Abstract: A photoacoustic detection device including a nanophotonic circuit including a first chip on which is formed at least one optical waveguide and in which is formed a set of cavities defining a Helmholtz resonator; at least one optical source capable of emitting an optical signal in a given wavelength range, capable of being modulated at an acoustic modulation frequency, this source being attached to the first chip; a second chip forming a cap for said cavities and including acoustic sensors; and electronic circuits for processing the output of the acoustic sensors formed in the first or the second chip.

Abstract: A monitoring and control system for a seal gas supply system for a non-contacting gas seal. The supply includes several gas conditioning elements or units. The monitoring and control system includes an evanescent wave sensor to sense the presence of liquid in the seal gas. Multiple sensors to sense the temperature and pressure of the treated seal gas are disposed at the outlet of the conditioning elements. A programmable logic device is provided with information regarding the phase of the gas at various pressures and temperatures and compares the sensed data to the baseline data. Recognition of liquid concentrate results in an output signal.

Abstract: A detection and identification system includes a sensor unit (100) having a sensor array that detects and identifies at least one chemical included in an air flow. The system also includes a pump (120) that drives the air flow through the detection and identification system, in which the pump receives the air flow that has passed out of the sensor unit. The system further includes an adsorption unit (130) that dries and cleans the air flow within the detection and identification system, to obtain a substantially dry and clean air flow, in which the adsorption unit receives the air flow that has passed out of the pump. The system also includes at least one valve (140) that receives the substantially dry and clean air flow that has passed through the adsorption unit. The valve provides the substantially dry and clean air flow to the sensor unit in a close-loop circulation operation to thereby clean a sensor array.

Abstract: A device for conveying a substance that comprises: a first duct for containing the substance; an optical fiber connected to the first duct and extending along the duct, the optical fiber including several detection members spaced along its length, each detection member having a separate reflection spectrum that varies with the presence of the substance to be detected; a control device including a light source capable of emitting a light in the reflection spectrum of each detection member, a light receiver capable of detecting the light amplitude in the detection spectrum of each detection member, and an analysis module capable of determining the presence of a leak of the substance based on the light amplitude provided by the light receiver.

Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor for measuring the level of liquid in a vessel has an elongated tubular probe, a tube within the probe, and a transducer that converts electrical energy to ultrasonic energy mounted at or near one end of the tube so as to transmit ultrasonic energy horizontally across the probe. An element having a surface that reflects ultrasonic energy is at an angle, preferably of about 45°, to the probe longitudinal axis opposite to an ultrasonic energy emitting part of the transducer to reflect ultrasonic energy received from the transducer upwardly in the probe to an air-liquid interface from which it is downwardly reflected to the angled reflector element that directs the energy reflected from the interface back to the transducer for conversion to an electrical signal that is used by an electronic module to measure the liquid level in the probe which is the liquid level in the vessel.

Abstract: A sensor structure for use with container inspection systems utilizes a continuous-wave (CW) microwave radar to measure the curvature or the vibration characteristics of a container wall through a thick corrugated cardboard case top or on a single item container processing line. A radar antenna directs RF energy toward cans moving along a conveyor. The antenna emits a beam which, over time, illuminates a narrow region along a line from one outer edge of the can to the opposing outer edge, as the can passes the antenna. During this time, a continuous measurement of the relative change in distance from the antenna to the top of the can is generated and sampled for acquisition by a computer, and an estimate of the profile is made from changes in the distance measurement. The profile is used as a measure of the internal pressure of the can or as an indication of the presence of manufacturing defects.

Abstract: An arrangement for mounting a stylus on a stylus support for a metrological instrument includes a camming pin on a mounting disc of the stylus support, which passes through a mounting hole in a mounting disc of the stylus. A spring applies a sideways force to a sloping cam surface of the camming pin, which is converted into a force pulling the camming pin through the mounting hole and thus holding the mounting discs together. An operator can deform the spring so that it releases the camming pin, allowing the stylus to be mounted or dismounted without applying significant force to the pivot bearing of the stylus support. If excessive radial force is applied to the stylus arm, the spring will ride up the cam surface allowing the stylus to be released from the stylus support, thereby avoiding applying extreme forces to the pivot bearing.

Abstract: The invention concerns a chromatographic measurement. The aim of the invention is to measure at least one of the elements chosen from among Pu (IV), Pu (VI), uranium and nitrates, present in a solution by liquid phase chromatography. This aim is attained by a process comprising the following stages:a) injection of a sample of the solution on a stationary phase comprising an apolar-type support,b) elution by a mobile liquid phase which comprises a counter-ion of ammonium type, sulfate ion, an acid of a normality equal to or greater than 0.001 N, a mixture of solvents comprising an alcohol in C.sub.1 -C.sub.4, a polar modifying organic solvent different from an alcohol, miscible with water, and water, in order to obtain an eluate, andc) analysis of the eluate so as to determine the element(s) present.

Abstract: An integrated control system comprises one or more controllers each equipped to perform a control function and to gather data (ordinarily from sensors) relevant to the control function. Each controller contains computer storage means, such as computer memory, for storing the relevant data and instructions, associated with the data, for causing a remote computer to generate a visual display incorporating the data in a predetermined format; and a communication module for establishing contact and facilitating data interchange with the remote computer. The remote computer, in turn, also includes a communication module compatible with the controller-borne module, and which enables the remote computer to download the data and associated instructions from one or more controllers. The remote computer also includes a facility for processing the instructions to create a user interface encoded by the instructions, and which incorporates the data.

Abstract: An optical communication system compensating for chromatic dispersion and a phase conjugate light generator for use therewith. The system includes an optical transmitter which receives an input signal and transmits signal light over an optical transmission line which is then input to a phase conjugate light generation unit. The phase conjugate light generation unit generates phase conjugate light corresponding to the signal light and outputs the phase conjugate light to an optical receiver which reproduces a demodulated signal corresponding to the input signal. The system compensates for chromatic dispersion by having the phase conjugate light generator generate phase conjugate light corresponding to signal light received over a first optical transmission line and then transmitting the generated phase conjugate light over a second optical transmission line.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting and measuring cracks in plate-like structures using acoustic emission technique is disclosed. A false aperture transducer is formed by bonding a mass-loading component to and partially covering a small circular portion of the center surface of a larger aperture piezoelectric disk. In this manner, only a small part of the piezoelectric material in the center of the disk is mass-loaded and very sensitive to low frequency flexure waves created by out-of-plane sources while the remainder of the disk is unloaded and sensitive to high frequency extensional and shear waves created by in-plane sources.

Abstract: A rotational sensor has a vibrating weight with two acceleration sensors mounted on it. The two acceleration sensors are designed to detect forces acting at a right angle to each other. The vibrating weight is set in vibration by means of driving devices, and rotation of the rotational sensor about two axes of rotation that are normal to each other is detected with the help of the acceleration sensors. The Coriolis forces in a plane are determined in this way.

Abstract: An apparatus which measures a thickness of a layer using transverse waves of ultrasonic waves, and includes: a sensor unit having a probe for obliquely transmitting and receiving to and from the surface of a material to be measured having first and second layers with different acoustic impedances in a depth direction: an extractor for extracting, from a wave reception signal representing waves received by the probe, reflected waves from a boundary between the first and the second layers of the material; and a calculator for calculating a distance between the surface of the material and the boundary.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for measuring the amount of unburned carbon in a sample of fly ash using infrared photoacoustic absorption. One preferred method according to the present invention involves directing modulated infrared radiation at a sample of fly ash and measuring the acoustic signal produced when the unburned carbon in the sample absorbs the radiation producing a thermal wave which propagates through the sample to generate a minute acoustic wave at interfaces between the carbon particles and gas surrounding the particles. One preferred apparatus includes a source of modulated infrared radiation, a chamber for containing the sample, a microphone to detect the acoustic signals, lock-in amplifier to separate the desired photoacoustic signal from noise at other frequencies, and a PC computer to provide output from the amplifier. This apparatus identifies the acoustic signal for determination of the amount of unburned carbon in the sample.

Abstract: An ultrasonic measurement method for distinguishing between unflawed and flawed parts comprises the steps of detecting at least two prominent resonant response frequencies, measuring the frequency difference between the two frequencies, determining the ratio of the frequency difference to one of said frequencies, and comparing the ratio to a predetermined part criterion. Resonant response frequencies dependant upon physical characteristics such as dimensions and weight are compared to other resonances which are at frequencies dependant upon stiffness of the part.

Abstract: The means and method of the present invention includes a source of microwave energy and associated elements which provide microwave energy to a petroleum stream. Other circuitry include elements which receive microwave energy from the petroleum stream. Electronic apparatus provides at least two outputs utilizing the provided microwave energy, the received microwave energy and known values for 100 percent oil, 100 percent solids of one specie and 100 percent water, corresponding to different ratios of ratios involving oil and water, oil and solids, and water and solids.

Abstract: A capillary rheometer apparatus includes a housing, a plunger, the housing having a reservoir for receiving the plunger in a polymer melt, and a mechanism for blocking flow of the melt out of the reservoir. A driving mechanism is included for driving the plunger longitudinally within the reservoir to move one end of the plunger in contact with the melt. A diaphragm, which is coupled to the one end of the plunger, deflects in response to melt pressure in the reservoir. A mechanism, responsive to diaphragm deflection, determines pressure of the melt. Another mechanism is included for determining the temperature of the melt and a further mechanism is included for indicating longitudinal movement of the plunger. From such determinations, the PVT characteristics and the apparent shear viscosity characteristics of the polymer melt can be obtained.

Abstract: An oil sampling apparatus for taking samples from either pressurized or non-pressurized oil sources is provided. The oil sampling apparatus includes a body configured to define a conduit therethrough, a vacuum passageway defined to extend through the body in fluid communication with the conduit, and a pressurized oil passageway defined to extend through the body in fluid communication with the conduit. The body further defines a rigid tube having a tube interior connectable between a source of pressurized oil and the pressurized oil passageway. A sample bottle is positionable adjacent to the body in fluid tight communication with the conduit and a manually operated vacuum pump is attached in fluid communication to the vacuum passageway to allow oil to be drawn from a non-pressurized oil source, through the conduit, and into the sample bottle.

Abstract: A fuel dispensing apparatus includes a fuel reservoir having a pump to pump fuel from the reservoir into a first leg of piping. A master dispenser downstream of the first leg of piping has an outlet hose, a user-controllable switch activatable to turn on the pump to pump motor fuel from the reservoir to the master dispenser, a meter to detect the flow of motor fuel being dispensed through the master dispenser, and a second leg of piping downstream of the meter and exiting the master dispenser. A satellite dispenser is connected to second leg. An electronic means simulates the activation of the switch by turning on the pump and determines the meter's detection of the flow of motor fuel during a time of simulated activation of the switch and outputs a leak detection signal when such flow is detected.

Abstract: An air filter condition indicator which provides an indication of the degree of clogging of the air filter. The indicator has a housing which supports a cylinder. A balance assembly has a hub member supported by the housing, and a balance lever having a piston rod and piston at one end and a counter weight at the other end. An actuation weight arm extends downwardly from the balance lever and has a movable weight which adjusts the sensitivity of the device. An indicator member held by the hub member on the balance assembly as a fan pulls air through the air filter, one side of the piston is connected to the fan side of the air filter and the other side of the piston is open to ambient air. The amount of movement of the piston is shown by the indicator member.