Abstract: A filling level measuring probe detects the filling level in a container by suppression of an oscillator by contact with a filling material. The oscillator consists of a hollow body 16, which can be connected through a shaft 14 and a screw-in part 12 with a container wall 10 and is set in oscillation with oscillations in the radial direction over a crosspiece 20 mounted in hollow body 16 by means of an electromechanical transducer 26 which is mounted on crosspiece 20. The oscillations are converted by a second electromechanical transducer 28 into an electric signal, of which the amplitude is changed with suppression of the oscillations as a result of contact of the hollow body 16 with the filling material.

Abstract: An improved liquid analyzer apparatus (10) comprising an elongated tubular unit (11); a closure unit (12); a closure actuator unit (13); a guiding unit (14); travel limit means (15); and a temperature indicating unit (16); wherein by use of the analyzer (10), both the content and condition of fuel (101) within a fuel storage container (100) can be determined.

Abstract: A vibratory temperature transducer includes a pair of elongate, generally parallel bars coupled together at one end in a type of tuning fork arrangement. The bars each have a thickness of t, a width of w and a length between free and fixed ends of L. The distance between the free end and the point where the bars are coupled together is m. Apparatus is provided to cause the bars to vibrate in torsional opposition, where the frequency of vibration is generally a function of temperature. Apparatus is also provided for determining the frequency of vibration of the bars so that when the bars are subjected to a change in temperature, the temperature can be readily determined by simply determining the magnitude of the frequency change. By careful determination of the dimensions L, m, t and w, spurious modes of oscillation of the transducer, which cause a reduction in the mechanical Q and thus an erroneous reading of temperature, are avoided.

Abstract: A liquid coolant measuring instrument for a nuclear reactor vessel measures the liquid coolant level by utilizing the thermal characteristics of the medium surrounding the instrument. The instrument has an elongated cylindrical body having a number of difference thermocouples disposed within at various levels. A sectional electrical resistance heating element is located within the elongated body. The heating element heats one junction of each difference thermocouple and by monitoring the increase in temperature signal at different levels within the vessel, the liquid level can be determined. The instrument is also provided with a shield tube that surrounds the instrument forming an annular space therebetween. Liquid coolant enters the tube through a bore having a baffle that strips entering liquid of entrained non-liquid bubbles such as steam and gasses, thereby providing measurement for the actual liquid coolant level and not the expanded coolant level.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for measuring a non-thermal physical parameter with temperature sensitive elements impart a predetermined temperature sensitive elements, while measuring the physical parameter therewith. The same termperature-sensitive elements are employed for effecting a measurement of environmental temperature variation, and such temperature-sensitive elements are restored to their predetermined temperature in response to that measurement of environmental temperature variation effected with these temperature-sensitive elements.

Abstract: Disclosed is a monitoring system and method for detecting the presence or absence of material at a location. The apparatus may generally be constructed to include a sensing unit, including an antenna probe for positioning at the location wherein material is to be detected, and a control unit for responding to signals from the sensing unit indicating the presence of material at the antenna probe. The control unit may include an indicator to inform an operator of the presence or absence of material at the antenna probe, and also an output which enables peripheral equipment to operate only under selected conditions at the antenna probe. The sensing signal from the sensing unit is dc, with fluctuations indicating the presence of material at the antenna probe.

Abstract: For the continuous contactless measurement of the shrinkage of textiles during the production process, the image of a portion of the textile surface is picked up both before and after the shrinkage and converted to analog electrical image signals by means of an image/signal transducer. The analog image signals are digitized by analog-digital converters and stored in image signal memories. A calculating unit determines from the stored digital image signals the periods of the textile structure both before and after the shrinkage in at least one evaluation direction, preferably in the longitudinal direction and in the transverse direction of the textile web. The change of length of the textile material in each evaluation direction is calculated from the ratio of the two periods determined in this direction. The method is in particular suitable for the measurement of the two-dimensional shrinkage of knitted textiles during the manufacturing process.

Abstract: In a sorter for data carriers, in which the data carriers, for testing, run past an arrangement of sensors located on both sides of the transport path, at least the sensors on one side of the transport path are arranged on a separate mounting plate. This mounting plate is pivoted so that the sensors located opposite each other can be moved apart, thus exposing the transport path.

Abstract: The output of a capacitance fuel sensor is supplied to two switches that are controlled by a switching control unit. The two switches are opened and closed in synchronism and antiphase with one another, and in quadrature with the drive voltage applied to the sensor. The output of one switch is supplied to the input of a first integrating current-to-voltage amplifier which in turn supplies a signal representative of fuel quantity to a fuel indicator. The output of the other switch is supplied to another integrating current-to-voltage amplifier which in turn supplies a signal representative of the quantity of contaminants to a contaminant indicator.

Abstract: A moisture content measuring system for sheet material which uses microwave radiation. Two pairs of microwave radiators and receivers are combined with surface and below surface temperature measuring sensors to furnish data to a computer which interprets the data and yields moisture readings. Each pair of microwave radiator and receiver straddles the sheet test sample and checks microwave transmission through the sample and reflected from it, but the two radiators are cross polarized so that signal interchange between them is avoided.

Abstract: A thermally responsive electrical control device is operable for producing a control signal having first and second voltage levels for controlling the operation of a system actuating device for first and second modes of operation. One embodiment of the device includes a multiple bridge circuit for sensing two temperatures and for making multiple control decisions in response to the two temperatures. Another embodiment of the device includes a thermistor and a nonlinear variable resistance element which is matched in a substantially linear relation with the thermistor for compensating for the inherent substantially nonlinear character of the thermistor. Still another embodiment of the device includes a monitoring circuit which is interconnected to a bridge circuit of the device for providing visual indications of sensed temperatures without significantly interrupting the control function of the device.

Abstract: The build up of ash in a pulverized coal-fired boiler and other similar ash producing combustion operations is achieved by comparing the heat flux simultaneously detected by a first flux detector which is maintained free of deposits and a second flux detector on which deposits are permitted to form. The net values from the heat flux comparison is proportional to the heat flux which is not reaching the boiler walls as a result of the ash deposits.

Abstract: An infrared sensor made of LiTaO.sub.3 is provided on a ceiling of a heating chamber of a microwave oven, and a chopper is provided so as to intermittently block infrared radiation emitted from food in the heating chamber. The infrared sensor is brought to face the food and the chopper alternately and provides a corresponding AC output signal. The temperature of the chopper is detected from the output signal of a separately provided chopper temperature sensor consisting of a thermister. The detected chopper temperature output signal is corrected in a microcomputer to be substantially in accord with chopper temperature components in the output signal of the infrared sensor. The corrected chopper temperature data is applied to the infrared sensor output data for removing the chopper temperature components from the output signal of the infrared sensor to obtain a food temperature signal corresponding to the sole temperature of the food.

Abstract: A method and device for controlling the curing rate of concrete comprising the measuring of the temperature of the concrete, assessing the momentaneous maturity of the concrete by means of the temperature variation and controlling the heat supply or dissipation on the basis of the momentaneous maturity in a manner such that at the end of the period the concrete has the desired maturity. A preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention comprises a temperature measuring device (15) to be connected to at least one temperature sensor (6,7), and a calculating device (16) connected to the temperature measuring device (15), assessing the momentaneous maturity and provided with a data input member (17) and a display member showing the assessed momentaneous maturity.

Abstract: Disclosed is a differential temperature cell useful for measuring the difference in temperature between two environments. This dT cell comprises a first reservoir which is in fluid communication with a first chamber. Part of one wall of the first chamber defines a diaphragm, which also forms a part of the wall of a second chamber. The diaphragm provides a structure for measuring differences in pressure between the two chambers. The second chamber is also in fluid communication with a second reservoir.

Abstract: A gradient compensated temperature probe including a probe body and a temperature responsive element in the probe body at a measuring location couplable to a conventional temperature sensing circuit. The probe further includes a heating element spaced apart from the temperature responsive element for heating the probe to compensate for a temperature gradient along the probe. The probe further includes a bridge circuit, the legs of which each include a temperature dependent resistor located in the probe body between the heating element and the temperature responsive element. A comparator detects a temperature difference between the two temperature dependent resistors to control the application of power to the heating element to provide temperature gradient compensation for the probe.

Abstract: A liquid level sight gage has an elongated chamber block with a liquid chamber, a lens covering the liquid chamber, and a cover with an elongated viewing slot secured to the block with the lens interposed therebetween. Side beams of the cover, through which bolts securing the cover to the chamber block extend, have ovate configurations, providing greater mass at their centers, thereby providing greater support towards the centers of the chamber block sidewalls where the tendency to bulge is greatest. The bolts extend through longitudinally spaced holes in the side beams in contact with the chamber sidewalls and are transversely supported by the side beams.

Abstract: A thermometer comprises a first sample space having a liquefiable gas sealed therein and a second sample space partitioned from the first sample space by a pressure difference detecting element and having a liquefiable gas sealed therein in conjunction with an adsorbent. As this thermometer is cooled to cryogenic temperatures, the second sample space is vacuumized by the action of the adsorbent. As the pressure difference detected by pressure difference detecting element at this is equal to the vapor pressure in the first sample space, the temperature can be accurately measured from the detected pressure difference.

Abstract: A method for the structural, superficial and deep analysis of a body is disclosed. The method includes scanning the body to be examined using a modulated excitation radiation beam so as to impart a thermal modulation to the body. The thermal modulation is then measured on the side of the body distal to the side exposed to the beam. The amplitude as well as the phase of the measured thermal modulation is used to determine the thickness and structure of the body. A device for accomplishing the above described method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A thermal probe (10) for averaging temperature fluctuations over a prolonged period is formed with a temperature sensor (22) embedded inside a solid object (12) of a thermally conducting material. The solid object is held in a position equidistantly spaced apart from the interior surfaces of a closed housing (16) by a mount (14) made of a thermally insulating material. The housing is sealed to trap a vacuum or mass of air inside and thereby prevent transfer of heat directly between the environment outside of the housing and the solid object. Electrical leads (24) couple the temperature sensor with a connector (26) on the outside of the housing. Other solid objects of different sizes and materials may be substituted for the cylindrically-shaped object to vary the time constant of the probe.