Viscosity measuring device

Claim 2

Apparatus for use in testing biological and other fluids to determine characteristics such as viscosity, comprising, a linearly reciprocal carrier adapted to receive a container for a fluid sample, means for reciprocating said carrier, a pendulum, means pivotally mounting said pendulum above said carrier, said pendulum arranged to extend into a sample in a container on said carrier, and means for sensing predetermined movement of said pendulum in a sample as said carrier is reciprocated, said support member being constructed and arranged to permit pivotal motion in at least one direction to allow the tip of said pendulum to be moved into and out of a container on said carrier.

Claim 3

Apparatus for use in testing biological and other fluids to determine characteristics such as viscosity, comprising, a linearly reciprocal carrier adapted to receive a container for a fluid sample, means for reciprocating said carrier, a pendulum, means pivotally mounting said pendulum above said carrier, said pendulum arranged to extend into a sample in a container on said carrier, and means for sensing predetermined movement of said pendulum in a sample as said carrier is reciprocated, said support member being constructed and arranged to permit pivotal motion in at least one direction to allow the tip of said pendulum to be moved into and out of a container on said carrier.

Claim 4

Apparatus for use in testing biological and other fluids to determine characteristics such as viscosity, comprising, a linearly reciprocal carrier adapted to receive a container for a fluid sample, means for reciprocating said carrier, a pendulum, means pivotally mounting said pendulum above said carrier, said pendulum arranged to extend into a sample in a container on said carrier, and means for sensing predetermined movement of said pendulum in a sample as said carrier is reciprocated, said support member being constructed and arranged to permit pivotal motion in at least one direction to allow the tip of said pendulum to be moved into and out of a container on said carrier.

Claim 5

Apparatus for use in testing biological and other fluids to determine characteristics such as viscosity, comprising, a linearly reciprocal carrier adapted to receive a container for a fluid sample, means for reciprocating said carrier, a pendulum pivotally mounted above said carrier and arranged to extend into a sample in a container on said carrier, means for sensing predetermined movement of said pendulum in a sample as said carrier is reciprocated, a housing member having a top wall, a slot defined in said top wall, said carrier member having a portion extending into said housing through said slot, and a linear guide member in said housing, said carrier portion being guidably mounted to said guide member.

Claim 6

Apparatus for use in testing biological and other fluids to determine characteristics such as viscosity, comprising, a linearly reciprocal carrier adapted to receive a container for a fluid sample, means for reciprocating said carrier, a pendulum pivotally mounted above said carrier and arranged to extend into a sample in a container on said carrier, means for sensing predetermined movement of said pendulum in a sample as said carrier is reciprocated, a housing member having a top wall, a slot defined in said top wall, said carrier member having a portion extending into said housing through said slot, and a linear guide member in said housing, said carrier portion being guidably mounted to said guide member.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 2 further including means for heating said carrier member to a predetermined temperature.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said heating means is carried by said guide.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 3 further including a housing member having a top wall, a plurality of apertures in said top wall for receiving sample containers therein, and means for heating said top wall to a predetermined temperature to preheat the sample containers.

Claim 10

Apparatus for use in testing biological and other fluids to determine characteristics such as viscosity, comprising, a linearly reciprocal carrier adapted to receive a container for a fluid sample, means for reciprocating said carrier, a pendulum pivotally mounted above said carrier and arranged to extend into a sample in a container on said carrier, means for sensing predetermined movement of said pendulum in a sample as said carrier is reciprocated, said means for sensing movement comprising means extending above the pivot point of said pendulum and having a slot therein, and a lamp and photo-sensitive element disposed on either side of said extending means such that light normally passes through the slot and is incident on said photosensitive element, said extending portion being effective to interrupt incidence of light on said photosensitive element upon predetermined movement of said pendulum.

Claim 11

Apparatus for use in testing biological and other fluids to determine characteristics such as viscosity, comprising, a linearly reciprocal carrier adapted to receive a container for a fluid sample, means for reciprocating said carrier, a pendulum pivotally mounted above said carrier and arranged to extend into a sample in a container on said carrier, means for sensing predetermined movement of said pendulum in a sample as said carrier is reciprocated, said means for sensing movement comprising means extending above the pivot point of said pendulum and having a slot therein, and a lamp and photo-sensitive element disposed on either side of said extending means such that light normally passes through the slot and is incident on said photosensitive element, said extending portion being effective to interrupt incidence of light on said photosensitive element upon predetermined movement of said pendulum.

Claim 12

Apparatus for use in testing biological and other fluids to determine characteristics such as viscosity, comprising, a linearly reciprocal carrier adapted to receive a container for a fluid sample, means for reciprocating said carrier, a pendulum pivotally mounted above said carrier and arranged to extend into a sample in a container on said carrier, means for sensing predetermined movement of said pendulum in a sample as said carrier is reciprocated and means for measuring the time between initiation of reciprocation of said carrier and predetermined movement of said pendulum.

Claim 13

Apparatus for use in testing biological and other fluids to determine characteristics such as viscosity, comprising, a linearly reciprocal carrier adapted to receive a container for a fluid sample, means for reciprocating said carrier, a pendulum pivotally mounted above said carrier and arranged to extend into a sample in a container on said carrier, means for sensing predetermined movement of said pendulum in a sample as said carrier is reciprocated and means for measuring the time between initiation of reciprocation of said carrier and predetermined movement of said pendulum.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said means for reciprocating said carrier member is an electric motor, said means for measuring the time includes an electric timing motor, and means for energizing said motors simultaneously.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 8 further including means responsive to predetermined movement of said pendulum for interrupting energization of said timing motor.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 8 further including circuit means for providing energy to said motor subsequent to predetermined movement of said pendulum until said carrier member is in a predetermined position.

Claim 17

Apparatus for use in testing biological and other fluids to determine characteristics such as viscosity, comprising, a linearly reciprocal carrier adapted to receive a container for a fluid sample, means for reciprocating said carrier, a pendulum pivotally mounted above said carrier and arranged to extend into a sample in a container on said carrier, means for sensing predetermined movement of said pendulum in a sample as said carrier is reciprocated and a motor for reciprocating said carrier, first and second circuits for energizing said motor, said first and second circuits being effective to energize said motor during reciprocating operation of said carrier, said first circuit being open when said carrier is in a predetermined position and otherwise closed, whereby when said second circuit is opened said carrier will continue to reciprocate until it reaches said predetermined position.

Claim 18

Apparatus for use in testing biological and other fluids to determine characteristics such as viscosity, comprising, a linearly reciprocal carrier adapted to receive a container for a fluid sample, means for reciprocating said carrier, a pendulum pivotally mounted above said carrier and arranged to extend into a sample in a container on said carrier, means for sensing predetermined movement of said pendulum in a sample as said carrier is reciprocated and a motor for reciprocating said carrier, first and second circuits for energizing said motor, said first and second circuits being effective to energize said motor during reciprocating operation of said carrier, said first circuit being open when said carrier is in a predetermined position and otherwise closed, whereby when said second circuit is opened said carrier will continue to reciprocate until it reaches said predetermined position.