THERMAL PROPERTIES TESTING APPARATUS AND METHODS

• US 20080107148A1
• Filed: 01/10/2008
• Published: 05/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Polyester Fibers, LLC
• Original Assignee: L&P Property Management Company (Leggett & Platt Incorporated)
• Inventors: DeBord, James, Steagall, D., Thompson, Kenneth, Ogle, Steven
• Application Number:
  US11/972,453
• Publication Number:
  US 20080107148A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 374/44
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 25/18 by investigating thermal conductivity by calorimetry G01N25/20; by measuring change of resistance of an electrically-heated body G01N27/18
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 25/50 by investigating flash-point; by investigating explosibility

Abstract

Various embodiments of methods for testing properties of a product comprise: (1) heating a sample of the product via an ignition source and determining a temperature differential across the sample; or (2) exposing a sample of the product to a flame and determining thermal transfer resistivity of the sample; or (3) supporting a sample of the product over an ignition source, heating the sample via the ignition source, and determining a temperature differential across the sample. The tested properties of the product may consist of: open flame resistivity, thermal transfer resistivity, or both.

Claims

1. A method for testing properties of a product comprising a thermal barrier layer comprising:

heating a sample of the product via an ignition source; and

determining a temperature differential across the sample.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the temperature differential across the sample comprises:

taking a first temperature measurement approximately at the ignition source;

taking a second temperature measurement approximately at a surface of the sample furthest from the ignition source; and

calculating the difference between the first and second temperature measurements.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising loading the sample into a testing apparatus.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein loading the sample into the testing apparatus comprises placing the sample onto a support plate that extends over the ignition source.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein loading the sample into the testing apparatus further comprises lowering a holding plate over the sample.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein loading the sample into the testing apparatus further comprises adjusting a displacement between the support plate and the holding plate.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein loading the sample into the testing apparatus further comprises leveling the holding plate with respect to the support plate.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising weighing the sample before and after heating to determine the quantity of sample that burned away during testing.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the properties consist of:

open flame resistivity, thermal transfer resistivity, or both.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the sample is heated for a predetermined test period.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the temperature differential across the sample is determined a plurality of times on a specified time interval during the predetermined test period.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining a temperature differential across each layer of the sample.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein heating the sample of the product via the ignition source comprises:

flowing a gas to the ignition source;

lighting the ignition source; and

regulating the flow of gas to the ignition source.

14. A method for testing properties of a product comprising a thermal barrier layer comprising:

exposing a sample of the product to a flame; and

determining thermal transfer resistivity of the sample.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein determining thermal transfer resistivity of the sample comprises:

measuring a first temperature approximately at a first surface of the sample closest to the flame;

measuring a second temperature approximately at a second surface of the sample furthest from the flame; and

calculating the difference between the first and second temperature measurements.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising determining thermal transfer resistivity across each layer of the sample.

17. A method for testing properties of a product comprising a thermal barrier layer comprising:

supporting a sample of the product over an ignition source;

heating the sample via the ignition source; and

determining a temperature differential across the sample.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein determining the temperature differential across the sample comprises:

taking a first temperature measurement approximately at the ignition source;

taking a second temperature measurement approximately at a surface of the sample furthest from the ignition source; and

calculating the difference between the first and second temperature measurements.

19. The method of claim 17 further comprising weighing the sample before and after heating to determine the quantity of sample that burned away during testing.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the properties consist of:

open flame resistivity, thermal transfer resistivity, or both.

21. The method of claim 17 further comprising determining a temperature differential across each layer of the sample.