Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting – deodorizing – preser – Analyzer – structured indicator – or manipulative laboratory... – Sample mechanical transport means in or for automated...
Patent
1998-03-10
2000-08-15
Soderquist, Arlen
Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting, deodorizing, preser
Analyzer, structured indicator, or manipulative laboratory...
Sample mechanical transport means in or for automated...
422 58, 356 30, 436 6, 436 76, 436 80, G01N 3320, G01N 3122
Patent
active
061031941
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to apparatus for testing items of metal such as jewellery.
2. Brief Discussion of the Related Art
It is known to test items of jewellery or the like with chemicals to determine whether or not they are made of a precious metal or metal alloy and, if so, the grade of such metal. Such chemicals are provided in an "acid set" comprising a set of glass bottles containing different testing chemicals, each bottle having a glass rod or spatula for applying the chemical to the item to be tested. By observing the reaction (or lack of reaction) of the item under test with one or more of the testing chemicals, it is possible to determine whether or not the item contains or comprises metals such as gold, silver, platinum, palladium, copper, or certain other base metals or their alloys.
GB-A-2 124 367 discloses such a known method of testing precious metals.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides apparatus for testing items of metal comprising a reservoir for testing chemical, an applicator for transferring testing chemical from the reservoir to an applying surface thereof and a housing surrounding the reservoir and applicator with the applying surface projecting therefrom. The apparatus is characterised in that the reservoir comprises an absorbent material and the applicator comprises a nib having a wick in contact with testing chemical within the reservoir, and a tip which forms the applying surface.
Preferably the absorbent material of the reservoir is a porous plastic material, such as a fibrous or granular plastics material, preferably comprising polypropylene fibres. The reservoir may be sealed within a film or tube which is resistant to the testing chemical. The nib may comprise any suitable material which will not be deteriorated by the testing chemical. Very preferably the nib is formed of a granular or fibrous plastics material.
The testing chemical may contain one or more of sulphuric acid, nitric acid or hydrochloric acid solution. In addition, the chemical may also contain a small quantity of a silver salt such as silver sulphate or a small quantity of a chromate or dichromate such as sodium chromate.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a longitudinal cross-section of an apparatus forming an embodiment of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The apparatus 1 comprises a generally cylindrical plastics housing 3. The housing 3 is closed at one end 3a and partly open at the other end 3b. Sealed within the housing is an insert comprising a reservoir 5 containing a testing chemical and an applicator 7.
The reservoir 5 is a cut or moulded cylinder of uniform fibrous, granular or other porous plastic material such as polypropylene which can absorb and retain a testing chemical without deteriorating to an unacceptable extent. Other suitable materials for forming the reservoir are vinyl acetate, vinyl polymers, polyester, polyethylene, polyvinylidene fluoride and nylon, all in fibrous or granular form and formed or moulded with a suitable binding agent or glue.
The reservoir 5 is surrounded by a plastic or acetate film 9, to retain the shape of the reservoir and prevent leakage of the testing chemical. The film 9, like the reservoir 5, must be resistant to the testing chemical so that it does not deteriorate to a great extent in use. Alternatively, the reservoir may be surrounded by a casing such as a glass or plastics tube.
The applicator 7 comprises a nib having a relatively narrow tapered wick 7a at one end, which projects into the reservoir 5 and a wider tip 7b at the other end which projects from the housing through its partly open end 3b. The outer surface of the tip 7b forms an applying surface 8 for applying the testing chemical to an item to be tested. The wick 7a draws up testing chemical from the reservoir 5 and transfers it to the tip. The applicator 7 is dime
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patent: 2637244 (1953-05-01), McLeod
patent: 3446596 (1969-05-01), Salivar et al.
patent: 4160804 (1979-07-01), Victory
patent: 4635488 (1987-01-01), Kremer
patent: 4799999 (1989-01-01), Medvinsky et al.
patent: 5171692 (1992-12-01), Craig, Jr.
patent: 5278075 (1994-01-01), Stone
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