Patent ID: 7240545
Filing Date: 2007-07-10
Classification: G01F,G01N

Abstract:
1. A test apparatus for the measurement of a change in volume due to the expansion and/or shrinkage of a curable test sample during curing of the sample from a viscous to a solid state, the apparatus comprising: a. a pressure vessel assembly housing having a sample-containing portion for receiving the test sample and providing an exposed sample surface; b. a flexible barrier seal extending across the sample surface for isolating the test sample in the sample-containing portion; c. a piston slidably mounted in a bore in the vessel assembly housing and spaced apart from the barrier seal to define a first fluid-tight chamber for receiving a volume of a first incompressible pressurized fluid medium; d. a second chamber defined by the opposite wall of the piston and the vessel housing; e. a pressurizing fluid reservoir external to the housing and in fluid communication with the second chamber; f. a pump in fluid communication with the second chamber and reservoir, whereby a fluid in the second chamber pressurized by the pump exerts a corresponding pressure on a sample in the sample-containing portion via the piston; and g. a sensor assembly operably connected to the piston for measuring changes in the position of the piston resulting from the change in volume of the test sample.