Rapidly cyclable foam testing oven

Abstract

Oven, for example, embodied as a foam tester, can heat and cool circulating gas, and hence, contained sample containers, rapidly. A volume for containing coolant material is provided for cooling the oven volume is provided apart from the oven volume, and the cooling volume is adapted to contain cooling material, at least during operation of the cooling cycle. Optionally, the cooling volume can be closed off from the oven volume when the device is in heating mode and opened when in cooling mode, but preferably, it is not but has a drainable liquid, for example, water, cooling system installed in the cooling volume. The device may have an air plume; preferably however, it has such a plume eliminated with high circulation blowing and mixing of the bath gas, for example, air, provided. Accessories such as a removable drain tray, and so forth, may be added. The exemplary devices are particularly useful for testing for the foaming characteristics of liquids, and the principles of the cooling volume can be applied to cabinet ovens in general. As an option, gel or cooling other than liquid in radiator cooling, for example, solid state cooling, may be employed. Test methodology can include injection of a gas to include a preheated gas, for example, air, into an oleaginous liquid sample, for example, oil or transmission fluid, especially having standardized, predetermined level(s) of contaminant(s).