Abstract:
An exemplary thermal shock tester including a main body ( 11 ) and a temperature adjuster, the main body including a lid ( 112 ) and defining a test area ( 114 ); the temperature adjuster including a heater (15) and a cooler, wherein the heater and the cooler is respectively configured for increasing and decreasing the temperature in the test area. An exemplary thermal shock testing method is also disclosed.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention generally relates to thermal shock testers, and more particularly to a relatively cheap and simple thermal shock tester.  
       DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART  
       [0002]     With the development of technology, electronic products are more and more important in our everyday lives. In manufacturing, performance testing of finished or half-finished products is quite important. To ensure that the products function properly in differing temperature conditions, thermal resistance test of the product is necessary.  
         [0003]     However, a general thermal testing instrument is relatively complex and expensive. In addition, some thermal testing instruments may need to be modified for individual test subjects. Furthermore, current thermal testing instruments are not fit for use in the lab while developing a new product. As a result, research and development are made more expensive.  
         [0004]     Accordingly, what is needed is a relatively inexpensive thermal shock tester with relatively simple structure.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     In one embodiment thereof, a thermal shock tester includes a main body and a temperature adjuster. The main body includes a lid and defines a test area. The temperature adjuster includes a heater. The heater is provided with the main body for increasing the temperature in the test area.  
         [0006]     A thermal shock testing method including the following steps: providing thermal shock tester including a main body having a lid and defining a test area, a temperature adjuster having a heater and a cooler configured for use with the main body, and a temperature sensor; providing some purificant and some refrigerant. Providing a sample to be tested; the sample to be tested is put in the test area, and test area is sealed with the lid; when doing a heat-resistance test, all the valves are closed, the heater is activated, the temperature in the test area is increased by thermal input from the heater, the needed temperature in the test area can be controlled with the assistance of the temperature sensor; during a cooling test, the air condition in test area is refreshed by the purificant input through the cooler, moderate refrigerant is input through the cooler, and the temperature in the test area is decreased, the needed temperature in the test area can be controlled using the temperature sensor; and the sample to be tested is removed from the test area.  
         [0007]     Other advantages and novel features will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]     Many aspects of the thermal shock tester can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present thermal shock tester. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.  
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a thermal shock tester in accordance with an preferred embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a partly cut-away view of the thermal shock tester shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]     Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , a thermal shock tester  10  of an preferred embodiment includes a main body  11 , a temperature adjuster, and a temperature sensor  13 .  
         [0012]     The main body  11  is a hollow cylinder having a lid  112  in one end thereof. The lid  112  is a thin board. The main body  11  defines a cavity that is a test area  114 . The test area  114  is a close space sealed by the lid  112 . When the lid  112  is uncapped, a sample to be tested  20  is put in or removed from the test area  114 . The size and shape of the main body  11  can also be designed according to the size and shape of the sample to be tested  20 .  
         [0013]     The temperature adjuster includes a cooler (not labeled) and a heater  15 . The cooler includes pipes  122 ,  124 ,  126  and  128 , and plural valves  120 . The pipes  122 ,  124 ,  126  and  128  are formed through the periphery of the main body  11  and near the two ends of the main body  11 . One end of each of the pipes  122 ,  124 ,  126  and  128  is connected to the test area  114 , and the other end is connected to the outside of the main body  11 . Each of the pipes  122 ,  124 ,  126 , and  128  has a valve  120  for controlling flow of cooling media, such as cooling gas or liquid in and out the test area  114 . In the present embodiment, the valve  120  is a manual-controlled valve. Alternatively, the valve  120  can also be provided as an auto valve, such as a magnetic valve. The cooler is configured for decreasing the temperature in the test area  114  by using moderate refrigerant such as liquefied inert gases like liquid nitrogen (N2), liquid argon (Ar), and liquid carbon dioxide (CO2). The cooler is also used to purge the air using a certain purificant such as inert gas N2, Ar and CO2, and the like.  
         [0014]     The heater  15  can be chosen from the group consisting of resistance heaters, electron-beam heaters, arc heaters, radium heaters or the like. In the embodiment, the heater  15  is a heating circuit. The heater  15  is fitted around the periphery of the main body  11 . Through thermal conduction, the temperature in the test area  14  can be increased. Alternatively, the heater  15  can also be attached in the inner of the main body  11  to increase the temperature in the test area  114 .  
         [0015]     The temperature sensor  13  is provided for testing temperature in the test area  114  of the main body  11 . The temperature sensor  13  is inserted into the test area  114  through the lid  112 . One end of the temperature sensor  13  is provided for temperature sensing and retained in the test area  114 . The other end of the temperature sensor  13  is provided for displaying the temperature, and it protrudes a little from the lid  112  to be convenient for reading the related data shown by the temperature sensor  13 . The temperature sensor  13  can be chosen from the group consisting of thermometers, a thermographs and temperature probes. The temperature sensor  13  can also be used with a PID (proportional integral derivative) controlling module (not shown). The PID controlling module is electrically connected with the temperature sensor  13 . The PID controlling module can control the valve  120  to open or close based on the temperature information sensed by the temperature sensor  13 .  
         [0016]     During test, some purificant and some refrigerant is provided. The sample to be tested  20  is put in the test area  14 . The temperature sensor  13  is assembled with the main body  11 . The test area  114  is sealed with the lid  112 .  
         [0017]     In a cooling test, the liquid input and the liquid output are closed, that is, the valve  120  on each of the pipes  122  and  126  are closed. Some purificant is input into the test area  114  through the pipe  124 , and the air formerly retained in the test area  114  is output from the test area  114  through the pipe  128 , so that the air condition in test area  114  is refreshed. The valve  120  configured on each of the pipes  124 ,  126  and  128  is closed, and the valve  120  configured on the pipe  122  is opened to make the refrigerant input through the pipe  122 , so that the temperature in the test area  114  is decreased. Based on the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor  13 , the temperature in the test area  114  can be controlled according to need by adjusting the valve  120  configured on the pipe  122 .  
         [0018]     In a heat-resistance test, each valve  120  is closed. The heater  15  is activated. The temperature in the test area  114  is increased by thermal input from the heater  15 . The needed temperature in the test area  114  can be controlled based on the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor  13 .  
         [0019]     In addition, the temperature sensor  13  can be wholly retained in the test area  114 , and the main body  11  can be made transparent allow of the temperature sensor  13 . The temperature sensor  13  can be omitted, and the temperature in the test area  114  can be controlled according to the thermoregulation modulus of the refrigerant, that is, the relationship between the refrigerant and the difference in temperature, so that controlling the temperature in the test area  114  can be implemented by controlling a flow velocity and duration of the refrigerant. It is to be understood that the purificant can be omitted, and only the heating or cooling process is carried out. The pipes  122 ,  124 ,  126  and  128  and the plural valves  120  can be omitted, in cooling test, the refrigerant can be input into the test area  114  with the lid  112  uncapped.  
         [0020]     It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.