Patent ID: 6840305

Claim:
A heat transfer apparatus for use in measuring a rheological property of a test sample, the heat transfer apparatus comprising: a receptacle for receiving the test sample; and a heat conveying member disposed in heat transfer relation to the receptacle, the receptacle located within an interior defined by the heat conveying member such that the receptacle is substantially surrounded by the heat conveying member, the heat conveying member including at least first and second internal passages spaced apart from one another through at least a portion of the heat conveying member, each of the first and second internal passages having first and second ends, an inlet, an outlet, a passage splitter connected to the inlet and the first ends of the first and second internal passages for dividing a flow of a fluid from the inlet between the first and second internal passages, and a passage union connected to the outlet and the second ends of the first and second internal passages, each of the first and second internal passages defining a substantial complete loop around the interior of the conveying member and the receptacle therein, the passage splitter and the first and second internal passages arranged for counter-flow circulation in which a flow of fluid is respectively directed in the first and second internal passages through the heat conveying member in clockwise and counterclockwise directions.