Abstract: A method and an apparatus for filling at least one liquid into at least one cavity. The method comprises filling a predetermined filling volume of the at least one liquid into the at least one cavity and determining if the liquid in the at least one cavity reaches a first liquid level in the at least one cavity. Filling the predetermined filling volume of the at least one liquid and the determining if the first level has not been reached, is repeated until enough volume of the at least one liquid has been added to the cavity or if the first level has been reached. The predetermined filling volume is equal to or smaller than a buffer volume above the first liquid level in the at least one cavity.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining at least one process variable of a medium in a container or in a pipeline. The apparatus including: at least a first element and a second element, which are necessary components of the apparatus for determining the process variable and which contact at a contact location, which is exposed to a process temperature. The first element comprises a first material, and the second element comprises a second material. The first material and the second material are selected and matched to one another in such a manner that at the contact location between the first material and the second material a thermovoltage dependent on the difference between the process temperature and a reference temperature arises; and a temperature determining unit measures the thermovoltage and determines the process temperature therefrom.

Abstract: A MEMS gyroscope is provided. A substrate can be formed with a substantially planar surface, a substantially hemispherical cavity extending into the surface, an actuation electrode, and a plurality of sensing electrodes. A resonator formed from a substantially hemispherical shell can be suspended within the cavity by a stem coupling the center of the bottom of the cavity to the center of the bottom of the shell. An electronic processor can be configured to cause a voltage to be applied to the actuation electrode, receive signals from the sensing electrodes, and process the received signals to determine rotation of the MEMS gyroscope.

Abstract: Methods that extend the utility of standard rotational rheometers for accurate and sensitive viscoelastic characterization of small or small irregularly shaped or small anisotropic samples and systems to implement those methods.

Abstract: A method for determining the density of cement slurry in undersea drilling is disclosed. The method uses the reflection of acoustic waves from the slurry in order to determine its acoustic impedance and thus its density.

Abstract: The method of obtaining simulated pore water includes: mixing cement with a quantity of water and waiting a period of time for water-soluble salts in the cement to dissolve; filtering the mixture; evaporating an aliquot of the filtrate; weighing solids obtained by evaporating the aliquot to determine total dissolved solids or salts in the aliquot; weighing the remaining filtrate and measuring its volume; determining the mass of total dissolved solids in the remaining filtrate; determining the mass of water in remaining filtrate; determining the mass of water that would be in the remaining filtrate if the mix had been prepared with a desired W/C ratio; evaporating any difference between the mass of the remaining filtrate and the mass that would be present at the desired W/C; and collecting the filtrate remaining as simulated pore water for the desired W/C ratio which may be used for a variety of different applications.

Abstract: A method of determining the suitability of a surfactant for use in a formation can include sampling water in the formation, providing at least two surfactants, and mixing each of the surfactants with the formation water to form surfactant/water samples. The method can further include determining the solubility of each surfactant with the formation water, comparing the solubility of each surfactant with the other surfactant, and assigning a solubility performance value for each surfactant based on its solubility in the formation water sample compared to the other surfactant.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for extracting system parameters from nonlinear periodic signals from sensors. A sensor such as an inertial device includes a first structure and a second structure that is springedly coupled to the first structure. The sensor is configured to generate an output voltage based on a current between the first and second structures. Monotonic motion of the second structure relative to the first structure causes a reversal in direction of the current.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to methods of use and a (trainable sight glass assembly for use with a sump pump having a pump housing and being adapted to view the condition of oil disposed, within the pump housing. In some embodiments, the drainable sight glass assembly can comprise a sight glass housing having an upper disk layer with a first diameter and a first threaded receptacle formed therein disposed on a top side of the sight glass housing, a lower disk portion with a second diameter and a second threaded receptacle formed therein and disposed on a bottom side of the sight glass housing, and a substantially transparent wall portion connecting upper disk layer to the lower disk portion so that the sight glass has a hollow, substantially frustoconically shaped interior when oil is not in the sight glass housing.

Abstract: A moisture concentration detecting device including a gas chamber; a pair of porous electrodes facing each other in the gas chamber; a solid electrolyte membrane sandwiched between the electrodes; a case which covers the electrodes and the solid electrolyte membrane and on a surface of which a pleated portion is provided; an impedance measuring circuit measuring an AC impedance between the electrodes by applying an AC voltage to the electrodes; a storage device storing therein conversion information for converting an AC impedance between the electrodes into a moisture concentration in the insulating gas; and a computing unit obtaining a moisture concentration in the insulating gas from a measured value of the AC impedance by referring to the conversion information stored in the storage device with respect to the measured value of the AC impedance input from the impedance measuring circuit.

Abstract: A test system for equipment using fuel, including a closed supply circuit of the equipment configured to supply contaminated fuel to the equipment is provided. The circuit includes at least one tank including fuel, and a pollution module including on or more vats including fuel contaminated by solid contaminants. The module is configured to introduce contaminated fuel to a section of the supply circuit in which the fuel extracted from the tank circulates towards the equipment. The module also includes an agitating tool configured to take contaminated fuel from the vat and return it to the vat, so as to agitate the contaminated fuel in the vat.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sensing the top level of a material in a vessel is disclosed. A method and apparatus for sensing changes in the top level of a material in a vessel is disclosed.

Abstract: A portable, hand-held combination smoke machine and nitrogen generator having particular application for supplying a mixture of smoke and inert, non-combustible nitrogen gas to a closed fluid system (e.g., the evaporative or air brake system of a motor vehicle) so that the presence and location of a leak can be detected. The nitrogen generator is preferably a compact, commercially-available nitrogen generating membrane tube that is sized to be grasped and lifted in the hand of a user. The smoke machine has a smoke generator device that is adapted to produce smoke and is coupled to the nitrogen generating membrane tube so that a supply of nitrogen gas is delivered from the tube to the smoke generator device at which to be mixed with smoke. The nitrogen gas carries the smoke outwardly from the smoke generator device of the smoke machine to the system being tested for leaks.

Abstract: A pump controller causes a first plunger pump and a second plunger pump connected in series or in parallel to perform intake and compression actions alternately at substantially constant cycles, sets a pressurizing chamber of one of the plunger pumps to a state of a higher pressure than the pressurizing chamber of the other plunger pump, and performs flow rate control by adjusting lift amounts of the first plunger and the second plunger. Thus, it is possible to provide a pump for liquid chromatograph, and a liquid chromatograph, which are capable of reducing pulsations even when an ejection flow rate is changed.

Abstract: A biological gas detection apparatus of an embodiment of the present invention includes: a sensor unit including plural types of gas sensors; a control unit of the sensor unit; a data recording unit; and a data analyzing unit, wherein the data recording unit includes a database on properties of sensitivities of the gas sensors for a single body of a desired gas component, a single body of an interference gas component, and a mixed gas of these that are included in the biological gas, and the data analyzing unit calculates concentration of the desired gas component based on sensitivities of the gas sensors output when detecting the biological gas and the database.

Abstract: Various embodiments include apparatus and methods to test an acoustic sensor. Apparatus and methods can include collecting an acoustic wave from a transmitter of the acoustic sensor and directing the acoustic wave to a receiver of the acoustic sensor along a path different from the acoustic sensor. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.

Abstract: A system for monitoring the leak-tightness of a tank, which is filled with a liquid with a lower density than water. The system has a liquid drain pipe, with a container that has a bottom, which is integrated horizontally in the liquid drain pipe with a damming element, which divides the container into a partial area on the supply flow side and partial area on the drain side. A first vibronic measuring device with a first vibrating unit protruding into the supply flow side partial area of the bottom determines whether the density of the medium undershoots a specified limit. A second vibronic measuring device with a second vibrating unit, at a position not exceeding the level of the first vibrating unit, which detects whether the vibrating unit are covered with medium, and with an evaluation unit uses the measured values of measuring devices to determine whether there is liquid from the tank in the container.

Abstract: An acceleration sensor where the accuracy of acceleration detection is unlikely to fall even when the ambient temperature changes. A piezoelectric substrate includes a polarized central portion and first and second end portions. A first electrode is formed on a first main surface of the piezoelectric substrate so as to extend from the first end portion to the second end portion. A second electrode is formed inside the piezoelectric substrate so as to extend across the second end portion and the central portion. The second electrode opposes the first electrode in the central portion in a thickness direction. A supporting member clamps the second end portion. The piezoelectric substrate is formed such that a distance between the first electrode and the second electrode in the second end portion is greater than a distance between the first electrode and the second electrode in the central portion.

Abstract: A standing wave amplification device for vibration signal collection includes a sensing rod (11) acting as standing wave transmission medium. A standing wave formation device includes two fixing support devices (12) distributed along the axial direction and connecting the sensing rod (11) to an operating arm (14). The two fixing support devices (12) respectively collect vibration waves and transmit them to the sensing rod (11) from two different locations of the operating arm (14). The vibration waves are superimposed to form a standing wave on the sensing rod (11). A vibration sensor (13) is connected to the sensing rod (11) and the vibration sensor (13) is between the two fixing support devices (12). A wave detected by the vibration sensor (13) is the standing wave. Compared with transverse wave or longitudinal wave transmitted in the transmission medium of prior art, the standing wave has advantages of larger amplitude and more obvious vibration effect.

Abstract: A body fluid testing apparatus with testing and storing functions is provided, which comprises a body, a cover, at least two body fluid collectors and a testing element. The body comprises a fluid storing chamber, a testing chamber and a partition wall. The fluid storing chamber and the testing chamber are divided by the partition wall. The body is covered by the cover with at least two through-holes through which the body fluid collectors respectively enter into the fluid storing chamber and the testing chamber. The testing element is inserted into the testing chamber. Pollution is avoided, which results from that the body fluid in the testing chamber cannot flow back into the fluid storing chamber.