Patent ID: 8490464
Filing Date: 2013-07-23
Classification: B01D,G01N

Abstract:
1. An apparatus useful for testing a liquid for aeration, entrainment and/or dissolution of a gas and/or foaming, which comprises an outer, selectively sealable tube, which can serve as a vessel to contain a sample of a liquid such that the sample can be tested in the vessel by aerating the sample with gas for a predetermined length of time at a predetermined rate of flow of the gas, temperature and pressure, such that a vacuum or low-pressure atmosphere can be applied to the aerated sample held at a predetermined temperature, and such that measuring and determining of gas entrained and/or dissolved in the sample can be carried out, in which the temperature of the aerating and measuring is independently at each occurrence (A) substantially elevated with respect to the liquid sample, with foaming engendered through application and maintenance of reduced pressure, and/or (B) moderate with respect to the liquid sample and lower than the substantially elevated temperature, with the measuring and determining carried out through application of reduced pressure to the sample and measurement of the gas thus drawn off; and, within the outer tube, a smaller generally vertical, inner tube also extending upward from the sealed outer tube, which smaller, inner tube is tipped at its bottom with an outlet capable of releasing a gas in a form of fine bubbles into the liquid sample—wherein: the outer tube is transparent glass, has a sealable top portion and a hollow interior, and is of a small size such that, when the sample of the liquid is 20 mL of engine oil, the outlet capable of releasing gas of the inner tube is well below the surface of the 20-mL liquid sample to assure sufficient liquid for formation of foam; a stopper is provided for sealing cooperation with the sealable top portion of the outer tube, which includes: the apparatus further comprises: