Abstract: A method of determining seal failure is implemented in a ball joint including a stud having a ball embedded in grease within a sealed socket assembly. A dielectric characteristic of the grease is measured to determined if the sealed socket assembly has failed based upon a substantial variation of the measured dielectric characteristic from a predetermined value.

Abstract: An explosive detection system in which vapor leaking from luggage is sampled by a sampling probe, negative corona discharge is used to ionize the vapor, and a mass spectrometer is used to detect the ionized vapor, thereby judging whether an explosive is present or not.

Abstract: A method of leak testing a walled tank (16) that has multiple joints containing closures or closure devices (18, 20, 22, 24) closing openings in the wall. Rims (38) of multiple cups (26, 28, 30, 32) are disposed against the tank wall to place the cup interiors in substantial sealed covering relation to underlying zones of the tank wall containing joints to be checked. A tank seal (52) is disposed fluid-tight against a fill spud (18) in the tank wall, and a test gas, helium, is introduced into the interior of the tank. Gas from within the interior of each cup is sampled via a respective sampling conduit (48), and a purge gas is introduced into the interior of each cup via a respective purge conduit (46) while the gas from the interior of each cup is being sampled via the respective sampling conduit.

Abstract: An apparatus which may be used to display a visual image along the surface of a segmented door, includes a flexible display panel capable of carrying an image. One end of the display panel is connected to the door by a spline affixed to the display panel which is received in a complementary receiving member affixed to the door. Another end of the display panel is connected to the door by a plurality of spaced apart elastic members that connect the display panel to an attaching structure affixed to the door. Tension in the display panel throughout the range of motion of the door is regulated by the elastic members.

Abstract: A remotely actuatable diagnostic valve biased normally open is disposed in the air inlet of a vehicle fuel tank vapor storage canister and a thermistor disposed to sense vapor temperature above the liquid level in the fuel tank. Upon engine shutdown, the valve is remotely actuated to close. When the fuel vapor in the tank cools to form a vacuum in the tank, the vacuum overcomes the valve bias and holds the valve shut when the valve is remotely de-actuated. A valve position sensor provides confirmation that the valve has been held shut by the vapor vacuum when the valve is de-actuated. If a leak exists the vacuum will be insufficient to hold the valve closed after remote de-actuation; and, the valve is biased open, whereupon the valve position sensor provides a fault indication signal.

Abstract: An apparatus and procedure is provided for testing and evaluating the sealing effectiveness of dynamic seals of the type having at least one and often at least two dust-excluding seals. Included is a housing having a support wall formed with an opening through which a representative shaft is supported for rotation. An annular gap exists between the shaft and wall opening and is closed by the test seal. A dust chamber is provided on the atmosphere side of the test seal and includes a slow speed dust redistribution device which gathers and transports dust from the bottom of the chamber to the top where it is released and falls back into the chamber. A high speed beater agitation device disperses the released dust to maintain a constant density dust cloud environment within the dust chamber. A dry dust collection chamber is provided on the opposite oil side of the test seal.

Abstract: A method for determining the mechanical installation parameters of an oxygen sensor so that it will operate within a predetermined temperature range under all operating conditions of the vehicle by setting the desired exposed area of the sensor element tip (S), taking into account: the recommended maximum operational temperature of the oxygen sensor (Ts); the hottest expected temperature of the exhaust gas (Tg); the effective heat transfer rate from the exhaust gas to the sensor element tip, and ultimately to the surroundings, ie., the exhaust pipe sidewall which is in contact with the surrounding ambient air (Q/t); the thermal conductivity of the oxygen sensor (k); and an effective thickness, which depends on where the temperature is measured in the oxygen sensor (x), according to a relation: S=(Q*x)/((Tg−Ts)(t*c*k)). The exposed surface area is then mechanically set, which may include use of a collar concentrically placed around the sensor element tip.

Abstract: A technique of determining the properties of a liquid. One or more resonators are exposed to air or another reference fluid of known properties. Oscillator circuits drive the resonators at at least two different frequencies. Frequency counters measure the fluid-operating frequencies of the resonators while they are in contact with the reference fluid. The resonators are then immersed in liquid as the oscillator circuits drive the resonators. The liquid-operating frequencies are measured by the frequency counters while the resonators are in contact with the liquid. A computer compares the fluid-operating frequencies and the liquid-operating frequencies to obtain difference frequencies that are independent functions of the liquid's properties. A computer determines the liquid properties from the difference frequencies.

Abstract: A diaphragm failure monitoring system for detecting leakage in a diaphragm of a diaphragm pump. The system includes a pump having an operating chamber containing a working fluid and a pumping chamber for pumping material into and out of the pump and a diaphragm separating the operating and pumping chambers. A first optic fiber is joined to the operating chamber for transmitting an optic signal across the working fluid. A second optic fiber is joined to the operating chamber for receiving the optic signal from the first optic fiber. An electric signal establishing device establishes a first electrical signal when the optic signal from the first optic fiber to the second optic fiber passes through uncontaminated working fluid.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a multichannel pipetting system that can be used with a plurality of well plates used for medical, biological or biochemical research involving liquid materials. The system includes a multichannel pipettor and novel pipette tips having a crown that can be fitted over the opening of more than one channel. The multichannel pipettor may optionally be provided with an array of air pressure channels placed among the array of pipetting channels and enables the pipettor to aspirate and dispense a crude large volume of liquid material through the novel pipette tips of the present invention.

Abstract: To test the features of containers (10) which are sealed by means of a closure (12), such as central fit of the closure (12) on the container opening, tightness of the fitting of the closure (12) or the residual air volume in containers (10) in which the liquid is foamed up before closure, in order to expel the residual air volume, mechanical vibrations are excited in the closure (10) and the mechanical vibrations are analysed. The mechanical vibrations are analysed directly after the closure (12) has been fitted, before major change in the pressure takes place in the container.

Abstract: The invention relates to an automatic pipetting apparatus, having a drive for moving a pipetting instrument from a source site to a target site, in which apparatus end stops (8-10, 14, 15), which can be finely adjusted automatically, for the movements of the pipetting instrument (1) generated by the drive are provided at the source site and/or the target site.

Abstract: A device for gas sampling for gas analysis is provided which uses detector tubes. The device includes a test gas container with a gas inlet pipe, a gas outlet pipe, a mounting opening for the detector tube and with a break-off device for a detector tube tip located in the mounting opening. Nonreturn valves are provided on the gas inlet pipe and the gas outlet pipe. The closing bodies of the nonreturn valves are pressed by springs against corresponding valve seats and are held in a closed position, and are arranged in relation to one another such that a sample gas flow can be established from the gas inlet pipe to the gas outlet pipe.

Abstract: A viscometer having a fluid volume-displacer or driver, such as a speaker membrane, and a pressure sensor or detector, such as a microphone membrane, forming the inside surfaces of a cavity that is sealed from the ambient environment of the viscometer except for a controlled leak such as a capillary tube. An electrical signal from the sensor or detector is processed to indicate viscosity of the fluid in the cavity. Additionally determined from the viscosity are heating value, oxygen demand and other thermophysical properties of the fluid. Also, absolute pressure is derived after viscosity is determined.

Abstract: A disposable protective garment to to be worn over a worker's street or working clothing.

Abstract: A jockey jacket actuates upon sensing a particular event, such as the jockey falling from the horse during a race. A series of air tracks are inflated by a gas generator to pump up a series of air-pockets, mini-airbags, and a collar protection region, preferably with a series of concentric circular cylinders which expand and provide resistance to motions that are transverse to the concentric axis. A plurality of caps are telescopically disposed within the tracks and are forced upwards by the injected gas. These caps form a column that, together with the other columns and a support member Within the jacket collar, forms an exoskeleton around the jockey's neck. A base webbing provides support for the columns. The jacket includes microelectronics to control the jacket actuation. The jacket is usable for other activities, such as motorcycling.

Abstract: A swimming goggle structure includes a pair of lens-rim members each of which is composed of a lens with a rim integrally extending from and circumferentially surrounding the lens, the rim having a rim face extending from the lens and a rim flange extending from the rim face with the a right-angled structure defined between the rim face and the rim flange. A padding member associated with each of the lens-rim members has a closed ring like enclosure section to rest on the rim face with the rim flange received with a slot formed on inside surface of the enclosure section and a face contact section integrally extending from the enclosure section to be in contact engagement with a wearer's face. A bridge connects the lens-rim members to each other. A strap has two opposite ends respectively connected to the remote edges of the padding members.

Abstract: A method of manipulating a garment on a knitting machine includes the steps of orienting the garment with an opening disposed relative to one end on the knitting machine; and knitting a bridge across the opening of the garment. The bridge is affixed to the garment at a first and second site. The first and second sites are disposed near the opening. The exact positioning of the first and second sites relative to the opening are predetermined in accordance with the orientation of the garment on the knitting machine. The first site opposes the second site. The method of manipulating the garment further includes the step of dividing the bridge forming a first and a second handle. The first and second handle are fixed at the first site and the second handle is affixed at the second site. The first and second handles are useful for further processing the garment.

Abstract: A protective garment of multi-component construction for covering and protecting vital portions of a body of a wearer. The protective garment has a layer of body armor material which has at least one of ballistic resistant and puncture resistant capabilities. Additionally, the protective garment includes a flexible sheet formed of a plurality of resilient honeycomb cellular structures which are constructed of thermoplastic polyurethane. The flexible sheet of thermoplastic polyurethane honeycomb structures is positioned to overlie the layer of body armor material and to face outwardly from the body of the wearer. The layer of body armor material is positioned between the flexible sheet of resilient honeycomb cellular structures and the body of the wearer upon which the protective garment is worn.

Abstract: A continuous process for the manufacture of a camisole garment wherein the fabric is cut, defining openings that serve as arm holes in the finished garment. A portion of the fabric is folded back above the openings, defining shoulder straps. The camisole garment has a body seam that may be refastenable or non-refastenable.