Automatic viscosity meter

Claim 2

Automatic viscosity meter comprising a transparent measurement tube, one portion of which has a relatively reduced internal section, between the ends of which portion a liquid to be studied flows under a substantially constant pressure differential; a closed transparent jacket of generally elongated cylindrical shape surrounding the measurement tube and adapted to have flowing through it a transparent thermal regulating liquid; a reading device arranged in the form of an easily interchangeable hollow block comprising radiation sources, receiving means comprising a single element sensitive to the radiations of the sources and means to cause the radiations of each of the sources to fall on said sensitive element, said reading device being adapted to read the passage, at given points, of the meniscus of the liquid located in the measurement tube for a viscosity measurement to be made; means for measuring the passage time of the meniscus between the said points; and means for filling the measurement tube with liquid to be studied; said hollow block being arranged on the outside of the said jacket which it surrounds in such a manner that the radiations emitted by the sources fall on the receiving means of the reading device after having passed through the jackeT, the thermalregulating liquid, the measurement tube, and the liquid to be studied if this liquid has reached the level of these radiations, and again, the measurement tube, the thermal regulating liquid and the jacket.

Claim 3

Automatic viscosity meter in accordance with claim 1, in which the means for causing the radiation of the sources to fall on the single-light sensitive element are constituted by a prism of glass, plexiglass or quartz.

Claim 4

Automatic viscosity meter in accordance with claim 1, in which the sources of radiation are real and are constituted by two electric bulbs arranged one under the other, said automatic viscosity meter further comprising a device for extinguishing the upper source, initially lighted, and for lighting the lower source initially extinguished, when the meniscus of the liquid contained in the tube passes at it descends in front of the upper source and for extinguishing the lower source and lighting the upper source when the meniscus, continuing its descent, passes in front of the lower source, the device not having any action when the meniscus rises.

Claim 5

Automatic viscosity meter in accordance with claim 1, in which the block of the reading device is held by a pressure screw.

Claim 6

Automatic viscosity meter in accordance with claim 1, comprising an automatic burette connected to the receptacle into which the tube dips, enabling dilutions or concentrations automatically.

Claim 7

Automatic viscosity meter comprising a transparent measurement tube, one portion of which has a relatively reduced internal section, between the ends of which portion a liquid to be studied flows under a substantially constant pressure differential; a transparent jacket surrounding this measurement tube and adapted to have flowing through it a transparent thermal regulating liquid; a reading device comprising radiation sources, and receiving means sensitive to the radiations of the sources and adapted to read the passage, at given points, of the meniscus of the liquid located in the measurement tube for a viscosity measurement to be made; means for measuring the passage time of the meniscus between said points; and means for filling the measurement tube with liquid to be studied; said automatic viscosity meter further comprising a receptacle into which the measurement tube opens; and in which automatic viscosity meter the means for filling the measurement tube comprise in combination a pump the delivery conduit of which is connected to the receptacle, a first channel for communicating with the ambient atmosphere connected to the delivery conduit and a second channel for communication with the ambient atmosphere connected to the measurement tube between the portion of reduced section and the portion dipping into the receptacle, an obturating member common for the two channels for communicating with the ambient atmosphere, controlled by means which are sensitive to the pressure in the delivery conduit of the pump, with the result that the opening of the two channels is controlled automatically by the stopping of the pump.

Claim 8

Automatic viscosity meter comprising a transparent measurement tube, one portion of which has a relatively reduced internal section, between the ends of which portion a liquid to be studied flows under a substantially constant pressure differential; a transparent jacket surrounding this measurement tube and adapted to have flowing through it a transparent thermal regulating liquid; a reading device comprising radiation sources, and receiving means sensitive to the radiations of the sources and adapted to read the passage, at given points, of the meniscus of the liquid located in the measurement tube for a viscosity measurement to be made; means for measuring the passage time of the meniscus between said points; and means for filling the measurement tube with liquid to be studied; said automatic viscosity meter further comprising a receptacle into which the measurement tube opens; and in which automatic viscosity meter the means for filling the measurement tube comprise in combination a pump the delivery conduit of which is connected to the receptacle, a first channel for communicating with the ambient atmosphere connected to the delivery conduit and a second channel for communication with the ambient atmosphere connected to the measurement tube between the portion of reduced section and the portion dipping into the receptacle, an obturating member common for the two channels for communicating with the ambient atmosphere, controlled by means which are sensitive to the pressure in the delivery conduit of the pump, with the result that the opening of the two channels is controlled automatically by the stopping of the pump.