Abstract: Many operators choose not to utilise partial-stroke testing arrangements even when the equipment required for it to be performed is available, due to a perceived risk of over-travel and/or spurious trip. To alleviate this, we describe a safety valve system comprising a valve operable to move between an operating state and a safe state, a valve actuator operatively connected to the valve to control its state, and including a bias toward the safe state, a pair of drive members powered by a pressure media, each acting against the bias to urge the valve toward the operating state, a first control valve arranged to selectively convey pressure media to both drive members and to withdraw supply on receipt of a safety trigger, and a second control valve arranged to selectively convey pressure media to one drive member only of the pair and to withdraw supply on receipt of a test signal.

Abstract: A strapdown heading sensor includes an elongated housing and a compass module at least partially positioned within an inner cavity of the elongated housing. The compass module is cantilevered within the inner cavity of the elongated housing.

Abstract: A humidity sensor includes an insulating film formed on a semiconductor substrate, and a plurality of first electrodes and a plurality of second electrodes arranged on the insulating film so that each first electrode is adjacent to four of the second electrodes in four directions of up, down, right, and left when viewed in plan view, while each second electrode is adjacent to four of the first electrodes in four directions of up, down, right, and left when viewed in plan view. Metal wiring embedded in the insulating film electrically connects one of the first electrodes to another of the first electrodes, and electrically connects one of the second electrodes to another of the second electrodes. The humidity sensor has increased capacitance per unit area and improved adhesiveness and can be made using normal semiconductor manufacturing processes.

Abstract: An environmental chamber includes an enclosure having opposed walls each wall having an aperture of size to receive a test specimen support therethrough. The apertures are aligned with each other along on a reference axis. A forced air source is configured to supply forced air in a direction to intersect with the reference axis within the enclosure. A diverter is positioned between the forced air source and the reference axis. The diverter is configured to receive the forced air and control the air flow past different portions of the reference axis. The environmental chamber is used with a load frame having test specimen supports extending into the opposed apertures. A method of directing more force air at the test specimen supports than at at least a portion of the test specimen to maintain a selected temperature gradient in the test specimen is also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus for testing lost circulation materials (“LCMs”) for use in a formation is disclosed. The apparatus may comprise a LCM cell that contains at least one formation simulation component. A pressurized tank may be in fluid communication with the LCM cell, and may force a sample LCM slurry into the LCM cell. An LCM receiver may also be in fluid communication with the LCM cell, and may receive the LCM slurry that flows through the LCM cell.

Abstract: Apparatus and method measure the flow rate of fluid for use in calibrating fraction collection in a chromatography system. An injector inserts a detectable substance into a flow of fluid. A first detector, disposed in a path of the flow of liquid with the substance, produces a signal in response to detecting the substance in the flow of fluid. A second detector, disposed downstream from the first detector in the path of the flow of fluid with the substance, produces a signal in response to detecting the substance in the flow of fluid. A computing system receives each signal produced by the first and second detectors upon detecting the substance in the flow of fluid, and computes a volumetric flow rate of the flow of fluid based on a time interval between the signals and a volume of the path between the first and second detectors.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pipe structure including a pipe that is disposed along an approximately horizontal direction, and has a plurality of ducts through which a gaseous body having a higher temperature than a temperature of a surrounding atmosphere continuously flows, and a plurality of couplings each connecting the ducts together; and a cover covering an outer periphery of the pipe. The cover defines a plurality of vents from which the gaseous body leaking from the pipe flows out of the cover at an interval in a length direction of the pipe. As the plurality of vents, the cover includes at least first vents located corresponding to the couplings. Respective positions of the first vents are substantially set within a range from a two o'clock position to a ten o'clock position through a six o'clock position in a cross sectional surface of the cover.

Abstract: A test cell (10) for containing equipment (12) subject to pressure testing comprises a plurality of metal plate wall panels (14) and a mesh roof panel (16) formed from mesh strands (26) of a high strength material. Each wall panel has a lapped connection (18) with an adjacent wall panel. The mesh panel (16) may be formed from a ballistic fabric, and the mesh strands (26) may be wire, rope and braid of steel, metal, plastic, natural or composite fiber, or a combination thereof. In the event of a pressure failure of the equipment (12) under test, the roof panel (16) captures fragments of the equipment while allowing the dissipation of pressure shock waves through the apertures (28) in the mesh. The lapped connections (18) between wall panels (14) result in increased friction between adjacent wall panels (14) and thus an increase in the strength of the connection when subject to pressure shock waves.

Abstract: A soil analysis device is configured to create a soil sample solution. The device includes a reservoir configured to store an extractant, a mixing chamber coupled to the reservoir and configured to receive extractant from the reservoir and to receive a raw soil sample, and a control system. The control system is configured to determine an amount of extractant needed to produce, from the raw soil sample, a soil sample solution with a particular soil-to-extractant ratio and configured to cause the determined amount of extractant to be transferred from the reservoir to the mixing chamber.

Abstract: Disclosed is a patterned article comprising: (1) a deformable nonconductive substrate; (2) an imagewise pattern thereon of a conductive stretchable ink; and (3) an external circuit connecting the imagewise pattern, the external circuit being capable of measuring the electrical resistance across regions of the deformable nonconductive substrate and determining the degree of deformation thereof.

Abstract: A hydrogen leakage detector includes a sensor and a microcontroller. The sensor is sensitive to a concentration of hydrogen in air. A sensitive unit of the sensor is exposed directly to an in situ concentration of the hydrogen. The microcontroller is programmed to generate and output an analog signal corresponding to concentration information, based on a concentration measurement from the sensor, and to generate and output an analog signal indicating a correct operation of the detector.

Abstract: A method for determining the presence of a leak in a pressure system. The method including receiving pressure data of the pressure system after shut-in of the pressure system, determining a pressure slope and a pressure curvature based on the pressure data, and generating a failing indication as a result of the pressure slope being above a predetermined threshold and the pressure curvature indicating that the slope is constant or increasing in absolute value.

Abstract: Moisture sensors that include a resonant circuit having a capacitive element and an inductive element, wherein the inductive element acts as an antenna; a conditionally conductive polymeric layer, wherein the conditionally conductive polymeric layer has a first level of conductivity when exposed to a first set of moisture conditions and has a second level of conductivity when exposed to a second set of moisture conditions; and an insulative layer disposed between the resonant circuit and the conditionally conductive polymeric layer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a patterned article comprising: (1) a deformable nonconductive substrate; (2) an imagewise pattern thereon of a conductive stretchable ink; and (3) an external circuit connecting the imagewise pattern, the external circuit being capable of measuring the electrical resistance across regions of the deformable nonconductive substrate and determining the degree of deformation thereof.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reducing evaporative emissions from a vehicle by performing a fine leak test at a vehicle assembly plant. Fuel tank pressure generated after a green tank fueling event is monitored as the vehicle moves along an assembly line. A leak is determined based on a rate of pressure bleed-up over the duration, and accordingly the vehicle is directed to a repair station.

Abstract: An apparatus for tracer based flow measurement may include a tracer chamber for installation in and/or on a production tubing, wherein the tracer chamber is for holding tracer and is arranged to be linked, in use, to the pressure in an annulus about the production tubing. The tracer chamber may include an outlet for fluid communication between the tracer chamber and the fluid within the production tubing, whereby tracer is released from the tracer chamber into the production tubing in accordance with a pressure differential between the annulus and the production tubing.

Abstract: Methods of analyzing analytes from a liquid medium are disclosed. A system and apparatus for the analysis of analytes from a liquid medium are further disclosed. In particular, methods and apparatus of analyzing analytes by freezing liquid medium and partitioning the analyte into a sorptive stirrer are disclosed. Further, the methods and apparatus of the present invention can be useful in concentrating and isolating target chemicals of high value.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method and system for analyzing a liquid sample containing solid matter. The method comprises fractionating the sample according to particle sizes and/or masses of the solid matter so as to produce sample fractions, and measuring at least one physical or chemical property of at least one of said sample fractions. According to the invention the sample is conducted to a disintegration channel having one or more depressions, and a liquid flow having a non-constant temporal velocity profile is applied through the disintegration channel, in order to gradually take solid matter of the sample with the liquid flow from said one or more depressions for providing said sample fractions. The invention allows for efficient fractionation of samples, which cannot be fractionated using conventional field flow fractionation, for example.

Abstract: Methods are provided for characterizing the stability of a distillate fraction using a quartz crystal microbalance apparatus, such as a distillate fraction derived at least in part from a pre-refined crude oil. A sample can be aged for an aging period in a quartz crystal microbalance apparatus, and a frequency value for the sample in the quartz crystal microbalance apparatus can be determined before and after the aging period to determine a frequency difference. This frequency difference can be correlated directly with the ability of a jet fuel fraction to satisfy a stability test standard, such as a jet fuel breakpoint stability. The methods can also include using a temperature profile during characterization that can reduce or minimize operator error during the characterization.

Abstract: A method for measuring a preload of a fastener is described. The method, which may be practiced at least in part by an apparatus, includes establishing an initial value associated with an absence of the preload of the fastener and providing an adapter and a transducer rotatably coupled to the adapter. The transducer may be positioned in contact with the fastener. The transducer is caused to direct an incident ultrasonic wave to the fastener and to receive a reflected ultrasonic wave from the fastener. Data associated with the incident ultrasonic wave and the reflected sonic wave is used to generate a modified value associated with the preload of the fastener, and the preload of the fastener is calculated based on a difference between the initial value and the modified value.