the respective measurement.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus selected from a group consisting of modules for a rheometer and tribology cells for the rheometer, the apparatus comprising:
a holder for holding at least one sample under test;
at least one spring having a holding area for supporting said holder or the one sample;
a carrier for inserting into a drive of the rheometer or a mounting part of the rheometer or said carrier can be connected to the rheometer, said carrier bearing said at least one spring;
said spring and said holder or said holding area are regarded as parts of a mechanical oscillation system having oscillation properties;
an adjustment unit configured to adjust the oscillation properties of said mechanical oscillation system;
a clamping component; and
at least one plate supported by said carrier and from said plate said at least one spring departs in a form of a flat spring aligned parallel to said plate, said plate in a free end area and said holder supports the sample, wherein said clamping component provided for said flat spring, with said clamping component a body of said spring is loadable and securable in respect to a plate distance from different, continuously changeable installation positions, wherein said clamping component having a form of spokes rotatable about said holder, which can be applied against said flat spring aligned in a circumferential direction of said plate and can be fixed in different installation positions.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said spring is one of a plurality of springs.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the sample is held with said holder on said spring in said holding area of said spring or is directly fastened to said spring.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the sample is screwed in, clamped, or welded on said spring.

5. An apparatus selected from a group consisting of modules for a rheometer and tribology cells for the rheometer, the apparatus comprising:
a holder for holding at least one sample under test;
at least one spring having a holding area for supporting said holder or the sample;
a carrier for inserting into a drive of the rheometer or a mounting part of the rheometer or said carrier can be connected to the rheometer, said carrier bearing said at least one spring;
said spring and said holder or said holding area are regarded as parts of a mechanical oscillation system having oscillation properties;
an adjustment unit configured to adjust the oscillation properties of said mechanical oscillation system, said adjustment unit having friction parts supported on said spring;

via said adjustment unit, a spring constant of said spring is alterable and said adjustment unit having at least one component applicable against or applying a load to said spring, which adjusts a spring-effective length of said spring; and/or
via said adjustment unit a mass borne by said spring is alterable and said adjustment unit having a container disposed on said spring and/or on said holder for a defined input or removal of a medium being a liquid; and/or
said adjustment unit having an element mechanically damping a movement of said spring and/or of said holder and/or of said sample through frictional resistance.

6. An apparatus selected from a group consisting of modules for a rheometer and tribology cells for the rheometer, the apparatus comprising:
a holder for holding at least one sample under test;
at least one spring having a holding area for supporting said holder or the sample;
a carrier for inserting into a drive of the rheometer or a mounting part of the rheometer or said carrier can be connected to the rheometer, said carrier bearing said at least one spring;
said spring and said holder or said holding area are regarded as parts of a mechanical oscillation system having oscillation properties;
an adjustment unit configured to adjust the oscillation properties of said mechanical oscillation system;
supports;
said spring is a flat spring disposed horizontally and supported on said supports lying on both sides of a longitudinal middle area of said flat spring;
a slide stone guided movably in an x-y direction;
said holder for the sample is supported in said longitudinal middle area of said flat spring via said slide stone;
a base plate having spiral grooves formed therein; and
said supports are adjustable along said flat spring, at a same time and with a same feed, wherefore, said supports are guided into said spiral grooves of said base plate disposed beneath said flat spring and are disposed movably towards each other or away from each other during a twisting of said spiral grooves in a longitudinal direction of said flat spring.

Assignees

• Anton Paar Gmbh

Inventors

• Wolf Frederik
• Bauer Bernhard
• Krenn Michael

Classifications

• G01N11/14 Primary

  by using rotary bodies, e.g. vane (G01N11/16 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01N11/00

  Investigating flow properties of materials, e.g. viscosity, plasticity; Analysing materials by determining flow properties · CPC title

• G01N33/30

  for lubricating properties · CPC title

• G01N19/02 Primary

  Measuring coefficient of friction between materials {(testing of tyres G01M17/02; determinations of friction coefficient used in vehicle braking or traction control systems B60T8/172)} · CPC title

• G01N11/142 Primary

  Sample held between two members substantially perpendicular to axis of rotation, e.g. parallel plate viscometer · CPC title