Abstract: A rinsing device for a sensor has a cylinderlike rinsing chamber which has an anterior chamber part connectable to a measuring fluid container and which is configured to receive an immersion tube that contains a sensor and is coaxial with as well as movable along the longitudinal axis L of the rinsing chamber. The rinsing chamber has a rinsing area delimited by an anterior ring groove and a rearward closure. A circumferential wall of the rinsing area has at least one inlet as well as a drainage outlet with an orifice opening for a rinsing medium. The anterior ring groove is aligned at an oblique angle (?) to the longitudinal axis, and the orifice opening borders on the most forwardly positioned location of the circumferential wall. The drainage outlet is directed at a forward angle from the orifice opening, and the circumferential wall has an internal diameter which increases continuously from the rearward end of the rinsing area up to the orifice opening.

Abstract: An electronic balance with a housing (1) that can be put under an above-ambient pressure, for example for the purpose of using the balance in a hazardous environment where a risk of explosion exists, has an inlet (21) for a gas, in particular compressed air. The balance also has a horizontal passage through the housing (1) for a force-transmitting rod member (6) that is coupled to the load-hanger element (12) of the balance. The housing (1) has an opening (9) through which the force-transmitting rod member (6) passes in a substantially horizontal direction without making contact; and the opening (9) also forms an outlet for the gas.

Abstract: A sample holder for differential thermal analysis has a substrate with a planar surface provided with a sample position for a sample material and a reference position for reference material. The substrate allows heat flow between a heat source thermally coupled to the sample holder and the sample and reference positions. A first thermoelement arrangement in the area of the sample and reference positions is provided for supplying a thermoelectric signal corresponding to a differential between the temperatures at the sample and reference positions. First connectors are formed on the substrate for tapping the thermoelectric signal corresponding to the temperature differential. A second thermoelement arrangement provides a thermoelectric signal corresponding to an absolute temperature of the sample and reference positions. Second connectors are provided on the substrate for tapping the thermoelectric signal corresponding to the absolute temperature.

Abstract: A weighing cell module with a force-transfer mechanism that includes a parallel-guiding linkage with a vertically movable parallelogram leg and a spatially fixed parallelogram leg, is equipped with a mounting area for a first weighing-pan support device with a single-point connection of a weighing pan, as well as with a mounting area for a second weighing-pan support device with a multiple-point connection, particularly a four-point connection, of a weighing pan, wherein the first and the second mounting area are each connected to the force-transfer mechanism. As a result, the weighing cell module can be used to manufacture different types of balances in a design family of balances, where each different type within the family is designed for a different maximum load.

Abstract: A baffle seal at the opening (31) for the load-transmitting member (20) in a balance housing (30) has at least one sleeve-shaped ring element (11, 110), fastener means (23) attached to the housing (30) and serving to hold the sleeve-shaped ring element in a stationary working position surrounding the opening, and a cover cap (1) with at least one sleeve-shaped ring (10, 10?, 12) that is axially movable relative to the sleeve-shaped ring element. The ring element is releasable so that it can be separated from the balance without dismantling other parts.

Abstract: A coil for an inductive sensor, such as a coil which is used in a sensor that operates according to the principle of electromagnetic force compensation for converting an amount of force generated by a load applied to a force-measuring cell into an electrical signal, is provided with protection against the penetration of moisture. The protection includes a protective covering with a surface-smoothing undercoating applied to the coil, on which a second level of coverage is applied as a protective coating against the penetration of moisture.

Abstract: A strain gauge with a strain-sensitive electrical resistor track and connector electrodes for contacting the resistor track arranged on a carrier substrate is provided with a protective coating having inorganic materials and covering at least part of the carrier substrate and/or of the resistor track and/or of the connector electrodes. The build-up structure of the protective coating over the range of the coating thickness is inhomogeneous, and the protective coating is underlaid with a surface-smoothing polymer layer which evens out rough surface portions of the area to be coated. The layer thickness of the surface-smoothing layer is at least equal to the thickness of the protective coating. A strain gauge of this type can be used in a force-measuring cell, where the surface-smoothing layer and the protective coating can be deposited after an uncoated strain gauge has been installed on the deformable body of the force-measuring cell.

Abstract: In a force-measuring cell with a deformable body and with at least one strain gauge which has a strain-sensitive electrical resistor track arranged on a polymer carrier substrate, the strain gauge is bonded to the deformable body by an adhesive layer of an inorganic-organic hybrid polymer. For the bonding of the strain gauge to the deformable body, an adhesive compound having an inorganic-organic hybrid polymer in solution is applied to the deformable body, whereupon the strain gauge is placed on the hybrid polymer layer, and the adhesive layer is subsequently hardened at a temperature between 80° C. and 130° C. For the hardening of the adhesive layer, the deformable body with the strain gauge is exposed to the increased temperature for a time period between a half hour and three hours.

Abstract: A gravimetric moisture-determination instrument which is cooled by an air stream includes a housing containing a balance and a radiant heater. The moisture content of a sample placed on the balance pan is determined by measuring the weight loss of the sample while it is being dried under the heater. The gravimetric moisture-determination instrument further includes a heat source located above the balance for heating the sample in order to evaporate the moisture from the sample, so that the moisture content can be determined from the weight loss of the sample. Between the heat source and the weighing cell of the balance, the instrument contains a device for conducting an air stream.

Abstract: A weighing pan for a comparator balance has a surface coated with a polymer lacquer. The coated surface is distinguished by a moderate hardness and increased levels of sliding friction and adhesive friction. By adding anti-static agents, the surface coating can be made sufficiently conductive to avoid electrostatic charges. The coating is resistant to solvents and to the kinds of fluids that are used to perform density determinations.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for thermally investigating a material by driving the material through a temperature profile composed of isothermal and non-isothermal segments is disclosed, which enable determination of a kinetic component in a measured heat flow signal caused by the exposure of the material to the temperature profile.

Abstract: A balance (1) has a weighing compartment (4) that borders on a stationary part (8, 9) of the balance and is otherwise enclosed by at least one side wall panel (5, 6), a front wall panel (7), and a top cover panel (12). At least one of the panels is slidable by means of a guiding device (17, 20) to open and close the weighing compartment (4). The balance (1) further has cutout passages (20) in the side wall panels (5, 6), the front wall panel (7), the top cover panel (12), and/or the rear wall of the weighing compartment, so that cables and/or conduits can be introduced from the outside into the weighing compartment.

Abstract: A balance with a draft shield enclosing a weighing pan (33) has slidable walls (6, 7, 8) with slide handles (10, 110, 210) to open and close the weighing compartment (2). A connector body (22) serves to couple non-adjoining slidable walls (6, 7, 8) to each other. Besides for pushing the slidable walls open and closed, the slide handles (10, 110, 210) also serve to couple and uncouple the slidable walls, so that more than one wall can be moved simultaneously using only one hand, or a wall can be moved by pushing a handle on the opposite side. The slide handles are configured as pairs of handle elements that are attached either to adjoining walls or to a wall and an adjoining place on the connector body. In the coupled state, the pairs of handle elements are folded or swiveled into each other, working as a single handle, e.g., for two adjoining walls. In the uncoupled state, they move the walls individually.

Abstract: The method and the device serve to monitor the alignment of a measuring instrument, specifically a balance. To perform this function, the monitoring device is equipped with an inclination sensor based on the principle of a spirit level, with a container filled with a fluid in which a bubble is formed. According to the invention, the position of the bubble is measured optically by means of a radiating element that is arranged on one side of the bubble and serves to emit a radiation, and a sensor element that is arranged on the opposite side of the bubble and serves to receive the radiation. The radiating element, preferably a light-emitting diode, and the sensor element, preferably a photodiode, together define the sensor axis (sx) on which the bubble is centered as long as the sensor axis runs parallel to the axis of the gravity force. Furthermore, the sensor element is flanked by at least two reference elements that are likewise receiving the radiation.

Abstract: A balance is connectable to a display/operating unit (13) through a cable (14). The display/operating unit (13) can be placed either adjacent to the housing (1) or at a distance from the housing (1). For storing the unused length of cable (14), a corridor compartment (24) with at least one exit opening (22, 29, 30) for the cable (14) is arranged at the bottom (6) of the balance housing (1). When the cable (14) is pulled out or pushed in, it can move freely inside the corridor compartment (24). The display/operating unit (13) is held in place at the balance housing (1) by means of an intermediate member (10) in an arrangement where the balance and the display/operating unit are resting independently of each other on a supporting surface.

Abstract: A lift system for effecting a vertical parallel movement of a platform relative to a base, in particular for moving a sample changer platform of a sample changer in a weighing system, has at least three substantially identical and mutually interchangeable mechanical lift units supporting the platform. The lift units occupy an at least triangular flexible layout on the base. The lift system is equipped with a drive system that includes a transmission device and a drive element, wherein the transmission device connects the lift units among each other and to the drive element. The arrangement produces a simultaneous vertical movement of the lift units with the platform always staying aligned in a plane that is substantially orthogonal to the gravity force.

Abstract: A flexure pivot in the form of a thin material connection formed as a result of adjacent material-free spaces is disclosed, as is a force-transfer mechanism for use in a force-measuring device, in particular a balance, containing at least one flexure pivot of the aforementioned type. The force-transfer mechanism has a stationary portion with a lever arrangement comprising at least one reduction lever and serving to transmit a force to a measuring transducer, and it further has at least one coupling element serving to introduce an input force into the lever arrangement, the coupling element being stiff against lengthwise deformation but flexible with regard to bending and having at least one thin material connection. The at least one lever is supported on the stationary portion and/or on a preceding lever by a flexible fulcrum pivot having a thin material connection.

Abstract: In a dynamic mechanical analysis, a test specimen is coupled to an excitation device by a holder device. An excitation force made up of a static pre-tensioning force component and a time-variable force component is applied to the test specimen, and a deformation of the test specimen is measured by one or more displacement sensors. In a test phase an excitation force is applied to the test specimen, while at least one decision parameter is determined. The decision parameter is indicative of a degree of slack in the coupling of the test specimen. Based on the comparison between the decision parameter and at least one reference value it is determined whether or not the test specimen is coupled to the excitation device in a completely slack-free state, so that any measured physical values will not be subjected to errors caused by an insufficient amount of the pre-tensioning force.