Patent · US Expired

Viscosity tester and method with orbiting object

US5394739A · kind A · utility

23Cited by
10References
30Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 6, 1994
Grant dateMar 7, 1995
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 6, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01N11/14
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A viscosity tester includes a free standing magnetic object disposed in fluid in a stationary receptacle. A magnetic force drives the object in an orbit and the magnetic force, the speed of the object and the lag angle between the magnetic field and the object are either measured or controlled and, based on at least one of these three parameters, the viscosity of the fluid is determined. In one embodiment, a magnetic ball is driven by four electromagnets, with proximity sensors detecting the presence of the ball and controlling the electromagnets. In another embodiment, a free standing magnet is driven in an orbital pattern by a rotating field that is coaxial with the orbital pattern and is produced by a rotating magnet or a stator.

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