Sample fracturing apparatus

Claim 2

In combination, an enclosure structure defining a sealed vacuum chamber, an articulated shaft supported in the enclosing structure and adapted to be rotated and transversely displaced within the enclosing structure, a sample holding carrousel mounted on the end of the shaft within the enclosing structure, a sample fracturing apparatus including a base structure positioned through the walls of the enclosing structure and extending adjacent the sample holding carrousel, said fracturing apparatus including a sample holder mounted on the base structure adjacent the carrousel and including a slot therein, a pivoted breaker member mounted on the base structure adjacent the sample holder and adapted to be pivoted translationally with respect to the slot therein to fracture a sample positioned in the slot and in the path of pivotal movement of the breaker member, means extending through the enclosing structure and connected to the pivoted breaker member being sealed to the enclosing structure for pivoting the breaker member in the fracturing of the sample, and means positioned in the enclosing structure and extending therein for performing an analysis on the fractured sample.

Claim 3

In combination, an enclosure structure defining a sealed vacuum chamber, an articulated shaft supported in the enclosing structure and adapted to be rotated and transversely displaced within the enclosing structure, a sample holding carrousel mounted on the end of the shaft within the enclosing structure, a sample fracturing apparatus including a base structure positioned through the walls of the enclosing structure and extending adjacent the sample holding carrousel, said fracturing apparatus including a sample holder mounted on the base structure adjacent the carrousel and including a slot therein, a pivoted breaker member mounted on the base structure adjacent the sample holder and adapted to be pivoted translationally with respect to the slot therein to fracture a sample positioned in the slot and in the path of pivotal movement of the breaker member, means extending through the enclosing structure and connected to the pivoted breaker member being sealed to the enclosing structure for pivoting the breaker member in the fracturing of the sample, and means positioned in the enclosing structure and extending therein for performing an analysis on the fractured sample.

Claim 4

In combination, an enclosure structure defining a sealed vacuum chamber, an articulated shaft supported in the enclosing structure and adapted to be rotated and transversely displaced within the enclosing structure, a sample holding carrousel mounted on the end of the shaft within the enclosing structure, a sample fracturing apparatus including a base structure positioned through the walls of the enclosing structure and extending adjacent the sample holding carrousel, said fracturing apparatus including a sample holder mounted on the base structure adjacent the carrousel and including a slot therein, a pivoted breaker member mounted on the base structure adjacent the sample holder and adapted to be pivoted translationally with respect to the slot therein to fracture a sample positioned in the slot and in the path of pivotal movement of the breaker member, means extending through the enclosing structure and connected to the pivoted breaker member being sealed to the enclosing structure for pivoting the breaker member in the fracturing of the sample, and means positioned in the enclosing structure and extending therein for performing an analysis on the fractured sample.

Claim 5

The combination of claim 1 in which the means extending through the enclosure and connected to the breaker member is a shaft slidably mounted through the enclosing structure and including bellows means for sealing the same to provide for longitudinal movement to pivot breaker member in the fracturing operation.

Claim 6

The combination of claim 2 in which the base structure includes a flange member adapted to be sealed into the enclosing structure and a frame member extending therefrom and connected thereto and terminating adjacent said carrousel.

Claim 7

The combination of claim 3 in which the sample holder and the breaker member are mounted on the frame member remote from the sealed flange member.

Claim 8

The combination of claim 4 and including conduit means extending through said flange member and to said breaker member and said sample holder to direct the flow of a cooling medium to said members.

Claim 9

The combination of claim 5 in which the frame member includes a breaker mounting block positioned thereon and spaced therefrom which is mounted at the end of the frame member and in turn mounts the sample holder at one end of the same and the breaker member at the opposite end of the same with the breaker member taking the form of an L shaped flange pivoted at the apex of the flange with one edge being directed toward the sample holder and the other edge extending transversely to the mounting block and being connected to the shaft extending through the sealed flange member.

Claim 10

The combination of claim 6 in which the breaker mounting block includes a circulating passage therein connected to the conduit means to provide for the flow of the cooling medium through the breaker mounting block.

Claim 11

The combination of claim 7 and including means extending through the enclosing structure and adapted to evacuate the enclosure therein.

Claim 12

A sample fracturing apparatus comprising, an enclosing structure defining a sealed chamber, a passage means therethrough for evacuating said chamber, means positioned within said chamber and adapted to hold a plurality of cylindrical shaped samples, means connected to said last named means for elevating and rotating said means to orient the samples in various Locations within said enclosing structure, a sample fracturing apparatus including a base structure positioned through said enclosing structure and extending adjacent to said sample holding means, said fracturing apparatus including a sample holder adapted to receive an end of the sample mounted in said sample mounting means and to hold the same for fracturing, a pivoted sample breaker member mounted on said base structure adjacent said sample holder and adapted to be pivoted translationally with respect to the sample holder and the sample therein to fracture the sample held in said sample holder through pivotal movement of said breaker member, means extending through said enclosure and connected to said pivoted breaker member to operate the breaker member for pivotal movement in the fracturing of a sample, and means at least partially within said enclosing structure for performing an analysis on the fractured sample.

Claim 13

A sample fracturing apparatus comprising, an enclosing structure defining a sealed chamber, a passage means therethrough for evacuating said chamber, means positioned within said chamber and adapted to hold a plurality of cylindrical shaped samples, means connected to said last named means for elevating and rotating said means to orient the samples in various Locations within said enclosing structure, a sample fracturing apparatus including a base structure positioned through said enclosing structure and extending adjacent to said sample holding means, said fracturing apparatus including a sample holder adapted to receive an end of the sample mounted in said sample mounting means and to hold the same for fracturing, a pivoted sample breaker member mounted on said base structure adjacent said sample holder and adapted to be pivoted translationally with respect to the sample holder and the sample therein to fracture the sample held in said sample holder through pivotal movement of said breaker member, means extending through said enclosure and connected to said pivoted breaker member to operate the breaker member for pivotal movement in the fracturing of a sample, and means at least partially within said enclosing structure for performing an analysis on the fractured sample.

Claim 14

The sample fracturing apparatus of claim 9 in which the means extending through the enclosure and connected to the sample breaker member is a shaft adapted to be moved along the axial extent of the same and including bellow means positioned in said base structure to seal the shaft for movement.