Apparatus for impregnating porous parts

Abstract

An apparatus for impregnating porous parts comprises a vessel for holding at least one porous part and a fixed volume of impregnant, and at least one device for measuring the change in effective volume of the impregnant within the vessel.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for impregnating a porous part, the apparatus comprising: 
 (a) a vessel for holding the porous part and a fixed volume of an impregnant; and    (b) a measuring device for measuring the change in effective volume of the impregnant within the vessel.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the measuring device comprises a series of graduations on a wall of the vessel.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the measuring device comprises a depth gauge.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the measuring device comprises a level sensor selected from the group comprising linear hall effect sensors, linear encoders, linear variable displacement transducers, and digital probes.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the measuring device comprises a pressure transducer associated with the interior of the vessel.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a pump fluidly connected to the vessel for reducing the pressure therein below atmospheric pressure.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a pump fluidly connected to the vessel for increasing the pressure therein above atmospheric pressure.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the measuring device generates output signals representative of the measured change in effective volume.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the measuring device generates output signals representative of the rate of change in effective volume.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising a controller for receiving the output signals from the measuring device.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the controller comprises a display for displaying the change in effective volume represented by the output signals.