Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus for creating a hole in a glass container with a medium stored therein, comprising: a laser system configured to focus laser pulses with a wavelength in the ultraviolet regime onto the glass container such as to create a hole in the glass container by laser ablation preferably without creating significant amounts of glass particles inside and outside the glass container.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems for calibrating gas detectors are disclosed. An example calibration apparatus may have a gas supply element configured to provide a background gaseous substance within at least a portion of the calibration apparatus, a nebulizing element configured to generate the testing gaseous substance by transforming a testing solution in conjunction with the background gaseous substance, a pressure control element configured to regulate airflow in order to maintain a constant air pressure within the at least a portion of the calibration apparatus, and a controller component in electronic communication with the gas supply element, the nebulizing element and the pressure control element.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting blockages and/or leaking in a piping system. The travel speed, travel time, movement, images, audio, odor, and/or other data provided by a robot ball moving through the piping system may indicate if a blockage or leak exists. An electronic notification may be sent detailing the blockage and/or leak, which may include a location and corrective action.

Abstract: A system for obtaining a soil sample, dispensing liquid, such as a nanoparticle suspension, into the soil sample, collecting the resulting leachate, and extracting a soil layer from the obtained soil sample. A sample tube is used for obtaining and holding a soil sample, and includes a removable section and stationary section joined in sliding relation to each other. A fluid dispensing unit is configured to attach to the sample tube to dispense fluid through the soil sample and may include a magnetic stirrer, pump, and different flow rate configurations. A collection unit attaches to the sample tube and collects the resulting leachate. A soil layer extraction tool holds the sample tube, creates an opening in the sample tube exposing the soil sample, and extracts a layer of soil for analysis using extractor blades. The extractor blades include an upper blade and lower blade connected by a vertical blade.

Abstract: A system and method for analyzing an air sample from a human uses a collection module that has a plurality of metal oxide semiconductor sensors that have different resistance responses to different gaseous compounds. A detector circuit reads the output of the sensors as analog signals for both ambient air and the air sample from the human. The ratios of the analog signals from ambient air and from the air sample can be compared to similar information from other health and unhealthy human subjects to determine the health status of the human. In one embodiment the system is used for breath analysis.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for monitoring gas sensor sensitivity. The method includes repeatedly determining the response of a gas sensor by exposing the gas sensor to a gas and measuring the gas sensor response; and transmitting the response, information identifying the gas detector, and the time of the calibration to a remote computer. The remote computer then calculates a trend of sensitivity for the gas detector over time based on the received responses and corresponding time values and determines a renewal time when the calculated trend intersects a predetermined value.

Abstract: An earphone device includes a housing subassembly, an inner casing subassembly, an audio processor, and a force sensor patch. The inner casing subassembly is disposed in the housing subassembly and integrated with a printed circuit board having specific electrode(s). The audio processor is disposed on the printed circuit board. The force sensor patch is pasted onto specific electrode(s) of the printed circuit board to be coupled to the audio processor through specific electrode(s). The force sensor patch is disposed between a part of the housing subassembly and a part of the inner casing subassembly and arranged to detect a user's pressure applied onto the part of the housing subassembly.

Abstract: A method and system for a pipeline inspection gauge. The method may include disposing a pipeline inspection gauge in a pipeline. The pipeline inspection gauge may comprise one or more modules attached to each other and an orifice. The pipeline inspection gauge may further include a generator disposed within at least one of the one or more modules, a turbine connected to the generator through a shaft, and at least four wheels connected to an outer surface of at least one of the one or more modules. The method may further include moving the pipeline inspection gauge using an at least partially opened orifice, wherein force from fluid flow in the pipeline is transferred through the orifice to the pipeline inspection gauge to create movement and creating a positive pressure pulse by closing the at least partially opened orifice.

Abstract: A device for stratified in-situ monitoring of the water quality and dissolved oxygen of sediments in a tidal river network region includes a floating platform. Three take-up and pay-off assemblies are fixedly connected to the edge of a top surface of the floating platform. The device can provide high-density data of stratified dissolved oxygen, all monitoring units perform sampling and monitoring directly at the positions where they are located, samples do not need to be transferred, sediments will not be disturbed, and monitoring is performed in the field environment, such that researchers can obtain the long-term diurnal change of stratified dissolved oxygen and the continuous change process of dissolved oxygen in one and even multiple hydrologic years, and basic data is provided for study of the dissolved oxygen change mechanism and accurate control of the water environment in tidal river network regions.

Abstract: A smoke detector for an air duct includes a photoelectric detection system and a sampling space in fluid communication with the air duct wherein the sampling space is enclosed by a removable sampling space enclosure having an optic window, and the photoelectric detection system is located adjacent to the optic window. The sampling space enclosure can be removed or replaced without removing or replacing the entire smoke detector.

Abstract: A device for measuring and protecting a horizontal slide table displacement, includes: a displacement detected assembly, a displacement detection assembly and a vibration controller, wherein the displacement detected assembly vibrates synchronously with a horizontal slide table top, the displacement detection assembly is configured to measure a displacement value of the displacement detected assembly and transmit the displacement value to the vibration controller, and the vibration controller is used to control the horizontal slide table to vibrate or stop vibrating. The device can achieve the limitation and protection of the horizontal slide table displacement; and the device may be flexibly mounted on the horizontal slide table, and has characteristics such as convenient installation and simple use.

Abstract: A non-invasive thermal dispersion flow meter with chronometric monitor for fluid leak detection includes a heater, an ambient temperature sensor and a flow rate sensor which are configured to sense the temperature of a fluid in a conduit, and then monitor the flow of that fluid through the conduit. Based upon the ambient temperature sensor readings, the flow rate sensor and heater may be adjusted to optimize the operation of the system to detect leaks. Based on the sensor readings, the flow may be adjusted to prevent damage and leaks by relieving the system of excess pressure. Geographic location, occupancy sensors and occupant identifiers are used to control the system to facilitate operation and minimize leak damage when occupants are away.

Abstract: A sensor apparatus may include a channel structure configured to couple with an external element and a fluid conduit, such that the channel structure may receive a fluid, at least partially drawn through the external element from an ambient environment, and direct the fluid through the fluid conduit. A sensor may generate sensor data indicating a flow rate of the fluid through the fluid conduit based on monitoring a variation in a pressure at a location in hydrodynamic contact with the fluid conduit and in relation to an ambient pressure of the ambient environment. The sensor apparatus may enable generation of improved topography information associated with flows of fluid drawn from the external element based on measuring a local pressure at the location in hydrodynamic contact with the fluid conduit and determining the ambient pressure based on monitoring the local pressure over time.

Abstract: A sampler system for water contaminants. The sampler system includes an adsorptive sampler housed within a cylindrical enclosure, which has a top face, a bottom face and a cylindrical surface. The cylindrical surface of the sampler system is fluid-permeable. A cable connects the top face of the cylindrical enclosure to a flotation device. A spring connects the adsorptive sampler to the bottom face of the cylindrical enclosure. The adsorptive sampler includes a housing having a cavity and an adsorptive material disposed inside the cavity. The housing is attached to the spring and includes a front face and a back face. The spring is a cantilever in the form of a rigid film, wherein the rigid film is connected to the bottom face of the cylindrical enclosure along a flat edge of the rigid film.

Abstract: A particle measuring device includes a probe including a nozzle spraying a gas on a surface of an object and an inlet inhaling the gas and particles scattered from the surface by the gas; a main pipe including an inflow hole through which the gas flows and a discharge hole through which the gas is discharged; a first manifold provided to connect the main pipe to the nozzle, and supplying the gas to the nozzle; a second manifold provided to connect the main pipe to the inlet between a connecting portion of the first manifold and the discharge hole, and supplying the particles and the gas to the main pipe; a third manifold branched from the second manifold and supplying the particles and the gas; and a particle counter connected to the third manifold, and counting the particles included in the gas supplied through the third manifold.

Abstract: A flow sensor system for detecting the presence or absence of flow of a liquid nutrient formula through a conduit of an enteral feeding system. The flow sensor system includes a channel configured to retain the conduit therein, a heat source disposed at a first location at a first portion of the conduit, and a heat detector disposed at a second location at a second portion of the conduit. The heat source may include an IR LED, and the heat detector may include a thermopile sensor. A method for using the flow sensor system to detect the presence or absence of flow of a liquid nutrient formula through a conduit of an enteral feeding system is also disclosed.

Abstract: Technical equilibrium can be used to measure a single gas isotherm in a relatively fast and continuous manner rather than, for example, in a batch manner. Further, an expansion vessel can be used for successive desorption a multicomponent gas in combination with determining the composition of the multicomponent gas in combination with a calculation that provides both qualitative and quantitative information about the multicomponent gas. Moreover, a multicomponent gas can be flowed through an adsorbent bed and the and the flow of the multicomponent gas flow is shut off and isolated when equilibrium is reached.

Abstract: Provided are containers that are useful for the collection and analysis of materials, which typically comprise solid material, such as geologic material samples, such as drill cuttings, core samples, drilling muds, or similar materials. Such containers comprise a barrier component that forms an inner chamber for isolating a material and a compressible or collapsible section that is adapted to be compressed by application of a force, but without rupture or other disruption that would result in the loss of volatile compounds contained in the container (such as volatile compounds released from the material). The containers can be sealed by a seal component, which can be punctured by a component (e.g., a needle) permitting the flow of gaseous material from the interior of the container when a force is applied through the puncturing component. In aspects, the containers comprise a sample material, such as a drill cutting or other geologic material.

Abstract: A flow sensor including a fluid flow path, a first sensor configured to determine a first measurement of a thermal diffusivity and/or a viscosity of a fluid in the fluid flow path, a second sensor configured to determine a second measurement of a fluid flow velocity and/or a volumetric flow rate of the fluid in the fluid flow path, and at least one processor configured to adjust the second measurement based on the first measurement. A method including receiving fluid in a fluid flow path of a flow sensor, determining a first measurement of a thermal diffusivity and/or a viscosity of the fluid in the fluid flow path, determining a second measurement of a fluid flow velocity and/or a volumetric flow rate of the fluid in the fluid flow path, and adjusting the second measurement based on the first measurement.

Abstract: An accelerometer arrangement and method are described for determining accelerations of an inground tool. First and second triaxial accelerometers are supported such that a normal sensing axis of the first triaxial accelerometer is at least generally orthogonal to the normal sensing axis of the second triaxial accelerometer for determining the accelerations along the three orthogonal axes based on a combination of sensing axis outputs from one or both of the triaxial accelerometers. A weaker sensing axis of one triaxial accelerometer can be supported at least approximately normal to a weaker sensing axis of another triaxial accelerometer such that the weaker axes are not used. The triaxial accelerometers can be supported such that one axis of one accelerometer can be redundant with respect to another axis of another accelerometer. One triaxial accelerometer can be mounted on a tilted plane with respect to another triaxial accelerometer.