Abstract: An accelerometer arrangement and method are described for determining accelerations of an inground tool. First and second triaxial accelerometers are supported such that a normal sensing axis of the first triaxial accelerometer is at least generally orthogonal to the normal sensing axis of the second triaxial accelerometer for determining the accelerations along the three orthogonal axes based on a combination of sensing axis outputs from one or both of the triaxial accelerometers. A weaker sensing axis of one triaxial accelerometer can be supported at least approximately normal to a weaker sensing axis of another triaxial accelerometer such that the weaker axes are not used. The triaxial accelerometers can be supported such that one axis of one accelerometer can be redundant with respect to another axis of another accelerometer. One triaxial accelerometer can be mounted on a tilted plane with respect to another triaxial accelerometer.

Abstract: A sensor device includes a mounting member having fixation surfaces inside, and at least one electronic component directly or indirectly fixed to the fixation surfaces of the mounting member, and the mounting member constitutes a part of a casing for housing the electronic component. Further, the fixation surfaces are perpendicular to each other.

Abstract: A device for monitoring evaporation capacity of a water surface evaporator in a process includes a water surface evaporator and a rain collector, the rain collector and the water surface evaporator having a same size of orifice area, height, and contour profile of a monitoring device. One side of the water surface evaporator is connected with a first measuring well through a pipeline, and another side of the water surface evaporator is connected with a first electromagnetic flowmeter, a water supplementing electromagnetic valve and an overflow electromagnetic valve through a water pipe. The water supplementing electromagnetic valve is connected with a water supplementing barrel through a water supplementing pipe. A water collecting barrel is installed below the special rain collector. A second magnetostrictive water level meter, a starting drainage switch and a stopping drainage switch are installed in the second measuring well.

Abstract: A system for determining a fluid level includes a front end and a measurement probe. The measurement probe receives a pulse from the front end and returns a partially reflected pulse and a fully reflected pulse to the front end. The partially reflected pulse is evaluated to determine a liquid level within a tank that includes the measurement probe. The measurement probe includes a conductive trace configuration to provide a time delay to prevent pulse build up.

Abstract: A system and method for measuring an inside diameter of a pipe to determine if it exceeds a predetermined value using a plurality of fingers operatively connected to a spring. When in a fully extended position, the distance between opposite fingers is the predetermined value. The fingers are pivotable between a starting position, through the fully extended position, and to a failing position. In the starting position, an outer end of each finger engages an inside surface of the pipe to compress the spring. If the diameter exceeds the predetermined value as the system moves through the pipe, the pipe inside surface will no longer engage the fingers, which releases the spring causing the fingers to pivot to the failing position, where they remain until the system is removed from the pipe and manually reset.

Abstract: A breath testing apparatus is provided to test hydrogen sulfide and other parameters in exhaled breath of a patient. A patient sample input for receiving exhaled breath from a patient is provided, in addition to an atmospheric input for receiving atmospheric air. A valve is coupled to said patient sample input and said atmospheric input, and first and second pathways are provided from said valve to a hydrogen sulfide sensor block and a second sensor block.

Abstract: A differential MEMS pressure sensor includes a topping wafer with a top side and a bottom side, a diaphragm wafer having a top side connected to the bottom side of the topping wafer and a bottom side, and a backing wafer having a top side connected to the bottom side of the diaphragm wafer and a bottom side. The topping wafer includes a first cavity formed in the bottom side of the topping wafer. The diaphragm wafer includes a diaphragm, a second cavity formed in the bottom side of the diaphragm wafer underneath the diaphragm, an outer portion surrounding the diaphragm, and a trench formed in the top side of the diaphragm wafer and positioned in the outer portion surrounding the diaphragm.

Abstract: A system includes a conduit, a sensor system and a controller. The conduit may be associated with a structure, having a portion thereof disposed on a surface, and being disposed in a direction normal to the surface. The controller is in communication with the sensor component. When the sensor system is operable to detect when sediment on the surface and surrounding the structure is removed from an area around the structure, an initial length, li, of the conduit is disposed below the surface of the sediment on the surface and surrounding the structure at an initial time. When the sensor system is operable to detect when sediment is deposited around the structure, the initial length, li, of the conduit is disposed above the surface at the initial time.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a portable spirometer, comprising a housing and a mouthpiece being releasably connected to said housing, wherein the housing encloses a sensor unit being in fluid communication with a flow channel receiving part of a flow of exhaled or inhaled air from a main flow channel of the mouthpiece when connected to said housing, whereby the sensor unit is configured to measure one or more characteristics of part of the flow of exhaled or inhaled air passed to the sensor unit via the mouthpiece, characterised in that said sensor unit comprises at least one digital differential pressure sensor comprising a heating element and a temperature sensor arranged upstream of the heating element and a reference temperature sensor arranged downstream of the heating element.

Abstract: Methods of evaluating viscous compositions are disclosed. The methods may be used to evaluate degradation levels of lubricants including grease. The methods may include preparing a surface for testing by leveling and flattening a viscous composition, placing a drop of a liquid on the flattened leveled surface, evaluating the observed contact angle between the drop and the surface, and then comparing the observed contact angle to a reference contact angle.

Abstract: Method to record or prevent the recordation of consent between at least one sexual partner. If the partner cannot prove certain information, generally including but not limited to his or her level of intoxication, program instructions ensure that a menu of sexual acts will not be generated. If a menu of sexual acts is not presented, the sexual partner cannot override the program instructions.

Abstract: A posture estimation device includes an acquisition part acquires information of angular velocities and accelerations from a plurality of sensors that detects angular velocities and accelerations and that are attached to a plurality of locations on an estimation object, a conversion part that converts information acquired by the acquisition part into information of a standard coordinate system from a sensor coordinate system, an integrating part that calculates an orientation of a reference area of the estimation object as a part of a posture of the estimation object by integrating the converted angular velocities, and a correction part, assuming a representative plane passing through a reference area included in the estimation object, corrects the converted angular velocities of the reference area so that a normal line of the representative plane and an orientation of the reference area calculated by the integrating part approaches to directions that are perpendicular to each other.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a rotorcraft engine are described herein. Measurements indicative of at least one of current temperature and current pressure at an inlet of the engine are obtained from at least one sensor while the rotorcraft is in flight. At least one current inlet loss is determined from the measurements. Current available engine power of the rotorcraft engine is determined based on the at least one current inlet losses. A visual indication of the current available engine power is produced via a flight display.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring a pressure of a corrosive or high temperature process liquid includes a pressure sensor in communication with the process liquid via a vertical tube. A buffer gas injected into the vertical tube forms a liquid/gas interface at a desired height. The buffer gas supply is then either isolated or regulated so as to cause the buffer gas pressure within the vertical tube to remain equal with the process liquid pressure. The pressure sensor indirectly measures the process liquid pressure by measuring the buffer gas pressure within the vertical tube, while remaining chemically and thermally protected from the process liquid. In embodiments, pressure measurements from a pair of gas buffered pressure sensors located upstream and downstream of a valve are combined with measurements of the process liquid temperature to determine a flow rate of the process liquid through the valve.

Abstract: A fluid level and conductivity sensor having a sensing probe with four electrodes disposed therein particularly suited for high temperature applications. A distal end of the second and third electrodes are positioned a distance from the sensing end that is greater than distal ends of the first and fourth electrodes. The sensor includes an electronics system having a signal relay system for receiving signals from each of the electrodes and switching between different measurement modes by determining a resistance between selected pairs of electrodes based on instructions from the microcontroller. The measurement modes include a conductivity measurement mode in which a resistance between the first and fourth electrodes is determined, and a fluid level measurement mode in which a resistance between the first and third electrodes is determined and compared to a resistance between the second and third electrodes.

Abstract: A calibration system for a pulsed phase-lock loop ultrasound measurement system comprising an apparatus having a compartment for holding a pressure sensitive liquid. The compartment has an opening by which a flow of the pressure sensitive liquid may be controlled. A sensor arranged relative to the compartment to receive ultrasonic signals that reflect off one or more inner surfaces of the compartment. The system includes a processing device for receiving an integrated error signal output by the sensor based on pressure changes of the pressure sensitive liquid responsive to a change in flow of pressure sensitive liquid between the source and the compartment.

Abstract: An inline inspection vehicle includes an auto-adjustable, self-adaptive structure. The inline inspection vehicle includes a plurality of self-adjustable carrier racks carrying inspection device carts with positioning rollers, and self-adaptive driving turbine wheels at a front part and a back end for auto-adjustable driving speeds. The inline inspection vehicle also includes intelligent self-control mechanisms implemented using self-adaptive schema and algorithms for a finite set of control states to integrate the adaptive controller and actuators. Furthermore, it may conduct virtual pressure tests by carrying intelligent inline data acquisition devices to converge the Pipeline Integrity Management with SCADA monitoring system.

Abstract: Inertial measurement apparatus arranged to be carried by a carrier vehicle include a chassis, a turntable mounted on the chassis, a first inertial measurement unit mounted on the turntable and connected to an electronic control unit connected to a motor for controlling turning of the turntable, and a second inertial measurement unit secured to the chassis. The control unit turns the turntable through one revolution with periodic alternating motion from a fixed initial angular position of the turntable. The control unit calculates the acceleration of the carrier vehicle from measuring the first inertial measurement unit while the turntable is stationary and from measuring the second inertial measurement unit while the turntable is moving. The control unit reconstitutes an inertial reference frame for each inertial measurement unit and compares the two inertial reference frames to determine a difference and takes account of this difference when calculating the acceleration.

Abstract: A thermal conductivity gauge measures gas pressure within a chamber. A sensor wire and a resistor form a circuit coupled between a power input and ground, where the sensor wire extends into the chamber and connects to the resistor via a terminal. A controller adjusts the power input, as a function of a voltage at the terminal and a voltage at the power input, to bring the sensor wire to a target temperature. Based on the adjusted power input, the controller can determine a measure of the gas pressure within the chamber.

Abstract: A pressure sensor assembly includes a pressure sensor, a pedestal and an electrically conductive header having a header cavity. The pressure sensor includes, an electrically conductive sensing layer having a sensor diaphragm, an electrically conductive backing layer having a bottom surface that is bonded to the sensing layer, an electrically insulative layer having a bottom surface that is bonded to a top surface of the backing layer, and a sensor element having an electrical parameter that changes based on a deflection of the sensor diaphragm in response to a pressure difference. The pedestal is bonded to the electrically insulative layer and attached to the header within the header cavity.