Universal penetration test apparatus and method

• US 5,633,453 A
• Filed: 06/21/1995
• Issued: 05/27/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mayo Foundation For Medical Education And Research (Mayo Clinic)
• Original Assignee: Mayo Foundation For Medical Education And Research (Mayo Clinic)
• Inventors: Johnson, Phillip W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Hezron E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LARKIN, DANIEL SEAN
• Application Number:
  US08/493,277
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• Field of Search: 73/38, 73/64.47, 73/78, 73/81, 73/82, 73/84, 73/85, 73/818, 73/820, 73/821
• US Class Current: 73/38
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/08 Investigating permeability, pore-volume, or surface area of porous materials
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/082 Investigating permeability by forcing a fluid through a sample

Abstract

A universal penetration test apparatus for measuring resistance of a material to a challenge fluid. The apparatus includes a pad saturated with the challenge fluid and supported on a platform. A rod having a top end and a base end is positioned on a frame such that the base end is located directly above the pad and the material is located between the pad and the base end of the rod. A compression assembly compresses the test material between the base end of the rod and the pad such that the test material'"'"'s ability to resist penetration by the challenge fluid is tested.

Claims

1. A universal penetration test apparatus for measuring resistance of a material to a challenge fluid, comprising:

an absorbent pad capable of absorbing the challenge fluid;

a platform for supporting the pad;

a rod having a top end and a base end, the base end being positionable directly above the pad, the material being positionable between the pad and the base end of the rod;

a frame for holding the rod; and

a screw assembly for compressing the pad and the material between the base end of the rod and the platform, the screw assembly including a substantially vertical screw and a first turning wheel mounted on the screw, wherein when the first turning wheel is rotated in a first direction, the platform moves vertically toward the base end of the rod, and when the first turning wheel is rotated in a second direction, the platform moves vertically away from the base end of the rod, the screw assembly also including a second turning wheel mounted on the screw for precisely controlling the location of the platform.

2. A universal penetration test apparatus for measuring resistance of a material to a challenge fluid, comprising:

an absorbent pad capable of absorbing the challenge fluid;

a platform for supporting the pad;

a rod having a top end and a base end, the base end being positionable directly above the pad and including concentric circles of varying widths cut at different depths with an innermost concentricity having the greatest depth, the material being positionable between the pad and the base end of the rod;

a frame for holding the rod; and

a screw assembly for compressing the pad and the material between the base end of the rod and the platform, the screw assembly including a substantially vertical screw and a first turning wheel mounted on the screw, wherein when the first turning wheel is rotated in a first direction, the platform moves vertically toward the base end of the rod, and when the first turning wheel is rotated in a second direction, the platform moves vertically away from the base end of the rod.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the rod defines a passageway extending longitudinally therethrough which is in fluid communication with the innermost concentricity.

4. A universal penetration test apparatus for measuring resistance of a material to a challenge fluid, comprising:

a platform assembly including an upper platform positioned in spaced relation from a lower platform, the platform assembly including a weighing mechanism positioned between and interconnecting the upper and lower platforms;

a receptacle for containing the challenge fluid, the receptacle being supported by the upper platform of the platform assembly;

an absorbent pad positioned within the receptacle for absorbing the challenge fluid, the absorbent pad having a predetermined absorbency and resiliency;

a pressure head positioned above the absorbent pad, the material being positionable between the pad and the pressure head;

a frame for fixedly retaining the pressure head above the upper platform;

a screw assembly for compressing the pad and the material between the pressure head and the upper platform, the screw assembly including a substantially vertical screw extending between the lower platform and a drive member that is rotatably connected to the frame, the drive member being rotatably connected to the frame by a bearing such that the drive member is not moveable in a vertical direction, the drive member including internal threads that mate with external threads of the vertical screw member; and

a motorized drive mechanism for rotating the drive member in first and second directions, wherein when the drive member is rotated the first direction, the vertical screw is driven upward such that the platform assembly is moved toward the pressure head, and when the drive member is rotated in the second direction, the vertical screw is driven downward such that the platform assembly is moved away from the pressure head.