Device for dynamic-mechanical analysis of samples

• US 6,389,906 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2001
• Issued: 05/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mettler Toledo GmbH
• Original Assignee: Mettler Toledo GmbH
• Inventors: Buck, Reinhold
• Primary Examiner(s): NOORI, MAX H
• Application Number:
  US09/775,190
• Publication Number:
  US 20010020393A1
• Time in Patent Office: 475 Days
• Field of Search: 737/88, 737/96, 738/12, 738/18, 738/27, 738/41, 738/46, 738/49, 738/56, 738/60, 738/31
• US Class Current: 73/849
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 3/18 Performing tests at high or low temperatures
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 3/38 generated by electromagnetic means

Abstract

A dynamic-mechanical analysis device has a support with upright longitudinal axis. An electro-mechanical transducer introduces a mechanical force along a linear force transmission path parallel to the longitudinal axis into holder parts of a sample holder for receiving the sample which are deflectable along the force transmission path. The introduced mechanical force is coupled to the first holder part and the reaction force is supported on the second holder part. A measuring device measures the deflection of the holder parts relative to one another. An adjusting device with connector part is connected to the force transmission path and is adjustable transverse to the longitudinal axis along first and second spatial axes perpendicular to one another. It has a first carriage slidable along the first spatial axis, a pivot frame slidable on the first carriage, and a second carriage slidable on the pivot frame along the second spatial axis. The carriages have first and second cylindrical guiding surface segments with cylinder axes parallel to the spatial axes, respectively. The pivot frame is seated on the first cylindrical guiding surface segment, and the connector part is seated on the second cylindrical guiding surface segment.

Claims

1. A device for dynamic-mechanical analysis of samples, the device comprising:

a rigid support with uprightly aligned longitudinal axis;

a sample holder, comprised of a first holder part and a second holder part, arranged in the rigid support;

an electro-mechanical transducer mounted in the rigid support and configured to introduce a mechanical force corresponding to an electrical drive signal into the sample holder along a linear force transmission path parallel to the longitudinal axis;

wherein the first and second holder parts are configured to be deflectable relative to one another along the force transmission path;

wherein a first area of a sample is fastened to the first holder part and a second area of the sample, spaced from the first area of the sample, is fastened to the second holder part;

wherein the mechanical force introduced by the transducer is coupled to the first holder part and the reaction force counteracting the mechanical force introduced by the transducer is supported on the second holder part;

a measuring device configured to measure the deflection of the first and second holding parts relative to one another caused by the mechanical force introduced by the transducer;

an adjusting device having a connector part connected to one end of the force transmission path and adjustable transverse to the longitudinal axis along a first spatial axis and along a second spatial axis extending perpendicularly to the first spatial axis;

the adjusting device comprising a first carriage, configured to be slidable along the first spatial axis and having a first cylindrical guiding surface segment with a first cylinder axis extending parallel to the first spatial axis;

the adjusting device further comprising a pivot frame seated slidably on the first cylindrical guiding surface segment; and

the adjusting device further comprising a second carriage mounted on the pivot frame so as to be slidable along the second spatial axis on the pivot frame, wherein the second carriage has a second cylindrical guiding surface segment with a second cylinder axis parallel to the second spatial axis and the connector part is seated slidably on the second cylindrical guiding surface segment.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second cylinder axes intercept one another.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second guiding surface segments have identical radii of curvature.

4. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a stationary frame-shaped lower housing part having a first threaded spindle rotatably supported in the lower housing part, wherein the first carriage is slidably mounted on said lower housing part, and wherein the threaded spindle extends axially in the first spatial direction and engages a thread of the first carriage.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the first carriage has two opposite end faces extending transversely to the first spatial axis and wherein the first cylindrical guiding surface segment is formed by two circular disc segments provided on the two end faces of the first carriage, respectively, wherein the pivot frame is positioned between the two circular disc segments and has oppositely arranged end faces having recesses shaped complementarily to the two circular disc segments, respectively, wherein the recesses are supported on the circular disc segments.

6. The device according to one claim 5, wherein the pivot frame has a second threaded spindle rotatably supported in the pivot frame and extending axially in the second spatial direction, wherein the second threaded spindle engages a thread of the second carriage.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the second carriage has two end faces extending transversely to the second spatial direction and wherein the second cylindrical guiding surface segment is formed by two cylinder mantle segments formed on the two end faces of the second carriage, wherein the connector has gliding surfaces shaped complementarily to the cylinder mantle segments and is supported with the gliding surfaces on the cylinder mantle segments.

8. The device according to claim 6, wherein the first and second carriages and the pivot frame have cutouts and wherein the connector part has a projection extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis and penetrating through the cutouts of the first and second carriages and of the pivot frame.

9. The device according to claim 6, comprising a stationary upper housing part and a third threaded spindle rotatably supported in the upper housing part and extending axially in the second spatial direction, wherein the third threaded spindle has a first spindle thread and a first driver guided on the spindle thread, wherein the first driver engages the pivot frame.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein a fourth threaded spindle is rotatably and axially slidably supported in the upper housing part, wherein the fourth threaded spindle extends axially in the first spatial direction and has a carriage driver coupled with the second carriage, wherein the fourth threaded spindle has a second spindle thread and a second driver guided on the second spindle thread, wherein the second driver engages the connector part.

11. The device according to claim 10, comprising indicator pins extending parallel to the first, second, third, and fourth threaded spindles, respectively, and connected to the first and second drivers and the first and second carriages guided on the threads of the threaded spindles, respectively.

12. A device for dynamic-mechanical analysis of samples, the device comprising:

a rigid support with uprightly aligned longitudinal axis;

a sample holder, comprised of a first holder part and a second holder part, arranged in the rigid support;

an electro-mechanical transducer mounted in the rigid support and configured to introduce a mechanical force corresponding to an electrical drive signal into the sample holder along a linear force transmission path parallel to the longitudinal axis;

wherein the first and second holder parts are configured to be deflectable relative to one another along the force transmission path;

wherein a first area of a sample is fastened to the first holder part and a second area of the sample, spaced from the first area of the sample, is fastened to the second holder part;

wherein the mechanical force introduced by the transducer is coupled to the first holder part and the reaction force counteracting the mechanical force introduced by the transducer is supported on the second holder part;

a measuring device configured to measure the deflection of the first and second holding parts relative to one another caused by the mechanical force introduced by the transducer;

an adjusting device having a connector part connected to one end of the force transmission path and adjustable transverse to the longitudinal axis along a first spatial axis and along a second spatial axis extending perpendicularly to the first spatial axis;

wherein the sample holder has a housing having a receiving chamber, extending through the housing along a transverse axis extending transversely to the longitudinal axis, and having a housing opening;

a ring arranged in the receiving chamber;

a three-part insert configured to be received in the receiving chamber, wherein the insert, when viewed in the direction of the transverse axis, has a central part forming the first holder part and lateral parts arranged on both sides of the central part and forming the second holder part;

a force transmission member connected to the transducer and the ring and extending through the housing opening into the housing in the direction of the longitudinal axis;

wherein the central part is supported positive-lockingly in the ring with movement play and the lateral parts are supported positive-lockingly in the receiving chamber;

wherein the housing has a connecting area positioned, when viewed along the longitudinal axis, opposite the housing opening, configured to be connected to the measuring device.

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein the central part and the two lateral parts are formed as cylindrical discs with circular end faces extending radially relative to the transverse axis.

14. The device according to claim 12, wherein the insert has a sample receiving chamber in the central part, a clamping gap extending from the sample receiving chamber radially outwardly relative to the transverse axis, and a rigid rod penetrating the sample receiving chamber in the direction of the transverse axis at a location spaced radially from the clamping gap, wherein the two lateral parts have recesses and wherein ends of the rod are supported in the recesses.

15. The device according to claim 12, wherein the insert has a sample receiving chamber in the central part, a support surface provided in the sample receiving chamber for supporting a sample radially relative to the transverse axis, and a counter abutment penetrating the receiving chamber in the direction of the transverse axis at a location radially spaced from the support surface, wherein the two lateral parts have recesses and wherein ends of the counter abutment are supported in the recesses of the two lateral parts.

16. The device according to claim 12, wherein the central part and the two lateral parts have centering bores aligned with one another in the direction of the transverse axis, wherein the housing has centering pins and wherein the centering pins are received in the centering bores.

17. A device for dynamic-mechanical analysis of samples, the device comprising:

a rigid support with uprightly aligned longitudinal axis;

a sample holder, comprised of a first holder part and a second holder part, arranged in the rigid support;

an electro-mechanical transducer mounted in the rigid support and configured to introduce a mechanical force corresponding to an electrical drive signal into the sample holder along a linear force transmission path parallel to the longitudinal axis;

wherein the first and second holder parts are configured to be deflectable relative to one another along the force transmission path;

wherein a first area of a sample is fastened to the first holder part and a second area of the sample, spaced from the first area of the sample, is fastened to the second holder part;

wherein the mechanical force introduced by the transducer is coupled to the first holder part and the reaction force counteracting the mechanical force introduced by the transducer is supported on the second holder part;

a measuring device configured to measure the deflection of the first and second holding parts relative to one another caused by the mechanical force introduced by the transducer;

an adjusting device having a connector part connected to one end of the force transmission path and adjustable transverse to the longitudinal axis along a first spatial axis and along a second spatial axis extending perpendicularly to the first spatial axis;

wherein the rigid support is a tubular body enclosing the force transmission path defined by the transducer, the sample holder, the measuring device, and the adjusting device, the tubular body having an access opening in the area of the sample holder.

18. The device according to claim 17, further comprising two tempering chamber halves in the area of the sample holder, wherein the two tempering chamber halves are slidable along a transverse axis, extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis, between a closed position, in which the two tempering chamber halves enclose the sample holder, and an open position, in which the sample holder is exposed.

19. The device according to claim 18, wherein the tempering chamber halves comprise two lateral arms supported on the tubular body.