Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
Testing apparatus for bulk solids comprising, in combination, a test cell for containing the solids having a laterally enclosing wall converging from a first end toward a second end thereof, the cross sectional area of the first end exceeding the cross sectional area of the second end, means for applying pressure to the solids over said area of the first end including means to increase said pressure and a sensor for measuring said pressure, and means extending over said area of the second end, movable in the direction toward and away from the first end and adapted to confine the solids in the cell.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
104 words
Testing apparatus for bulk solids comprising, in combination, a test cell for containing the solids having a laterally enclosing wall converging from a first end toward a second end thereof, the cross sectional area of the first end exceeding the cross sectional area of the second end, means for applying pressure to the solids over said area of the first end including means to increase said pressure and a sensor for measuring said pressure, and means extending over said area of the second end, movable in the direction toward and away from the first end and adapted to confine the solids in the cell.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
Testing apparatus according to claim 1, in which the test cell has a vertical wall of conical shape.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
Testing apparatus according to claim 1, in which the pressure applying means comprise a plunger.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
Testing apparatus according to claim 1, including a sealed expansible chamber in force-applying engagement with the plunger and means for applying a measured variable fluid pressure to the chamber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
Testing apparatus according to claim 1, in which the test cell is ported for escape of gas from the pressurized solids.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
Testing apparatus according to claim 5, in which said wall is foraminous.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
Testing apparatus according to claim 1, in which said cell has a faraminous plunger.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
Testing apparatus according to claim 6, including means to conduct a gas through a first portion of said wall into the cell and through a second portion of said wall from the cell.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
Testing apparatus according to claim 1, including means for controlling the temperature of the test cell.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
Testing apparatus according to claim 1, including pressure applying means adapted to apply fluid pressure directly to the surface of the solids over the cross sectional area at the first end.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
Testing apparatus according to claim 1, in which the last-mentioned means comprise a plunger having means for applying a variable force thereto and a second sensor for measuring said force.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of testing the properties of bulk solids comprising the steps of confining a sample of said solids within a test cell having a laterally enclosing wall converging from one end toward the other whereby the cross sectional area of the sample is greater at said one end than at the other, applying an independently controlled and measured pressure to the sample at each said end, and increasing the pressure applied to said one end until the ratio thereof to the resulting pressure at the other end reaches a steady state value.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of testing the properties of bulk solids comprising the steps of confining a sample of said solids within a test cell having a laterally enclosing wall converging from one end toward the other whereby the cross sectional area of the sample is greater at said one end than at the other, applying an independently controlled and measured pressure to the sample at each said end, and increasing the pressure applied to said one end until the ratio thereof to the resulting pressure at the other end reaches a steady state value.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 12, in which gas is permitted to escape from the test cell during said application of pressure.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method according to claim 12, including the step of passing a fluid into the test cell, through the sample and from the test cell during said application of pressure.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of testing the properties of bulk solids comprising the steps of confining a sample of said solids within a test cell having a laterally enclosing wall converging from one end toward the other whereby the cross sectional area of the sample is greater at said one said end than at the other, applying a measured pressure to said one end while confining the solids in the cell over the area of said second end, removing the applied pressure, removing the confinement of the solids over said last-mentioned area, reapplying and increasing a measured pressure to said one end until the solids fail at said other end, and detecting the value of the applied pressure when said failure occurs.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of testing the properties of bulk solids comprising the steps of confining a sample of said solids within a test cell having a laterally enclosing wall converging from one end toward the other whereby the cross sectional area of the sample is greater at said one said end than at the other, applying a measured pressure to said one end while confining the solids in the cell over the area of said second end, removing the applied pressure, removing the confinement of the solids over said last-mentioned area, reapplying and increasing a measured pressure to said one end until the solids fail at said other end, and detecting the value of the applied pressure when said failure occurs.