Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining fuel burning efficiency in articles which require hydrocarbon combustion for operation, such as noncatalytic converter equipped internal combustion engines, hot water heaters, furnaces and the like.The invention includes a three gas analyzer which measures the amount of carbon monoxide, oxygen and hydrocarbon in the emissions of the exhaust system.

Abstract: A method of checking the electrical isolation provided by a gas permeable membrane for a carbon dioxide sensor in an analyzer for simultaneously measuring the carbon dioxide and chloride content of a blood sample as it reacts with a reagent in a sample cell. The method involves actuating the carbon dioxide sensor during its normal "off-time" and measuring any signal generated thereby while a coulometric generator in the analyzer is initially activated to titrate to a repeatable initial value any chloride present in the reagent alone. Any signal generated by the sensor above a predetermined value is indicative of a defective membrane and may be utilized to inhibit further operation of the analyzer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for layering a liquid sample onto a support liquid through a narrow filler passage in a neck protruding from the opening in a substantially closed, flexible centrifuge tube by supporting the tube with its liquid support contents in an upright position, attaching a funnel shaped container to the neck of the tube, applying a squeezing force to the flexible tube to reduce its internal volume thereby forcing the liquid contents into the neck thereof to form a meniscus adjacent the opening of the filler passage, adding a sample liquid into the funnel shaped container above the filler opening and in contact with the meniscus of the support liquid, and releasing the squeezing force from the tube allowing it to return to its normal volume thereby drawing the sample into the tube layered on top of the support liquid.

Abstract: The present invention is an accessory useful in servicing capillary tube type ink pens associated with strip chart recorders and the like. The device can be used to insert an air bubble into the metallic capillary tube pen during periods of nonuse, flush the pen with solvent when necessary, and prime the pen with ink from an ink supply. The device comprises a container for holding a quantity of ink solvent and having an air pump means such as a bellows communicating with the area above the liquid in the container whereby pressure or vacuum can be applied to the interior of the container. A base member communicates with the liquid in the interior of the container and has an extended tube contained therein terminating at the opposite end in an opening containing a bushing designed to snugly mate with the tip of the recorder pen to provide an airtight/watertight seal.

Abstract: Apparatus for detecting a peak value of an analog signal includes a first counter for counting pulses from a digital clock for successive samplings of the analog signal to convert each sample of the analog signal into digital form and a counting register into which the pulse count in the first counter is transferred to be recounted at a later sampling. With a prior digital count in the register, the digital clock simultaneously (1) increments the counter to count the current signal sampling and (2) decrements the register to zero to recount the prior signal sampling. The counter is constrained to count up until both counting and recounting steps are complete before the count in the counter is transferred to the register. In this manner the counter will always attain the greater of the current and the prior sampling pulse count values and this maximum value will always be transferred into the register.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method for setting the side to side balance of a multi-barreled carburetor on an automobile engine which is running smoothly with no misfiring cylinders and which is set to factory specifications for curb idle speed and timing.

Abstract: A washable non-splatter ink for use in oscillographic type pen recorders is disclosed. The ink is characterized by being stable at room temperature for extended periods of time, thus not requiring refrigeration for the maintenance of stability. The ink contains a high molecular weight polyacrylamide rather than polyethylene oxide as a pituity agent to stop splatter of the ink at fast writing speeds. The polyacrylamide allows the use of washable acid dyes. The inclusion of an unsaturated alcohol, such as butyne diol acts to retard the oxidation of the pituity, thus stabilizing the pituity against aging degradation.

Abstract: A kinetic assay is provided for determining the acid phosphatase in an aqueous solution by measuring the amount of of reduced coenzyme produced. The assay is based on the following coupled reactions:I. organic phosphate .sup.acid phosphatase PO.sub.4.sup.-3 +organic alcoholII. maltose+PO.sub.4.sup.-3 maltose phosphorylase glucose+ .beta.-D-glucose-1-phosphate;III. .beta.-D-glucose-1-phosphate .beta.-D-phosphoglucomutase glucose-6-phosphate;IV. glucose-6-phosphate+NAD glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase NADH+6-phosphogluconate.

Abstract: An electrochemical combination electrode assembly having an inner, tubular glass pH electrode body supported within a tubular outer plastic container, a reference electrolyte reservoir defined in an annular space between the container and the glass electrode, and an annular, pressure contact leakage junction defined between an inclined surface and edge on the glass electrode body and plastic container for establishing electrolytic communication between the reference electrolyte and a test solution. Preferably the leakage junction is established at the junction line of an axially tapering exterior surface of the glass electrode body and a circular edge on the plastic container surrounding the tapered surface. The glass electrode is nested in the plastic container until the tapering surface and circular edge engage. The degree of pressure engagement establishes the flow rate through the junction.

Abstract: A novel enzymatic reagent system is provided for assaying for total cholesterol in a liquid containing cholesterol, cholesterol esters, oxygen and substances which appear to inhibit the reactions between the enzymes and cholesterol and/or cholesterol esters. The novel reagent system comprises an aqueous solution of a buffering agent, cholesterol oxidase, cholesterol esterase, and a cationic surfactant in an amount sufficient to neutralize the effect of the inhibiting agents.

Abstract: A kinetic assay is provided for determining the inorganic phosphate content in an aqueous solution by measuring the amount of reduced coenzyme produced. The assay is based on the following coupled reactions:I. maltose+PO.sub.4.sup.-3 maltose phosphorylase glucose+.beta.-D-glucose-1-phosphate;Ii. .beta.-d-glucose-1-phosphate .beta.-D-phosphoglucomutase glucose-6-phosphate;Iii. glucose-6-phosphate+NAD glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase NADH+6-phosphogluconate.

Abstract: A process for making a biological composition for use as a blood serum reference composition in diagnostic analysis. The process comprises:(a) adding calcium to citrated plasma and mixing well to form decitrated plasma;(b) adding thrombin to the decitrated plasma and mixing well to form a clot of fibrin;(c) performing at least one freeze-thaw routine on the clot to cause the fibrin to contract;(d) removing the fibrin to thereby obtain serum;(e) molecular washing and ultrafiltering the serum and thereby obtaining concentrated serum; and(f) adding to the concentrated serum at least one alkylene polyol having from 2-5 carbon atoms in an amount such that said composition's non-biological component comprises from about 40 to about 85 weight percent water and from about 15 to about 60 weight percent of said alkylene polyol.

Abstract: An improved multi-channel galvanometer assembly is disclosed particularly well adapted for use in such instruments as electroencephalographs and the like. The assembly includes a soft steel combination return path structure and frame supporting a plurality of galvanometer movements. The design employs pairs of samarium cobalt magnets held in place adjacent and on opposite sides of the coil of each galvanometer by magnetic attraction to the steel return path structure. The galvanometers themselves are each mounted on an aluminum support plate which also serves as a shield to prevent magnetic coupling between adjacent galvanometer coils when the galvanometers are assembled in the support frame. The galvanometers on their support plates are each individually removable and/or replaceable. The result is a lighter, smaller, multi-channel galvanometer assembly which is readily expandable and easily serviced.

Abstract: A pivotal carrier for use in centrifuge rotors wherein the ends of the rotor carriers are adjustable to vary the supporting or receiving surface area in the carrier to accommodate various sized tube racks which may be used in the centrifuge rotor. Holding members in opposite ends of each carrier are movable to a plurality of positions to symmetrically position the tube rack within the carrier to maintain dynamic rotor balance.

Abstract: A multi-compartment centrifuge rotor having a sealing element which automatically controls in response to the centrifugation operation the fluid communication between the separate chambers within the rotor. The sealing element is situated within the rotor above an annular and an inner chamber used for containing a fluid mixture. When the rotor is assembled and stationary, the sealing element establishes a seal between the respective chambers. During the rotation of the rotor, centrifugal forces exerted directly on the sealing member cause it to move and release the seal between the respective chambers to allow fluid communication between the chambers. As the rotor returns to a stationary position and the centrifugal forces induced on the sealing member subside, the sealing element automatically re-establishes the seal between the respective chambers.

Abstract: An automatically controlled liquid dispensing system including a reagent dispenser adapted to function as an intermediate container for dispensing relatively small controlled volumes of liquid to an associated receiving system in a continuous "demand" mode, this dispenser being indirectly monitored to be automatically and continually replenished after liquid is withdrawn therefrom, using a simple photoelectric liquid level monitor system including a fail-safe overflow control arrangement.

Abstract: An identification means placed adjacent the test tube cavities in a centrifuge rotor. The identification means utilizes recessed or indented indicia which are positioned on a circular ring raised above the generally flat top surface of the rotor. The identification indicia are used for identifying or labeling each of the test tube cavities in the rotor. The raised nature of the ring eliminates the possible establishment of weak points or areas in the top surface of the rotor during centrifugation.

Abstract: A system for chemically analyzing antigens or antibodies by initiating an antigen-antibody reaction in a reaction zone and measuring the light scattered by a precipitate produced by the reaction to determine the antigen or antibody concentration. In order to signal the start of the reaction, a fluorescent tagging substance is included with at least the last antigen or antibody reaction component introduced into the reaction zone. The fluorescent tagging substance does not enter into the antigen-antibody reaction and is selected to emit light in a bandwidth spectrally separated from the light scattered by the precipitate. The reaction zone is monitored for the presence of the tagging substance, and when the substance is detected a trigger signal is generated to signal the start of the reaction.

Abstract: A double beam optical null spectrophotometer having sample and reference optical beam paths, a detector common to both paths, and an attenuator feedback loop from the detector for adjusting the position of an optical attenuator in the reference beam path to balance the energy in the two paths. The slider of an attenuator transmitting potentiometer follows the position of the optical attenuator and a signal level sensitive impedance network connected to the slider calibrates the potentiometer such that an output signal therefrom indicates the true transmittance of a sample in the sample beam path over a range of transmittance values from zero to one hundred percent transmittance.

Abstract: A dual seal arrangement for use in a rotor to ensure the retention of the fluid sample within the test tube cavity during high speed centrifugation in an ultracentrifuge. The dual seal arrangement provides not only a seal on the test tube within the rotor tube cavity, but also a seal on the rotor tube cavity itself. One seal provides a capping arrangement on the test tube to securely seal the fluid sample within the test tube which rests within the rotor tube cavity. A secondary seal is positioned within the rotor tube cavity above the capping seal to provide a complete seal of the rotor tube cavity above the test tube.