Abstract: The precipitation measuring system is used for electronically measuring the amounts of rain, snow, hail or the like, with the use of a load cell. The system comprises a second frame mounted within a first frame. The second frame bears the collector and a load cell connects the second frame to the first frame. The load cell comprises a strain gauge bridge which is used to convert strain variations in the load cell into electrical conditions altering an electric current. These electrical variations correspond to weight variations occurring when the amount of precipitations in the collector varies and are then recorded by a recording device such as a computer. One advantage of the present invention is that the static and dynamic friction are eliminated, which greatly improves the precision and reliability of the system over the ones presently in operation. The calibration procedures are also simplified.

Abstract: The apparatus and the method are provided for the generation of a reference gas consisting of a gaseous medium carrying a known concentration of vapors of a volatile liquid substance. The gaseous medium is introduced into a container enclosing an absorbing material filled with the volatile liquid substance for obtaining a mixed gas. The mixed gas is cooled with thermoelectric Peltier cells in a condenser to a given temperature lower than the temperature of the mixed gas in the container for condensing a part of the vapors. Condensates of the vapors fall back by gravity towards the container. A temperature probe at the outlet and a cooling control device are used for maintaining the mixed gas at the outlet at the given temperature. The apparatus is particularly useful for suprathreshold odor intensity olfactometers, gas calibrators and in medicine.