Stirring apparatus for a flash point determination apparatus comprising a selectively removable stirring device
Stirring device for stirring a sample in a container which is closable by a lid, for a flash point determination test and/or combustion point determination test, wherein the stirring device comprises a stirring unit which may extend at least partially through the lid for stirring the sample which is arranged in the container, a drive unit which is to be arranged at least partially outside of the lid, for driving, in particular rotationally driving, the stirring unit, a coupling unit for coupling the stirring unit with the drive unit, and an actuation unit which, in particular for adjusting the coupling unit, is actuatable such that selectively in a first actuation position, when pulling up the drive unit, the lid is detachable from the container commonly with the stirring device, or in a second actuation position, when pulling up the drive unit, the drive unit is detachable from the container, and the stirring unit and the lid remain at the container.
1 . A flash point determination apparatus, wherein the flash point determination apparatus comprises:
a container for receiving a sample to be examined;
a lid for closing the container; and
a stirring device for stirring the sample in the container,
wherein the stirring device comprises:
a stirring unit which may extend at least partially through the lid for stirring the sample which is arranged in the container;
a drive unit which is to be arranged at least partially outside of the lid, for driving the stirring device;
a coupling unit for coupling the stirring unit with the drive unit; and
an actuation unit which is actuatable, for adjusting the coupling unit, such that selectively:
in a first actuation position, when pulling up the drive unit, the lid is detachable from the container commonly with the stirring unit; or
in a second actuation position, when pulling up the drive unit, the drive unit is detachable from the container and the stirring unit and the lid remain at the container,
wherein the coupling unit and the actuation unit are configured in a cooperating manner, such that:
in the first actuation position, the drive unit and the stirring unit are coupled with each other in an axially undetachable manner, and in the second actuation position, the drive unit and the stirring unit are decoupled from each other in an axially detachable manner.
2 . The flash point determination apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the coupling unit comprises:
a first component which is assigned to the drive unit, and
a second component which is assigned to the stirring unit.
3 . The flash point determination apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the coupling unit comprises at least one first locking body, wherein the at least one first locking body is configured to locks the first component with the second component, when the actuation unit in the first actuation position is configured to act upon the at least one first locking body; and
wherein the at least one first locking body is configured to remain the first component and the second component unlocked, when the actuation unit is in the second actuation position and releases the at least one first locking body.
4 . The flash point determination apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the actuation unit comprises a sleeve which at least partially surrounds the coupling unit.
5 . The flash point determination apparatus according to claim 4 , comprising at least one of the following features:
wherein the sleeve is configured axially displaceable for transferring between the first actuation position and the second actuation position;
wherein the sleeve comprises at least one inner protrusion for acting upon the at least one first locking body and/or an at least one second locking body and/or the coupling unit.
6 . The flash point determination apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the coupling unit comprises a carrier for selectively transferring a torque between the first component and the second component, wherein the carrier is provided separately from the stirring unit and the drive unit.
7 . The flash point determination apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the coupling unit comprises at least one second locking body, wherein the at least one second locking body is configured to act upon the carrier, in a torque-transferring manner, when the actuation unit in the second actuation position acts upon the at least one second locking body.
8 . The flash point determination apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the at least one second locking body is configured to not to act upon the carrier in a torque-transferring manner, when the actuation unit is in the first actuation position and releases the at least one second locking body.
9 . The flash point determination apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the second component comprises a tapering outer profile, and the first component comprises a tapering inner profile for receiving the tapering outer profile.
10 . The flash point determination apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the tapering outer profile comprises an indentation for receiving the at least one first locking body.
11 . The flash point determination apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the tapering inner profile comprises an indentation for receiving the at least one second locking body.
12 . The flash point determination apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the second component comprises a central recess for receiving at least a part of the carrier.
13 . The flash point determination apparatus according to claim 2 ,
wherein the coupling unit comprises at least one locking body for locking the first component with the second component;
wherein the actuation unit comprises at least one actuation element configured for locking the at least one locking body by attaching the at least one locking body to at least one of the first component and the second component in the first actuation position, and
for unlocking the at least one locking body by removing the at least one locking body from the first component and/or the second component in the second actuation position.
14 . The flash point determination apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the actuation unit comprises a locking unit which may be brought selectively in the first actuation position or in the second actuation position.
15 . The flash point determination apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the actuation unit is configured for a manual actuation by a user.
16 . The flash point determination apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the coupling unit and the actuation unit are configured in a cooperating manner, such that:
in the first actuation position, a transfer of torque from the drive unit to the stirring unit is enabled.
17 . The flash point determination apparatus according to claim 1 , comprising:
a tempering unit for tempering the sample which is arranged in the container; and
an ignition device for igniting the sample which is arranged in the container.
18 . The flash point determination apparatus according to claim 17 ,
wherein the stirring unit is fixedly attached to the lid.
19 . A method for performing one of a flash point determination test and a combustion point determination test of a sample in a container, wherein a lid for closing the container and a stirring device for stirring the sample in the container are provided, wherein the method comprises a method for stirring the sample in the container closed by the lid, wherein the method for stirring the sample comprises:
at least partially guiding a stirring unit through the lid into the sample in the container for stirring the sample;
driving the stirring unit by a drive unit which is at least partially arranged outside of the lid, for stirring the sample by the stirring unit;
coupling the stirring unit with the drive unit by a coupling unit; and
actuating an actuation unit such that selectively:
in a first actuation position, when pulling up the drive unit, the lid is detached from the container commonly with the stirring unit; or
in a second actuation position, when pulling up the drive unit, the drive unit is detached from the container, and the stirring unit and the lid remain at the container, wherein the coupling unit and the actuation unit are configured in a cooperating manner, such that:
in the first actuation position, the drive unit and the stirring unit are coupled with each other in an axially undetachable manner, and in the second actuation position, the drive unit and the stirring unit are decoupled from each other in an axially detachable manner.
20 . The method according to claim 19 , wherein the method further comprises one-handedly actuating the actuation unit for adjusting the coupling unit by a user.