Stress cell having first and second elements having first and second variable lengths

US10663383B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• Razorbill Instruments Limited · GB
• Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Föderung der Wissenschaften e.V. · US

Inventors

• Jack Matthew Barraclough · Edinburgh, GB
• Clifford William Hicks · Dresden, DE
• Alexander Steppke · Dresden, DE
• Mark Barber · Palo Alto, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 30, 2018
• Grant date: May 26, 2020
• Expiry date: May 30, 2038

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N2203/0252
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and methods for applying a force on a sample. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a stress cell (200) comprising a frame (205); an actuator arrangement (210) coupled to the frame; and a coupler (220) for coupling the actuator arrangement to the sample (230). The coupler (220) includes a first coupler portion connected to the actuator arrangement (210) and a second coupler portion connectable to the sample (230). The first coupler portion is flexibly coupled to the frame. The actuator arrangement (210) comprises a first element (214) having a first variable length and a second element (212) having a second variable length, and is adapted to vary a difference between the first length and the second length to provide the force.