Patent ID: 7829800

Claim:
A device for the gravimetric determination of liquid volumes, comprising: a) a housing ( 11 ) having the shape and dimensions of a standard rack used in a clinical diagnostic analyzer system for holding sample or reagent containers, the following components being contained in said housing ( 11 ): a load cell ( 12 ) for gravimetric volume determination, a weighing container ( 13 ) for receiving a liquid to be weighed with said load cell ( 12 ), a windbreak ( 14 ) which shields said weighing container ( 13 ) from air flow, an evaporation trap enclosure ( 15 ) which prevents evaporation of liquid loaded into said weighing container ( 13 ), a temperature sensor ( 21 ), an air-pressure sensor ( 31 ) and a humidity sensor ( 41 ) for sensing temperature, air pressure and humidity respectively at predetermined points within said housing ( 11 ), and an electronic processing unit ( 16 ) for processing electrical output signals delivered by said load cell ( 12 ) and by said sensors ( 21 , 31 , 41 ).