Patent ID: 8042382

Claim:
An improved device for measuring physical characteristics of a porous solid sample by performing successive drainage and imbibition phases, in the presence of a first electrically-conducting fluid and of a second fluid of lower density than the first fluid comprising: rotatable mobile equipment including at least one elongate vessel provided with an inner cavity for the sample, the at least one vessel being fastened to an end of an arm secured to a fulcrum pin and associated with means for balancing, means for driving the arm in rotation for creating a centrifugal force exerted along a direction of elongation of the at least one vessel, a system for displacing at least the second fluid of lower density, and means for detecting an interface position of the fluids in the at least one vessel comprises a capacitive sonde placed in the at least one vessel along a direction of elongation thereof, for continuously detecting displacement of the interface between the two fluids in the at least one vessel, and the means for detecting an interface position of the fluids in the at least one vessel being externally connected to a measuring device through a rotatable connector.