Control of the UV radiation sources for a weathering apparatus on the basis of the averaged radiation intensity

• US 20060049360A1
• Filed: 08/03/2005
• Published: 03/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ATLAS Material Testing Technology GmbH (Ametek Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: ATLAS Material Testing Technology GmbH (Ametek Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schoenlein, Artur, March, Peter, Rudolph, Bernd, Boerner, Bernhard
• Granted Patent: US 7,544,948 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/372
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 17/004 to light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/105 in response to determined parameters

Abstract

The radiation power emitted from the UV radiation sources (2) in a weathering apparatus is controlled such that the radiation power of each of the radiation sources (2) is measured in a predetermined spectral range of the radiation emitted from the radiation sources, with the spectral range being chosen such that the measured radiation power is representative of the radiation power in the UV, an averaged radiation power is calculated from the measured radiation powers, and the averaged radiation power is used for controlling the electrical power to be supplied to the radiation sources (2). In particular, the control process can be carried out in such a way that the same electrical power, within a predetermined tolerance bandwidth, is supplied to each of the radiation sources (2), and the averaged radiation power is kept constant over time at a desired nominal value.

Claims

1. Method for controlling the UV radiation sources in a weathering apparatus, in which

the radiation power of each of the radiation sources is measured in a predetermined spectral range of the radiation emitted from the radiation sources, with the spectral range being chosen such that the measured radiation power is representative of the radiation power in the UV,

an averaged radiation power is calculated from the measured radiation powers, and

the averaged radiation power is used for controlling the electrical power to be supplied to the radiation sources.

2. Method according to claim 1,

characterized in that

the electrical power is controlled such that the averaged radiation power remains constant over time.

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2,

characterized in that

the control process is carried out in such a way that the same electrical power, within a predetermined tolerance bandwidth, is supplied to each of the radiation sources.

4. Method according to claim 1 or 2,

characterized in that

an averaged radiation power is calculated from measured radiation powers at regular time intervals.

7. Weathering apparatus having a weathering chamber (1), having UV radiation sources (2) and having an arrangement for controlling the UV radiation sources (2), according to claim 4 or 5.

8. Weathering apparatus according to claim 7,

characterized in that

it has a weathering chamber (1) in which the radiation sources (2) and the sensors (4) are accommodated,

wherein

the radiation sources (2) are arranged along a first wall of the weathering chamber (1), and the samples to be weathered are arranged along a second wall, which is opposite the first wall, and

the UV sensors (4) are fitted to a third inner wall, which connects the first wall and the second wall, and in particular are inserted into openings in the third wall.

9. Weathering apparatus according to claim 8,

characterized in that

the samples to be weathered are held by the second wall or a holding plate.

5. Arrangement for controlling the UV radiation sources in a weathering apparatus, comprising:

sensors (4) for measurement of the radiation powers of the UV radiation sources (2) in a spectral range of the radiation emitted from the radiation sources, with the spectral range being chosen such that the measured radiation power is representative of the radiation power in the UV,

a monitoring device (5) for calculating an averaged radiation power from the measured radiation powers, and for production of control signals for the electrical power to be supplied to the radiation sources (2).

6. Arrangement according to claim 5,

characterized in that

each radiation source (2) is connected to a power supply device (3), and each power supply device (3) has a control input which is connected to an output of the monitoring device (5).