Abstract: A rheometer having relatively movable shearing elements (4,5) for imposing shear forces on a sample of material placed between such elements, is provided with heating means comprising an induction heating coil (18) heated to permit induction heating of the elements (4,5) during use.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imager includes a quadrature coil assembly (20) for transmitting radio frequency signals into and receiving magnetic resonance signal from an examination region. The quadrature coils assembly includes a first coil (22) and a second coil (24). A shunt path (32, 64, 74, 84, 94, 98, 100, 112, 114, 122) provides a current path by shunting at least a portion of one of the coils. A variable impedance (34, 66, 76, 86, 96, 110, 120) adjusts the amount of current flow through the shunt path and the current flow through the bypassed coil portion. More specifically, adjusting the impedance changes the magnetization vector generated by the coil assembly in a transmit mode and adjusts their relative isolation in a receive mode. The quadrature coils are mounted such that they are offset by about, but not quite, 90.degree.. The variable impedance is adjusted until the offset is brought precisely to 90.degree..

Abstract: A rotary viscometer includes a rotor member having plural helically staggered mixing blades disposed on the outer surface thereof for thoroughly mixing a quantity of fluid whose viscosity is being measuring during rotation of the rotor member. The viscometer has a relatively large annular space between the rotor member and a stationary bob member, and the viscosity of hydraulic fracturing fluids for earth formations, in particular, of a type which exhibit increased viscosity at elevated temperatures, is measured by an improved method using the viscometer.

Abstract: In a gradient coil system for a magnetic resonance apparatus arc conductors of notably X coils and Y coils are stacked axially or radially so as to form rigid stacks. The arc conductors are interconnected by means of electrical conductors and the stacks are also interconnected, so that a rigid, self-supporting coil system is obtained. Because the coil system is composed of rigid elements, is comparatively open and does not require a coil former, the production of noise in a magnetic resonance apparatus comprising such a coil system is substantially reduced and field disturbances due to coil deformations are also reduced.

Abstract: An apparatus for and method of determining and displaying important information pertaining to the use of breathable bottled gas in a pressurized fixed volume container. The apparatus determines and displays information such as consumption rate, gas requirement for future activity, gas time remaining under present and future conditions, as well as other information about the environment in a form that clearly shows critical parameters in an easily understood and intuitive Pictorial Display. The apparatus comprises transducers for measuring ambient pressures and the pressures of the bottled gas, processors or microprocessors for interpreting and analyzing the data and making the necessary computations, and a display screen for presenting information to the user.

Abstract: Downhole Torque and Rate of Penetration are utilized to develop indications of formations having high porosity or of the development of an undergauge bit. Downhole torque is normalized by dividing it by the product of downhole weight on bit and bit size to produce Dimensionless Torque while Rate of Penetration is normalized by dividing it by the product of downhole weight on bit and rotary speed. The values of Dimensionless Torque and Normalized Rate of Penetration are compared to "normally" expected values of these quantities. Deviations from the normal values are taken as an indication of the occurrence of bit penetration of a highly porous formation or of the development of an undergauge or damaged bit.

Abstract: A method for measuring the inherent viscosity of individual solute components in a multicomponent sample in solution with a solvent comprising for each component (1) measuring pressure differences for solvent and for solvent with solute component, as a function of time across two capillary tubes in fluid communication (2) measuring concentrations of component as a function of time, and (3) obtaining inherent viscosity by means of a described mathematical relationship.

Abstract: Apparatus and accompanying methods for implementing both an accurate densimeter and a net oil computer utilizing a common Coriolis meter assembly is described. This apparatus measures density of an unknown fluid by first determining the period at which both flow tubes contained within a dual tube Coriolis meter oscillate while the unknown fluid passes therethrough. The apparatus then squares the result. Thereafter, the density of the unknown fluid is determined as a linear function that relates the squared tube period measurement for the unknown fluid, and squared tube period measurements and known density values for two known fluids, such as air and water, that have previously and successively passed through the meter during calibration.

Abstract: A load cell that measures the weight of a load by use of a bolt anchored to a base. The bolt passes through an obstruction board which prevents soil or sand from overflowing, and a load cell is placed between a supporting spool-like pipe and a securing nut. The main body of the load cell is formed with a polygon flat surface to which strain gauges are secured adjacent at the corners of the polygon surface. The strain gauges are connected in an electrical circuit including an indicator which is calibrated to indicate the load.

Abstract: An improved railroad coupler mount (18) secures end of train signalling and monitoring equipment (40) to the coupler head (10) of the last car in a train. The coupler mount (18) is secured to the coupler head (10) by a banana shaped arm (20) which extends through relief holes (14a and 14b) in the guard arm side (12) of the coupler. A swivel toggle (22) positioned at the end of the arm (20) is pivoted to a perpendicular orientation relative to the arm (20) after it has been inserted through the relief holes (14a and 14b). A tightening screw (28) turned by knob (26) draws the arm (20) back out of the relief holes (14a and 14b) and causes the swivel toggle (22) to bear against the sidewall of the coupler head (10). A bulge (38) in the arm (20) is braced tightly against an inside wall of the coupler head (10) after tightening the arm (20).

Abstract: It has been discovered that vortex flowmeters can be suitably adapted for the measurement of two-phase fluid flows, and particularly for the measurement of steam quality, when disposed in a particular manner in horizontal flowpipes carrying such fluids. More specifically, the invention disclosed includes the disposition of a substantially linear vortex flowmeter horizontally and transversely in a horizontal flowpipe to measure two-phase fluid flows, for example, wet steam quality. When the mass flow rate is not determinable through knowledge of the feedstock, other sensors enable measurement of the vapor phase volumetric area and velocity to permit calculation of the flow measurand.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for measuring cutting forces associated with a machine tool. A force transducer plate forms a part of a bolted joint within the machine tool structure and is positioned within a direct force path. Raised force shunting pads are formed on both sides of the plate thereby limiting the load transfer area of the plate. At least one three-axis load cell is mounted closely adjacent one force shunting pad and elevated relative to the pad such that an acceptable pre-load is maintained on the load cell. By strategically placing the load cell closely adjacent the force shunting pad and utilizing the force shunting pads to transfer the majority of loads through the plate, hysteresis is minimized, linearity optimized, and the load cell protected from overload.

Abstract: In a method for checking filters for permeability, in particular for the presence of leaks or other faulty zones which have increased permeability in comparison with other filter zones for particles to be filtered from an air or gas stream, air or gas charged with such particles as applied to one surface of the filter and the other side of the filter is scanned with an indicator system indicating the penetration of particles. The method is arranged in such manner that zonewise scanning of the reverse filter surface takes place by means of a suction nozzle, that upon entrance of a particle flow into the suction nozzle a measuring device arranged in the flow path is separately influenced by the particle flow for each scanned region, and that the result for each scanned region emitting a particle flow is indicated separately.

Abstract: It has been discovered that a glass envelope at elevated temperature containing a noble gas will result in electrons being evolved. The phenomenon has been employed to construct both argon and helium detectors for gas chromatography.

Abstract: An improved liquid handling system for controllably dispensing, aspirating and intermixing various liquids through the use of a precision liquid metering and aspirating device having a fixed base and a rotatable fluid containing cartridge.

Abstract: A hazardous gases detector that is completely self contained and small enough to fit into small diameter pipe bores. The system is housed in two sealed enclosures, one housing the detection circuits and batteries and the other the signal output. The two components are connected by a length of electrical cable. The invention detects BTX vapors in monitor well bores or piping connected to the detection volume of dual walled underground fuel storage tanks. The signal output end of the invention caps the well or conduit and suspends the sensor end in the well bore or conduit. The detection circuit and battery end is suspended ten feet or more below the gound level and thusly ensures uniform temperature, and thus stable performance of the detector. Circuits that time vapors sampling interval provide long term operation from a battery comprised of six standard "D" size cells, leak detection is signaled by blinding lights and horn, with two weeks of signal capacity in the battery, a minimum.

Abstract: An automated ultrasonic examination system for heat transfer tubes in a boiler makes it possible to perform ultrsonic examination from inside of the heat transfer tubes without necessitating the removal of scale from the outer surfaces of the boiler tubes by polishing and without necessitating access to places where manual measurements are difficult or impossible to make.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for ultrasound imaging at different frequencies using a single ultrasound transducer. The transducer has a single characteristic frequency. The method and apparatus involve driving the transducer with pulses having different rise times through different coupling circuits having different impedance characteristics. Between pulses, the same transducer and coupling circuit which were used during the pulse transmission "listen" for echoes from the structure being ultrasonically investigated. It is believed that the combination of different pulses having different rise times and different coupling circuits having different characteristics enhances different ones of the frequencies contained in the Fourier spectrum of the driving pulse and suppresses others. This enables the operator to investigate a structure ultrasonically with a single transducer at different frequencies which illuminate different characteristics of the structure to greatest advantage.

Abstract: In NMR images, which are constructed from resonance signals, for example with Fourier zeugmatography, due to coherent interferences, for example, as a result of "leak-through" of NMR signals from one sequence to a next sequence of resonance signals, artefacts can occur in the images, which, depending upon the kind of interference, become manifest in the image as interference lines, ghost images or conspicuous dots. A method is disclosed of reducing the influence of these interferences by smearing the artefacts out over the image as noise. For this purpose, the phase of the reference signals is randomly modulated between measuring cycles of the resonance signals. The reference signal is used to form excitation pulses for producing resonance signals in a body and further in synchronous detection of the resonance signals.

Abstract: A hollow shaft 12 measurement machine 10 which comprises a measurement table 11, a coordinate measurement machine 14, a rotatable hydraulic chuck 16, a movable/rotatable center 18 and a bore gauge 20. The movable/rotatable center allows direct movement of a gauge head 24 within the hollow shaft in order to ascertain the internal shaft measurements. The shaft is held accurately by the rotatable center 18 and by a contractable spline insert of the hydraulic chuck 16 so that the shaft's precise centerline axis can be determined.