A system for investigating rheological properties of grease, the system including grease sample preparation arrangement for preparing a grease sample with a predetermined quantity of grease, at least two sample holder plates for holding the grease sample by sandwiching the grease sample between the sample holder plates, wherein at least one of the sample holder plates is transparent, and a loading system for generating a predetermined force acting on the grease sample sandwiched between the sample holder plates by pressing on the sample holder plates such that a spot formed by the grease sample on the sample holder plates is expanded. The loading system can include at least one transparent portion enabling a continuous observation of the expansion of the spot while the predetermined force is acting on the grease sample.

A system for investigating rheological properties of grease, the system including grease sample preparation arrangement for preparing a grease sample with a predetermined quantity of grease, at least two sample holder plates for holding the grease sample by sandwiching the grease sample between the sample holder plates, wherein at least one of the sample holder plates is transparent, and a loading system for generating a predetermined force acting on the grease sample sandwiched between the sample holder plates by pressing on the sample holder plates such that a spot formed by the grease sample on the sample holder plates is expanded. The loading system can include at least one transparent portion enabling a continuous observation of the expansion of the spot while the predetermined force is acting on the grease sample.

A flow test machine 2 which, for example, is able to be used for viscosity tests on plastics, comprises a test piston 4, a test channel 38, at least one test weight 72 and a drive unit 92. The test piston 4 is able to move through the test channel 38 by means of a weight force 79 of the test weight 72. The test weight 72 is able to be loaded by an actuating additional force 108, 108′ by means of the drive unit 92 between a starting position 151 and an end position. The actuating additional force 108 enables a movement of the test piston 4 in the direction of the weight force 79, said movement being accelerated in comparison with an effect of the weight force 79. In a melt viscosity test, after a heating step, a thermoplastic plastic is pressed through a test channel 38 by a test piston 4. In a measurement preparation step and/or a cleaning step, the test mass is lowered along a weight force direction 79 under the influence of an actuating additional force 108, 108′. In a method for cleaning, a cleaning step is undertaken by means of an actuating additional force 108, 108′ from the drive unit 92, said drive unit 92 serving to drive a test piston movement during a melt viscosity test.

A flow test machine 2 which, for example, is able to be used for viscosity tests on plastics, comprises a test piston 4, a test channel 38, at least one test weight 72 and a drive unit 92. The test piston 4 is able to move through the test channel 38 by means of a weight force 79 of the test weight 72. The test weight 72 is able to be loaded by an actuating additional force 108, 108′ by means of the drive unit 92 between a starting position 151 and an end position. The actuating additional force 108 enables a movement of the test piston 4 in the direction of the weight force 79, said movement being accelerated in comparison with an effect of the weight force 79. In a melt viscosity test, after a heating step, a thermoplastic plastic is pressed through a test channel 38 by a test piston 4. In a measurement preparation step and/or a cleaning step, the test mass is lowered along a weight force direction 79 under the influence of an actuating additional force 108, 108′. In a method for cleaning, a cleaning step is undertaken by means of an actuating additional force 108, 108′ from the drive unit 92, said drive unit 92 serving to drive a test piston movement during a melt viscosity test.

A compression test rig apparatus for determining a mechanical characterization of a gel-based LCM test sample comprising an LCM test cell configured to contain the gel-based LCM test sample, the LCM test cell comprising a cylinder wall defining a cell space volume configured to hold the gel-based LCM test sample, and a floor defining an extrusion hole configured to extrude the gel-based LCM test sample to create an extruded gel; an extruded gel collector configured to receive the extruded gel from the extrusion hole as an extruded gel volume; a perforated disc comprising perforations, wherein the perforated disc is configured to allow the gel-based LCM test sample to pass through the perforations; and a flat foot disc piston in flush contact with the cylinder wall, the flat foot disc piston configured to compress the gel-based LCM test sample at a displacement speed to produce compression data.

A compression test rig apparatus for determining a mechanical characterization of a gel-based LCM test sample comprising an LCM test cell configured to contain the gel-based LCM test sample, the LCM test cell comprising a cylinder wall defining a cell space volume configured to hold the gel-based LCM test sample, and a floor defining an extrusion hole configured to extrude the gel-based LCM test sample to create an extruded gel; an extruded gel collector configured to receive the extruded gel from the extrusion hole as an extruded gel volume; a perforated disc comprising perforations, wherein the perforated disc is configured to allow the gel-based LCM test sample to pass through the perforations; and a flat foot disc piston in flush contact with the cylinder wall, the flat foot disc piston configured to compress the gel-based LCM test sample at a displacement speed to produce compression data.

A slurry analysis system (14) for estimating a first characteristic of a slurry (12) having a plurality of particles (18) suspended in a dispersion medium (20) can include a slurry filter (40) that filters the slurry (12); and a control system (26) that estimates the first characteristic of the slurry (12) using a flow rate of a filtrate (50) through the slurry filter (40) and a slurry filtration pressure of the slurry (12).

A slurry analysis system (14) for estimating a first characteristic of a slurry (12) having a plurality of particles (18) suspended in a dispersion medium (20) can include a slurry filter (40) that filters the slurry (12); and a control system (26) that estimates the first characteristic of the slurry (12) using a flow rate of a filtrate (50) through the slurry filter (40) and a slurry filtration pressure of the slurry (12).

Low-cost and easily-operated microviscometer suitable for medical diagnosis clinical studies and other fluid tests. The equipment consists of a microchannel (2) formed by concatenated microchannels made by micro-manufacturing techniques, and a fluid column position detector inside the microchannel. The microchannels are open at one end and closed at the other end and are made of a single biocompatible material. When a liquid drop is put into the inlet of the microchannel (2), the fluid enters by capillary until the compressed air pressure equals the capillary pressure plus atmospheric pressure. The fluid transient movement from entering the channel until stopping at its balance position is analyzed thus obtaining as a result the viscosity and the capillary pressure of the liquid tested.

Low-cost and easily-operated microviscometer suitable for medical diagnosis clinical studies and other fluid tests. The equipment consists of a microchannel (2) formed by concatenated microchannels made by micro-manufacturing techniques, and a fluid column position detector inside the microchannel. The microchannels are open at one end and closed at the other end and are made of a single biocompatible material. When a liquid drop is put into the inlet of the microchannel (2), the fluid enters by capillary until the compressed air pressure equals the capillary pressure plus atmospheric pressure. The fluid transient movement from entering the channel until stopping at its balance position is analyzed thus obtaining as a result the viscosity and the capillary pressure of the liquid tested.