JP4176047B2 - Viscometer - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a viscometer, and more particularly, to a viscometer provided with a constant temperature bath for temperature control of a sample.

  Viscometers are classified into rotary, capillary, and vibration types depending on the measurement principle. Regardless of the type of viscometer, the correct sample must be used for accurate viscosity measurement. I need to know the temperature. For example, a hydrocarbon-based standard solution, silicon oil, and water change in viscosity by at least 2% with a temperature change of 1 ° C.

  Therefore, temperature control of samples for measuring viscosity is thoroughly performed in each industry. For example, in the case of engine oil, quality control is performed with viscosity values of 40 ° C. and 100 ° C. according to JIS regulations.

  Thus, there is a close relationship between viscosity and temperature, and there are also cases where physical properties such as freezing point and cloud point are measured by changing the temperature of the sample with a viscometer. As shown in Document 1, a sample container containing a fluid sample is immersed in a liquid bath in a thermostatic bath, and the temperature of the liquid bath is directly adjusted by heating / cooling means to adjust the sample to a set temperature. Viscosity measurement was performed.

  However, such a viscosity measuring apparatus has a technical problem described below.

FIG. 2 of JP-A-4-81638

  In the viscosity measuring apparatus shown in Patent Document 1, the sample container is directly immersed in the liquid bath of the thermostatic bath, so that the temperature of the liquid bath is directly transmitted to the sample, and the temperature of the sample is quickly adjusted. Although there is an advantage, the temperature of the sample is easily influenced by a minute temperature change of the liquid bath, which is a factor of viscosity measurement error.

  In particular, as shown in Patent Document 1, when the liquid bath in the thermostat is circulated by the action of a pump or the like, there is a temperature difference between the inlet and the outlet of the liquid bath. It was a factor causing temperature non-uniformity.

  In addition, in a conventional viscometer such as a rotary viscometer, since the measuring element (rotor) of the measuring unit and the sample container need to be positioned precisely, the sample container is integrated with the viscosity measuring device. As a result, since the thermostat integrated with the sample container is arranged, it has become a factor that deteriorates the operability of viscosity measurement, such as difficulty in cleaning work when changing the sample.

The present invention has been made in view of such conventional problems, and the object of the present invention is to provide a viscometer that performs viscosity measurement while controlling the temperature of the sample, so that the temperature of the sample becomes uniform. An object of the present invention is to provide a viscometer that can be easily measured without impairing operability and has a small measurement error.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a viscometer comprising a vibratory viscometer body and a thermostatic bath , wherein the thermostatic bath is disposed inside the outer bath and the outer bath, and the sample container is attached and detached. The first tank formed between the outer tank and the inner tank is circulated and circulated in the first space formed between the outer tank and the inner tank, and the inner tank and the inner tank. a second space formed between the sample container transfer heat of the heat medium to the sample of the sample container, met viscometer transfer medium is accommodated for controlling the sample to a predetermined temperature The inner tank has the same volume as that of the sample container, and also has the same volume as the first space .

  According to the viscometer configured as described above, the thermostat bath has a double structure of an outer bath and an inner bath, and the sample container is not directly immersed in a heat medium whose temperature is directly controlled from the outside, Since the sample is contained in the tank and the temperature of the sample is indirectly controlled via the transmission medium in the inner tank, the sample is not easily affected by a minute temperature change of the heat medium. Even if the temperature of the heat medium is not uniform, the transmission medium plays the role of a buffer material, so that the sample is maintained at a uniform temperature and viscosity measurement errors are reduced. In addition, since the sample container can be removed from the thermostatic chamber, the design flexibility of the sample container is increased, and maintenance such as carrying and cleaning of the sample container is facilitated, and the operability and ease of viscosity measurement are not impaired. .

Moreover, according to the said structure , since the volume of an inner tank and a sample container is substantially the same, and the volume of an inner tank and 1st space is also the same, a thermostat is matched with the magnitude | size of a sample container. It becomes possible to reduce the size and facilitate maintenance such as carrying and cleaning. Since the amount of the heat medium and the amount of the transmission medium may be substantially the same as the amount of the sample, the time for controlling the heat medium to a predetermined temperature outside and the heat of the heat medium are transmitted to the transmission medium The time for transferring the heat of the transmission medium to the sample is shortened.

  Moreover, the side surface of the sample container may be adjacent to the side surface of the inner tank with a small gap.

  According to this configuration, the transmission medium accommodated in the inner tank is less likely to come into contact with the outside air, and the temperature change associated with the outside air contact is small.

  The inner tank has a concave shape, and the sample container has a polymerization edge formed on the outer periphery of the upper surface, and the polymerization edge overlaps with the upper surface of the inner tank, and the second container The space may be hermetically closed.

  According to this configuration, when the sample container is accommodated in the inner tank, the second space is hermetically closed, so that the transmission medium does not come into contact with the outside air. In addition, the overlapping edge not only seals and closes the transmission medium, but also has a role of holding the sample container in the inner tank, so that the sample container does not sink or move in the inner tank, The positioning accuracy of the probe and the sample container, which becomes a problem when the amount of the measurement sample is reduced, is improved, and the stability of the viscosity measurement is increased.

  Further, the outer tub is concave, and a locking edge is formed on the outer periphery of the upper surface, and the inner tub is concave, and a lid that covers the locking edge is formed on the outer periphery of the upper surface. It is formed, The said cover part may engage with the said locking edge part, and may obstruct | occlude the said 1st space.

  According to this configuration, since the first space containing the heat medium is hermetically housed, the heat medium does not come into contact with the outside air, the temperature hardly changes, and no temperature gradient is generated. The error in measuring viscosity is small. Furthermore, when exchanging the sample and the sample container, the measurer is not at risk of directly touching the heat medium and is safe.

  The inner and outer tanks of the thermostatic chamber and the sample container may be transparent.

  According to this configuration, since the thermostatic chamber and the sample container are transparent, the state inside the sample container can be observed even during the viscosity measurement.

  The sample container may include a handle extending on the outer periphery of the upper surface.

  According to this configuration, by providing the handle, the sample container can be easily attached and detached from the inner tank.

  The constant temperature bath and the sample container may each include a positioning part, and the positioning part may be fitted and fixed to each other when the sample container is accommodated in the inner tank.

  According to this configuration, the positioning parts are fitted and fixed to each other, so that the position of the sample container can be determined easily and accurately.In particular, the immobility of the distance between the probe and the wall surface of the sample container reduces the measurement error. In an important tuning fork vibration type viscometer, not only the time for exchanging the sample container is shortened, but also the measurement error is reduced.

  The viscometer body may be fixed to a base table via a support, and the base table may include a fixing unit that fixes the position of the thermostatic bath.

  According to this configuration, since the position of the thermostatic chamber is fixed by the fixing portion, the position of the sample container is also fixed naturally, so that it is not necessary to perform positioning work or the like again when replacing the sample container. . Moreover, since the thermostat can be detached from the viscometer main body, maintenance such as carrying and cleaning becomes easy.

  The sample container may have a sample stirring means inside.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to prevent precipitation and non-uniformity of the sample even during the viscosity measurement, and more accurate viscosity measurement can be performed.

  The sample stirring means may be a rotor made of an electromagnet, and the thermostatic bath may be provided with a stirrer installation section for driving the rotor below.

  Thus, the combination of the rotor and stirrer made of an electromagnet is very simple and low in cost, and the sample in the sample container can be easily stirred. The presence of the stirrer installation portion eliminates the need to separately fix the stirrer directly under the rotor.

  Further, the rotor has a cylindrical shape, and the sample container includes a cylindrical rotor accommodating portion that protrudes from the other side surface of the sample container, and is directly below the rotating means accommodating portion. The stirrer installation part may be provided.

According to this configuration, the rotor is rotated by the stirrer located directly below the cylindrical rotor accommodating portion, so that the rotational position does not deviate from the rotor accommodating portion and rotates in a stable state.

According to the viscometer according to the present invention, the thermostat has a double structure of the outer tank and the inner tank, and the sample container is not directly immersed in the heat medium whose temperature is directly controlled from the outside, but the inner tank Since the temperature of the sample is indirectly controlled through the transmission medium in the inner tank, the sample is less susceptible to the minute temperature change of the heat medium. Even if the temperature of the heat medium is not uniform, the transmission medium plays the role of a buffer material, so that the sample is maintained at a uniform temperature and viscosity measurement errors are reduced.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment showing an overall configuration of a viscometer according to the present invention. The viscometer shown in FIG. 1 includes a viscometer body 1, a temperature controller 2, a thermostat 3, and a sample. A container 4 and a display 5 are provided.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration excluding the temperature controller 2 and the display 5 in the viscometer shown in FIG. 1, and will be referred to as appropriate in conjunction with FIG.

  In this embodiment, the viscometer body 1 is of a tuning fork vibration type, and is provided with an electromagnetic drive unit, a displacement sensor, and the like, and detects the temperature of the thin plate-shaped measuring element 1a and the sample 67 on the lower end side. The temperature sensor 1b is provided so as to protrude.

  The viscometer body 1 according to the present embodiment is fixed to a flat base base 13 formed in a trapezoidal shape via a support 11. The viscometer body 1 is slid in the vertical direction of the support column 11, and by sliding the viscometer body 1 along the support column 11, the probe 1 a to the sample 67 accommodated in the sample container 4. The viscometer body 1 is fixed by turning the knob. In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the viscometer body 11 is slid by turning a dial-type knob, but may be slid by a lever-type slide mechanism.

  A concave protector 1c is installed outside the measuring element 1a. When the measuring element 1a and the temperature sensor 1b are immersed in the sample 67, the protector 1c comes into contact with the sample container 4 earlier than the tip or side surface of the measuring element 1a, and the deformation of the measuring element 1a and the temperature sensor 1b Prevent destruction. Further, the protector 1c of this embodiment is rotatably supported by the viscometer body 1, and can be rotated upward by operating a knob to clean the measuring element 1a. ing. For simplification of illustration, the protector 1c is omitted in FIG.

  An elevator 15 is fixed at the center of the upper surface of the base 13. The elevator 15 according to the present embodiment includes a substantially square top plate 15a and a bottom plate 15b that are opposed to each other, a pantograph-like lift mechanism 15c provided between the top plate 15a and the bottom plate 15b, and an elevator mechanism 15c. The elevating mechanism 15c is expanded and contracted vertically in a pantograph shape by a built-in spring, and the top plate 15a is moved to a predetermined position by the rotation of the adjusting screw 15d. Adjust so that

  Note that the positioning and fixing of the elevator 15 in the horizontal direction is performed by an elevator positioning and fixing portion 17 interposed between the elevator 15 and the base 13.

  Further, a constant temperature bath positioning fixing part (fixing plate 15e) is provided on the top surface of the top plate 15a of the elevator 15 as will be described in detail later.

  The temperature controller 2 is an external device that is connected to the thermostat 3 and controls the temperature of the heat medium 61 (water or silicon oil) accommodated in the thermostat 3. The temperature controller 2 of the present embodiment includes a storage tank 2a that temporarily stores the heat medium 61, and a tube connection port that connects a tube 65 having an inner diameter of φ8 mm for circulating and circulating the heat medium 61 between the storage tank 2a and the thermostatic chamber 3. 2b, a cooling / heating mechanism 2c that cools or heats the heat medium 61 accommodated in the accommodating tank 2a, and a controller 2d that controls the cooling / heating mechanism 2c and performs various settings / displays. The temperature controller 2 may be a commercially available one.

  As shown in detail in the exploded perspective view of FIG. 4 and the cross-sectional view of FIG. 5, the thermostat 3 is made of a transparent heat-resistant resin, and is disposed inside the concave outer tank 31 and the outer tank 31. 4 is provided with a concave inner tub 33 that detachably accommodates 4 and a mounting portion 35. By adopting a transparent heat-resistant resin, the inside of the thermostat 3 can be seen from the outside, the heat medium 61 in the thermostat 3 can be made high temperature, and can be manufactured at a lower cost. Become. In this embodiment, the outer tub 31 and the attachment portion 35 are integrally formed.

The outer tub 31 of the present embodiment has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape of 40 × 40 × 65 mm and an inner volume of 104 cm ³ , and an outer tub main body 31a formed in a thickness of about 2 mm, and an inner surface on one side portion of the outer tub main body 31a. A tube connection port 31b that connects a pair of tubes 65 that circulate and circulate the heat medium 61, and a thin plate-like shape that is formed on the outer periphery of the upper surface of the outer tub body 31a and has a substantially rectangular shape with an outer dimension of 70 × 95 mm. It is comprised from the latching edge part 31c, and these are integrally formed.

  Note that the shape, diameter, and the like of the tube connection port 31b are substantially the same as the tube connection port 2b of the temperature controller 2, and the tube 65 that engages with these tube connection ports 2b and 31b is selected.

  The locking edge 31c is formed of an annular groove 32a formed on the inner peripheral side and a peripheral edge 32c formed on the outer peripheral side. A packing 32b is embedded in the groove 32a, and threaded holes 32d are formed in the peripheral portion 32c at predetermined intervals.

Moreover, the inner tank 33 of the present embodiment has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape of 40 × 20 × 55 mm and an inner volume of 44 cm ³ , and an inner tank body 33a formed with a thickness of about 2 mm and an outer peripheral edge of the upper surface of the inner tank body 33a. It is comprised from the formed thin plate-shaped cover part 33b. In the present embodiment, the inner tank body 33a and the lid portion 33b are integrally formed.

  The lid portion 33b has a substantially rectangular lid portion main body 34a and the lower surface side of the lid portion main body 34a at the same position as the groove portion 32a of the outer tub main body 31a when the lid portion 33b is covered on the locking edge portion 31c. The annular convex portion 34b formed on the lid portion 34b and the edge wall 34c suspended from the outer peripheral edge of the lid portion main body 34a. Further, in the lid main body 34a, when the lid 33b is covered on the locking edge 31c, a through hole 34d of the screw 36 is formed at a concentric position with the threaded hole 32d of the locking edge 31c. ing.

  That is, in the thermostatic chamber 3 of this embodiment, when the lid portion 33b is covered on the locking edge portion 31c, the edge wall 34c is engaged with the peripheral edge portion 32c, and the lid portion 33b is packed on the locking edge portion 31c. It is closely engaged through 32b. And by inserting the screw 36 into the through hole 34d and the threaded hole 32d, the inner tub 33 and the outer tub 31 are integrated, and the inner tub main body 33a of the inner tub 33 is located inside the outer tub main body 31a. The recessed sample container 4 smaller than the inner tank main body 33a can be detachably accommodated in the inner tank main body 33a.

  Moreover, in the present embodiment, the thermostat 3 is assembled only by overlaying the lid 33b of the inner tub 33 on the locking edge 31c of the outer tub 31, so that not only the assembly man-hour is reduced. The outer tank 31 and the inner tank 33 can be disassembled, and each can be easily cleaned.

As shown in detail in FIG. 3, the sample container 4 is made of a transparent resin, and has a size that can be accommodated and held in the inner tank body 33 a of the inner tank 33, 50 × 10 × 40 mm, and an internal volume of 20 mm. ^{3 is} a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, a sample container 41 formed to have a thickness of about 1.5 mm, and a thin plate-like polymerization formed on the outer periphery of the upper surface of the sample container 41 and having a substantially rectangular shape with an outer dimension of 70 × 35 mm. It is comprised from the edge 43 and the handle 45 extended horizontally on the outer periphery of the superposition | polymerization edge 43. FIG.

  Since the sample container 4 is transparent like the thermostat 3, not only the inside of the thermostat 3 but also the inside of the sample container 4 can be visually recognized from the outside.

  In addition, as another Example of a sample container, the glass sample container 4a (not shown) comprised only from the sample accommodating part 41 other than the resin-made cheap sample container 4 is also mentioned. Since this sample container 4a is also housed and held in the inner tank body 33a of the inner tank 33 in the same manner as the previous sample container 4, these sample containers 4 and 4a are adapted to the type, temperature, and other uses of the sample 67. Can be used properly.

Here, returning to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, in the first space C formed between the outer tub 31 and the inner tub 33 of the thermostatic chamber 3, the temperature controlled from the temperature controller 2 (external). The medium 61 circulates and circulates through the tube connection port 31b. Furthermore, in the second space D formed between the inner tank 33 and the sample container 4 accommodated in the inner tank 33, there is a heat medium. A transmission medium 63 (water, silicon oil, or the like) for transferring the heat of 61 to the sample 67 in the sample container 4 and controlling the sample 67 to a predetermined temperature is accommodated.

  That is, the thermostat 3 has a double structure of the outer tub 31 and the inner tub 33, and the sample container 4 is housed in the inner tub 33, not directly immersed in the heat medium 61 whose temperature is directly controlled from the outside. In addition, since the temperature of the sample 67 is indirectly controlled via the transmission medium 63 in the inner tank 33, the sample 67 is less susceptible to the minute temperature change of the heat medium 61. Even if the temperature of the heat medium 61 is not uniform, the transmission medium 63 plays a role of a buffer material, so that the sample 67 is maintained at a uniform temperature and the measurement error of the viscosity is reduced.

  Particularly, in the tuning fork vibration type viscometer as in the present embodiment, the accommodation space D of the transmission medium 63 is provided between the accommodation space C of the sample container 4 and the heat medium 61, so that the sample 67 The measuring element 1a that is immersed in and vibrates is less susceptible to the vibration of the circulating heat medium 61, and measurement errors are reduced.

  Further, since the sample container 4 can be detached from the thermostat 3, the degree of freedom in designing the sample container 4 is increased, and maintenance such as carrying and washing of the sample container 4 is facilitated, and the operability and ease of viscosity measurement are increased. Is not impaired.

In the present embodiment, the inner tank 33 has substantially the same volume as that of the sample container 4, and has substantially the same volume as the accommodation space C of the heat medium 61. In this embodiment, the volume of the accommodation space C is about 15 mm ³ .

  According to this configuration, the volume of the inner tank 33 and the sample container 4 are substantially the same, and the volume of the inner tank 33 and the space C are also substantially the same. This makes it possible to reduce the size and facilitate maintenance such as carrying and cleaning. Since the amount of the heat medium 61 and the amount of the transmission medium 63 may be substantially the same as the amount of the sample 67, the time for controlling the heat medium 61 to a predetermined temperature externally and the heat of the heat medium 61 are transmitted. Both the time to be transmitted to the medium 63 and the time to transfer the heat of the transmission medium 63 to the sample 67 are shortened.

  Further, the side surface of the sample container 4 is adjacent to the side surface of the inner tank 33 with a small gap. In this embodiment, the gap is about 2 mm. As a result, the transmission medium 63 accommodated in the inner tank 33 is less likely to come into contact with the outside air, and the temperature change associated with the outside air contact is small.

  In this regard, in this embodiment, the overlapping edge portion 43 is overlapped on the upper surface of the lid main body 34a of the lid portion 33b and hermetically closes and closes the concave space D in which the transmission medium 63 is accommodated. Is stored in the inner tank 33, the transmission medium 63 does not come into contact with the outside air.

  Further, the overlapping edge portion 43 not only seals and closes the transmission medium 63 but also holds the sample container 4 in the inner tank 33, so that the sample container 4 sinks or shifts in the inner tank 33. This increases the stability of viscosity measurement. In addition, when the amount of the measurement sample is small, the positioning accuracy between the probe and the sample container affects the viscosity measurement accuracy. Even in such a case, the viscosity of the sample container 4 is retained in the inner tank 33. Increased measurement stability.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the lid portion 33b engages with the locking edge portion 31c and hermetically closes the concave space C that houses the heat medium 61, so that the heat medium 61 does not come into contact with outside air. Accordingly, since the temperature of the heat medium 61 hardly changes and a temperature gradient does not occur, the sample 67 is also maintained at a predetermined temperature, and there are few errors when measuring the viscosity. Furthermore, when exchanging the sample 67 and the sample container 4, the measurer is not at risk of directly touching the heat medium 61 and is safe. Furthermore, if the thermostat 3 is made of a material such as a resin, the heat insulating effect of the heat medium 61 becomes more prominent.

  The attachment portion 35 of the thermostatic bath 3 is integrally formed on the lower surface side of the outer tub 31, is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and a stirrer installation portion 35a in which two opposing side surfaces are extracted, and a lower portion of the stirrer installation portion 35a. A substantially rectangular mounting groove 35b provided on both side surfaces is formed.

  Here, the thermostat positioning / fixing portion provided on the top plate 15a of the elevator 15 includes a fixed plate 15e having one end fixed to the top plate 15a in a cantilever shape. The fixed plate 15e is made of an elastic material such as a metal thin plate, for example, and a pair is arranged at a predetermined interval. Note that the width of the fixing plate 15e is substantially the same as the width of the mounting groove 35b.

  Therefore, the mounting portion 35 of the thermostatic chamber 3 is inserted from the free end side of the fixed plate 15e so as to slide between the fixed plate 15e and the top plate 15a, and the mounting groove 35b and the fixed plate 15e are fitted. It is clamped and fixed by.

  According to such a configuration of the positioning and fixing portion for the thermostatic chamber, when the attachment portion 35 is inserted on the lower surface side of the fixing plate 15e, the attachment portion 35 is sandwiched between the top plate 15a by the elastic force of the fixing plate 15e. Since the fixed plate 15e is fitted into the mounting groove 35b, the lateral movement of the thermostatic chamber 3 is limited. Therefore, the thermostatic chamber 3 is positioned in both the vertical and horizontal directions, and the mounting portion from the fixed plate 15e. When 35 is removed, the thermostatic chamber 3 can be detached from the elevator 15.

  Furthermore, since the position of the thermostatic chamber 3 is fixed by the thermostatic chamber positioning fixing portion, the position of the sample container 4 is also fixed naturally, and when the sample container 4 is replaced, the positioning operation is performed again. There is no need. Moreover, since the thermostat 3 is detachable from the viscometer body 1, maintenance such as carrying and cleaning of the thermostat 3 is facilitated.

  The handle 45 of the sample container 4 is a thin plate formed in a substantially triangular shape so as to protrude from the outer shape of the lid portion 33b. In this embodiment, the handle 45 is opposed to the outer edge constituting the overlapping edge portion 43. A total of two handles 45 project from the two sides. By providing the handle 45, the sample container 4 can be easily detached from the inner tank 33.

  Further, among the outer sides forming the overlapping edge portion 43 of the sample container 4 of the present embodiment, a triangular notch is formed on the side of the measuring element 1a in the vibration direction A (see FIG. 4C). 43a (positioning part) is formed. On the other hand, the lid main body 34a of the lid 33b has a V-shaped locking piece 34e (positioning portion) projecting vertically on the upper surface side, and the side of the side that constitutes the lid main body 34a. Of these, it protrudes in the vibration direction of the probe 1a.

  That is, when the sample container 4 is accommodated in the inner tank 33, the notch 43a and the V-shaped acute angle portion of the locking piece 34e are engaged with each other, and the sample container 4 is shown in FIGS. The movement of the probe 1a shown in c) in the direction perpendicular to the vibration direction A is restricted, and the position in the vertical direction is fixed.

  This brings about further reduction of measurement error in the tuning fork vibration type viscometer. This is because a measurement error occurs when the distance between the plate surface of the probe 1a and the side surface of the sample container 4 that is perpendicular to the vibration direction A of the probe 1a changes during the viscosity measurement. Because there is.

  Accordingly, the notch 43a as the positioning portion and the locking piece 34e are fitted and fixed to each other, so that the position of the sample container 4 can be determined easily and accurately. In particular, the measuring element 1a and the wall surface of the sample container 4 In the tuning fork vibration type viscometer in which the immobility of the distance is important for reducing the measurement error, not only the time for replacing the sample container 4 is shortened but also the measurement error is reduced.

  In addition to the above embodiment, as an example of another structure for fixing the position of the sample container 4 in the vertical direction, as shown in FIG. 4A, the upper surface side of the lid body 34a of the lid portion 33b. In addition, it is also conceivable to project the locking piece 34e having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape instead of the V shape. Thereby, even if the notch 43a is not provided in the sample container 4, the long side B of the handle 45 contacts the side surface of the locking piece 34e, and the vertical position of the sample container 4 is fixed.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the sample container 4 of the present embodiment may be provided with a cover 47 for the sample container 4 in which the range in which the probe 1a vibrates is opened. By providing the cover 47, it is possible to prevent the sample 67 in the sample container 4 from coming into contact with the outside air and evaporating.

  Furthermore, the sample container 4 can have a sample stirring means inside. By providing the sample stirring means in the sample container 4, precipitation or non-uniformity of the sample 67 can be prevented even during the viscosity measurement, and more accurate viscosity measurement can be performed. Here, the non-uniformity of the sample 67 includes non-uniformity of temperature in addition to non-uniformity of concentration.

  As the sample stirring means, for example, as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, a rotor 71 in which a magnet is covered with a resin material such as Teflon (registered trademark) is suitable. It is a micro rotor (7-218-01) manufactured by AS ONE, and has a cylindrical shape with a height of 6 mm and a diameter of 4 mm, and the outer surface is subjected to fluororesin processing.

  As described above, the mounting portion 35 of the thermostatic chamber 3 includes a stirrer installation portion 35a for rotationally driving the rotor 71, and the stirrer 73 is installed in the stirrer installation portion 35a. Note that the stirrer 73 used in the present embodiment is a stirrer using an electromagnetic induction method using a magnetic field generated by energizing a coil.

  Thus, the combination of the rotor 71 and the stirrer 73 made of an electromagnet is very simple and low in cost, and the sample 67 in the sample container 4 can be easily stirred. In the case of the present embodiment, the stirrer 73 can be installed in the mounting portion 35, so that it is not necessary to separately fix the stirrer 73 directly below the rotor 71.

  The stirring capacity varies depending on the drive capacity of the stirrer 73, the shape of the sample container 4, the type of the rotor 71, and the viscosity of the liquid, but any can be determined arbitrarily. For example, the type of the rotor 71 is not limited to the above, and may be, for example, a triangle shape or a cross shape, and the size is not limited to the above.

  Further, in the sample container 41 of the sample container 4 of the present embodiment, as shown in the top view of FIG. 3 and FIG. 4A, the center of the formed side surface protrudes from the other side surface. A cylindrical rotor accommodating portion 41a having a diameter of 15 mm is formed.

  The cylindrical rotor 71 of the present embodiment is housed in the rotor housing portion 41a and is rotationally driven by a stirrer 73 installed in the stirrer installation portion 35a directly below the rotor housing portion 41a. Thereby, since the rotor 71 is rotated by the stirrer 73 directly under the cylindrical rotor accommodating portion 41a, the rotation position is not deviated from the inside of the rotor accommodating portion 41a and rotates in a stable state.

  Furthermore, the sample container 4 of the present embodiment is not necessarily housed in the thermostat 3 and need not be used for measurement, and may be housed and held in the case 8 as shown in FIG.

The case 8 shown in FIG. 5 is made of a transparent resin, has a size capable of accommodating and holding the sample container 4, has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape of 70 × 30 × 45 mm, an internal volume of 94.5 cm ³ , and has a thickness. The rectangular container part 81 formed in about 2 mm and the attachment part 83 integrally fixed to the lower surface side of the rectangular container part 81 are provided.

  The rectangular container part 81 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and the attachment part 83 is formed in a rectangular shape larger than the bottom surface of the rectangular container part 81, and is similar to the attachment groove part 35 b of the thermostat 3 at both ends thereof. Mounting groove 83a is provided.

  That is, the case 8 is sandwiched and fixed by inserting the mounting portion 83 from the free end side of the fixing plate 15e and fitting the fixing plate 15e into the mounting groove portion 83a of the mounting portion 83, and the thermostat described above. The same effect as that of fixing 3 to the fixing plate 15e is obtained.

  Further, when the sample container 4 is accommodated in the case 8, the overlapping edge portion 43 of the sample container 4 is locked on the periphery of the case 8, and the sample container 4 is held in the rectangular container portion 81. The case 8 can be used alone as a sample container when the sample container 4 is not used.

The display 5 is electrically connected to the viscometer main body 1 through a lead wire, displays the viscosity value of the sample 67 measured by the viscometer main body 1, and performs various settings regarding measurement conditions and display. Is called.

As described above, the embodiments of the viscometer have been described. However, the viscometer of the present invention is not limited to the viscometer having all of the constituent requirements described in the above embodiments, and various changes and modifications can be made. is there. It goes without saying that such changes and modifications also belong to the scope of the claims of the present invention.

It is a perspective view of the whole composition showing one example of a viscometer concerning the present invention. It is front sectional drawing at the time of further installing a stirrer and a rotor in the viscometer shown in FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows one Example of a thermostat and a sample container. It is sectional drawing which shows one Example of a thermostat and a sample container. It is a perspective view which shows one Example which accommodates the sample container which provided the cover in a case.

Explanation of symbols

1: Viscometer body 11: Support column 13: Base stand 15: Elevator 17: Elevator positioning fixing part 2: Temperature controller 3: Thermostatic bath 31: Outer tank 33: Inner tank 35: Mounting part 4: Sample container 41: Sample storage Part 43: Superposition edge 45: Handle 47: Cover 5: Display 61: Heat medium 63: Transmission medium 65: Tube 67: Sample 71: Rotor 73: Stirrer 8: Case

Claims (11)

In a viscometer equipped with a vibrating viscometer body and a thermostatic bath,
The thermostatic bath is
An outer tank and an inner tank that is disposed inside the outer tank and detachably accommodates the sample container,
In the first space formed between the outer tub and the inner tub, a heat medium whose temperature is controlled from the outside circulates and circulates,
The second space formed between the inner tank and the sample container contains a transmission medium that transmits the heat of the heat medium to the sample in the sample container and controls the sample to a predetermined temperature. a that viscometer,
The inner tank has the same volume as that of the sample container, and has the same volume as the first space . 2. The viscometer according to claim 1, wherein a side surface of the sample container is adjacent to a side surface of the inner tank with a small gap. The inner tank has a concave shape, and the sample container has a polymerization edge formed on an outer peripheral edge of the upper surface, and the polymerization edge overlaps with the upper surface of the inner tank to form the second space. The viscometer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the viscometer is hermetically closed. The outer tub has a concave shape, and a locking edge is formed on the outer peripheral edge of the upper surface. The inner tub has a concave shape, and a lid that covers the locking edge is formed on the outer peripheral edge of the upper surface. The viscometer according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the lid portion is engaged with the locking edge portion to hermetically close the first space. The viscometer according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the inner and outer tanks of the thermostatic chamber and the sample container are transparent. The sample container includes a handle extending on the outer periphery of the upper surface.
The viscometer according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein The constant temperature bath and the sample container each have a positioning portion,
The viscometer according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the positioning portions are fitted and fixed to each other when the sample container is accommodated in the inner tank. The viscometer body is fixed to a base table via a support,
The said base stand is equipped with the fixing | fixed part which fixes the position of the said thermostat.
The viscometer according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein The sample container has a sample stirring means inside.
The viscometer according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein The viscometer according to claim 9, wherein the sample stirring means is a rotor made of an electromagnet, and the thermostatic bath is provided with a stirrer installation portion for driving the rotor below. The rotor has a cylindrical shape, and the sample container includes a cylindrical rotor accommodating portion protruding from the other side surface of the sample container, and the rotor is immediately below the rotating means accommodating portion. The viscometer according to claim 10, further comprising a stirrer installation portion.

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