Abstract: An interlocked valve sensor insertion assembly for use in a manufacturing process is shown and described. The assembly includes a ball valve configured to alternately couple and decouple a retraction chamber with the process. An insertion assembly is coupled to the retraction chamber, and includes an axially slidable insertion tube with a sensor supported on one end. The tube has a range of motion capable of extending the sensor into the valve. A fastener releasably couples the tube to the insertion assembly, and an actuator is configured for engagement with both the valve and the fastener. The actuator is configured to alternately engage and disengage the fastener when the valve is respectively disposed in open and closed positions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring flow rates is disclosed. At least one of a non-vortex based low-flow measurement and a vortex based flow measurement is taken. The measurement or measurements are communicated to a central processor. The processor analyzes the data provided and makes a determination as to the more accurate measurement, if there is more than one measurement. The flow rate is calculated by the processor and is based on either the singular or the more accurate measurement. Further enhancements include diagnosis of meter performance, redundancy of measurements, and re-calibration of either measurement device based on information from the other device.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for updating a historian with data captured by a process variable transmitter, in which the process variable transmitter incorporates the data into an electronic mail message and a historian host receives the electronic mail message, extracts the data and incorporates it into the historian. The system includes a process variable transmitter configured as an electronic mail client, and includes a remote historian.

Abstract: A reference junction for a reference half-cell, the reference junction including an ion-barrier membrane and being sized and shaped for removable receipt within a receptacle of a reference half-cell housing. The reference junction may be included in an electrochemical potential measurement sensor for use in making pH, other selective ion activity, oxidation-reduction potential, and other electrochemical potential measurements.

Abstract: A binary voting solenoid arrangement 10 is provided which operates in a “2 out of 3” manner to provide relatively high safety, low spurious tripping and a relatively low installation cost, while also enabling on-line testing of each solenoid individually without process interruption. Solenoid arrangements 10, 10′ and 10″ are preferably used in a three-way configuration, while solenoid 10′″ may be used in a two-way configuration.