Waters Investments Limited

Other

Ta Instruments, Inc.

John P Berting

Ron Garritano

Ronald F Garritano

James K Kroeger

Peter Mark Grehlinger

Paul G Mode

System and methods are described for dynamically controlling operation of a rheometer. A program is created on a programming interface for executing a test upon a sample in a rheometer by receiving user selections of a plurality of nodes and connections of each node to another node according to directional connection indicators. Nodes indicate steps for performing a test upon a sample or configuring a rheometer for performing a test upon a sample. Scripts are created for generating a sequence of instructions to the rheometer. The scripts include instructions for performing steps indicated by each of the selected nodes and in accordance with the directional connection indicators. Low-level instructions are downloaded from the scripts for execution in the rheometer, and drivers in the rheometer are instructed for performing the downloaded instructions.

System and method for dynamically controlling operation of rheometric instruments

A sensor for measurement of small-angle or small-displacement position of a rotational rheometer incorporates multiple independent capacitors in a symmetric relationship. The device presents its output as a standard bridge configured differential signal, which can be interpreted and measured using conventional electronic demodulation means. The device includes an excitation array, a measurement array and an active rotor array. The active rotor array is coupled to a drive shaft of the rotational rheometer and measured relative to the measurement and excitation arrays. The active rotor array is driven by an electrical signal that is precisely matched to signals detected by the measurement array. By driving the active array with signals sensed by the measurement array, the sensor allows for reduced sensitivity to unwanted signals not in the measurement direction.

System and method for enhanced measurement of rheological properties

A system for making extensional measurements on a sample includes an armature, a motor drive shaft, a moveable cylinder, and a fixed cylinder. The motor drive shaft is attached to the armature. The moveable cylinder is mounted on the armature. The sample is stretched between the moveable cylinder and fixed cylinder by the rotation of the moveable cylinder around the axis of the fixed cylinder and rotation of the moveable cylinder about its own axis. The resistance of the sample produces a torque on the moveable cylinder and the fixed cylinder. The torque is measured on the moveable cylinder or on a transducer shaft attached to the fixed cylinder. The system is adaptable to a commercial rotational rheometer.

Polymer melt and elastomer extension fixture

A sensor for measurement of small-angle or small-displacement position incorporates multiple independent capacitors in a symmetric relationship. The device presents its output as a standard bridge configured differential signal, which can be interpreted and measured using conventional electronic demodulation means. The device includes an excitation array, a measurement array and an active rotor or linear array. The active array is coupled to a moving object and measured relative to the measurement and excitation arrays. The active array may be floating, grounded or driven by an electrical signal. However, driving the active array with signals sensed by the measurement array allows for reduced sensitivity to unwanted signals not in the measurement direction.

System and method for measurement of small-angle or small-displacement

A rheometer includes a holder assembly for coupling a test specimen to a motor assembly to effect rotational strain in the test specimen while enabling the determination of axial displacement effected by the test specimen normal to the direction of the rotational strain, the holder assembly having a first member coupled to the test specimen, a second member coupled to the motor assembly, and a suspension arrangement coupling the first member with the second member for simultaneous maximum resistance to relative rotational displacement between the first and second members and minimum resistance to relative axial displacement between the first and second members. Information pertaining to the axial displacement, and to the temperature of the test specimen, is obtained through measuring circuits which include sensors placed in moving component parts of the rheometer and is delivered to an external processor through information transmission systems which include an induction arrangement for transmitting the information while maintaining the desired minimum resistance to the relative axial displacement. Power is delivered to the measuring circuits through a power transfer system which includes a similar induction arrangement.

Wide range dynamic rheometer

A liquid crystal display circuit (9) comprises a recirculating shift register (14) having serial input and output terminals for receiving and generating binary data in bit serial format and a plurality of intermediate parallel output terminals for coupling display data to a liquid crystal display (LCD) (10). Display data are loaded into the shift register (14) during a display update mode and recirculated for display by the LCD (10) during a data refresh mode. Loading and recirculation of display data are controlled by logic circuitry (16) in a feedback loop (15, 17) of the recirculating shift register (14). To minimize DC buildup on the LCD (10), data inversion provided in the feedback loop causes periodic polarity reversal of data during recirculation. In addition, a shift register reset circuit (28) monitors the continuity of data being supplied to the LCD (10) for display. The reset circuit (28) resets the shift register (14) in response to discontinuities in input data flow to further minimize DC buildup.

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Wilmington, DE, United States of America

John P Berting