Abstract: A calibrated medical sensing catheter system in which a catheter-mounted sensor may be calibrated in a simple and reliable manner. In one embodiment the calibration may be performed using a disposable vessel containing two volumes of calibrating fluid, each volume separately accessible by the sensor to be calibrated. Preferably, such a vessel takes the form of an elongated tube having a first volume at one end and a second volume at the other end, each volume containing distinct calibrating fluids. Each volume may be accessed through the respective ends of the tube by introducing a sensor through a pierceable membrane, such as a foil-plastic membrane or seal. In an alternative embodiment the calibrated vessel takes the form of an elongated cylinder having two separate volumes of calibrating fluid separated by a common pierceable membrane or seal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the level of relative humidity within a corrosion test apparatus is disclosed. The corrosion test apparatus includes a testing chamber, an atomizer which fogs the testing chamber with de-ionized water, a sensor which senses a relative humidity level within the testing chamber, a humidifying valve coupled to the atomizer which regulates a supply of pressurized air to the atomizer, and a controller coupled to the sensor and to the humidifying valve. The controller includes a heating control loop mechanism which generates an output signal proportional to a differential between a relative humidity set point and the relative humidity level. The humidifying valve regulates the supply of operating medium to the atomizer based on the output signal. The atomizer regulates the amount of operating liquid fogged into the test chamber based on the supply of operating medium received from the humidifying valve.

Abstract: A method of calibrating a zero point of a flow sensor includes the steps of detecting a transition of output of the flow sensor caused in response to a shut down of a fluid, and adjusting the zero point of a characteristic curve representing the output of the flow sensor and a flow rate, such that the indicated flow rate is zero immediately after the transition of the flow sensor output.

Abstract: A microwave resonator for connection to an instrument for measuring the density and/or moisture profile in the longitudinal direction of a sample, which microwave resonator has a through-hole (3) at right angles to its area extent, which through-hole (3) is bounded by metallic walls (4) extending in the longitudinal direction, distinguishes itself in that the interior (1) of the resonator is essentially flat, with a thickness which is considerably less than the lateral dimensions at right angles to it, and in that the resonator is filled with a dielectric.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to gage the spacing between a plurality of handling elements used for transferring planar objects into and out of holding receptacles in a semiconductor process. The handling tweezers are moved to a checking location and fit interleaved with the gage apparatus. If the handling tweezers do not fit, the tweezers are moved to an accessible maintenance location for alignment and recalibration enabling its use for transferring semiconductor wafers to and from wafer holding receptacles in a chemical vapor deposition vertical diffusion furnace.

Abstract: A method for determining the resistivity of water in an oil well site that includes rock that is capable of water entrapment, includes the steps of:(a) retrieving a sample of the rock;(b) identifying any entrapped water in the sample; and(c) determining the resistivity of the entrapped water. The so determined resistivity then enables oil reserves to be calculated in the well site.

Abstract: A hardened steel ball presses against a vibrating sample to be subject to fretting. The amplitude and frequency of vibration can be precisely controlled by a stack of piezoelectric transducers. The biasing force of the steel ball against the sample can also be precisely controlled by a pulley supported weight that pulls against a movable mass coupled to the steel ball. The movable mass has sufficient inertial mass to eliminate the movement of the ball which might otherwise be produced in reaction to the vibration of the sample, which need not be absolutely flat.

Abstract: An adsorbent coating is affixed to the internal wall of a sealable container. The container may be rigid or flexible. The adsorbent coating, when in the sealed container retains odor components for an extended period permitting the odor components to be transported without requiring the transport of the source of the components. Thermal, or other desorption techniques release the odor components for analysis by, for example, liquid chromatography or gas chromatography. One embodiment of the invention is disclosed in which the container is a flexible bag, coated on its interior with an adsorbent material. In another embodiment of the invention, a large surface-area body, containing sorbent material on its surfaces, is contained within the container.

Abstract: The present invention proposes a method for automatic identification of the nature of a hydrocarbon production well, the nature of the associated reservoir and possible limits of this reservoir. It consists in processing the recordings of the value of the pressure at the well bottom, in particular by employing the second derivative of a function of the pressure with respect to a function of time, as well as particularly efficient means for smoothing and filtering the processed signals. The invention allows a large number of models to be taken into account and gives real solutions to the problems posed by the identification of hydrocarbon production wells. It constitutes an excellent tool for acquiring knowledge regarding hydrocarbon deposits which is necessary for exploiting them rationally.

Abstract: The downhole portion of the system of the present invention provides entirely downhole methods and apparatus for the monitoring and control of wells. The components of the system are modular. There are sensor and control valve components located in each of the multi-zone production intervals or lateral well completions. The production zones are isolated by production packers equipped with feed-through conductors for communication to upper system components. There are a monitor and control module containing a programmable microprocessor controller and a power supply module which are located at the uppermost end of the system. The system provides for removing, decommissioning and/or replacement of the power module or the monitor and control module without decompleting the well.The surface portion of the system may be operated from the wellhead or by remote control.

Abstract: A method of testing frequency characteristics of a laser displacement/vibration meter by the use of a novel method which can cope with a broader frequency range and finer micro-level displacements to enhance the reliability of the displacement/vibration meter. Upon applying impact on one end face of a round metal rod, an elastic wave pulse which propagates through the metal rod generates a stepwise dynamic displacement of the other end face of the rod when reflected there. This dynamic displacement is measured simultaneously by a reference laser interferometer with a reference laser beam and a laser displacement/vibration meter with unknown frequency response characteristics, followed by comparison of measurement data over a frequency range to determine the frequency response characteristics of the unknown laser displacement/vibration meter.

Abstract: A method and device for moving a probe assembly into soft contact with a work surface includes initially placing the probe into an approach position. Advancement of the probe along a substantially perpendicular path toward the work surface is then controlled by applying a restraining force on the probe. This resisting force is decreased until the weight of the probe assembly just overcomes the static friction forces that are acting on the probe. After the static friction forces are overcome, the probe advances along a path toward the work surface. By monitoring this advancement, soft contact of the probe with the work surface can be determined when the velocity of the probe changes to zero. First, the position of the probe can be monitored to advance the probe along the path through a known travel distance. Second, the velocity of probe advancement can be monitored to indicate soft contact when velocity changes to zero.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for examining the electrochemical kinetics occurring at the surface of a galvanized steel cable undergoing fatigue in the presence of a corrosive environment allows the prediction of the corrosion life of the cable. In one embodiment, an apparatus for detecting localized corrosion in a cable is provided undergoing mechanical fatigue, comprising a weir cell containing an electrolyte and a reference electrode, one or more pulleys, and a motion control device. In other embodiments, methods for detecting and monitoring the electrochemical response of corrosion coupled to fatigue in a galvanized steel cable are provided wherein the potential between a reference electrode and a moveable cable under tension and undergoing fatigue are recorded and/or monitored. In further embodiments, a method and apparatus are provided for inspecting entire runs of cable for localized corrosion, zinc porosity, and corrosion inhibition efficiency.

Abstract: A device for introducing a sample into or removing a sample from a pipeline, tube, or the like, and more particularly to a device for sampling fluids under pressure in a pipeline, tube, duct, conduit, or the like.

Abstract: The invention provides protection of the heat sensitive piezo ultrasonic transducer by controlling the environmental temperature in which the transducer operates. As temperature rises in the cooling chamber coolant may be circulated in order to draw off excessive heat. This allows non-destructive testing of high temperature reactors and steam piping with out the need for system shutdown.

Abstract: A device for testing the viscosity of a fluid contained in a cartridge comprising a tubular housing, a pair of end caps, one end cap being configured for operable connection to a piston and cylinder assembly, and the other end cap being configured to receive an adapter that is connectable to the cartridge and to a plug having an orifice of a predetermined diameter through which the fluid in the cartridge may be extruded.

Abstract: The invention comprises a tool which can be inserted through the fill nozzle of an underground fuel storage tank to measure the tank wall thickness. The invention, in a preferred embodiment, uses ultrasonic thickness measurement technology, a well known inspection technique. A special type of ultrasonic probe known as a ZIP (Zero Interface Probe) is required to measure the thickness of fiberglass. A thickness measurement is accomplished by pressing the tool transducers firmly against the inside surface of the fiberglass tank after applying a couplant gel to the surface of the transducers. The tool is connected to an ultrasonic flaw detector, which generates a transmitted pulse and displays the transmitted and reflected pulses on a display screen. The thickness is determined by measuring the time-of-flight (on the display screen) between appropriate pulses.

Abstract: This disclosure sets out a method and apparatus for extracting repeated process samples. Each sample is put into a segregated bottle or container and the container is dated and time stamped. The containers are arranged in sequence on a feed system and are filled in sequence and marked.

Abstract: An apparatus (200) and method are provided for testing a nozzle of a pick-and-place system (100). The apparatus (200) includes a reservoir (206) configured to carry a fluid, a membrane (204) covering an opening of the reservoir (206), and a reservoir pressure sensor. The apparatus may further include a processor (118) coupled to the reservoir pressure sensor (208) and an output device (116) coupled to the processor (118). The nozzle (104) is positioned to contact and displace the membrane (204), thus changing the pressure of the fluid within the reservoir (206). The reservoir pressure sensor (208) senses pressure changes within the reservoir (206) and generates a signal that varies in response to the displacement of the membrane. The signal is compared to a predetermined signal to detect whether the nozzle has the proper position, the proper alignment, sufficient vacuum, and other errors affecting pick-and-place systems.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for extracting soil gases from the earth and analyzing the collected gasses to determine the presence in the soil of gases produced by lower subterranean hydrocarbon deposits, such as petroleum and methane gas. The soil gases are passed from the soil through a soil probe and conductive tubing into a gas collector and concentrator comprising at least one molecular sieve which is chosen and selected for its ability to trap the gas or gases of interest. When the collection and concentration process is completed the gas collector is removed from the field apparatus and taken to a laboratory where the molecular sieves are heated to release the trapped gases. The gases are then analyzed in a gas chromatograph.