Method and apparatus for measuring characteristics of small quantities of liquid dropped onto a thermostatically heated transducer, utilizing a warm-up and measurement program

US4250738A · kind A · utility

Inventor

• Albert Huch

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 5, 1979
• Grant date: Feb 17, 1981
• Expiry date: Jun 5, 1999

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N33/4925
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A dish transducer unit comprising a dish-defining structure into which a drop of sample fluid is dropped for contact with the electrical or electrochemical transducer of the transducer, both the dish-defining structure and the transducer unit being thermostatically heated. The technician presses a button to initiate a timer, whereupon a transducer warm-up period begins, during which the meter connected to the transducer is maintained inoperative, to preclude readings. When the transducer warm-up period ends, the meter becomes operative so that the technician can calibrate. Prior to completion of a timed calibration period, the technician must drop the sample into the dish-defining structure, or else the timer stops and the thermostatic heating is discontinued. If the sample is timely dropped, a sample warm-up period follows, during which the sample is heated and the meter again inoperative, followed by a reading-taking interval during which the meter is again operative. Upon conclusion of the reading-taking interval the timer stops, switching off the thermostatic heating action, and can be restarted only if the technician again presses the start button.