Patent ID: 7059175

Claim:
A porosimeter apparatus for studying porous material, comprising: sample holding means for holding samples of the porous material; a clamping device for compressing said samples; a weighing unit; drying devices for drying said samples; means for passing a drying gas through said drying devices; a heater for heating said drying gas; and an automatic manipulator for transferring said sample holding means between the drying devices and the weighing unit; and wherein the distance between each drying device and the weighing unit is sufficient to prevent damage to the weighing unit by the heated drying gas, and wherein said manipulator has two degrees of freedom, said manipulator being capable of performing both vertical and horizontal motions, the former being for placing said sample holding means on, and removing said sample holding means from, the weighing unit, and the latter for transferring said sample holding means between the drying devices and said weighing unit.