Abstract: A parallel plate dielectric viscometer is provided for measuring the viscty of a substance having differing substance dielectric properties at differing substance viscosities. Two electrodes are disposed in opposition to each other forming a variable dielectric cell having a dielectric distance between the electrodes. The viscosity of the substance is varied and force is applied to the substance to vary the dielectric distance according to the varying viscosity. The rate of change of the dielectric distance with respect to time is used to determine the viscosity of the substance. The viscosity may be varied by heating the substance and force may be applied to the substance by way of one of the electrodes such that the dielectric distance between the electrodes decreases as the substance becomes more viscous. A fixed cell may also be provided in order to correct for the effects of chemical changes in the substance.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for determining the viscosity of fluids and for termining the point of gelation during the curing of a material. Attached to one end of an oscillating lever, a disposable probe is immersed in a small fluid specimen, while a strain gauge and a displacement transducer are attached to the lever for monitoring its movement. The viscosity of fluids is correlated with the strain measurement, while the gelation point of a material during its curing cycle is determined by monitoring the phase angle between the strain gauge output and the lever displacement transducer output.