GB2464717A

GB2464717A - Apparatus for Measuring the Melting Point of a Substance

Info

Publication number: GB2464717A
Application number: GB0819497A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Edward Hicks; Jacqueline Taylor; Christopher Wright
Original assignee: Bibby Scientific Ltd
Current assignee: Bibby Scientific Ltd
Priority date: 2008-10-24
Filing date: 2008-10-24
Publication date: 2010-04-28
Anticipated expiration: 2028-10-24
Also published as: GB0819497D0; GB2464717B

Abstract

An apparatus for measuring a melting point of a substance 10 comprises a first part 70 and a second part 73. The first part 70 is provided with a heating device having a cavity (13, figure 2) for receiving a substance-holding container (14), the heating device having an opening (15) through which the cavity can be viewed. The opening (15) is closed by a transparent member (20) which permits there through the transmission of light from the cavity. There is also provided an image obtaining device (71) for obtaining an image of light transmitted from the cavity through the transparent member, and at least one output/input device 72 for transmitting and/or receiving signals. The second part 73 comprises a digital screen 74, a control means for controlling the heating device of the first part and a corresponding input/output device 75. The input/output devices of the first and second parts may be releasably connected to each other. The input/output devices of the first and second parts may be connectable by a flexible connector.

Description

Title: Apparatus for Measuring the Melting Point of a Substance

Description of Invention

This invention relates to an apparatus for measuring a melting point of a substance.

The melting point of a substance is often defined as the temperature at which the substance liquefies. Often a temperature range is defined starting from the temperature at which the substance starts to liquefy to the temperature at which the entire sample of the substance is in Liquid form.

Examples of substances which can be melted in such apparatus are: Sulfapyridine, Caffeine, Cyanguanidin, Benzanilide, Salicylic Acid, Vanillin and Acetanilide. Other substances can, of course, be melted in such apparatus.

One method of measuring the melting point of a substance is to place the substance in a container and heat the container at a desired, usually constant, rate (for example 0.5°C to 1.0°C per minute), whilst a user observes the substance. The user manually records the temperature at which the substance starts to liquefy and also the temperature at which the entire sample of the substance is in liquid form.

A known apparatus for assisting a user in measuring the melting point of a substance includes a heating device having a cavity for receiving a substance-holding container (usually a glass capillary tube). The heating device, somewhat like a small oven which is electrically heated, has an opening through which the cavity can be viewed, although the opening is usually closed by a transparent member, e.g. a glass disc. The user can view the sample in the bottom end of the capillary tube, through the glass disc, whilst the sample is being heated.

As an alternative, it is known to provide the apparatus with a digital video camera, which records an image of the sample in the bottom end of the capillary tube, through the glass disc. The recorded digital image is either transmitted, real time, to a digital screen which a user can view, stored for later viewing on the apparatus, or transferred to a PC for later viewing. The user, as before, manually records the temperature at which the substance starts to liquefy and also the temperature at which the entire sample of the substance is in liquid form.

Alternatively still, it is known to provide the apparatus with means to automatically detect when the substance starts to liquefy and also detect when the entire sample of the substance is in liquid form. Such an apparatus utilises a computer which examines the digital images to determine when the substance has melted.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus for measuring a melting point of a substance.

According to a first aspect of the invention, we provide an apparatus for measuring a melting point of a substance, the apparatus including:- a first part including:- a heating device having a cavity for receiving a substance-holding container, the heating device having an opening through which the cavity can be viewed, wherein the opening is closed by a transparent member which permits therethrough the transmission of light from the cavity; an image obtaining device for obtaining an image of light transmitted from the cavity through the transparent member; and at least one output/input device for transmitting and/or receiving signals; and a separate second part including:-a digital screen; control means for controlling the heating device in the first part; and at least one output/input device for transmitting and/or receiving signals.

The signals transmitted and/or received by the output/input devices of the first and second parts may be electrical signals.

The signals transmitted and/or received by the output/input devices of the first and second parts may be electromagnetic signals.

The signals transmitted and/or received by the output/input devices of the first and second parts may be radio wave signals.

The output/input devices of the first and second parts may be releasably connectable to each other.

The output/input devices of the first and second parts may be connectable by a flexible connector which permits the transmission of electrical signals therebetween.

The first part may include a respective connection formation and the second part includes a respective connection formation, the connection formations cooperating with each other to hold the first and second parts relative to each other.

The connection formation on the first or second part may be a projection, and the connection formation on the other of the first or second parts may be a receiving formation.

Two or more connection formations may be provided on each of the first and second parts.

The second part may include a housing. The housing is substantially trapezoidal in side view. The housing may be substantially cuneiform.

The second part may include a sensor for sensing an orientation of its housing, and an output from the sensor may be used to orient images displayed on the digital screen.

The housing of the second part may include a moveable cover member for covering a free end of the substance-holding container.

The cover member may inhibit ambient light from entering the substance-holding container.

The cover member may be pivotally moveable relative to the housing.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:-Figure 1 is a side, part cross-sectional view of a first part of an apparatus in accordance with the first aspect of the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of an apparatus in accordance with the first aspect of the invention; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a second part of the apparatus of figure 2; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a first part of the apparatus of figure 2; Figure 5 is a further perspective view of the apparatus of figure 2; and Figure 6 is a perspective view of components parts of the apparatus of figure 2.

Referring to the figures, there is shown an apparatus 10 for measuring a melting point of a substance, in accordance with the present invention. The apparatus 10 includes a first part 70 and a separate second part 73. As will become apparent below, the first 70 and second 73 parts are releasably connectable to each other, which is highly beneficial for users of the apparatus 10.

The first part 70 includes a housing 60 supporting a heating device 12, which is manufactured from a metallic material, e.g. Aluminium. The heating device 12 has a pair of recesses (not shown) to receive electric heaters (not shown) for raising the temperature of the heating device 12. The heating device 12 also has a cavity 13 for receiving up to three elongate substance-holding containers in the form of glass capillary tubes 14. The capillary tubes 14 are received and supported in respective vertical cylindrical passages 17 which extend from a top surface of the heating device 12 and into the cavity 13. The housing 60 also includes a plurality of cylindrical recesses 67 which act as storage receptacles for tubes 14 which are not currently being used. The first part 70 also has a cover member 61 which is pivotally connected at 62 to a rear edge of the housing 60. The cover member 61 is moveable so as to cover a free end of the tubes 14 during use to prevent damage thereto, and also inhibits ambient light from entering the tubes 14 during use.

The heating device 12 has an opening 15 through which the cavity 13 can be viewed. The opening 15 is closed by a transparent member in the form of a disc-shaped glass member 20. The glass member 20 permits light to pass therethrough so that an image obtaining device (e.g. a camera/video recorder 71) can obtain images of the lowermost ends of the tubes 14 which are positioned in the cavity 13.

It should be appreciated that, although in the present example the transparent member is glass (which is transparent to the naked eye), it need only be transparent to the light being recorded by the camera/video recorder 71. For example, the camera/video recorder 71 may be configured to record ultra violet or infra red light emitted from the cavity. In those cases, the transparent member 20 need only be transparent to ultra violet or infra red light, as the case may be. Of course, the transparent member 20 could be made from many other materials, e.g. plastics.

The first part 70 has an output/input device 72 for transmitting and receiving electrical signals to/from the second part 73, e.g. for transmitting and receiving electrical signals to/from the camera/video recorder 71 and the heating device 12. In this example, the output/input device 72 has two connection points configured for connection to respective ends of flexible electrical connectors 78a, 78b.

The second part 73 of the apparatus 10 has a cuneiform (i.e.wedge-shaped -see figure 3) housing 68 supporting a digital screen 74, which is positioned in an upper surface of the housing 68. The digital screen 74 is able to display images received from the camera/video recorder 71 and also acts as a touch-screen interface to permit a user to control the apparatus 10.

The second part 73 also includes control means (not shown), e.g. a microprocessor, for controlling operation of the heating device 12, the camera/video recorder 71 and the screen 74. As is usually the case with touch-screens, a user can action instructions/control signals by touching areas of the screen over specific images/commands displayed thereon.

The second part 73 has an output/input device 75 for transmitting and receiving electrical signals to/from the first part 70. Again, the outputlinput device 75 has two connection points configured for connection to respective ends of the flexible electrical connectors 78a, 78b.

The second part 73 also includes a sensor (not shown), e.g. a mercury switch, for sensing an orientation of the housing 68. An output from the sensor is used to orient images displayed on the digital screen 74. This is high'y beneficial, because this permits a user to orient the housing 68 as desired, depending on the environment in which the apparatus 10 is being used. For example, the housing 68 can be positioned with its bottom surface 66 abutting a workstation surface (i.e. the orientation as shown in figures 2 and 3) with a front surface 69a of the housing 68 facing the user. Alternatively, the housing 68 can be positioned with its rear surface 69b abutting a surface. In the latter configuration, the images displayed on the digital screen 74 are rotated 180° relative to their orientation in the former position. The latter configuration is beneficial when there is a lack of workstation space, or if a user wishes to position the second part 73 at eye-level, e.g. on a shelf.

The first 70 and second 73 parts each have respective connection formations 76, 77 which permit the first 70 and second 73 parts to be releasably connected to each other. In this example, the connection formations 77a, 77b on the first part 70 project laterally away from a side wall of the housing 60.

The projections 77a, 77b are receivable in receiving formations (or recesses) 76a, 76b in a side wall of the housing 68 of the second part 73. When the connection formations 76a, 76b, 77a, 77b are connected to each other, the housings 60, 68 abut each other (as shown in figure 5).

Although in the present example the first part 70 includes a camera/video recorder 71 for obtaining images of a substance in the tube 14 whilst it melts, it should be noted that this is not always required. As an alternative, the first part 70 may instead be provided with a viewing opening/aperture permitting a user to look into the cavity 13 through the opening 15 so as to determine when the substance in the tube(s) 14 has melted. Such an apparatus would not require any images to be displayed on the screen 74, but the screen 74 and the control means in the second part 73 would still be utilised by the user for controlling operation of the heating device 12.

The fact that the first 70 and second 73 parts are releasably connectable to each other means that the apparatus 10 can more easily be used. For example, it does not matter whether the user is left-or right-handed. He/she can, if desired, juxtapose the position of the first 70 and second 73 parts. This is a significant advantage over the prior art apparatus, which are typically configured to be used by right-handed users, particularly in the case where the user views the sample manually through a viewing opening. In these prior art apparatus the control keys etc. are usually positioned on the right-hand side of the device and the viewing opening is usually positioned on the left-hand side.

For a left-handed user, this can render use of the prior art apparatus cumbersome.

In addition, providing separable first 70 and second 73 parts means that the apparatus 10 can more safely be used. For example, it may be the case that a substance to be melted gives off toxic (or at least undesirable) gases during melting. In prior art apparatus it has not been possible to position to the apparatus in a fume cupboard (to draw away the given off gases), because this renders the screen and controls on the device too far away from/inaccessible to the user for him to control the apparatus and observe the substance melting. The apparatus 10 according to the present invention solves this problem by the use of the flexible connectors 78a, 78b. Thus, the first part 70 can be placed in a fume cupboard whilst the second part 73 is placed at a remote location therefrom, e.g. on a nearby workstation. The user is therefore not subjected to gases being given off by the substance being melted in the heating device 12.

Although in the above example the input/output devices 72, 75 are configured to transmit and/or receive electrical signals, they could be configured to transmit and/or receive electromagnetic signals, e.g. radio wave signals. For example, the apparatus could be compatible with Bluetooth (RTM) technology, thus permitting the first 70 and second 73 parts to communicate with each other without the requirement for a physical connection (i.e. the flexible electrical connectors 78a, 78b) therebetween. Such a configuration would permit the first 70 and second 73 parts to be positioned remotely from each other. In this example, each part 70, 73 would, mostly likely, require a separate power supply.

In another embodiment (not shown), the apparatus 10 could be configured for connection to a local area network (LAN). This could be provided by configuring the input/output devices 72, 75 as network connections, with each input/output device 72, 75 connecting, at a different location, to a LAN. In a similar fashion to the Bluetooth configured apparatus, this would ensure that no direct physical connection is required between the first 70 and second 73 parts. Electrical signals would be transmitted from/received by the input/output devices 72, 75 through the LAN. Again, in this example, each part 70, 73 would, mostly likely, require a separate power supply.

When used in this specification and claims, the terms "comprises" and "comprising" and variations thereof mean that the specified features, steps or integers are included. The terms are not to be interpreted to exclude the presence of other features, steps or components.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An apparatus for measuring a melting point of a substance, the apparatus including:- a first part including:- a heating device having a cavity for receiving a substance-holding container, the heating device having an opening through which the cavity can be viewed, wherein the opening is closed by a transparent member which permits therethrough the transmission of light from the cavity; an image obtaining device for obtaining an image of light transmitted from the cavity through the transparent member; and at least one output/input device for transmitting and/or receiving signals; and a separate second part including:-a digital screen; control means for controlling the heating device in the first part; and at least one output/input device for transmitting and/or receiving signals.
2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the signals transmitted and/or received by the output/input devices of the first and second parts are electrical signals.
3. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the signals transmitted and/or received by the output/input devices of the first and second parts are electromagnetic signals.
4. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the signals transmitted and/or received by the output/input devices of the first and second parts are radio wave signals.
5. An apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the output/input devices of the first and second parts are releasably connectable to each other.
6. An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the output/input devices of the first and second parts are connectable by a flexible connector which permits the transmission of electrical signals therebetween.
7. An apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the first part includes a respective connection formation and the second part includes a respective connection formation, the connection formations cooperating with each other to hold the first and second parts relative to each other.
8. An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the connection formation on the first or second part is a projection, and the connection formation on the other of the first or second parts is a receiving formation.
9. An apparatus according to claim 7 or claim 8 wherein two or more connection formations are provided on each of the first and second parts.
10. An apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the second part includes a housing.
11. An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the housing is subtantially trapezoidal in side view.
12. An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the housing is substantially cuneiform.
13. An apparatus according to any one of claim 10 to 12 wherein the second part includes a sensor for sensing an orientation of its housing, and wherein an output from the sensor is used to orient images displayed on the digital screen.
14. An apparatus according to any one of claim 10 to 12 wherein the housing of the second part includes a moveable cover member for covering a free end of the substance-holding container.
15. An apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the cover member inhibits ambient light from entering the substance-holding container.
16. An apparatus according to claim 14 or claim 15 wherein the cover member is pivotally moveable relative to the housing.
17. An apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or as shown in the accompanying drawings.
18. Any novel feature or novel combination of features described herein with reference to and/or in the accompanying drawings.