Abstract: An internal failure detection method of an external failure detection system for industrial equipment, the external failure detection system including an array of transducers, the method including: (a) receiving a plurality of signals, each signal being measured by a corresponding transducer of the transducers array; (b) for each pair of transducers among a number of pairs of transducers, calculating at least one value of a correlation parameter between the pair of signals received at step (a) at the pair of transducers, by correlating at least part of the signals or of invertible transforms thereof; (c) for at least one transducer among the number of pairs of transducers, estimating from the values of the correlation parameters calculated at step (b) if the transducer is working properly.

Abstract: Method, system, apparatus, and/or device for determining when the dewar is filled with a medium. The fill gauge level apparatus includes a cylindrical body. The cylindrical body has a base on one end, a flange on an opposite open end and a cavity. The fill gauge level apparatus includes a fill gauge level device. The fill gauge level device is coupled to the cylindrical body and is positioned within the cavity. The fill gauge level devices includes a sensor for measuring a medium within a shipper. The fill gauge level devices includes an indicator. The indicator provides an indication when the medium has been filled to a threshold level within the shipper.

Abstract: An environmental sampling chamber for sampling the particulates and substances emitted from a test sample when the surface of the sample is ablated. The sampling chamber avoids the need for clean rooms and other expensive testing apparatus and can be used to test a variety of materials in accordance with standard measurement procedures. Use of the testing chamber and methods assists with safety and risk evaluation in applications such as painting and removal of coatings.

Abstract: A viscometer includes a viscosity sensor with a liquid flow channel and at least two pressure sensors positioned along the liquid flow channel and configured to measure a pressure drop of a liquid flowing through the liquid flow channel, and a dispensing mechanism configured to cause dispensing of a liquid from the syringe to the viscosity sensor at a known flow rate. The dispensing mechanism and the viscosity sensor are configured to couple with a syringe configured to contain a liquid. The viscometer further includes an electronic controller configured to control operations of the dispensing mechanism and receive and process data from the viscosity sensor. The viscometer includes a sample loading interface, included in the syringe, through which the viscometer is configured to receive the liquid. The sample loading interface includes a selection valve coupled with, and located between, the viscosity sensor and the syringe.

Abstract: A method evaluating a strength of a textile for use in articles of clothing representative of normal wear and tear and comprising testing samples including the textile treated with an application of polyethylene, the untreated textile, and/or the textile being washed and dried one or more times; and/or where the textile has been conditioned. Each sample tested is weighed prior to and after abrasion resistance testing is conducted on each sample. The samples are each abraded with an abrasion resistance testing machine that has been modified with ISO test heads and an abrasive surface having a plurality of abrasion layers thereon. A number of rubs of abrasion between the abrasive surface and the test sample is pre-selected such that the test is run until the selected number of rubs have been completed. A bursting strength test can be further conducted on abraded areas of the testing samples.

Abstract: An enclosure or housing for an air monitoring instrument package for mounting on the roof or other surface on the outside of vehicles such as cars, trucks, buses, trams, trains and ships. By measuring air pollutants from moving vehicles, it is possible to explore the distribution of air pollutants throughout a city or rural area for the identification of sources of different pollutants, estimating human exposures to air pollutants, and mapping air pollutants with high resolution. The disclosed device provides continuous sampling of outside air while simultaneously protecting the delicate instruments from weather elements such as high wind, rain, snow, sleet and hail. The design also allows a nearly constant flow rate of sampled air independent of vehicle velocity. An optional impaction region further reduces transmission of mist and large particles to the chamber containing the measurement package.

Abstract: A gas mixing device for a NOx detector includes a 3/2 way gas valve having a diaphragm, a first inlet port, a second inlet port, and an exit port. A gas conduit connects the exit port to a gas mixing chamber. A controller controls the diaphragm to alternate between a first position and a second position. The first inlet port may receive a sample gas and the second inlet port may receive ozone gas. In the first position of the diaphragm, a bolus of sample gas enters the conduit, and in the second position of the diaphragm, a bolus of ozone enters the conduit. The alternating boluses of sample gas and ozone mix within the conduit and within the mixing chamber. A NOx detection instrument includes the gas mixing device, an ozone gas source, and an NO2 sensor in fluid communication with the mixing chamber.

Abstract: Various embodiments include systems and apparatuses for reducing contamination levels within optical chambers of particle-detection instruments. In one embodiment, an apparatus to reduce contamination within an optical chamber of a particle-detection instrument is described. The apparatus includes a plenum chamber to at least partially surround an aerosol-focusing nozzle of the particle-detection instrument and accept a filtered gas flow. A curtain-flow concentrating nozzle is coupled to the plenum chamber to produce a curtain flow into the optical chamber to substantially surround an aerosol flow. Other methods and systems are disclosed.

Abstract: Various embodiments include methods and systems to measure and calibrate an optical particle spectrometer for reporting mass concentration. In one embodiment, an optical particle spectrometer is used to measure a concentration of particulate matter in a sampled particle-laden airstream. A particle diverter, in fluid communication with the spectrometer, diverts at least a portion of the particle-laden airstream at predetermined intervals. In one example, a mass filter receives the portion of the particle-laden airstream and filters a fraction of the particles within the airstream that are above a predetermined particle size. A mass sensor measures a mass of the fraction of the particles received from the mass filter or from the particle diverter and uses a calibration communication loop to provide the measured mass to the spectrometer to apply a correction factor to report mass concentration from the optical particle spectrometer. Other methods and systems are disclosed.

Abstract: A volume measurement system for a fluid processing device includes a fluid container, an imaging unit, and a controller. The container includes a housing defining the structure of the fluid container, and a plurality of fluid chambers. The fluid chambers collect and/or store fluid from the fluid processing device, and each have a port that allows fluid to enter and/or exit the fluid chambers. The imaging unit takes images of the fluid chambers and is positioned to view a level of fluid in each of the chambers. The controller is in communication with the imaging unit and determines the volume of fluid within each of the fluid chambers based upon the viewed level of fluid in the fluid chambers.

Abstract: An apparatus for analyzing the content of at least one contaminant in a liquid cryogen comprising a cylindrical enclosure, an annular enclosure arranged around the cylindrical enclosure, means for dividing a flow of liquid cryogen in two, means for delivering a first part of the liquid cryogen to the cylindrical enclosure, means for delivering a second part of the liquid cryogen to the annular enclosure, a pipe connected to the cylindrical enclosure to allow vaporized liquid to pass through, a pipe connected to the annular enclosure to allow vaporized liquid to pass through, a heater for heating the cylindrical enclosure vessel and means for stopping the delivery of liquid cryogen to the cylindrical enclosure.

Abstract: The system, configured for being on board an aircraft, includes a probe for collecting samples of contrail, a chamber for collecting the samples, a collecting conduit for conducting the samples from the collecting probe the collecting chamber and at least one device for measuring at least one parameter characterizing the samples in the collecting conduit while they are conducted from the collecting probe to the collecting chamber. By virtue of the system, it is not necessary to use a second aircraft that follows the aircraft for collecting samples of contrail.

Abstract: A system for estimating a substance level in a storage unit is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system includes a cable and a control device. The control device sense pulses down the cable and based on the time of reflected pulses determines the level of substance in the storage unit.

Abstract: A pressure sensor includes a detection element that detects a change in pressure, and a cover member that accommodates the detection element and that includes a first through hole and a second through hole. Each of the first through hole and the second through hole is provided at a position that does not overlap the detection element in a front view of the respective hole.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determination of ambient mineral dust concentration based on optical absorption of particles concentrated by a virtual impactor as well as a device performing the said method. The method comprises the following steps: Sampling air samples with particle size smaller than 1 ?m (PM1) and sampling air samples with particle size up to 10 ?m; Concentrating the samples with particle sizes up to 10 ?m with a virtual impactor; Measuring optical absorption of collected samples at least one wavelength from UV to IR spectre, preferably from 370 to 950 nm, most preferably at 370 nm; Subtracting the absorption of the samples with particle size smaller than 1 ?m from the absorption of the sample concentrated by the virtual impactor.

Abstract: A method for determining the wear on a linkage of a ground drilling device includes detecting a bending load of the linkage. The bending load is used to carry out a service life calculation.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring black powder dislodgment and entrainment velocities. The apparatus comprises an inlet section including a first gas source having a test gas, a second source having an additional gas, and an inlet pipe coupled to the first and second gas sources, a plenum having an inlet plate coupled to the inlet pipe for receiving the test gas or the additional gas and distributing the received gas into a steady flow, and a plurality of test sections extending from the plenum, each test section including a particle generation spool at which black powder is generated from the test gas via a condensation process, and a filtration spool downstream from the particle generation spool having at least one membrane element for filtering out black powder from the test gas flow and also having pressure gauges from which black powder dislodgment and entrainment velocities can be determined.

Abstract: An air detection system is provided and includes an intelligent device and an internet of things processing device. The intelligent device includes an inlet, an outlet, a gas-flowing channel, a control module and a gas detection module. The gas-flowing channel is disposed between the inlet and the outlet. The control module is disposed in the intelligent device and includes a processor and a transmission unit. The gas detection module is disposed in the gas-flowing channel and electrically connected to the control module. The gas detection module includes a piezoelectric actuator and at least one sensor. The piezoelectric actuator inhales gas into the gas-flowing channel through the inlet and discharges the gas through the outlet. The sensor detects the introduced gas to obtain gas information and transmits the gas information to the control module. The internet of things processing device is connected to the transmission unit of the intelligent device for receiving the gas information.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for leak detection from a thief hatch. An example thief hatch includes a vent control stem coupled to first and second sealing plates, the first and second sealing plates to control fluid flow through the thief hatch based on translation of the vent control stem, and an indicator extending from the vent control stem to provide a visual indication of a condition of the fluid flow.

Abstract: A system and method for substantially coincidental sample takeoff flow rate verification which detects unstable flow conditions in a pipeline, terminates fluid sample analysis during flow instability, and resumes sample takeoff when a steady flow state is re-established.