JPH0226053Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a viscometer, and particularly to a rotational viscometer employing a cone-shaped rotor.

[Prior Art] Viscosity measurement of liquids has been conventionally carried out in a wide range of fields, including quality control in production processes and medical research of biological fluids.

Among viscometers for measuring the viscosity, rotational viscometers are generally preferred and often used for non-Newtonian liquids (gelatin, ink, etc.). This rotational viscometer rotates a rotor of a predetermined shape in a liquid to be measured by a synchronous motor, and detects the delayed phase during steady rotation due to the frictional viscous torque that acts on the outer circumference of the rotor as it rotates. ,
The viscosity is calculated based on this delayed phase signal.

Among the rotational viscometers mentioned above, the one equipped with a cone-shaped rotor 1 as shown in Fig. 13 is the most suitable for biological fluids (blood, tears, etc.) and precious small sample liquids. It has become suitable. The conventional example shown in FIG. 13 has a cone-shaped rotor 1.
(Actually, the height h of the rotor is about 1 mm.) As shown in the figure, the small amount of liquid 3 in the sample cup 2 is
The conical protruding portion 1A on the lower surface side of the rotor 1 is brought into contact with the rotor 1, and the viscosity can be measured by rotating the rotor 1. Therefore, since the rotor 1 has a conical shape, the shear rate between the center and the periphery of the conical shape is constant, and the rotor 1 has the advantage that viscosity measurement is accurate even with a small amount of sample.

Such a cone-shaped rotor 1 is actually
As shown in FIG. 14, it can be attached to and detached from the viscometer main body 4. To explain this further,
In FIG. 14, a synchronous motor (not shown) is first installed at a predetermined upper position in the viscometer main body 4. As shown in FIG. The rotational force of this synchronous motor is transmitted to a cone-shaped rotor 1 supported below a cylindrical housing 4A via a transmission, a spring, a rotor shaft, etc. (not shown). Around the rotor 1, there is a gap between the rotor 1 and the inner bottom surface of the sample cup 2.
3), an adjuster string 8 made of a precision screw similar to a micrometer is integrally provided with the housing 4A.

After the operator gently puts a precious small amount of the liquid to be measured 3 into the center of the sample cup 2, the operator carefully prevents the liquid from collapsing due to vibration or tilting, scattering around the cup, or spilling outside. While taking care to do so, gently lift and move the sample cup 2 so that it comes into contact with the lower end of the adjuster string 8. Next, the sample cup handle 10 for tightening is rotated, and the support rod 11 and leaf spring 1 connected to the handle 10 are rotated.
It is pressed and fixed by a support part 13 made up of two parts.

[Problem that the invention attempts to solve]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional technology, the operator has to remove the sample cup 2 after adding the liquid to be measured.
Lift it up with your hand and move it to Asia String 8.
If the sample cup 2 vibrates or tilts during the movement until it is mounted, the liquid to be measured may come off the center or be scattered around, causing interference with the conical rotor 1. It often happens that the abutment is not performed accurately, which makes the mounting operation troublesome and requires a lot of time in preparation for measurement.

Furthermore, there is a risk that valuable samples may be spilled outside during the movement, and in this case, there is an inconvenience in that the worst case scenario is that the urgent measurement becomes impossible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the disadvantages of the prior art, an object of the present invention is to provide a viscometer that can be attached to a viscometer body without tilting or vibrating a sample cup after adding a liquid to be measured.

[Means for solving problems]

Therefore, the present invention has a sample cup, a housing that is detachably equipped with and supports the sample cup, and a main body that supports the housing. In a viscometer equipped with a rotor, a fixed support part provided with height adjustment means for the sample cup is provided between the housing and the sample cup, and the sample cup can be attached to and removed from the fixed support part. The above objective is achieved by adopting a configuration in which an arm member is provided to freely support the sample cup and move the sample cup back and forth in a predetermined direction with respect to the fixed support part while maintaining its horizontality. This is what I am trying to do.

[Example of idea]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 12.
This will be explained based on the diagram.

In these figures, 20 indicates an adapter device. As shown in FIG. 12, this adapter device 20 has a configuration in which it is detachably attached to a cylindrical housing 22A projecting downward from the center and supporting and accommodating the rotor shaft, etc. of the viscometer main body 22. It is becoming. This housing 22A has a rotor 22B, which will be described later, at its inner center, and a rotor shaft 22 that is detachably engaged with the rotor 22B and driven to rotate.
It has a structure in which C is rotatably equipped.

The adapter device 20 is connected to the viscometer main body 22.
A fixed part 20A to which the device 20 is attached, a movable part 20B partially locked to the fixed part 20A and movable in the vertical and horizontal directions, and the movable part 2
A sample cup 20C for introducing the liquid to be measured is configured to be removably placed on 0B, and this sample cup 20C is superimposed on the lower end of the fixed part 20A via the movable part 20B and fixed by pressing and locking. It is composed of a pressing lock mechanism 20D.

As shown in FIG. 1, the fixing portion 20A serves as a joint member 24 as a connecting means, and as a height adjusting means configured to be able to finely adjust the height by screwing into the outer peripheral portion of the lower end of the joint member 24. The main parts are Asia string 26 etc.

This will be explained in further detail. The joint member 24 made of alumite functions as a fixed support part for the sample cup 20C, and as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. In one predetermined direction (the right end in FIG. 1), the movable part 20B
A handle portion 24A for locking and a convex portion 24B for tightening to the housing 22 are integrally formed at predetermined intervals. The handle portion 24A includes
As shown in FIG. 2, a slit groove 28 is formed, and by utilizing the elasticity of this slit groove 28, the column member 33 for supporting the movable part 20B is attached to the screws 32, 32.
It is held between. At the lower end of this column member 33, a cutout opening 33A (see FIG. 4) having a semicircular cross section and forming a part of a pressing lock mechanism 20D, which will be described later, is formed with a predetermined height. Then, a third
As shown in the figure, a recess 33B is formed, and a ring member 33C for locking the movable portion 20B is attached to this recess 33B. Furthermore, the handle portion 24
A fixed point hook 34, which has a linear portion of a predetermined length and is L-shaped as a whole, is protruded from the tip of A. This assists the operator to easily pull up the movable portion 20B.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the joint member 2
There are notches 24 at two locations on the outer periphery of 4 for generating elasticity.
C, 24C are provided, and a slit groove 36 for tightening is also provided in the projection 24B for attachment to the housing 22A mentioned above. With these, by inserting the housing 22A of the viscometer main body 22 into the hollow part of the joint member 24 as shown in FIG. is becoming possible. Here, 23 in FIG. 1 indicates the liquid to be measured.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 1, the joint member 24
A narrower cylindrical portion 24E is formed from near the center of the tube via a stepped portion 24D. A sample cup 20C, which will be described later, is provided on a predetermined outer peripheral surface of this cylindrical portion 24E.
Precise thin thread part 40 for adjusting the fixing position of
is provided. And this thin threaded part 40
The adjuster string 26, which is made of iron and has a cylindrical shape, is screwed into the ring. A flange 26A is integrally formed at the upper end of the adjuster string 26, and a vernier dial 27 is engraved around the upper surface of the flange 26A as shown in FIG. Further, the cylindrical portion 2 of the joint member 24
Also attached to the upper end of the rotor 4E is a scale plate for instructing the gap adjustment of the rotor 22B, as shown by the black arrow in FIG. Therefore, the operator rotates the collar 26A based on these instructions to finely adjust the height of the adjuster string 26.
That is, the gap between the rotor 22B and the inner lower surface of the sample cup 20C can be finely adjusted. Here, 42, . . . , 42 are resin set screws for fixing the rotation of the adjuster string 26 after the fine adjustment is completed.

On the other hand, the movable part 20B supported by the column member 33 on the side of the joint member 24 is fixed to the pipe member 46 that is fixed to the column member 33 so as to be movable vertically and horizontally, and to the lower end of this pipe member 46. sample cup 20C
It is composed of an arm member 48 on which the holder is placed.

This will be explained in further detail. As shown in FIG. 3, the inner diameter of the pipe member 46 is formed to an appropriate size that allows the pillar member 33 to penetrate therethrough and to allow vertical and horizontal movement. It has a stepped portion 46A, and is dimensioned so that the ring member 33C attached below the pillar member 33 is caught on the stepped portion 46A.

Further, the outer periphery of the lower end of the pipe member 46 is formed to be somewhat narrow, and is fixed by press fitting into a predetermined press opening 48A formed at one end of the arm member 48. This arm member 48 has an elongated elliptical shape when viewed from the upper side in FIG. 1, and is provided with a through-hole 48B for holding the sample cup 20C on the opposite side from the pressure inlet 48A. (See Figure 1). A hollow adjustment member 50 for adjusting the height is further screwed into the through-hole portion 48B. On the other hand, the arm member 48
is also equipped with a press lock mechanism 20D, which will be described later.

Furthermore, a guide member 52 for vertical movement is fixed at a predetermined position above the pipe member 46, as shown in the figure. This guide member 52 is formed into a hollow columnar shape, and has a concave guide groove 52A (fifth
(see Figures 1 and 2). Therefore, the fifth
As shown in FIG.
4 (the lower end of the predetermined height H shown in the figure), the fixed point hook 34 and the guide groove 5
Only vertical movement in a predetermined direction (see arrow X in FIG. 3) where 2A fits is allowed. Moreover, the range of the vertical movement is limited to the range of the ring member 33C.
It is set appropriately depending on the positional relationship between the stepped portion 46A and the resection opening 33A. Furthermore, below the predetermined height H shown in FIG.
(see the two-dot chain line Y in the figure) is now possible.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 6, the sample cup 20C has a double structure consisting of an inner jacket 56 and an outer jacket 57, and a passage 5 for water circulation is provided between these jackets 56 and 57.
8 is formed. In addition, the outer jacket 5
Nipples 60A and 60B for connecting rubber hoses are integrally brazed at predetermined positions on the side and lower sides of FIG. 7 of FIG. Therefore, the water for setting the liquid to be measured at a predetermined temperature is circulated through a path including inside the nipple 60A, the passage 58, and again inside the nipple 60B, thereby setting the desired temperature of the liquid. Here, 57A is a guide rod fixed to the center of the bottom of the outer jacket 57, and is used for guiding and holding the entire sample cup 20C when it is placed on the arm member 48 (the first
(see figure). Further, as shown in FIG. 4, a stopper 62 having a semicircular recess 62A and forming a part of rotation prevention means is fixed to a predetermined position on the outer periphery of the outer jacket 57 of the sample cup 20C.
This stopper 62 is locked to a shaft portion 66 constituting a pressing lock mechanism 20D, which will be described later, and acts at two locations together with the guide rod 57A (see FIG. 6) to prevent rotation of the sample cup 20C. It is.

On the other hand, the pressing lock mechanism 20D includes a shaft portion 66 that is located inside the arm member 48 and is pushed up against the spring force, an operating lever 68 that presses and locks this shaft portion 66, and a horizontal position of this lever 68. The cutting opening 33 generates a pressing and locking function against the sample cup 20C as it rotates.
It is constructed with A etc. as the main parts.

This will be explained in further detail. As shown in FIG. 3, the shaft portion 66 has a generally rod-like head 66B with a semicircular spherical shape at the upper end, and a stepped portion 66 at the lower end.
A is formed, and a collar member 66C for preventing the arm member 48 from falling is fixed to a position close to the head 66B.

Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lever 68 has a generally elongated plate-like member that is slightly bent at a predetermined position P to improve operability, thereby forming a handle portion 68A. . A head 68C that has one of the pressing and locking functions is integrally provided at the other end via the body portion 68B.

The head 68C of the lever 68 further includes four predetermined arcuate portions R ₁ , R ₂ , R ₃ , and R ₄ and is entirely shaped like the head of a ladle. As the circular arc portion, R ₁ depicting a predetermined diameter r ₁ ; R ₂ depicting r ₂ ;
These are R ₃ which draws r ₃ ; and R ₄ which draws r ₄ . Among these, the arc portions R ₂ , R ₃ and R ₄ are formed continuously, and in a predetermined range within these arc portion areas, as shown in Fig. 7, there are obliquely cut cam slopes. 69 is formed. In addition, the arc portion
As shown in FIG. ₄ , a stop bar 70 for regulating the rotation range of the lever 68 is erected near R 1, and a through hole 74 is provided at the center point of the arc portion R ₂ .
is formed. The shaft portion 66 is fixed using this through hole 74.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the arm member 48 has a through hole 76 formed in the vicinity of the pipe member 46 described above and having a step portion 76A in the form of a counterbore when viewed from below. The shaft portion 66 is disposed in this through hole 76 as shown in the figure, and the shaft portion 66
A spring 78 is inserted between the stepped portion 66A of the sample cup 20 and the stepped portion 76A of the through hole 76, with both ends free.
The elastic force for the pressing and locking functions for C is provided. Here, the lever 68
The thickness is set so that it can fit into the resection opening 33A.

Next, the overall operation of this embodiment will be explained.

First, place the cleaned sample cup 20C on the arm member ₄ as shown by the imaginary line K1 in FIGS. 2 and 8.
Set it above 8. At this time, confirm that the guide rod 57A of the sample cup 20C is inserted into the adjustment member 50 of the arm member 48, and that the stopper 62 is locked to the shaft portion 66. Then, a predetermined amount of the liquid to be measured is gently poured into the center of the sample cup 20C.

Next, with the sample cup 20C placed thereon, the movable part 20B of the adapter device 20 is gently moved horizontally to position it directly below the adjuster string 26 of the fixed part _20A as indicated by the imaginary line K2 in FIG. let

Furthermore, the guide groove 52 of the vertical movement guide member 52
While adjusting the position so that the fixed point hook 34 is fitted and guided in the guide groove 52 as described above,
Gently pull up the movable part 20B along A. At this time, the operator operates while placing his/her finger on the fixed point hook. Then, while checking that the stepped portion at the upper end of the sample cup 20C and the stepped portion at the lower end of the adjuster string 26 fit together,
Set as K ₃ .

In this state, move the lever bar 68 as shown in FIG.
The sample cup 20C is rotated clockwise as shown by _Y1 , and fixed and locked by pressing the sample cup 20C by the action of the above-mentioned press locking mechanism 20D.

This pressing and locking action will be explained in more detail.

Before the pressing lock mechanism 20D is activated, the cam slope 69 of the lever 68 is
As shown at _P1 in FIG. 10, it does not fit into the cutout 33A of the pillar member 33 (see the state in FIG. 11). In this case, the spring 78 is in an expanded state as shown by the imaginary line in FIG.
6 is connected to the arm member 4 by its collar member 66C.
8 is locked on the top surface.

Next, when the operator rotates the lever 68 about the shaft portion 66 as indicated by _Y1 in FIG. ₂ ).
By this climbing, the height is initially set so that subsequent mutual engagement is facilitated. As the _cam slope 69 moves from the virtual line P ₂ to P ₃ in FIGS. (see Figure 2). As this rises, the entire shaft portion 66 also resists the elasticity of the spring 78 and moves along the imaginary line P ₄
As shown, the cam slope 69 is completely aligned with the bottom surface 33Aa.
It will continue to rise until it reaches the top.
After this ride, the virtual line P ₅ or
As shown in P. ₆ , by successively rotating the lever 68 by the remaining predetermined angle to ensure prevention of unmating, the fully locked state as shown in FIG. 11 and 2 (FIGS. 1 and 3) is achieved. The same applies to the solid line state). In this state, since the elasticity of the spring 78 is acting, the lever 6
Unless the sample cup 8 is rotated in the opposite direction, the sample cup 20C is pressed against the adjuster string 26 and comes into contact with it.

FIG. 12 shows an example in which the present adapter device 20 is attached to the viscometer main body 22 in this manner. In this state, rubber hoses are attached to the upper and lower nipples 60A and 60B of the sample cup 20C, and constant temperature circulating water at a desired temperature is circulated to set the temperature of the liquid to be measured to a predetermined value.

Here, the cone-shaped rotor 22B and the sample cup 20C are configured to be electrically connected. Therefore, before measurement, as a preparatory work, the adjuster string 26 is turned to bring the tip of the rotor 22B into contact with the center of the inner bottom of the sample cup 20C to confirm electrical continuity.
After this, the adjuster string 26 is rotated a predetermined number of times again to separate them, thereby adjusting the gap between the cone-shaped rotor 22B and the inner bottom surface of the sample cup 20C.

Then, a certain drive device is started from a synchronous motor or the like in the main body of the viscometer 22, and the cone-shaped rotor 22 at the tip of the rotor shaft 22C connected to this drive device is started.
Rotate B. Due to this rotation, the frictional viscous torque of the liquid to be measured acts on the rotor 22B, so after a predetermined period of time, the rotation of the electric motor and the rotor 2
The viscosity is digitally displayed by electrically processing a certain phase difference that occurs between the rotation of 2B and the rotation of 2B.

Therefore, in this embodiment, external forces such as inadvertent tilting, vibration, and rotation when attaching the sample cup, which are seen in the prior art, are not applied to the liquid to be measured. This prevents the liquid from scattering or shifting to one side, and as a result, stable and reliable contact between the cone-shaped rotor 22B and the liquid is always possible, making it possible to perform precise measurements. It can be carried out. Furthermore, once the setting is done, there is no need for the operation and trouble of reviewing the contact status between the rotor 22B and the liquid, which improves operability and reduces measurement time. No special skill is required for this operation, and more stable viscosity measurement and improved measurement efficiency can be achieved.

Furthermore, as mentioned above, rotational viscometers that employ cone-shaped rotors are often used to measure small amounts of precious liquids such as biological fluids, but by applying this example, it is possible to Since there is no need to inadvertently tilt the sample cup during installation, the worst case scenario, such as spilling the liquid outside the sample cup and causing loss, can be avoided.

Furthermore, since the adapter device according to this embodiment is configured to detachably connect the joint member 24 of the fixed portion 20A, it can also be applied to a rotational viscometer that employs a cylindrical rotor. The main body of the viscometer can be shared by simply changing the rotor according to the purpose of measurement. Therefore, compared to the case where a viscometer for a cylindrical rotor and a viscometer for a conical rotor are prepared separately, there is an advantage that the economic burden on the user can be reduced.

On the other hand, when the viscosity measurement is completed, you can easily remove the sample cup 20C by performing the opposite operation to that described above.
It is possible to remove it. Therefore, even during this removal, the sample cup 20C will not be inadvertently tilted and the liquid to be measured will not be scattered, so the operability during removal is improved, and it can be done as necessary. It also becomes easier to collect the measured liquid.

Although the above embodiment shows a case in which the movable part is moved vertically and horizontally, the present invention is not necessarily limited to this, and if necessary, for example, a sufficient space for introducing the liquid to be measured may be provided. It is also possible to move only in the vertical direction or horizontal direction within a predetermined range, and in these cases there is an advantage that the configuration is simpler. Further, it may be possible to improve operability by moving in a diagonal direction that is a vector addition of the horizontal direction and the vertical direction.

Further, in the above embodiment, the fixing part is equipped with a connecting means that allows the adapter device 20 to be detachably attached to the viscometer main body 22, but the present invention is not necessarily limited to this, and the viscosity It is also possible to simplify the configuration by fixing the adapter device to the meter body, thereby reducing costs accordingly.

[Structure of the idea]

As described above, since the present invention is constructed and operates as described above, the sample cup is never tilted or vibrated during the moving process from the time the liquid to be measured is poured into the sample cup until it is attached to the viscometer body. This eliminates the process of placing the liquid to be measured, which prevents the liquid to be measured placed in the center from being concentrated or scattered.This improves the operability of mounting, which was troublesome in the past, and reduces the possibility of mounting errors. It is possible to provide a practical viscometer in which the measurement time is significantly reduced, and the risk of losing valuable samples is completely eliminated.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention;
2 is a plan view of the adapter device shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view showing the movable part of the adapter device and the pressing lock mechanism, FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the area around the lever of the adapter device, and FIG. 5. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the function of the fixed point hook and the guide member, FIG. 5 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 in FIG. 5 1, and FIG. 7. Figure 1 is a plan view of the lever, Figure 7. 2 is a side view of the lever, and Figure 7.
Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the cam slope of the lever, Fig. 8 is an explanatory drawing showing the overall operation, Fig. 9 is an explanatory drawing showing the pressing lock function accompanying the rotation of the lever, and Fig. 10 1 and 2 are each showing the pressing An explanatory diagram showing the operation of the locking mechanism. Fig. 11 1 and 2 are side views showing the rotation of the lever before and after pressing lock, and Fig. 12 is a perspective view showing the state in which the adapter device part is attached to the viscometer main body. 13 is a principle diagram showing the contact situation between a cone rotor and a liquid, and FIG. 14 is a side view showing a conventional example of a viscometer employing a cone rotor. 20C...Sample cup, 22...Viscometer body as main body, 22A...Housing, 22
B... Rotor (cone shape), 24... Joint member functioning as a fixed support part, 40... Thin threaded part serving as height adjustment means, 48... Arm member.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] (1) It has a sample cup, a housing for removably mounting and supporting the sample cup, and a main body for supporting the housing, and the main body has a structure for attaching the sample cup to the housing. In a viscometer equipped with a rotor suspended in a direction, a fixed support part is provided between the housing and the sample cup, and the fixed support part is provided with a height adjustment means for the sample cup, and the fixed support part is provided with: A viscometer characterized in that it is equipped with an arm member that detachably supports the sample cup and allows the sample cup to reciprocate in a predetermined direction with respect to the fixed support part while maintaining its horizontality. (2) The viscometer according to claim 1, wherein the moving direction of the sample cup with respect to the fixed support part is an oblique direction. (3) The viscometer according to claim 1, wherein the sample cup moves in the vertical direction with respect to the fixed support part. (4) The viscometer according to claim 1, wherein the moving direction of the sample cup relative to the fixed support part is a horizontal direction.