Capillary extrusion rheometer

Claim 1

AN EXTRUSIN CAPILLIARY RHEOMETER COMPRISING A FURNANCE CONTAINING A REMOVABLE BARREL; SAID BARREL CONTAINING AN OPEN CYLINDER AND MEANS FOR REMOVABLY AFFIXING A CAPILIARY FITTING CONCENTRIC WITH SAID CYLINDER; SAID CAPILIARY FITTING HAVING A CAPILIARY OPENING CONCENTRIC WITH SAID CYLINDER AND PROVIDED WITH MEANS FOR POSITIONING A TEMPERATURE SENSING ELEMENT IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO AT LEAST A PORTION OF SAID CAPILLARY OPENING; A PISTON RECIPROCALLY MOVABLE WITHIN SAID CYLINDER AND CAPABLE OF BEING COMPLETELY REMOVED THEREFROM FOR EASE IN INSERTING A THERMOPLASTIC MATERIAL WITHIN SAID CYLINDER; A POWER SOURCE ATTACHED THROUGH A DRIVE SHAFT AND AN ELECTRONIC PRESSURE SENSING ELEMENT TO SAID PISTON AT ITS DRIVEN END; SAID PRESSURE SENSING ELEMENT BEING INSTANTANEOUSLY RESPONSIVE TO THE FORCE EXERTED BY SAID SOURCE IN FORCING SAID THERMOPLASTIC MATERIAL THROUGH THE CAPILLARY OPENING; AN ELECTRONIC VELOCITY SENSING ELEMENT AFFIXED TO SAID DRIVE SHAFT AND INSTANTANEOUSLY RESPONSIVE TO THE VELOCITY AT WHICH THE DRIVE SHAFT MOVES THE PISTON FORCING THE THEREMOPLASTIC MATERIAL THROUGH THE CAPILLARY OPENING; AND A SOURCE OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY INTERCONNECTED WITH SAID PRESSURE SENSING ELEMENT AND SAID VELOCITY SENSING ELEMENT; SAID SENSING ELEMENTS BEING RESPONSIVE TO RAPID MINUTE CHANGES IN PRESSURE AND VELOCITY, RESPECTIVELY.