Patent · US Expired

Driven-capillary viscosimeter

US4539837A · kind A · utility

18Cited by
12References
14Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateAug 17, 1984
Grant dateSep 10, 1985
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 17, 2004

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01N11/08
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A viscosimeter measures the viscosity of a fluid, such as a petroleum hydrocarbon liquid, by driving a capillary through the fluid and measuring the pressure drop across the capillary. The viscosimeter comprises a pressure cylinder, a piston within the cylinder having at least one capillary tube, and an arrangement for driving the piston at a known speed so that the fluid is displaced at a known volumetric rate through the capillary tube. Pressure sensors on either end of the cylinder measure the capillary pressure drop. In a preferred embodiment, the piston has a main body and a selector plate. The main body has a plurality of capillary tubes each of a different bore size, and the selector plate is rotatable relative to the main body by rotating a selector handle outside the cylinder. An oven enclosure permits the cylinder, and its fill of fluid, to be heated in an air bath to reservoir temperatures.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.