Abstract: A fixture for holding a plastic or glass container and container closure member in a fixed position for measurement of the gases escaping through and around the closure member. A first clamp positions a closure cover over the closure member, and a second clamp positions a slidable yoke about the bottle neck, wherein the first and second clamps are sealably affixed together; the closure cover has a gas passageway for purging the gas from the chamber formed by the two clamps, and for collecting gas leaking through the closure member.

Abstract: In the measurement of the properties of a fiber or colloid suspension for process control, e.g. in order to control a refiner, it is known that the fiber length is related to the rate at which water can be drained from a sample. In the present invention it is proposed to introduce the sample at a specified flow velocity into a lower section of an empty analyzer vessel that is subdivided by a filter into the lower section and an upper section situated above the filter. The sample is introduced in such a way that during the time it takes to fill the lower section of the analyzer vessel, sedimentation can occur in the sample fluid. Air is withdrawn from the upper section of the analyzer vessel at a specified rate of flow, by means of an exhaust or regulating valve. The rate at which the upper section is filled with filtrate can then be monitored as a measurement parameter. Alternatively or in addition, the filtrate can be sent to a measurement apparatus, in particular a polyelectrolyte measurement device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the concentration of unattached Radon progeny in air is described. The method consists of measuring the conductivity of the air or alternatively the concentration of fast ions in the air, and converting the measurement to a concentration of unattached Radon progeny by applying a predetermined ratio found to exist between conductivity and the concentration of unattached Radon progeny on the one hand, or between the concentrations of fast ions and unattached Radon progeny on the other hand. Apparatus for implementing the method includes means for measuring conductivity (or fast ion concentration), means for calculating the concentration of unattached Radon progeny using the predetermined ratios and output means for displaying the result of the calculation.

Abstract: A microcantilever potentiometric sensor utilized for detecting and measuring physical and chemical parameters in a sample of media is described. The microcantilevered spring element includes at least one chemical coating on a coated region, that accumulates a surface charge in response to hydrogen ions, redox potential, or ion concentrations in a sample of the media being monitored. The accumulation of surface charge on one surface of the microcantilever, with a differing surface charge on an opposing surface, creates a mechanical stress and a deflection of the spring element. One of a multitude of deflection detection methods may include the use of a laser light source focused on the microcantilever, with a photo-sensitive detector receiving reflected laser impulses. The microcantilevered spring element is approximately 1 to 100 .mu.m long, approximately 1 to 50 .mu.m wide, and approximately 0.3 to 3.0 .mu.m thick. An accuracy of detection of deflections of the cantilever is provided in the range of 0.

Abstract: A container end leak testing device used for testing a container end. The container end having a score line defining an opening in the container end and a pull tab. The pull tab used for creating the opening therein. The leak testing device includes a pressure transducer disposed directly above a top of the container end to be tested. The pressure transducer, under computer control, is able to test for small volumes of air pressure leaks, ie. 0.1 cubic centimeters and less. The leak testing device also includes a tester housing, an upper housing member, a lower housing member and a container end test pocket disposed between the two housing members. The upper housing member includes the pressure transducer mounted thereon and having an air passage communicating with the test pocket. Also, the upper housing member includes two downwardly extending guide pins and an air actuated stop pin for centering the container end inside the test pocket.

Abstract: Apparatus to measure gravity comprising means to measure density variations in a material. Apparatus to measure gravity comprising means to measure the distribution of masses in a material. The material may be a gas comprised of one molecular species, a gaseous mixture having at least two gaseous species, liquids, or other material. Laser light is absorbed by the materials, and the re-emmitted light is measured to determine gravity in one method of measurement. Other optical processes to measure gravity are described. Other physical parameters are measured to determine gravity. Density variations measured by microwave processes and nuclear processes are also described. Apparatus are described to provide sufficiently accurate measurements of gravity to be useful for routine measurements of gravity from within a borehole in the earth to locate and quantitatively identify the amount of gas present in a hydrocarbon reservoir.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring metallic impurities within a fluid by X-ray fluorescence in which a sample stream flowing at a constant flow rate is passed through a microporous filter. The microporous filter contains substantially no metallic impurities and is configured to adsorb the particulate solid phase and vapor phase of the compounds. Excitation of the metallic compounds by X-ray produces an X-ray florescence having an intensity that can be measured. The change in intensity is compared with that produced by a calibrated inflow of a standard gas sample to derive the impurity concentration. In a preferred embodiment, the filter is housed within a chamber having a window that is preferably fabricated from Beryllium so as not to appreciably attenuate the X-rays.

Abstract: A load-indicating device including a load-bearing member adapted to deform when stressed. Ultrasonic waves are directed into one end of the load-bearing member and ultrasonic echoes are received at the same end by ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving equipment. In one embodiment, ultrasonic waves are transmitted and received using an ultrasonic transducer disposed on either the head or the opposite end of the load-bearing member. The head, the end, the shank or a combination thereof are contoured to reduce the influence of geometric variations and asymmetrical stress in the load-bearing member on the ultrasonic measurement. A method is also provided, which encompasses a model, by which preferred geometries of the contoured surfaces of the load-bearing member can be designed.

Abstract: A GC/MS includes a sample conduit 22 between a gas chromatographic column and an ionizing chamber 31 which is placed in a vacuum housing 35, and the heating mechanism for the sample conduit 22 and the ionizing chamber 31 includes: a heating unit 23 provided in contact with the sample conduit 22 for heating the sample conduit 22; a connecting bar 25 provided between the heating unit 23 and the ionizing chamber 31 for conducting heat from the heating unit 23 to the ionizing chamber 31 with a first thermal resistance; and a depressed cap 26 provided between the ionizing chamber 31 and the vacuum housing 35 for conducting heat from the ionizing chamber 31 to the vacuum housing 35 with a second thermal resistance. Since the sample conduit 22 is heated directly by the heating unit 23, the temperature of the sample conduit 22 is almost the same as that of the heating unit 23.

Abstract: A device and a process for measuring resonant frequency and dissipation factor of a piezoelectric resonator are presented. After exciting the resonator to oscillation, the driving power to the oscillator is turned off after the decay of the oscillation of the resonator is recorded and used to give a measure of at least one of the resonators properties, such as dissipation factor, changes in the dissipation factor, resonant frequency and changes in the resonant frequency.

Abstract: Apparatus and process are disclosed for transforming a liquid sample in a pressurized container to a vapor phase sample which includes the combination of a coarse filter, a flow restricting orifice, a pressure cut-off switch, a coalescing filter, and a fitting for linking the device to an analytical device.

Abstract: Characterization of organic contaminants in subsurface formation is performed by methods for detecting the presence of nonaqueous phase liquid in a subsurface formation, and for determining the composition and for determining the volume of nonaqueous phase liquids. Generally the methods comprise introducing one or more partitioning tracers and one or more non-partitioning tracers at one or more injection points located in the subsurface formation and measuring separation between the one or more partitioning tracers and the one or more non-partitioning tracers from one or more sampling points located in the subsurface formation to determine presence, composition and/or volume of nonaqueous phase liquid in the subsurface formation. In addition, the methods can be used to assess the performance of an attempted remediation.

Abstract: A halogen lamp of illuminance 150,000 lux or greater and wavelength 1129 nm or less is provided in the vicinity of a probe of an electrostatic capacitative flatness measuring instrument, and illuminates the surface of the wafer under measurement. When the light enters into the bulk, it is converted to excitation energy, which converts the valence electrons of the silicon into conduction electrons. Since the free electrons or positive holes generated from the silicon are overwhelmingly more than the dopant or oxygen donors, the wafer exhibits characteristics similar to metal. That is, electrons are uniformly distributed in all parts of the wafer. When, in this state, the upper face and lower face of the wafer are measured, the relative dielectric constant is fixed in all locations, so all the changes in electrical amount can be measured as changes in distance between the wafer and the probe.

Abstract: Pipes provided with each switching valve in intermediate portions thereof for feeding sample solutions to a separation mechanism are joined by a multi-way joint, to reach the separation mechanism through a pump. When all valves are closed while driving the pump and thereafter one valve is opened, all bubbles etc. downstream the opened valve are swept and eliminated due to abrupt flow of a liquid since a portion downstream the valve has been decompressed. In switching of a sample in sample measurement, a valve of a pipe for a completely measured sample is left open while a valve of a pipe for a next sample is opened, and then the valve of the pipe for the previously completely measured sample is closed after a while. Thus, pressure fluctuation following sample switching is avoided.

Abstract: An acoustic method and system for determining the static gel strength of one or more cement slurry samples at wellbore temperatures and pressures. The cement slurry sample to be tested is maintained in a static condition inside an acoustic pressure vessel at a controlled temperature and pressure. A first transducer generates an acoustic signal which is transmitted through the sample. A second transducer measures and records the amplitude of the acoustic signal after it transits the sample. This data is then processed and the static gel strength of the sample is determined according to a predetermined relationship relating signal amplitude to static gel strength.

Abstract: A method for locally testing soil contamination by determining the generation rate of a contaminant fluid in porous soil, including the steps of injecting a purging fluid in the soil through a probe while simultaneously collecting fluid samples in the ground with the probe and measuring therein the contaminant concentrations, until an equilibrium is reached, i.e. until there is no variation of the contaminant fluid concentration. Afterwards, a tracer gas such as oxygen is continuously injected into the soil through the probe at a known flow rate in addition to the purging fluid, and in a small quantity relative to the second fluid, while fluid samples are collected wherein the tracer gas concentrations are measured. With the above-mentioned measured concentrations of the contaminant fluid and the tracer gas, the generation rate by the soil of the contaminant fluid may be computed.

Abstract: A pump system for producing high and exactly controllable pressure levels includes a piston pump which has a piston (32) connecting to a spindle shaft (22), a spindle nut (44) on said spindle shaft, a cylinder block (34) having a bore (36) for receiving said piston, a mechanism (14, 16, 26) for imparting relative rotational and axial motions between said piston and said cylinder block including a device for causing relative rotary motion of said spindle and spindle nut. A helical spring (46) or other resilient element is connected between said cylinder block (34) and said spindle nut (44) to compensate the reaction force generated by a pressurized fluid sample in said cylinder bore (36) when put under compresion. A flexible element (30) is connected between the piston (32) and the spindle shaft (22) to compensate for any axial misalignment of the piston and the cylinder bore. Methods for operating such a system under adiabatic, isothermal, isobaric and isochoric conditions are described. (FIG. 3).

Abstract: A vibration coupling stud for use in a vibration monitoring system includes digital memory and temperature sensing devices. Data is transferred between the vibration coupling stud and a vibration monitor. Data stored in the stud may include measuring point identification, prior measurement data, machine or bearing part numbers, and alarm limits.

Abstract: A water leakage protector apparatus for appliances subject to leakage includes a first device for detecting water leakage from the water supply line coupled to the appliance and a second device for detecting water leaking from the appliance itself. A control apparatus is coupled to a valve, affixed to the water supply line, is connected to a source of electrical power, and controls the water flowing to the appliance. The appliance is connected to the control apparatus to obtain electrical power for operation. The first and second sensing devices are coupled to the control apparatus so that when a water leak is detected by either the first or the second detecting device the control apparatus stops the water from flowing in the water supply line and interrupts electrical power to the appliance.

Abstract: A device and a method for leakage detection and leakage location in an installation, in particular in a pipeline, include a collecting line which is permeable to a substance and is connected to a pump and to a sensor for the substance. A metal wire is disposed outside and along the collecting line and is connected to a negative pole of a direct current source. When a solution, for example salt water, emerges from a leak in a pipeline, a gas, in particular hydrogen, is obtained by electrolysis at the metal wire. A concentration maximum of the gas in the collecting line is then detected and located.