US 12,013,324 B2
Rotational shear rheometer and method for determining mechanical properties of a sample
Jan Vermant, Zürich (CH); and Bram Schroyen, Antwerp (BE)
Appl. No. 17/774,554
Filed by ETH ZURICH, Zurich (CH)
PCT Filed Nov. 2, 2020, PCT No. PCT/EP2020/080622
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date May 5, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/089451, PCT Pub. Date May 14, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 19207473 (EP), filed on Nov. 6, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0397506 A1, Dec. 15, 2022
Int. Cl. G01N 11/16 (2006.01); G01N 3/24 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 11/165 (2013.01) [G01N 3/24 (2013.01); G01N 2203/0094 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A rotational shear rheometer (1) comprising
a first plate (10) configured to contact a sample,
a first flexure (11) connecting the first plate (10) to a support (60), such that the first plate (10) is pivotable about a pivot axis (P) in respect of the support (60),
a piezoelectric element (40) extending between a first end (41) and a second end (42) along a longitudinal axis (L) arranged tangentially in respect of the pivot axis (P), wherein said piezoelectric element (40) is configured to elongate and/or undergo compression along said longitudinal axis (L), and wherein said first end (41) is mechanically coupled to said first plate (10), wherein said piezoelectric element (40) is configured as an actuator capable of introducing a torque to the first plate (10) about said pivot axis (P) as a result of elongation or compression of the piezoelectric element (40), wherein
said first flexure (11) comprises a first flexural element (12) and a second flexural element (13) non-parallel to the first flexural element (12), wherein the first flexural element (12) and the second flexural element (13)
connect said first plate (10) to said support (60),
extend radially in respect of the pivot axis (P), and
intersect with the pivot axis (P), and wherein
said piezoelectric element (40) is further configured as a sensor capable of detecting a torque acting on said first plate (10).