Patent ID: 6021661
Filing Date: 2000-02-08
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A high pressure mercury porosimeter for determining the pore volume distribution of two or more samples by intruding and extruding a non-wetting electrically conductive liquid into each of the samples under continuously or step-wise ascending pressure above ambient psi, comprising:a housing having an internal, cavity, said housing cavity including a pair of chambers, each chamber strategically sized in volume and configuration shape to receive at least one penetrometer, each penetrometer having a capillary attached thereto capable of receiving a preselected amount of a non-wetting liquid; said housing including one loading access port to said internal cavity;a top cap removably and sealably connectable to said access port of said housing, said top cap having at least two elongated electrically conductive passages, each passage sized to receive one of said capillaries attached to one of said penetrometers;electrical circuit means between said conductive non-wetting liquid in said penetrometers to a location outside of said housing; andmeans for electrically grounding said top cap conductive chambers;said housing and said top cap together defining a pressure vessel for ascending and descending pressurization of each of said samples intruding and extruding said non-wetting liquid into and out of said samples, including means for simultaneous measurement of said ascending and descending pressure and electrical capacitance between said top cap passage walls and said conductive non-wetting liquid in said penetrometers.