The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for preventing diffusion of a gas under high pressure into the bulk of a liquid filling a substantially closed chamber. This apparatus and method is particularly useful in connection with test devices for testing fluid characteristics under harsh conditions of extremely high pressure and high temperature. These devices typically pressurize the liquid by placing the liquid in pressure and fluid communication with a high pressure inert gas. The apparatus and method of the present invention prevent diffusion of the pressurizing gas into the bulk of the test liquid by decreasing the chamber volume at a rate sufficient to maintain the bulk of the liquid free of absorbed or dissolved gas by expelling that portion of the liquid which is contaminated by the pressurizing gas.

Claims

20 · 3 independent · depth 6

20 granted claims

›1.independentAn apparatus for preventing diffusion of a gas under high pressure into the bulk of a liquid filling a substantially closed chamber, comprising: a ves…+2

›4.independentAn apparatus for preventing diffusion of a first fluid into the bulk of a second fluid filling a substantially closed chamber, comprising: means for s…+9

›5.↳ 4The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said pressure communication means comprises fluid communication means.d2+8

›6.↳ 5The apparatus of claim 5 comprising means for variably decreasing said volume.d3+4

›11.↳ 5The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said means for enclosing comprises a vessel and cooperating diffusion shield.d3+2

›14.independentA method for preventing diffusion of a first fluid into the bulk of a second fluid filling a substantially closed chamber, comprising: maintaining sai…+6

›15.↳ 14The method of claim 14 comprising contacting said first fluid with said second fluid at a fluid communication means.d2+5

Classifications

3 codes

USPC · US Patent Classification

550/36730/53551/60

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Tim Miles

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