Abstract: A painting apparatus for applying a coating material to a member surface of a member comprises a housing, at least one slide rail, a rack assembly, a cross beam and a spraying device. The slide rail may be mountable within the housing and may have a plurality of rack positions. The rack assembly is mountable within the housing at one of the rack positions. The rack assembly is configured to support the member such that the member surface is exposed. The cross beam may be coupled to the slide rail. The cross beam is movable along the slide rail and is positionable at the rack positions. The spraying device is mountable on the cross beam and is configured to move along the cross beam while spraying the coating material onto the member surface.

Abstract: A painting apparatus for applying a coating material to a member surface of a member comprises a housing, at least one slide rail, a rack assembly, a cross beam and a spraying device. The slide rail may be mountable within the housing and may have a plurality of rack positions. The rack assembly is mountable within the housing at one of the rack positions. The rack assembly is configured to support the member such that the member surface is exposed. The cross beam may be coupled to the slide rail. The cross beam is movable along the slide rail and is positionable at the rack positions. The spraying device is mountable on the cross beam and is configured to move along the cross beam while spraying the coating material onto the member surface.

Abstract: A method for testing for the presence of sol-gel on an aluminum test specimen includes: preparing an ammonium molybdate solution; preparing a hydrochloric acid solution; and mixing the solutions in 2:1 ratio in each of a number of receptacles. A test specimen of unknown coating, a first control specimen, and a second control specimen are placed in the mixed solution in three receptacles. The first control specimen has a sol-gel coating over an alodine coating; and the second control specimen has an alodine only coating. By timing events such as a change in color of the test and control specimens or the solution becoming opaque, the method determines that the test specimen of unknown coating has a like coating to that of a particular one of the control specimens if the timing of the event of the test specimen and the timing of the event of the particular control specimen are comparable.

Abstract: Methods for determining corrosion products on a substrate are disclosed. In one embodiment, a non-destructive method for determining an amount of corrosion product on a metallic substrate includes non-destructively determining a value Ia of infrared energy absorbed in a corrosion product on a metallic substrate; and correlating the value Ia of the infrared energy absorbed to an amount of the corrosion product.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for chemically analyzing a sample fluid are provided. The apparatus includes two fluid selection valves with multiple input ports for selectively receiving sample and reagent fluids. The selection valves are configured to selectively connect the input ports to output ports such that the sample and reagent fluids can be delivered through a fluid injection valve to a sample vessel and therefrom to an analysis device. The analysis device is configured to receive the sample and reagent fluids and determine at least one chemical characteristic of the sample fluid.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for real-time contaminant detection and plasma treatment verification during plasma treatment of bonding surfaces. Optical emission spectroscopy (OES) is utilized to determine contamination of a bonding surface prior to the bonding process. OES is further utilized to monitor bonding sites on the bonding surface to verify effectiveness of the plasma treatment.

Abstract: A non-destructive method is provided for determining amount and distribution of a corrosion product on a metallic substrate. A value of infrared energy reflected from the metallic substrate without corrosion is determined. A value of infrared energy reflected from the metallic substrate with the corrosion product is determined. A value of infrared energy absorbed in the corrosion product is determined, and the value of the infrared energy absorbed in the corrosion product is correlated to an amount of the corrosion product.

Abstract: A value of infrared energy reflected from a metallic substrate with a polished surface is determined. The value of the infrared energy reflected, or conversely absorbed, is correlated to a quality of polish. According to an aspect of the invention, one embodiment of the invention utilizes an infrared spectrometer to determine the infrared absorbance of a polished metallic substrate. An infrared beam is reflected off the metallic substrate. The infrared energy of the reflected beam is compared with a pre-determined value of infrared energy reflected off a reference polish surface.

Abstract: A non-destructive method is provided for determining amount and distribution of a corrosion product on a metallic substrate. A value of infrared energy reflected from the metallic substrate without corrosion is determined. A value of infrared energy reflected from the metallic substrate with the corrosion product is determined. A value of infrared energy absorbed in the corrosion product is determined, and the value of the infrared energy absorbed in the corrosion product is correlated to an amount of the corrosion product.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining an amount of a contaminant on a surface. Base values of infrared energy reflected from the surface without the contaminant at first and second wavelengths is determined. The values of infrared energy reflected from the surface with the contaminant at the first and second wavelengths are also determined. The values of infrared energy absorbed by the contaminant on the surface are determined at the first and second wavelengths. A difference of the absorbance at the first and second wavelengths is determined. The difference is correlated to an amount of the contaminant on the surface.

Abstract: A wireless gauge alert system including a near empty sensor, a near full sensor, a transmitter, a receiver, and an alert device used to monitor the fuel level status of a liquid fuel or pressure (vessel) tank having a measuring device with an output member and gauge. Upon detection of a predetermined near empty condition, the transmitter sends an encoded wireless alarm signal to the receiver. The alert device then generates a user notification signal. The receiver and alert device, which preferably comprise an LED, are held in a housing having a plug extending therefrom to mount the housing to an electrical socket in a high traffic area. An alternate alert system includes a receiver unit coupled with a computer that allows either the user or a vendor computer to monitor the status of the sensor and respond accordingly. Another alternate alert system includes multiple zone remote assemblies for installation on separate fuel tanks to be monitored.

Abstract: A non-destructive method is provided for determining amount and distribution of a corrosion product on a metallic substrate. A value of infrared energy reflected from the metallic substrate without corrosion is determined. A value of infrared energy reflected from the metallic substrate with the corrosion product is determined. A value of infrared energy absorbed in the corrosion product is determined, and the value of the infrared energy absorbed in the corrosion product is correlated to an amount of the corrosion product.

Abstract: A sol-gel mixer based upon a supply of water or alcohol solvent, a supply of acid, a supply of zirconium alkoxide, and a supply of organosilane, has a series of valves and pumps which provide a first supply of acid and zirconium alkoxide to an agitated pre-mix vessel where the components are allowed to dwell. The solvent and organosilane are then combined with the output from the pre-mix vessel, which is agitated in a final-mix vessel to create a sol-gel. The mixed sol-gel may be aged within the final-mix vessel until ready for use. A series of automated control elements, including valves and pumps, are placed throughout the system to automatically control the volumetric flow of the components through the system in accordance with predetermined parameters.

Abstract: A sol-gel mixer based upon a supply of water or alcohol solvent, a supply of acid, a supply of zirconium alkoxide, and a supply of organosilane, has a series of valves and pumps which provide a first supply of acid and zirconium alkoxide to an agitated pre-mix vessel where the components are allowed to dwell. The solvent and organosilane are then combined with the output from the pre-mix vessel, which is agitated in a final-mix vessel to create a sol-gel. The mixed sol-gel may be aged within the final-mix vessel until ready for use. A series of automated control elements, including valves and pumps, are placed throughout the system to automatically control the volumetric flow of the components through the system in accordance with predetermined parameters.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining an amount of a contaminant on a surface. Base values of infrared energy reflected from the surface without the contaminant at first and second wavelengths is determined. The values of infrared energy reflected from the surface with the contaminant at the first and second wavelengths are also determined. The values of infrared energy absorbed by the contaminant on the surface are determined at the first and second wavelengths. A difference of the absorbance at the first and second wavelengths is determined. The difference is correlated to an amount of the contaminant on the surface.

Abstract: A vehicle alarm system (20) includes an alert transmitter (32), alert receiver (44), alert device (46), arming unit (42), alarm unit (28), and alarm device (30). The alert transmitter (32), alert receiver (44), and alert device (46) are added to the arming unit (42), alarm unit (28), and alarm device (30) of an existing vehicle alarm system to notify a vehicle owner that an alarm condition has occurred when the vehicle owner is beyond audible range of the alarm device (30). An arming unit power source (52) and arming unit controls (54,56) are used to power and control the alert receiver (44) and alert device (46), and the arming unit (42) is coupled with an alert housing (50) to provide a unitary remote assembly (24). A pager unit (72) is provided in the vehicle passenger compartment and transmits a pager signal to the alarm unit (28B).

Abstract: A system for electronic business transactions enabling purchases in an online environment to be picked up locally. Participating merchant(s) manipulate the particulars of products offered such as price, quantity available and time allotted each offer. The purchaser views products via server generated web pages. Merchants manipulate particulars of said products via web pages within the network which allow specific particulars to be editable by said merchant and displayed to the potential purchaser. The potential purchaser enters a locality identifier such as zip code to retrieve options from involved merchants for purchase and then pick up in the preferred locality. An interactive electronic environment is created.

Abstract: A wireless gauge alert system including a near empty sensor, a near full sensor, a transmitter, a receiver, and an alert device used to monitor the fuel level status of a liquid fuel or pressure (vessel) tank having a measuring device with an output member and gauge. Upon detection of a predetermined near empty condition, the transmitter sends an encoded wireless alarm signal to the receiver. The alert device then generates a user notification signal. The receiver and alert device, which preferably comprise an LED, are held in a housing having a plug extending therefrom to mount the housing to an electrical socket in a high traffic area. An alternate alert system includes a receiver unit coupled with a computer that allows either the user or a vendor computer to monitor the status of the sensor and respond accordingly. Another alternate alert system includes multiple zone remote assemblies for installation on separate fuel tanks to be monitored.

Abstract: A vehicle alarm system (20) includes an alert transmitter (32), alert receiver (44), alert device (46), arming unit (42), alarm unit (28), and alarm device (30). The alert transmitter (32), alert receiver (44), and alert device (46) are added to the arming unit (42), alarm unit (28), and alarm device (30) of an existing vehicle alarm system to notify a vehicle owner that an alarm condition has occurred when the vehicle owner is beyond audible range of the alarm device (30). An arming unit power source (52) and arming unit controls (54,56) are used to power and control the alert receiver (44) and alert device (46), and the arming unit (42) is coupled with an alert housing (50) to provide a unitary remote assembly (24).