Abstract: The present invention is to prevent a drop in the detection accuracy caused by wear of the central shaft of a frame where a magnet holder and the magnet are fitted to each other in the course of prolonged use. A contactless liquid level sensor includes: a magnet holder which includes a resin holder body having an inner circumferential surface for defining a fitting hole and a magnet accommodated inside the holder body along the inner circumferential surface; a resin frame including a frame body, a central shaft protruding from the frame body, and a magnetic-electric converter accommodated inside the central shaft; a float arm including one end fixed to the magnet holder and the other end attached to a float vertically moving in accordance with a liquid level; and a metallic rotary support including a hollow cylindrical part arranged between the inner circumferential surface of the holder body and an outer circumferential surface of the central shaft.

Abstract: There is provided a water level sensing apparatus including: a body disposed to be exposed within a liquid tank and having an accommodating space therein; and a capacitance detecting unit accommodated in the accommodating space of the body, wherein the capacitance detecting unit compares an upper side capacitance value and a lower side capacitance value and turns on or off an output signal. Because a changeable reference that the capacitance values of a reference surface and a detected surface of the body are simultaneously changed is used, even if the body comes in contact with moisture or debris, the reference surface and the detected surface are equally affected by the moisture or debris, thus reducing the occurrence of malfunction.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the liquid level of molten metal including an image measuring device (5), a measuring probe (6), a lifting mechanism (1), a displacement sensor (11), an data processing system (4) and a correction marker(7). The lifting mechanism (1) is fixed to the molten metal container (10) or is independent of the molten metal container, the image measuring device (5) and the measuring probe (6) are installed on the lifting mechanism (1) or are independent of the lifting mechanism, and the optical axis of the image measuring device (5) is set at an angle with the geometric axis of the measuring probe (6), the measuring probe (6) is located within the field of view of the image measuring device (5), the image measuring device (5), the lifting mechanism (1) and the displacement sensor (11) are connected to the data processing system (4) respectively. A method for measuring the level of molten metal is also disclosed.

Abstract: A gas sensor, including a cylindrical outer tube; and a seal member disposed in the outer tube, the seal member including: a lead wire insert hole and an atmosphere communication hole extending in an axial direction thereof. The gas sensor further includes: a protection portion which covers the atmosphere communication hole from the rear end of the gas sensor in the axial direction, the protection portion having a protrusion which protrudes toward a rear side of the gas sensor, and has an opening smaller than an opening of the atmosphere communication hole, wherein the protrusion is disposed at a further front end side of the rear end surface of the seal member.

Abstract: Air bubbles may be characterized by an air bubble detector by choosing an optimum set of frequencies and then comparing a return signal from a sensor receiving those frequencies against an internal reference. The number of pulses that exceed the internal reference represents a width and may be counted. The width, as counted, may be correlated to bubble characteristics including volume.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for calibrating a turbine flow meter via adjustment of electromagnetic sensor position are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a turbine flow meter includes a flow tube, a plurality of electromagnetic pickups, and a locator plate. The electromagnetic pickups are configured to detect rotation a flow indicator in the flow tube. The pickups are secured to the locator plate. The locator plate is configured to adjustably position the pickups relative to the flow tube.

Abstract: Systems and methods for the remote testing of a paddle-type flow detector, such as are common in fire protection systems. Specifically, the systems and methods provide for mechanical movement of the vane to test activation of the flow detector under a flow condition, and which measure the amount of time the vane takes to return to the ready position to verify the presence of a paddle on the vane.

Abstract: A method for transferring a quantity of analytes comprising at least stages of: predisposing a substantially homogeneous mixture of a predetermined initial quantity of at least an analyte and a liquid, obtaining a known concentration value or known amount of the analyte in the mixture; introducing into the mixture at least a collecting portion (3) of a sampling device (1) having a support body (2), the collecting portion (3) comprising a plurality of fibers (6) attached to and arranged on a first portion (2a) of the support body (2) by means of flocking, in order to define a flocked collecting portion (3) or a flocked tampon, such as to collect a part of the mixture on the collecting portion (3); and extracting the collecting portion (3) of the sampling device (1) of the mixture, retaining on the sampling portion (3) a predetermined known quantity of the mixture to be transferred.

Abstract: An automated cascade impactor is disclosed and comprises a vertical array of a plurality of impactor stages, and a vertical array of isolation stages, wherein the vertical array of the isolation stages comprises pairs of isolation stages between which impactor plates, removed from respective ones of the impactor stages are effectively sandwiched between each pair of isolation stages. Still further, each compactor stage is likewise sandwiched between and upper and a lower pair of the isolation stages.

Abstract: Samples of hydrocarbon are obtained with a coring tool. An analysis of some thermal or electrical properties of the core samples may be performed downhole. The core samples may also be preserved in containers sealed and/or refrigerated prior to being brought uphole for analysis. The hydrocarbon trapped in the pore space of the core samples may be extracted from the core samples downhole. The extracted hydrocarbon may be preserved in chambers and/or analyzed downhole.

Abstract: A retrievable downhole testing tool that is adapted to be temporarily installed in a well is disclosed. The retrievable downhole testing tool comprises a variable choke, a tool control unit adapted to control the variable choke, and at least two measuring sensors adapted to measure physical parameters including pressure. At least one measuring sensor is situated above the variable choke, and at least one measuring sensor is situated below the variable choke. The retrievable downhole testing tool is pre-programmed with a specified test sequence for controlling a downhole flow rate using the variable choke and for executing downhole measurements of physical parameters at specified flow periods. The specified test sequence is adapted according to a pre-defined stability criterion using the tool control unit.

Abstract: A method and system for using an existing open-environment hydrogen sensor for detecting hydrogen leaking from an atmospheric reference port of a pressure regulator. The atmospheric reference port extension tube of one or more pressure regulators in a hydrogen storage system is routed past a hydrogen sensor which is already used to monitor air around the hydrogen storage system for the presence of hydrogen. In this configuration, the open-environment hydrogen sensor can quickly and reliably detect hydrogen gas flowing from the atmospheric reference port of one of the pressure regulators in the event a pressure regulator develops an internal leak.

Abstract: A method of calibrating a dispenser of the type having an actuator that is movable over a variable stroke distance includes dispensing a quantity of viscous material from the dispenser by moving the actuator over one of a plurality of stroke distances, weighing the quantity of viscous material, repeating the acts of dispensing and weighing for each of the plurality of stroke distances, and displaying the weight of each of the dispensed quantities to a user using a user interface device.

Abstract: A vibrating nano-scale or micro-scale electromechanical component including a vibrating mechanical element that cooperates with at least one detection electrode. The detection electrode is flexible and is configured to vibrate in phase opposition relative to the vibrating mechanical element. Such a component may find, for example, application to resonators or motion sensors.

Abstract: The present invention provides: a die-cast quality judging method that can easily judge whether or not a prescribed quality is satisfied; a die-casting machine selecting method of judging whether or not plural prescribed qualities are satisfied; and a die-casting condition determining method of determining die-casting conditions. It is judged that inequalities to be restricted by judging standard values QfLB2 and QaUB2 are not true from the positional relation between a process point 13 that is an intersection of a machine characteristic line 11 and a die characteristic line 12 and straight lines 21, 22, 23, 24, and 25 and thus it is judged that the inequalities to restrict an upper limit of a filling time and a lower limit of an air vent exhaust velocity are not true. That is, it is judged that prescribed qualities are not satisfied with regard to misrun and gas inclusion.

Abstract: Determination of hydraulic properties such as porosity and permeability of soil is of paramount importance in hydrology and civil engineering. In order to achieve greater accuracy in determination of permeability of soil using falling head permeameter, the two important known constraints of human monitoring error in noting the falling water level between two selected levels and elapse time between these two levels had overcome through electronically sensing the levels between two selected points and activating the timer clock automatically by the pulses coming from senor. The precision in measurement of time lapse in 1/100th of a second enables greater accuracy in estimation of permeability. Provision of perforated Teflon disc above and below the soil core facilitates in application of water uniformly over the entire surface area of soil core at top and similar way permeated water leaving the soil core uniformly without any obstruction.

Abstract: After a target compound is captured by an adsorbent within a trap column (7) held by a column rack (8) in a substantially vertical position and the column is filled with water to wash its inside, dichloromethane is slowly introduced from an inlet end (7a) on the lower side by a pump (5). The water within the trap column (7) is pushed upward by dichloromethane and exits from an outlet end (7b), to be disposed of via a two-way selector valve (12) and a disposal passage (14). Dichloromethane elutes the captured target compound. Therefore, when the eluate, which initially consists of water, changes via an emulsion to dichloromethane, the eluate contains an adequately high concentration of target compound. At this point, the two-way valve (12) is switched to a preparative separation passage (13). As a result, a solution that is adequately free from water and yet contains the target compound can be collected into a collection container (17), and the target compound in solid forms can be quickly obtained.

Abstract: A sensing device (10) is provided for sensing whether an electrically-conductive fluid (14) has reached a predetermined level within a container (12). In this device (10), a first electrode (22) is electrically connected to a source (20) and a second electrode (24) is electrically connected to ground. When the electrode gap (26) is filled with the fluid (14), the sensing circuitry causes the electrodes (22, 24) to switch roles as the anode depending upon whether a positive voltage pulse or negative voltage pulse is being received from the source (20).

Abstract: A gearbox for an engine-driven mechanism comprises a gearbox housing having opposing walls. A first bearing bore is defined in one of the opposing walls and adapted for receiving an input shaft. A second bearing bore is defined in the other opposing wall and aligned with the first bearing bore. Each bearing bore mounts a bearing for supporting the input shaft which extends through the first bearing bore and into the gearbox. The second bearing bore includes an associated transparent and/or translucent lens to define a sight window for monitoring the level of oil in the gearbox. A sight window of this nature is particularly well suited for retrofitting older gearboxes which lack a sight window.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for measuring the liquid level within a reservoir based on the buoyancy force that the liquid imparts to a float member. a float member is at least partially submerged into a liquid in a reservoir. The float member is configured, upon being at least partially submerged into the liquid to a depth, to have a buoyancy force exerted thereon by the liquid that is proportional to the depth. The buoyancy force is transferred from the float member to a sensor, via a force transfer mechanism that is movable relative to the float member and the sensor.