Patent ID: 6460399
Filing Date: 2002-10-08
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A testing apparatus for determining the compression strength of a granule, said apparatus comprising:a bottom plate having a top surface; a platform having a top surface and an opposite bottom surface, said bottom surface facing said bottom plate, said top surface including a biasing portion and a contact portion for contacting a granule to be tested; a bottom biasing member positioned between the bottom plate and the platform and in contact with both the top surface of said bottom plate and the bottom surface of said platform, said bottom biasing member biasing said platform away from said bottom plate; an indentor having an indentor bottom surface facing said platform and a contact surface extending below said indentor bottom surface in a direction toward said platform, said contact surface facing said platform and for contacting a granule to be tested that is positioned on said platform; a top biasing member positioned between the top surface of said platform and the indentor bottom surface and in contact with both the indentor bottom surface and the biasing portion of said platform top surface, said top biasing member biasing said indentor away from said platform; and a measuring device to measure force exerted on a granule to be tested under force exertion conditions.