Abstract: A gas flow meter comprises a meter body, a tube, and a sensing unit. The sensing unit includes a base connected with one end of the tube; a speed transducer penetrating the base; a temperature transducer penetrating the base; a temperature compensator penetrating the base; and a microcontroller accommodated inside the meter body. The microcontroller is electrically connected with the speed transducer, the temperature transducer and the temperature compensator. The temperature transducer only functions to detect the temperature of the surrounding gas. The temperature compensator only functions to compensate the speed transducer for the temperature drop thereof. Each of them functions independently. Once the temperature of the speed transducer lowers, the temperature compensator directly compensates for the temperature drop, whereby the statistic error value is effectively decreased.

Abstract: A capacitive accelerometer including: at least one additional fixed capacitor electrode with a plurality of additional fixed capacitive electrode fingers extending along the sensing direction. The proof mass comprises a plurality of moveable capacitive electrode fingers extending from the proof mass along the sensing direction and arranged to interdigitate with the plurality of additional fixed capacitive electrode fingers of the at least one additional fixed capacitor electrode. A means is provided for applying a voltage to the at least one additional fixed capacitor electrode to apply an electrostatic force to the plurality of moveable capacitive electrode fingers that acts to pull the proof mass towards the at least one further fixed capacitor electrode and thereby reduces the lateral spacings between the movable capacitive electrode fingers of the proof mass and the first and second sets of fixed capacitive electrode fingers that provide electrostatic forces for sensing purposes.

Abstract: A fluid flow meter can include a sensor capable of transmitting a transmit signal to propagate, at least partially, through a fluid in a pipe and receiving a respective receive signal. The fluid flow meter can include a memory storing computer code instructions and a plurality of pipe type signatures associated with a plurality of pipe types. Each pipe type signature of a respective pipe type of the plurality of pipe types can include one or more characteristics of receive signals associated with that pipe type. The fluid flow meter can also include a processor communicatively coupled to the sensor and to the memory. When executing the computer code instructions, the processor can determine one or more signal features of the receive signal, and identify a pipe type of the pipe based on the one or more signal features of the receive signal and the plurality of pipe type signatures.

Abstract: Methods may include emplacing an emulsion into an annular region of a Taylor-Couette (TC) device; flowing the emulsion through the annular region created by a first annular surface and a second annular surface; contacting one or more shear sensors disposed on a surface of the annular region with the flowing emulsion, wherein contact with the one or more shear sensors generates a signal that scales with shear stress exerted by the flowing emulsion, and determining one or more of wall shear stress from the signal obtained from the one or more shear sensors. Methods may also include determining the apparent viscosity of the fluid composition from the stress measured on the wall of the TC device.

Abstract: The fatigue cracking machine for circumferential notched tensile (CNT) specimens is a device for pre-cracking a CNT specimen prior to SCC testing. The machine uses a specimen holding cylinder attached to the shaft of a motor by a coupling, the holding cylinder being rotatably mounted in a bearing mounted in a bearing support fixed to a platform. The machine also uses a load cylinder rotatably mounted in a load bearing supported in a load fork, the load fork having a shaft adjustably mounted in a bearing support block. A dial indicator is fixed to a post rigidly mounted on the platform with the indicator's plunger bearing against the load bearing. An adjustment bolt bears against the end of the load fork shaft to displace the load bearing, applying a bending force to the specimen while it rotates, the displacement being measured by the dial indicator.

Abstract: A pipette controller for aspirating and dispensing multiple aliquots of a fluid from a reservoir of fluid. The pipette controller may include a pipette holder adapted to operatively connect a pipette to the pipette controller; a pressure tank pneumatically connected to the pipette holder; a pump pneumatically connected to the pressure tank and configured to inject air into the pressure tank to create positive air pressure inside the pressure tank; an aliquot valve controlling airflow between the pressure tank and the pipette holder; and an electronic control. The electronic control may open and close the aliquot valve.

Abstract: Methods and systems for substantially simultaneous evaluation of rock sample permeability and porosity, and composition of formation fluids, are provided. Such methods and systems may be used to evaluate the permeability, porosity, and composition of at least a portion of a subterranean formation in a drilling operation. An example of such a method may include passing a cleaning fluid through the rock sample so as to extract at least a portion of one or more formation fluids from the rock sample in an effluent comprising the cleaning fluid and the portion of the one or more formation fluids; and determining one or more properties of the effluent so as to determine the composition of the portion of the one or more formation fluids, and so as to determine the permeability and porosity of the rock sample.

Abstract: A device and methods for measuring the tension applied to a suture are disclosed. In one embodiment, the device comprises a housing comprising at least one attachment point for attachment of the suture, for the device to hang from the suture when a tension is applied to the suture. The device may also comprise a force sensing unit, contained in the housing and configured to measure the amount of tension applied to the suture.

Abstract: A system operating based on Knudsen thermal force includes a microelectromechanical (MEMS) gas sensor, the MEMS gas sensor includes a substrate. The sensor further includes at least one stationary assembly fixedly coupled to the substrate, the at least one stationary assembly terminating at corresponding pads configured to receive an electrical current for heating the at least one stationary assembly. Additionally, the sensor includes at least one moveable assembly disposed above the substrate and biased to move substantially according to a main axis and juxtaposed with the at least one stationary assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for managing water levels in a boiler of a coffee machine is provided. The boiler is connected to a control circuit and includes a first probe arranged, in use, to measure a first water level and at least a second probe arranged to measure a second water level, or working level of the apparatus, higher than the first level. apparatus is arranged to supply steam or hot water through respective ducts connected to the boiler and controlled by respective valves. The first probe is configured for measuring a draining level of the boiler on the basis of draining commands generated by the control circuit and for automatically enabling water replacement in the boiler.

Abstract: Test systems coupled to a device under test (DUT) with different segments or stages and related methods are provided. Exemplary test systems include logic that executes concurrent determinations or tests for multiple DUT segments or stages. Exemplary test systems can include logic that concurrently executes various tests associated with different DUT segments including determinations or testing for a specified DUT test environment, determinations or tests of when data will be made available to various DUT segments, and various determinations or tests that may be completed before data is made available to specified DUT segments. At least one embodiment of a first stage concurrent determination test system determines first stage tests do not require a specified target and high pressure gas conditions for DUT testing and at least one embodiment of a second stage concurrent test system does require a specified target and high pressure gas conditions for DUT testing.

Abstract: A system includes a diagnostic module that selectively performs a purge valve leak diagnostic to diagnose a leak in a purge valve in a fuel system of a vehicle. Performing the purge valve leak diagnostic includes determining a level of vacuum in a fuel tank. A control module determines at least one operating condition associated with the vehicle. The at least one operating condition corresponds to an operating condition that affects the level of vacuum in the fuel tank. The control module, based on the at least one operating condition, selectively modifies the purge valve leak diagnostic. Selectively modifying the purge valve leak diagnostic includes at least one of preventing the diagnostic module from performing the purge valve leak diagnostic, preventing the diagnostic module from completing the purge valve leak diagnostic, and causing the diagnostic module to indicate that a result of the purge valve leak diagnostic was indeterminate.

Abstract: A bonded structure includes a first member, a second member, an adhesive that bonds the first member and the second member together, and an optical fiber sandwiched between the first member and the second member. When pressure is applied to the optical fiber only from a predetermined direction, the sectional shape of the optical fiber changes to an elliptical shape, so that birefringence occurs, whereby the shape of the light spectrum changes so as to have multiple peaks. The optical fiber is used as a sensor for detecting the bonding condition between the first member and the second member based on the birefringence.

Abstract: A system and method for testing a material system may include a support structure for mounting the material system, and a electromechanical device operably connected to the support structure, wherein the electromechanical device applies an electromechanical-induced force to the material system, and wherein the electromechanical-induced force causes a displacement in the material system equivalent to material displacement from thermal stress in significantly less time.

Abstract: A sensing system that includes an optical fiber disposed helically around an outer surface of a structure along a longitudinal axis of the structure is provided. The optical fiber is disposed such that at least one complete helical turn of the optical fiber covers the length of the structure. Further, the sensing system also includes a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) set comprising a plurality of FBGs in the optical fiber. Each FBG in the set is configured to generate reflected light that is indicative of strain values at a location of each respective FBG on the optical fiber. Furthermore, the system also includes a processing system coupled to the optical fiber. The processing system is configured to determine location coordinates of each FBG and values of one or more of bending moment, tensile force, and torsional moment acting at each FBG location on the optical fiber.

Abstract: A canister for housing a balloon and a radiosonde to be released into the atmosphere includes a case, a balloon detaching mechanism, and a gas passage. The case includes first to third housing chambers arranged side by side in a horizontal direction. The first to third housing chambers are in communication with one another in an upper part of the case. The balloon detaching mechanism is connected to the balloon and is configured to detach the balloon when the balloon is released. The gas passage introduces a gas into the balloon to inflate the balloon. The balloon detaching mechanism and the gas passage are housed in the second housing chamber disposed between the first housing chamber and the third housing chamber. The first housing chamber houses the radiosonde connected to the balloon via a rope. The third housing chamber houses part of the balloon connected to the balloon detaching mechanism.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring a local acceleration of gravity includes releasing a ferrous rod having a regular alternating pattern of reflective and non-reflective portions on a surface thereof from an electromagnetic holder so that the rod falls with a substantially vertical acceleration and substantially no angular velocity about a center of mass of the rod. The falling rod is illuminated with a light emitting diode (LED) configured to emit infrared (IR) light, and IR light emitted by the LED and reflected by the falling rod is detected with a photodiode. A two-state signal is generated corresponding to an illumination state of the photodiode by the reflected IR light. Times of transitions between the two states in the generated signal are calculated to determine kinematic data, and the kinematic data is fitted to a predetermined curve to calculate a local acceleration of gravity.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring acceleration includes: a reference cavity having a first fixed reflecting surface and a second fixed reflecting surface; a sense cavity having a fixed reflecting surface and a non-fixed reflecting surface, the non-fixed reflecting surface being configured to be displaced when subject to an acceleration force; a light source to illuminate the reference and sense cavities; a controller to vary a wavelength of light emitted by the light source and/or an index of refraction of an optical medium of the cavities; a photodetector to detect light emitted by the reference and sense cavities; an interferometer sensor to measure using the detected light, for each variation of the wavelength of light and/or the index of refraction a reference displacement of the reference cavity and a sense displacement of the sense cavity; and a processor to calculate the acceleration using each of the reference displacements and the sense displacements.

Abstract: A tube holder for mounting a sample-tube assembly to a homogenizing device includes at least one clamp, at least one retainer, and a mount. The mount couples the tube holder to the homogenizing device. Each clamp defines a tube channel and a transverse ledge surface, with the tube channel having a lateral opening through which a tube of the tube assembly can be easily inserted and removed for example with one hand. And each retainer defines a retaining surface that extends over the respective tube channel and opposes the respective ledge surface to cooperatively form a receptacle that receives/retains a cap of the tube assembly against axial tube motion during homogenization. In some embodiments, multiple retaining surfaces are included for retaining different types of tube assemblies, multiple clamps and retainers are included for holding multiple tube assemblies simultaneously, and/or ejection mechanisms are included for ease of ejecting the tube assemblies.

Abstract: An identifying device includes a vertical direction speed calculation unit configured to calculate a speed in a vertical direction of an air pressure measurement unit from an air pressure value measured by the air pressure measurement unit, the vertical direction speed determination unit configured to determine a magnitude of the speed in the vertical direction, a vertical direction continuous distance calculation unit configured to calculate a continuous distance of movement in the vertical direction based on the speed in the vertical direction calculated by the vertical direction speed calculation unit and the determination result of the vertical direction speed determination unit, and a vertical direction movement determination unit configured to determining whether the air pressure measurement unit is moving in the vertical direction or not in accordance with whether or not the vertical direction continuous distance is more than a predetermined threshold value.