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A heat transfer apparatus for use in measuring a rheological property of a test sample includes a receptacle for receiving the test sample and a heat conveying member in heat transfer relation to the receptacle. The heat conveying member has internal passages extending substantially equidistantly fr

A heat transfer apparatus for use in measuring a rheological property of a test sample includes a receptacle for receiving the test sample and a heat conveying member in heat transfer relation to the receptacle. The heat conveying member has internal passages extending substantially equidistantly from one another through at least a portion of the heat conveying member to provide for counter-flow circulation of a fluid. The heat transfer apparatus may include heat exchanging elements in heat transfer relation to the receptacle responsive to electric current to transfer heat to or from the receptacle.

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1. A heat transfer apparatus for use in measuring a rheological property of a test sample, the heat transfer apparatus comprising:a receptacle for receiving the test sample; and a heat conveying member disposed in heat transfer relation to the receptacle, the receptacle located within an interior de

1. A heat transfer apparatus for use in measuring a rheological property of a test sample, the heat transfer apparatus comprising:a receptacle for receiving the test sample; and a heat conveying member disposed in heat transfer relation to the receptacle, the receptacle located within an interior defined by the heat conveying member such that the receptacle is substantially surrounded by the heat conveying member, the heat conveying member including at least first and second internal passages spaced apart from one another through at least a portion of the heat conveying member, each of the first and second internal passages having first and second ends, an inlet, an outlet, a passage splitter connected to the inlet and the first ends of the first and second internal passages for dividing a flow of a fluid from the inlet between the first and second internal passages, and a passage union connected to the outlet and the second ends of the first and second internal passages, each of the first and second internal passages defining a substantial complete loop around the interior of the conveying member and the receptacle therein, the passage splitter and the first and second internal passages arranged for counter-flow circulation in which a flow of fluid is respectively directed in the first and second internal passages through the heat conveying member in clockwise and counterclockwise directions. 2. The heat transfer apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the heat conveying member is formed from a plurality of heat sinks interconnected to one another, the inlet and outlet of the heat conveying member being located adjacent each other on one of the plurality of heat sinks.3. The heat transfer apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the plurality of heat sinks interconnect so as to define a substantially square housing for the receptacle.4. The heat transfer apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the heat transfer apparatus further comprises at least one heat exchanging element disposed in heat transfer relation to the receptacle to transfer heat to and from the receptacle, the heat exchanging element being in heat transfer relation to the heat conveying member for transferring heat to or from the heat conveying member.5. The heat transfer apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the heat exchanging element comprises a thermoelectric module, the module adapted to receive electric current to transfer heat through the module from a first side of the module to an opposite second side of the module.6. The heat transfer apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the thermoelectric module comprises a multi-stage thermoelectric module.7. A heat transfer apparatus for use in measuring a rheological property of a test sample, the heat transfer apparatus comprising:a receptacle for receiving the test sample; a heat conveying member disposed in heat transfer relation to the receptacle, the heat conveying formed from a plurality of heat sinks interconnected to one another so as to surround at least a portion of the receptacle, the heat conveying member including at least first and second internal passages spaced apart from one other through at least a portion of the heat conveying member, each of the first and second internal passages having first and second ends, an inlet, an outlet, a passage splitter connected to the inlet and the first ends of the first and second internal passages for dividing flow through the inlet into the first and second internal passages, and a passage union connected to the outlet and the second ends of the first and second internal passages, the passages formed so as to provide for counter-flow circulation of a fluid through the heat conveying member, the first and second internal passages extending through at least a portion of each of the plurality of heat sinks; and a plurality of connectors each extending between adjoining heat sinks and connecting one of the first and second internal passages of one of the adjoining heat sinks with a corresponding one of the first and second internal passages in the other of the adjoining heat sinks for permitting fluid to pass through the internal passages from one heat sink to the other. 8. A cold cranking simulator comprising:a receptacle for receiving a sample; at least one heat exchanging element disposed in heat transfer relation the receptacle, the heat exchanging element responsive to electric current to transfer heat to or from the receptacle; and a heat conveying member in heat transfer relation to the heat exchanging element for transferring heat to or from the heat exchanging element, the receptacle and the at least one heat exchanging element located within an interior defined by the heat conveying member such that the receptacle and the at least one heat exchanging element are substantially surrounded by the heat conveying member, the heat conveying member having first and second internal passages spaced apart from one another through at least a portion of the heat conveying member, the first and second internal passages having first and second ends, an inlet, an outlet, a passage splitter connected to the inlet and the first ends of the first and second internal passages for dividing a flow of a fluid from the inlet between the first and second internal passages, and a passage union connected to the outlet and the second ends of the first and second internal passages, each of the first and second internal passages extending in a substantially complete loop around the interior of the heat conveying member and the receptacle therein, the passage splitter and the first and second internal passages arranged for counter-flow circulation in which a fluid is respectively directed in the first and second internal passages through the heat conveying member in clockwise and counterclockwise directions. 9. The cold cranking simulator according to claim 8 wherein the heat conveying member is formed from a plurality of heat sinks interconnected to one another, the inlet and outlet of the heat conveying member being located adjacent each other on one of the plurality of heat sinks.10. The cold cranking simulator according to claim 8 further comprising a temperature control system having a temperature probe for generating a signal representing a temperature monitored by the probe, the control system in electrical communication with the heat exchanging element and responsive to the signal for controlling the current supplied to the heat exchanging element.11. A cold cranking simulator comprising:a receptacle for receiving a sample; at least one heat exchanging element disposed in heat transfer relation to the receptacle, the heat exchanging element adapted to receive electric current for transferring heat to or from the receptacle by means of the heat exchanging element; a heat conveying member in heat transfer relation to the heat exchanging element for transferring heat to or from the heat exchanging element, the heat conveying member having first and second internal passages spaced apart from one another through at least a portion of the heat conveying member, the first and second internal passages having first and second ends, an inlet, an outlet, a passage splitter connected to the inlet and the first ends of the first and second internal passages for dividing flow through the inlet into the first an second internal passages, and a passage union connected to the outlet and the second ends of the first and second internal passages; the passages formed so as to provide for counter-flow circulation of a fluid, the first and second internal passages extending through at least a portion of each of the plurality of heat sinks; and a plurality of connectors each extending between adjoining heat sinks and connecting one of the first and second internal passages of one of the adjoining heat sinks with a corresponding one of the first and second internal passages in the other of the adjoining heat sinks for permitting fluid to pass through the first and second internal passages from one heat sink to the other. 12. A heat transfer apparatus for use in controlling the temperature of a sample container, the heat transfer apparatus comprising a heat transfer housing having a wall and a bottom, the wall having an inside surface defining a cavity within the housing, the wall including at least one electrical heat transfer device for controlling heat transfer from the inside surface of the wall, the wall having an inlet port, an outlet port and an internal cooling circuit that extends from the inlet port to the outlet port, the cooling circuit including first and second channels connected to the inlet port and the outlet port, each of the first and second channels defining a substantially complete loop about the cavity of the housing, the first and second channels arranged for counter-flowing circulation in which the flow through the housing in the first and second channels is in opposite directions.13. A heat transfer apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the wall is made up of multiple sections, each wall section adapted to removably engage with two adjacent wall sections the inlet port and the outlet port located adjacent each other on one of the multiple wall sections.14. A heat transfer apparatus according to 13 wherein the inlet and outlet ports are formed in one of the multiple wall sections and wherein the first and second channels extend through each of the other ones of the multiple wall sections.15. A heat transfer apparatus for use in controlling the temperature of a sample container, the heat transfer apparatus comprisinga heat transfer housing having four wall sections and a bottom, the wall sections having an inside surface defining a cavity within the housing and an outside surface; at least two thermal electrical units mounted in two of the wall section in heat transfer relationship with the inside surface, each of the thermal electrical units responsive to electric current for controlling heat transfer from the inside surface of the wall; an inlet port formed extending from the outside surface of one wall section into the wall; an outlet port formed extending from the outside surface of one wall section into the wall; an internal cooling circuit extending between the inlet port and the outlet port, the cooling circuit including first and second channels, the first and second channels each having a first end connected to the inlet port, and a second end connected to the outlet port, the first channel extending through the wall sections from the inlet port to the outlet port in a first direction, the second channel extending through the wall sections from the inlet port to the outlet port in a substantially opposite direction from the first channel such that in operation flow though the first and second channels are in opposite directions. 16. A heat transfer apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the first ends of the first and second channel are connected to the inlet port through a splitter, and wherein the splitter is formed in the same wall section as the inlet port; and wherein the second ends of the first and second channels are connected to the outlet port through a splitter, and wherein the splitter is formed in the same wall section as the outlet port.17. A heat transfer apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the inlet port and the outlet port are formed in the same wall section.