Abstract: A method is for manufacturing a radiation window for an X-ray measurement apparatus. The method includes producing an etch stop layer on a surface of a carrier and producing a foil structure on a side of the etch stop layer opposite the carrier. A combined structure with the etch stop layer and the foil structure is attached to a region around an opening in a housing of the X-ray measurement apparatus with the foil structure facing the housing so that an edge strengthening structure is arranged between the combined structure and an edge region around the opening in the housing or partly inside the foil structure. At least part of the carrier is detached before attaching the combined structure or detaching at least part of the carrier after attaching the combined structure, wherein the combined structure includes the carrier. A radiation window is for an X-ray measurement apparatus.

Abstract: A rheological measurement method and device (e.g., a viscometer or rheometer) for measuring rheological properties are disclosed. A rheological property such as viscosity is determined by detecting data corresponding to torque between a drive shaft and a measurement shaft, producing an optical signal corresponding to the detected data, sending the corresponding optical signal with an optical transmitter supported by a rotational structure coupled to the drive shaft, receiving the optical signal from the optical transmitter with an optical receiver supported by a stationary structure of the rheological measurement device, producing an electrical signal corresponding to the received optical signal, and generating a measurement signal based on the electrical signal that corresponds to the torque between the drive shaft and the measurement shaft.

Abstract: Disclosed is an AC motor drive (600) for a three phase, 400 Hz., AC induction motor. The application is a constant speed, constant load application. An AC power source with a wide variation in voltage and frequency is rectified to establish a DC bus. A three phase full wave bridge inverter operates on this source. A cascaded sinusoidal reference signal generator (225) generates three sinusoidal voltages 120° phase shifted from one another. These pure sinusoidal reference help reduce harmonic currents. A high PWM frequency is used to operate the power switches of the bridge to reduce current harmonics. The speed regulator (220) generates an error voltage between a speed command voltage and a feedback of DC voltage that is equivalent to the RMS value of the terminal voltage of the motor for speed regulation. The harmonic content of the DC bus current is extracted to provide short circuit protection.

Abstract: Disclosed is an AC motor drive (600) for a three phase, 400 Hz., AC induction motor. The application is a constant speed , constant load application. An AC power source with a wide variation in voltage and frequency is rectified to establish a DC bus. A three phase full wave bridge inverter operates on this source. A cascaded sinusoidal reference signal generator (225) generates three sinusoidal voltages 120° phase shifted from one another. These pure sinusoidal reference help reduce harmonic currents. A high PWM frequency is used to operate the power switches of the bridge to reduce current harmonics. The speed regulator (220) generates an error voltage between a speed command voltage and a feedback of DC voltage that is equivalent to the RMS value of the terminal voltage of the motor for speed regulation. The harmonic content of the DC bus current is extracted to provide short circuit protection.

Abstract: A motor-fan assembly includes an assembly housing which supports a motor assembly, a working fan assembly which includes a working fan rotated by the motor assembly which draws in and exhausts working air, and a cooling fan assembly which includes a cooling fan rotated by the motor assembly which draws in and exhausts cooling air. The assembly housing includes a motor vent cover associated with the cooling fan assembly, wherein the motor vent cover further includes a sidewall with at least one vent hole therethrough and at least one socket aligned with the at least one vent hole. The assembly also includes a body having a tube opening extending therethrough, and an inner facing surface with at least one tail receivable in the at least one socket so that the at least one vent hole is contiguous with the tube opening.

Abstract: A throughflow motor assembly includes a motor assembly having a rotatable shaft and a housing with a motor assembly mounted to one end and a housing opening therethrough. A fan assembly is rotated by the rotatable shaft and received in the housing at an end opposite the motor assembly. The housing includes a partition which partitions the fan assembly and the motor assembly from one another, and includes at least one centrally located flow passage extending therethrough. The fan assembly draws air over the motor assembly, through the housing opening and at least one centrally located flow passage, and then into the fan assembly which exhausts the air.

Abstract: Devices, methods, and non-transitory computer readable media for measuring properties of a material are disclosed. A device is configured to automatically identify a property of the material such as a surface of the material as a measuring head of a spindle engages the material as the spindle is lowered. After the material surface is identified, the device is configured to automatically lower the measuring head to a predefined depth within the material with respect to the material surface. The device may measure another property of the material such as a rheological property with the measuring head at the predefined depth. The device may change the depth of the measuring head during measurement of the rheological property.

Abstract: An electronics assembly having a substrate, a heat-conductive body spaced from the substrate, a temperature dependent electronic component mounted on the substrate, and a heating element in thermal contact between the temperature dependent electronic component and the heat-conductive body. Methods of making and using an electronics assembly are also provided.

Abstract: There is disclosed a probe used with a measurement instrument including a pulse circuit for generating pulses. A coaxial connector is secured to the probe case so that the probe case is electrically connected to the ground shield. A center rod has a top end received in the probe case and to extend into a process liquid. The center rod is electrically connected to the center terminal for conducting the pulses. Ground rods are spaced around the center rod and are secured to the probe case. The probe provides an open configuration less susceptible to build-up between the center rod and the ground rods. One or more of the ground rods may by tubes, connected to a flushing port, with nozzles for cleaning the enter rod. Another ground rod may be tubular for carrying a conductor connected to a bottom of the center rod for bottom-up measurement.

Abstract: A method is for manufacturing a multilayer radiation window for an X-ray measurement apparatus. The method includes: producing a gas diffusion stop layer made of silicon nitride on a polished surface of a carrier; producing at least one combined layer on an opposite side of the gas diffusion stop layer than the carrier; attaching the combined structure including the carrier, the gas diffusion stop layer, the at least one combined layer to a region around an opening in a support structure with the at least one combined layer facing the support structure; and etching away the carrier. The at least one combined layer includes: a light attenuation layer made of aluminium, and a strengthening layer. A radiation window is manufactured with the method.

Abstract: Pressure vessels that operate at elevated temperatures and pressures (e.g., 600° F./316° C., 20000 psig), and ultrasonic transducers and signal connectors for use therein, are described. The pressure vessels include a housing defining a cavity. The housing includes a cylindrical body with plugs positioned within openings of the cylindrical body. Each plug has a recess extending from an external surface to a location ultrasonically adjacent the cavity. The pressure vessels additionally include transducer assemblies positioned within respective plug recesses. Each transducer assembly includes a signal connector positioned within the recess adjacent the external surface, a transducer having a piezoceramic element positioned within the recess at the location ultrasonically adjacent the cavity, and a metallic interconnection spring interconnecting the transducer to the signal connector.

Abstract: A redundant level measuring system comprises comprising a chamber for fluidic coupling to a process vessel whereby material level in the vessel equalizes with material level in the chamber. A float including a magnet in the chamber interior space rises and falls with material level in the chamber. The float comprises an inner cylindrical wall defining an elongate through opening. A magnet actuated visual indicator is mounted to the chamber for indicating level of the magnet in the chamber. A level measurement instrument includes a measurement circuit and a coaxial probe having an inner rod and a coaxial outer tube. The probe defines a transmission line and the coaxial outer tube has a through opening so that material level in the chamber equalizes with material level in the coaxial outer tube. The instrument is mounted atop the chamber with the probe directed downwardly to the chamber interior space and extending through the float through opening.

Abstract: An autoloader is disclosed for staging samples in vials to be loaded automatically into an analyzer such as a moisture analyzer for moisture analysis. The analyzer uses vials to hold small amounts of sample materials. The autoloader holds the vials in a horizontal orientation for delivery to and removal from the analyzer.

Abstract: A texture analyzer having a support structure including a base plate, a carriage support, and a moveable carriage that receives a load cell module; a fixture to receive a sample between the base plate and the load cell module; a memory storing support structure and load cell module deflection parameters; and a processor. The processor is configured to identify the load cell module, retrieve the support structure deflection parameters and one of multiple load cell module deflection parameters, obtain raw measurement signals from the load cell module, and refine the raw measurement signals to compensate for deflection in the load cell module using the retrieved load cell module deflection parameters and support structure deflection parameters.

Abstract: A communicator device including a network interface for facilitating internet protocol (IP) communication, a public switched telephone network (PSTN) device interface for facilitating communication with a PSTN device and a processor. The processor is configured to communicate with a user application via an IP connection, receive instructions via the IP connection, generate a telephone ring signal based on the instructions, output the telephone ring signal to the PSTN device via the PSTN device interface, in response to the PSTN device providing a response to the telephone ring signal, establish a tip/ring connection between the PSTN device and the communicator device, and perform a data exchange between the user application and the PSTN device via a communication link that includes the IP connection and the tip/ring connection.

Abstract: An asset monitoring system includes a server, and a monitoring system mounted in a container. The monitoring system includes a camera, a transceiver, and a controller configured to control the camera to capture images of the inside of a container, and control the transceiver transmit the images to a server. The server is configured to process the images to determine loading data including at least one of an unused volume or an unused floor space inside the container, and transmit the loading data to a customer computer.

Abstract: A nickel and chromium alloy having a combined wt. % of nickel and chromium of at least 97 wt. %, wherein the chromium accounts for 33 to 50 wt. % of the alloy. The alloy may be provided in strip form and has adequate ductility for the manufacture of various products, such as sheaths for flux cored welding electrodes. A method of making the alloy strip includes forming a powder charge that is 97 to 100 wt. % of nickel and chromium combined and the chromium accounts for 33 to 50 wt. % of the charge, roll compacting the powder charge to form a green strip, sintering the green strip to form a sintered strip, and cold rolling and annealing the sintered strip to form the alloy strip.

Abstract: A motor-fan assembly includes a motor assembly having a rotatable shaft extending therethrough and a working fan assembly having at least one working fan rotated by the rotatable shaft. The motor-fan assembly includes a motor cover that substantially encloses the motor assembly. The motor assembly provides a cover opening extending therethrough and the rotatable shaft extends through the opening. The motor-fan assembly also includes a cooling fan assembly with at least one cooling fan rotated by the rotatable shaft which fan draws cooling airflow over the motor assembly. A motor vent cover is coupled to the motor cover with the at least one cooling fan therebetween. The motor vent cover has a cooling air outlet through which cooling airflow is exhausted.

Abstract: A nickel and chromium alloy having a combined wt. % of nickel and chromium of at least 97 wt. %, wherein the chromium accounts for 33 to 50 wt. % of the alloy. The alloy may be provided in strip form and has adequate ductility for the manufacture of various products, such as sheaths for flux cored welding electrodes. A method of making the alloy strip includes forming a powder charge that is 97 to 100 wt. % of nickel and chromium combined and the chromium accounts for 33 to 50 wt. % of the charge, roll compacting the powder charge to form a green strip, sintering the green strip to form a sintered strip, and cold rolling and annealing the sintered strip to form the alloy strip.

Abstract: Linear actuators driven by everted ball screw assemblies are described herein. In some examples, the everted ball screw assembly includes a hollow screw shaft with internal threads, a ball cylinder concentrically positioned therein and having external threads, and a plurality of balls sized to fit in a substantially contiguous series along a working pathway that is defined by the space between the internal and external threads. One or more limiters prevent the ball cylinder from rotating. A motor rotates the hollow screw shaft, thereby driving the balls along the pathway and imparting linear motion to the ball cylinder, which is coupled to a connecting rod for actuating a load. The ball cylinder in some examples includes an internal return path with scoop elements that are sized and shaped to guide the balls into the internal return path and then back onto the working pathway.