Abstract: An optical sensor includes: a sensor portion, having a transmitter and at least one receiver, configured to couple to a wettable component having a fluid flow channel, wherein the transmitter is disposed to emit a light that travels from the sensor portion to the wettable component where a majority of the light is directed towards the fluid flow channel at an angle between a first critical angle and a second critical angle; wherein with liquid filling the fluid flow channel, the majority of the light refracts at a liquid interface and travels through the entirety of the fluid flow channel; wherein with gas in the fluid flow channel, the majority of the light reflects at a gas interface and does not travel through the entirety of the fluid flow channel; wherein the amount of the light refracted and/or reflected and received by the at least one receiver, is used to determine if there is liquid or gas in the fluid flow channel.

Abstract: A flowmeter has a one-piece conduit with an outer surface and an inner surface that define a wall thickness therebetween, and first and second transducers, where each transducer is disposed external of or integral with the one-piece conduit, in signal communication with an interior volume of the one-piece conduit, and relative to each other such that each transducer can send and receive an acoustic signal to the other transducer. The one-piece conduit includes a plurality of acoustic noise attenuating features integrally formed with at least one of the outer surface and the inner surface and disposed between the first and second transducers, each of the features being configured and oriented to disturb a propagation direction of a parasitic acoustic wave that will propagate in the wall of the one-piece conduit in response to activation of at least one of the transducers.

Abstract: A flowmeter has a one-piece conduit with an outer surface and an inner surface that define a wall thickness therebetween, and first and second transducers, where each transducer is disposed external of or integral with the one-piece conduit, in signal communication with an interior volume of the one-piece conduit, and relative to each other such that each transducer can send and receive an acoustic signal to the other transducer. The one-piece conduit includes a plurality of acoustic noise attenuating features integrally formed with at least one of the outer surface and the inner surface and disposed between the first and second transducers, each of the features being configured and oriented to disturb a propagation direction of a parasitic acoustic wave that will propagate in the wall of the one-piece conduit in response to activation of at least one of the transducers.

Abstract: An ultrasonic flow meter permitting easy insertion and removal of a tube or conduit. A partial ring transducer or partial cylinder transducer is used to permit easy insertion and removal of a flexible tube in an ultrasonic flow meter for measuring fluid flow. In another embodiment a split ring or split cylinder transducer is used to facilitate easy removal and insertion of a tube or conduit in which fluid flow is to be measured. In another embodiment a clamping system is used to securely hold and couple a tube or conduit within the ultrasonic flow meter system. The present invention is conveniently adapted to hold flexible tubes and in particular disposable flexible tubes often used in the medical industry.

Abstract: An animal feeder has a hopper for storing pieces of food. The bottom of the hopper has an opening accessible by an animal. The opening is smaller than a piece of food, but large enough for the animal to gnaw the food through the opening. The hopper has a surface adjacent the opening, to receive fallen gnawed food and hold the fallen gnawed food in a position accessible by the animal for eating. The hopper engages a mounting bracket. The bracket has a lip which partially covers the receiving surface of the hopper to physically limit the animal from leaning on the hopper and to prevent the hopper from tipping back so far that it falls off the conical mount. A conical mount transmits a downward force from the conical bottom surface to a sensor, but does not transmit an upward force or moment to the sensor.

Abstract: An animal feeder has a hopper for storing pieces of food. The bottom of the hopper has an opening accessible by an animal. The opening is smaller than a piece of food, but large enough for the animal to gnaw the food through the opening. The hopper has a surface adjacent the opening, to receive fallen gnawed food and hold the fallen gnawed food in a position accessible by the animal for eating. The hopper engages a mounting bracket. The bracket is directly attachable to the animal's cage. The bracket has a lip which partially covers the receiving surface of the hopper to physically limit the animal from leaning on the hopper and to prevent the hopper from tipping back so far that it falls off the conical mount. A conical bottom surface is attached to the hopper. The conical bottom surface seats on a conical mount. The conical mount transmits a downward force from the conical bottom surface to a sensor, but does not transmit an upward force or moment to the sensor.

Abstract: An animal feeder has a hopper for storing pieces of food. The bottom of the hopper has an opening accessible by an animal. The opening is smaller than a piece of food, but large enough for the animal to gnaw the food through the opening. The hopper has a surface adjacent the opening, to receive fallen gnawed food and hold the fallen gnawed food in a position accessible by the animal for eating. The hopper engages a mounting bracket. The bracket has a lip which partially covers the receiving surface of the hopper to physically limit the animal from leaning on the hopper and to prevent the hopper from tipping back so far that it falls off the conical mount. A conical mount transmits a downward force from the conical bottom surface to a sensor, but does not transmit an upward force or moment to the sensor.

Abstract: An animal feeder has a hopper for storing pieces of food. The bottom of the hopper has an opening accessible by an animal. The opening is smaller than a piece of food, but large enough for the animal to gnaw the food through the opening. The hopper has a surface adjacent the opening, to receive fallen gnawed food and hold the fallen gnawed food in a position accessible by the animal for eating. The hopper engages a mounting bracket. The bracket is directly attachable to the animal's cage. The bracket has a lip which partially covers the receiving surface of the hopper to physically limit the animal from leaning on the hopper and to prevent the hopper from tipping back so far that it falls off the conical mount. A conical bottom surface is attached to the hopper. The conical bottom surface seats on a conical mount. The conical mount transmits a downward force from the conical bottom surface to a sensor, but does not transmit an upward force or moment to the sensor.

Abstract: An animal feeder has a hopper for storing pieces of food. The bottom of the hopper has an opening accessible by an animal. The opening is smaller than a piece of food, but large enough for the animal to gnaw the food through the opening. The hopper has a surface adjacent the opening, to receive fallen gnawed food and hold the fallen gnawed food in a position accessible by the animal for eating. The hopper engages a mounting bracket. The bracket is directly attachable to the animal's cage. The bracket has a lip which partially covers the receiving surface of the hopper to physically limit the animal from leaning on the hopper and to prevent the hopper from tipping back so far that it falls off the conical mount. A conical bottom surface is attached to the hopper. The conical bottom surface seats on a conical mount. The conical mount transmits a downward force from the conical bottom surface to a sensor, but does not transmit an upward force or moment to the sensor.

Abstract: An animal feeder has a hopper for storing pieces of food. The bottom of the hopper has an opening accessible by an animal. The opening is smaller than a piece of food, but large enough for the animal to gnaw the food through the opening. The hopper has a surface adjacent the opening, to receive fallen gnawed food and hold the fallen gnawed food in a position accessible by the animal for eating. The hopper engages a mounting bracket. The bracket is directly attachable to the animal's cage. The bracket has a lip which partially covers the receiving surface of the hopper to physically limit the animal from leaning on the hopper and to prevent the hopper from tipping back so far that it falls off the conical mount. A conical bottom surface is attached to the hopper. The conical bottom surface seats on a conical mount. The conical mount transmits a downward force from the conical bottom surface to a sensor, but does not transmit an upward force or moment to the sensor.

Abstract: A synchronization system for locking a data input signal to a local clock uses the data input signal to provide the timing for capturing phase waveforms generated by a delay element string and a local oscillator. A transition detector generates bit patterns which correspond to a captured phase waveform which is in synch with the data input signal. The bit pattern of the captured in synch waveform is stored in a storage device under control of window detection and control logic also timed by the data input signal. The control logic stores a new bit pattern of a new phase waveform when the window detection logic determines that the new bit pattern is outside a 2-bit window and then selects the new phase waveform correponding to the new bit pattern for clocking the data input signal if the new bit pattern hasn't changed after N consecutive cycles of the data input signal.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for measuring strain on a pin with one or more strain gage elements disposed within an open-ended axial bore formed in the pin, wherein the strain gage element or elements is or are mounted on a plug that is inserted into the bore with an interference fit.