The invention relates to a device (1) for the automated analysis of solids or fluids. Said device comprises a first station (5) having a metering unit (51) for the filling of at least one sample chamber (2) with a specified sample quantity, a second station (6) having at least one measurement device (61) for an analysis of the sample situated in a sample chamber (2) and a third station (7) having an emptying device and cleaning device (71, 72) for the at least one sample chamber (2). Moreover, there is provided a transport device (3) for a revolving transport of the at least one sample chamber (2) from one station to the next until the first station (5) is reached again. According to the invention, the measurement device (61) of the second station (6) is a spherical measurement system, through the interior of which it is possible to guide the at least one sample chamber (2).

This invention relates to a sampling device. The device includes an elongate separating member having a sampling side and a non-sampling side. One or more through openings extend from the sampling side to the non-sampling side of the elongate member. The separating member is adapted for insertion into a reservoir of particulate material so as to define a sampling zone and a non-sampling zone within the reservoir. A shaft is positioned away from the sampling side and operably associated with the separating member, wherein the shaft is selectively rotatable about its longitudinal axis. One or more sample capturing scoops are attached to the shaft so as to be aligned with a respective opening. The or each scoop has a leading edge, a trailing edge and a cavity for receiving a sample of particulate material. The device is configured such that rotation of the shaft about its longitudinal axis causes a corresponding rotation of the or each scoop between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the leading edge of the associated scoop is located within the respective opening such that the opening is effectively closed and the remainder of the scoop projects away from the sampling side such that the sampling side of the separating member is free of protuberances during insertion into the reservoir. In the second position, the scoop is positioned on the sampling side and the leading edge of the associated scoop bears against the sampling side of the elongate member, thereby to enclose the sample of particulate material by the rotation of the scoop towards the second position.

A metering apparatus including a scale on which a metering head is disposed in such a manner that the scale measures the weight of the metering head, and a metering tool for taking up and dispensing substance, attached to the metering head. The metering tool is configured as a glass tubule having a glass punch slidably disposed therein, forming a seal. The metering head is provided with a first gripping tool for clamping the glass tubule in place and with a second gripping tool for clamping the glass punch in place. The metering head furthermore has a raising and lowering device for raising and lowering the second gripping tool relative to the first gripping tool, such that the glass punch can be raised and lowered in the glass tubule of the metering tool.

An apparatus is provided for measuring the flow of powders and granular materials through orifices under dynamic conditions. The apparatus consists of a container for receiving a material sample to be investigated with one or more orifices, a means of moving the container to initiate flow in the material sample and to allow it to flow through the orifices in the container, and a means of measuring the amount of material flowing through the orifices. The amount and rate of material flowing through the orifices is a measure of the flowability of the material sample.

A method for calculating the dielectric constant of particle-dispersed composite materials that enables an easy evaluation of dispersibility. The composite material is assumed as a cell combination 10 in which unit cells 1 having a length a are combined together in an x-axis, a y-axis, and a z-axis direction and which has a length 1 in the x-axis direction, a length m in the y-axis direction, and a length n in the z-axis direction, the cell combination 10 is created in which a particle element or a medium element is assigned to each of the unit cells 1 Layers have a thickness d in the z-axis direction are combined and layered in the z-axis direction and assigning a capacitance C.sub.Layer,h of each of the layers represented by Formula 1 below to Formula 2 to determine a relative dielectric constant .sub.Total. $\begin{array}{c}{C}_{\mathrm{Layer},h}={\{\underset{j=1}{\overset{.Math.m/a.Math.}{.Math.}}\underset{i=1}{\overset{.Math.l/a.Math.}{.Math.}}{(\underset{k=1}{\overset{.Math.d}{.Math.}}}^{}}^{}\end{array}$

Various aspects include systems and methods for analyzing materials in additive manufacturing processes. In some cases, a system includes: an additive manufacturing (AM) printer for printing an AM object, the AM printer including a raw material chamber and a build chamber; a control system coupled with the AM printer configured to control the printing of the AM object; and a material analysis system coupled with the control system and the AM printer, the material analysis system configured to analyze a raw material obtained directly from at least one of the raw material chamber or the build chamber for a defect prior to, or contemporaneously with, additively manufacturing the AM component.

The present invention intends to provide a method by which the scattering property of a powder can be more clearly evaluated. There is provided a method for evaluating a scattering property of a powder, the method including dropping a powder to be evaluated onto a liquid placed in a box, thereby scattering the powder as dust in the box, and measuring a dust concentration in air in the box with a dust meter. There is also provided an apparatus for evaluating a scattering property of a powder, the apparatus including a box in which a liquid is to be placed, and a dust meter that measures a dust concentration in air in the box when the powder to be evaluated drops onto the liquid placed in the box and scatters as dust.

The present invention addresses the problem of evaluating the hydrophobicity of a powder. According to the present invention, a powder is charged into a mixed solvent composed of a lipophilic solvent and a hydrophilic solvent, the voltage rate R of the mixed solvent is measured at predetermined time intervals while adding a lipophilic solvent to the mixed solvent charged with the powder, a parameter x correlating with the concentration of powder is defined for an arbitrary voltage rate R, a continuous function HP(x) of the ratio of a lipophilic solvent corresponding to x is defined, and HP(x) for required x is set as a representative value of a lipophilic solvent ratio distribution and used as an index of hydrophobicity.

A minimum-ignition-energy testing apparatus includes a combustion tube and a bottom assembly coupled to a lower end of the combustion tube. A top assembly is coupled to an upper end of the combustion tube. The top assembly includes a first sparge plate coupled to the top base plate. The first sparge plate has a first aperture formed therein. The top assembly also includes a second sparge plate coupled to the first sparge plate. The second sparge plate has formed therein a second aperture that aligns in registry with the first aperture. A channel is formed in the second sparge plate about a perimeter of the third aperture. The channel has a plurality of holes disposed therein that are formed through a thickness of the second sparge plate. A tube is formed through in the second sparge plate, the tube fluidly coupling the channel to a gas source.

A sampling vessel which can prevent the operator from being exposed to a powder. A metal sampling vessel (1) for sampling powder has a cylindrical body (2) having a closed first end (2a), an opposite second end (2b) including an opening and a cavity (3), and a connector (6a, 6b) for connecting the cylindrical body (2) to a hanging line. The cylindrical body (2) satisfies a relationship M1>M2, wherein M1 represents the mass between the first end (2a) and a bottom (3c) of the cavity and M2 represents the mass between the opening (5) at the second end and the bottom (3c) of the cavity.