Abstract: A photo acoustic non-destructive measurement apparatus and method for quantitatively measuring texture of a food snack is disclosed. The apparatus includes a laser generating tool, an acoustic capturing device, and a data processing unit. The laser generating tool directs a laser towards a food snack placed on a surface and creates pressure waves that propagate through the air and produce an acoustic signal. The acoustic capturing device records and forwards the signal to a data processing unit. The data processing unit further comprises a digital signal processing module that processes the received acoustic signal. A statistical processing module further filters the acoustic signal from the data processing unit and generates a quantitative acoustic model for texture attributes such as hardness and fracturability. The quantitative model is correlated with a qualitative texture measurement from a descriptive expert panel. Texture of food snacks are quantitatively measured with the quantitative acoustic model.

Abstract: A tube sealing positioning apparatus has a tube holder slidable on a vertical guide from a lower to an upper portion of a sealing chamber for positioning adjacent a heating apparatus and a clamping apparatus. The heating apparatus may have a nozzle to direct heated air on an open end of a plastic tube. The clamping apparatus may have two clamping devices slidably disposed to clamp the heated open end of the plastic tube to fuse the tube wall adjacent the open end. A control processor may be connected to control movement and dwell time of the tube holder, and to control heat application and clamp spacing and time. A sealed tube may be attached to a top cover to be positioned in a test container. A sealing disk may close the top cover and may direct fluid pressure into the tube and apply a vacuum to the test container.

Abstract: A detector to measure composition of a flow of gas from a respiratory circuit. The detector includes a housing and a removable flow path element. The removable flow path element includes an inlet, a sampling chamber, a pump section including a membrane and an actuator interface, and an outlet. A flow path element dock is formed by the housing with the flow path element dock to removably engage the removable flow path element. A radiation source within the housing emits radiation into a sampling chamber of the removable flow path element while the removable flow path element is docked in the flow path element dock. A sensor is housed within the housing. A pump actuator and controller are within the housing to drive the pump to maintain the flow rate of the flow of breathable gas through an enclosed flow path.

Abstract: A vibrator of an angular velocity sensor includes detection beam portions extending from a central base portion in a cross shape, and drive beam portions between and connected to two adjacent detection beam portions. Each of the detection beam portions includes a base-end detection beam connected to the central base portion, and a left detection beam and a right detection beam. The left detection beam is connected to one of the drive beam portions that is located on the left of the corresponding one of the detection beam portions, and the right detection beam is connected to one of the drive beam portions that is located on the right of the corresponding one of the detection beam portions. The drive beam portions are driven to vibrate in a direction toward the central base portion and a direction away from the central base portion so that each two facing ones of the drive beam portions are in the same phase and each two adjacent ones of the drive beam portions are in the opposite phases.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system for nearfield gunshot and explosion detection comprising a hardware device with a differential air pressure sensor, a pressure amplifier that amplifies pressure signals generated by the differential air pressure sensor, a microphone, a microphone amplifier that amplifies audio signals generated by the microphone, and a pulse counter that calculates a total event length. The system includes a digital processor that processes the amplified signals from the differential air pressure sensor and the microphone and a data radio that generates alerts based on input from the differential air pressure sensor and the microphone. The system determines whether a gunshot event or an explosive event has occurred based on a pressure length sensitivity setting, a microphone length sensitivity setting, and a correlation sensitivity setting.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for sensing particulate matter in an exhaust system of a vehicle. An example system comprises a first outer tube with a plurality of intake apertures on an upstream surface, a second inner tube with a plurality of intake apertures on a downstream surface, and a particulate matter sensor placed within the second inner tube. The second inner tube may be positioned within the first outer tube such that a central axis of the second inner tube is parallel to a central axis of the first outer tube.

Abstract: A photo acoustic non-destructive measurement apparatus and method for quantitatively measuring texture of a food snack is disclosed. The apparatus includes a laser generating tool, an acoustic capturing device, and a data processing unit. The laser generating tool directs a laser towards a food snack placed on a surface and creates pressure waves that propagate through the air and produce an acoustic signal. The acoustic capturing device records and forwards the signal to a data processing unit. The data processing unit further comprises a digital signal processing module that processes the received acoustic signal. A statistical processing module further filters the acoustic signal from the data processing unit and generates a quantitative acoustic model for texture attributes such as hardness and fracturability. The quantitative model is correlated with a qualitative texture measurement from a descriptive expert panel. Texture of food snacks are quantitatively measured with the quantitative acoustic model.

Abstract: An oxygen analysis system (OAS) for measuring, monitoring and recording oxygen concentration in aircraft fuel tanks. The OAS has a rack support structure installed in an aircraft cabin with a plurality of oxygen analyzer devices mounted in the rack support structure. Each oxygen analyzer device has an oxygen sensor to measure oxygen concentration in gas samples continuously drawn from sample locations in aircraft fuel tanks and at an aircraft NGS ASM exit. The OAS further has a plurality of valves, a supply of calibration gases, a supply of purge and operating gases, and a power distribution assembly, all coupled to the rack support structure. The OAS further has a transport tubing assembly, a plurality of fuel tank gas sampling ports, an NGS ASM exit gas sampling port, a drain manifold assembly, and a data acquisition and recording system having a user interface software to monitor and control the OAS.

Abstract: A liquid amount detecting device may be provided with a first detector disposed in a first storage part; a second detector disposed in a second storage part; and a connecting cable. The first detector may include: a first float; a first arm; a first magnetic sensor which generates a first analog signal corresponding to the movement of the first arm; and a first output terminal which outputs a first output voltage value corresponding to the first analog signal. The second detector may include: a second float; a second arm; a second magnetic sensor which generates a second analog signal corresponding to the movement of the second arm; a reference terminal; and a second output terminal which outputs a second output voltage value corresponding to an integrated voltage value in which a voltage value indicated by the second analog signal and the first output voltage value are integrated.

Abstract: In order to provide a device for detection of a partial pressure of a measurement gas contained in a surrounding gas, comprising a measurement space with at least one inlet opening to admit surrounding gas into the measurement space and at least one outlet opening to discharge surrounding gas from the measurement space, a quantity that characterizes the partial pressure of the measurement gas in the measurement gas sensor sensitive to the measurement gas to measure a quantity that characterizes the partial pressure of the measurement gas in the measurement space, as well as readout device to read out the measurement gas sensor as well as a method for its operation, which permit metrological detection of the partial pressure of a measurement gas contained in a surrounding gas with improved chronological and spatial resolution, it is proposed that means to determine a response characteristic of device be provided.

Abstract: A method or system to determine peak firing pressure of a cylinder of an engine having a crank shaft. The method includes accessing a knock signal received from a knock sensor of the cylinder. The method includes determining a location of peak firing pressure based at least in part on the knock signal. The location of peak firing pressure is associated with combustion of the engine and corresponds to a time or a crank angle of the crankshaft. The method includes generating an indication of the location of peak firing pressure.

Abstract: Method for indicating attacks on a tire (1) for a heavy vehicle of the civil engineering type. This method comprises a first step of applying a retroreflective covering material (7) to at least part of at least one tire lateral face (6) allowing visual detection in an environment of darkness of that part of at least one tire lateral face (6), a second step of using the tire (1) in a mechanically aggressive environment, a third step of identifying, in an environment of darkness, the attacked zones (8) of the part of at least one tire lateral face (6) initially covered with the retroreflective covering material (7) and now devoid of the said retroreflective covering material (7) as a result of the mechanical attack experienced by the tire (1) in use.

Abstract: Underground storage caverns are used for the bulk storage of hydrocarbon liquids, such as crude oil and gases. The caverns are typically formed in salt formations by dissolving the salt and removing it with a flow of water. The cavern is accessed through a bore hole which has casing and internal tubing with an annulus between the casing and tubing. Some cavern bore holes may have casing, but no tubing. The cavern typically has hydrocarbon liquid above brine with an inert gas above the hydrocarbon liquid. In order to use the cavern, and periodically check it for physical integrity, it is necessary to test the cavern to determine if there is leakage from the cavern or the bore hole. The interface of the hydrocarbon liquid and overriding gas is moved downward by injecting gas into the annulus.

Abstract: A portable drug sampling device for handheldly collecting a sample from exhaled breath of a subject for further sensor based analysis. The device comprising: a housing (406) comprising at least one inlet (407) and at least one outlet (408) for the exhaled breath to exit through, and a sampling membrane (302) arranged in the housing. A tubular element (40) having a mouthpiece section (401) for the subject to exhale into, and a saliva trap section comprising baffles (103) to create a non-straight gas flow path for letting aerosols pass through the tubular element. The sampling membrane (302) is arranged to collect the aerosols from the exhaled breath. The portable drug testing device further comprises a volume collecting element (208).

Abstract: A method for detecting fluid leakage from a pressure-decrease valve in a hydraulic brake system having an ABS device including: a shutoff valve for shutting off supply of a working fluid from a fluid-pressure supply source to a brake device provided for a wheel; the pressure-decrease valve for discharging the working fluid from the brake device; a reservoir for storing the working fluid discharged from the pressure-decrease valve; and a return pump for returning the working fluid stored in the reservoir to a portion between the shutoff valve and the fluid-pressure supply source, the method including the steps of: activating the return pump in a state in which the hydraulic brake system is not in ABS operation, and detecting the fluid leakage from the pressure-decrease valve based on a variation in a pressure of the working fluid in the fluid-pressure supply source caused when the return pump is activated.

Abstract: Composite sampling of a fluid flowing through a conduit includes collecting, in a vessel coupled to the conduit through which the fluid is flowing, a first discrete sample of fluid from the conduit, the first discrete sample having a first selected volume, and collecting, in the vessel and at a first interval from the first sample, a second discrete sample of the fluid from the conduit, the second discrete sample having a second selected volume, thereby forming a composite sample in the vessel while the vessel is coupled to conduit. The composite sample includes the first discrete sample and the second discrete sample, and may include one or more additional discrete samples. An apparatus for collecting the composite sample includes a gas chromatograph, and is arranged such that the composite sample is provided to the gas chromatograph without removing the composite sample from the apparatus or transporting the composite sample.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method and system for detecting activation of a pressure relief device connected to a storage tank containing a pressurized gas. The method includes calculating a pressure relief device release rate based on a set of inputs, wherein the set of inputs includes at least one of a storage tank volume, a pressure relief set point, an orifice size of the pressure relief device, a gas density, and a reseat point for the pressure relief device. The method further includes monitoring the pressure within the storage tank and calculating a differential pressure reading over time, comparing the differential pressure reading over time to the pressure relief device release rate, and detecting a pressure relief device activation based on the comparison result.

Abstract: A method for determining the location of a fecal insult, includes: detecting the concentration of at least one gas indicative of feces at a plurality of locations in a defined space; and determining whether said concentration of said gas exceeds a predetermined first threshold value. The method includes: detecting the concentration of hydrogen gas at each of said locations; detecting the concentration of at least one further gas component being indicative of feces in said space; and determining that a fecal insult has occurred in a location where said detected concentration of hydrogen gas exceeds said first threshold value, provided that the detected concentration of said further gas component also exceeds a predetermined second threshold value in said location.

Abstract: A method of detecting urine and/or feces is disclosed, which includes detecting the concentration of at least one gas component indicative of urine and the concentration of at least one gas component indicative of feces. The method also includes registering, for each gas component, a characteristic corresponding to the variation over time of the concentration of each gas component; comparing the registered characteristic with a predetermined characteristic for the corresponding gas component; indicating a presence of urine if the registered characteristic of at least one gas component indicative of urine generally conforms with the predetermined characteristic of the same gas component; and indicating a presence of feces if the registered characteristic of at least one gas component indicative of feces generally conforms to the predetermined characteristic of the same gas component. A system for detecting urine and/or feces is also disclosed.

Abstract: A sensor for attachment to an inflatable air cell cushion designed to detect optimal immersion of the cushion user into the in the inflatable cushion. The immersion depth of a user positioned on the cushion is determined by sensing air pressure in the cushion. The sensor accurately reads changes in pressure as air exits the cushion to allow an algorithm to determine optimal internal cushion pressure for a user.