Patent US4445367A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4445367A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Hardness tester
Assignee: Unisearch Ltd
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Filing: 1981-11-23
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Granted: 1984-05-01
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Expires: 2001-11-23
Abstract
Abstract A thermal contact resistance having a thermocouple whereby the contact resistance between a probe of the thermocouple and a test material is less dependant on the thermal conductivity of the test material and more dependent on its hardness.
Inventors
- 👤 Hiroshi J. Goldsmid
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 14:37
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N3/00; G01N3/40; G01N3/42; G01N2203/00; G01N2203/0098; G01N2203/02; G01N2203/06; G01N2203/0617; G01N2203/0641; G01N2203/067; G01N2203/0694
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
39 words
A thermal contact resistance hardness tester comprising a probe head of a relatively hard material so that the thermal contact resistance therebetween relates to the hardness of the test material; means for supplying thermal energy to said probe head.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
39 words
A thermal contact resistance hardness tester comprising a probe head of a relatively hard material so that the thermal contact resistance therebetween relates to the hardness of the test material; means for supplying thermal energy to said probe head.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A hardness tester as claimed in claim 1 comprising means for providing a substantially constant force between the probe and a test material when said probe is applied to said test material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A hardness tester as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the probe tip has a thermal conductivity slightly lower than that of a material to be tested.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A hardness tester as claimed in claim 1 wherein said probe head is attached adjacent a junction between two branches of a thermocouple.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A hardness tester as claimed in claim 4 comprising heating means for heating a branch of said thermocouple.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A hardness tester as claimed in claim 5 wherein said heating means comprises an electrical resistance heating element.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
A hardness tester as claimed in claim 1 comprising another probe head of a relatively soft material and wherein the probe heads have substantially the same thermal conductivity or are substantially higher than that of a test material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A hardness tester as claimed in claim 7 comprising means for applying a small constant force via said softer probe to said test material and a variable load via said hard probe to said test material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
A hardness tester as claimed in claim 1 comprising another probe head of the same material or of a material having substantially the same hardness and thermal conductivity as said first mentioned probe head.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
A hardness tester as claimed in claim 7 or 9 wherein said two probes are positioned side by side so that they are brought down together to contact said test material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
A hardness tester as claimed in claim 7 or 9 wherein each probe head is attached adjacent a junction between two branches of a respective thermocouple.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
A hardness tester as claimed in claim 11 comprising heating means for heating a branch of one of said thermocouples.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
A hardness tester as claimed in claim 12 wherein said heating means comprises an electrical resistance heating element attached to a thermocouple branch.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
A hardness tester as claimed in claim 11 comprising heating means for heating a branch of each thermocouple.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
A hardness tester as claimed in claim 14 wherein each heating means comprises an electrical resistance heating element attached to a thermocouple branch.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
61 words
A thermal contact resistance hardness tester comprising a probe head of a relatively hard material so that the thermal contact resistance between the head and a test material relates to the hardness of the test material, means for supplying thermal energy to said probe head; and means for measuring the thermal contact resistance between the probe head and the test material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
61 words
A thermal contact resistance hardness tester comprising a probe head of a relatively hard material so that the thermal contact resistance between the head and a test material relates to the hardness of the test material, means for supplying thermal energy to said probe head; and means for measuring the thermal contact resistance between the probe head and the test material.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
A hardness tester as claimed in claim 16 wherein the means for measuring the thermal contact resistance comprises a thermocouple and wherein said probe head is attached adjacent a junction between two branches of said thermocouple.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
39 words
A hardness tester as claimed in claim 17 further comprising another probe head of a relatively soft material and wherein the probe heads have substantially the same thermal conductivity or are substantially higher than that of a test material.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
33 words
A hardness tester as claimed in claim 18 wherein each probe head is attached adjacent a junction between two branches of a respective thermocouple of the means for measuring the thermal contact resistance.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
A hardness tester as claimed in claim 19 wherein said means for supplying thermal energy comprise heating means for heating a branch of one of said thermocouple.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
A hardness tester as claimed in claim 19 wherein said means for supplying thermal energy comprise heating means for heating a branch of each thermocouple.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
28 words
A hardness tester as claimed in claim 16 wherein said means for supplying thermal energy to said head comprises heating means for heating a branch of said thermocouple.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-05-01 | 1987-10-31 | 1988-05-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-05-01 | 1991-10-31 | 1992-05-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-05-01 | 1995-10-31 | 1996-05-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |