Abstract: Improvements in a variable volume capture device are disclosed to capture a variable amount of sample. The variable amount is controlled by a linear actuator that produces a variable and adjustable stroke length that capture the programmed amount of fluid in the syringe barrel. Air or other supernatant fluid can be separated and expelled at this point. The captured fluid is then dispensed out of the syringe barrel for further testing and analysis. The capture device is then able to drain or flush the sample. Valves located on each side of the syringe barrel allow for sample collecting, dispensing and draining to ensure that the capture device is free to collect new samples. The variable volume capture device can have changeable syringe and barrel diameters and lengths to accommodate larger or smaller ranges of samples.

Abstract: Water is circulated through a cooling system within a compute node to remove heat from a heat-generating component within the compute node. Water leakage from the cooling system is collected into a containment reservoir within the compute node. A rate of the water leakage is measured, a temperature of the compute node is measured, a rate of water evaporation from the containment reservoir is determined based upon the measured temperature, and the rate of water leakage is compared to the rate of water evaporation to determine whether water is accumulating in the containment reservoir. A period of time before the containment reservoir reaches a critical level may also be determined.

Abstract: Provided are multi-parameter sonde systems having a unique form-factor, wherein the plurality of sensors are arranged in a tight-fit configuration. This provides a single distal sensing surface and minimal separation distance between adjacent sensors. The sensors may be pie shaped with an interlocking feature to tightly hold the sensors together, with a sensor guard disposed over the outer surface of the interlocked sensors. Sensor-guards disclosed herein may have an integrated sensor storage and sensor guard configuration, thereby avoiding a need for a separate storage cup and that are configured to minimize unwanted biological growth. Also provided are uniquely shaped individual sensors having interlocking features to hold several sensors together in a sonde.

Abstract: An apparatus applicable to a storage container is provided and includes a filtering cartridge, a gas supply device and a particle counter. The filtering cartridge is configured to be disposed on the storage container. The filtering cartridge includes a flexible housing and a filter. The flexible housing has a first portion and a second portion opposite to the first portion. The flexible housing includes a gas inlet, a first gas outlet and a second gas outlet. The gas inlet is disposed on the first portion. The first gas outlet is disposed on the first portion. The second gas outlet is disposed on the second portion and connected to the storage container. The filter is disposed over the second gas outlet. The gas supply device is connected to the gas inlet, thereby purging gas into the flexible housing. The particle counter is connected to the first gas outlet.

Abstract: A method for processing measured values two nitrogen oxide sensors, one of which is arranged upstream of a nitrogen oxide reduction catalytic converter in the exhaust gas system of a motor vehicle and the other of which is arranged downstream of the nitrogen oxide reduction catalytic converter, involves recording and comparing measured values from the two nitrogen oxide sensors at least approximately at the same time. A sensitivity of the first nitrogen oxide sensor and/or of the second nitrogen oxide sensor is changed depending on the result of the comparison.

Abstract: Provided is a method for manufacturing a sealed battery, capable of reducing an erroneous determination rate in a leak testing step. A manufacturing step including a leak testing step for detecting leak of helium gas introduced into an exterior, including a step for pouring an electrolytic solution into the exterior, a step for reducing the pressure inside the exterior down to a predetermined pressure, and a step for introducing the helium gas in a quantity corresponding to the predetermined pressure into the exterior. Preferably, the predetermined pressure is set to a pressure higher than the saturated steam pressure of the electrolyte solution.

Abstract: The device comprises an extractor (53) having an outlet (71) at which a gas stream is sampled. The gas stream contains at least one hydrocarbon to be analyzed and at least one interfering compound. A transport line (54), is connected to the outlet (71) of the extractor (53) to transport the gas stream to an analyzer (55A) comprising a detector being able to measure at least one of the hydrocarbons to be analyzed contained in this gas stream. The device comprises a chemical reactor (141) located between the extractor (53) and the detector. At least a portion of the extracted gases is transported through the chemical reactor (141) where a selective catalytic reaction of at least one interfering compound is carried out without any substantial reaction of at least one of the hydrocarbons to be analyzed.

Abstract: A method for manufacture of a pressure sensing mat comprising the steps of: (a) preparing two conductive layers, each conductive layer comprising an array of conducting strips mounted upon a substrate arranged in a parallel fashion, wherein the conducting strips of the first conductive layer are oriented perpendicularly in relation to the conducting strips of the second conductive layer; (b) for each conductive layer, connecting each of the conducting strips to a communication line; (c) sandwiching a compressible layer between the two conductive layers; and (d) performing a pressure reading standardization test to the mat.

Abstract: Disclosed is a humidity sensor including: a conductive material in which electric charges are charged; a charger which charges the electric charges in the conductive material; and a measurer which measures a change amount of the electric charges charged in the conductive material.

Abstract: A apparatus for measuring saturated hydraulic conductivity of unsaturated porous media in an unsaturated zone of the earth. The measuring apparatus includes a cylinder member inserted into the porous media in a position in which the upper and lower ends of the cylinder member are open, a means for supplying a constant flow rate of water to the cylinder member, and a pressure measuring means for measuring the hydraulic head in response to water flowing into the cylinder member. The measuring apparatus can easily measure the vertical hydraulic conductivity of a foundation based on Darcy's Law in the field. It is possible to accurately measure the hydraulic conductivity of a sedimentary layer in the natural state and easily determine geological characteristics of the soil. It is possible to obtain very accurate information regarding the process of dispersion and movement of contaminants.

Abstract: According to exemplary inventive practice, a deployment line connects a vessel to an anchor, and a tether connects a buoyant electronic unit to the same anchor. The buoyant electronic unit includes a syntactic foam sphere, and a computer and sensors that are housed in the sphere. The anchor and the buoyant electronic unit are discharged from the vessel and sink in the water. The deployment line mechanically detaches from the anchor when the anchor reaches bottom. The buoyant electronic unit stabilizes into an equilibrium position, tethered vertically and tautly to the anchor. Measurements pertaining to phenomena such as underwater electric potential, pressure, magnetic field, and acceleration are taken by the corresponding sensors and are processed by the computer. An electrical (e.g., acoustical) signal is transmitted to detach the tether from the anchor, whereupon the buoyant electronic unit rises to a retrievable position on the surface of the water.

Abstract: A determining device for determining at least one component of a liquid, e.g., a fuel mixture, for use in motor vehicles, includes at least one sensor which has at least one connecting device for coupling microwave signals into the liquid and/or out of the liquid. The determining device is implemented as a hand-held measuring instrument.

Abstract: Systems and methods for identifying the level of media in a vessel with a sensing cable including an optical fiber sensor array aligned with a heating element disposed in the vessel. An excitation source is configured to propagate at least one heat pulse through the heating element along at least a portion of the sensing cable to affect an exchange of thermal energy between the heating element and the one or more media exposed to the sensing cable. An optical signal interrogator is adapted to receive a signal from each of a plurality of sensor locations and measure a temperature profile corresponding to the heat pulse at the sensor locations. A control unit is configured to identify a level of each of media by determining properties of the media exposed to the sensing cable at each of the sensor locations based on the temperature profile corresponding thereto.

Abstract: An adsorption characteristic measuring apparatus according to the invention supplies a predetermined adsorption gas to a film formed body as a sample accommodated in a sample tube to measure adsorption characteristics. In the inside of the sample tube, a void between an inner wall surface of the sample tube and the sample is filled with a particle-like filler having higher thermal conductivity than the adsorption gas under a measurement pressure. In addition, a glass rod as a dead volume reducing rod, a spacer ring for forming a thermal insulation space between the particle-like filler and the glass rod, and a reflective plate for reflecting radiant heat are disposed.

Abstract: A sealing arrangement and a method for testing the integrity of a sealing arrangement of a flexible pipe are disclosed. The method includes locating a first annular sealing element and a second annular sealing element in a joint between two elements of a flexible pipe, with a region of the joint therebetween; and pressurizing the region between the first sealing element and the second sealing element through a port extending towards the region to a predetermined pressure of 0.2 MP or greater.

Abstract: A piezoelectric unit 1 includes a piezoelectric element that causes thickness shear vibration, a first electrode provided on one surface of the piezoelectric element, a second electrode and a third electrode which are provided on an opposite surface to the one surface which is provided with the first electrode of the piezoelectric element and are electrically insulated from each other, and a switching portion that is connected to the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode, in which the switching portion can switch measurement modes between a mass/viscoelasticity measurement mode for measuring mass of a substance which is in contact with the piezoelectric element or viscoelasticity by vibrating the piezoelectric element, and an electrical characteristic measurement mode for measuring electrical characteristics between the second electrode and the third electrode.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to wear measurement. A system according to one embodiment includes a transport mechanism for running a tape across a wear structure and a measuring device for optically measuring an extent of wear of the wear structure. A method according to one embodiment includes positioning a tape across a wear structure, optically determining a first position of a back of the tape relative to a measuring device using the measuring device, running the tape across the wear structure for a period of time, optically determining a second position of the back of the tape relative to the measuring device using the measuring device after the period of time, and determining a difference between the first and second positions.

Abstract: The present invention proposes a structural unit (21) for arrangement on a hydraulic fluid tank of a jet engine having a vision device (23) and a sensor device (25), which can independently of one another determine a level of a hydraulic fluid present in a hydraulic fluid tank (1) when the structural unit (21) is arranged on a hydraulic fluid tank. A fastening device (27) is provided to fix the structural unit (21) on the hydraulic fluid tank.

Abstract: A moisture sensor for monitoring an access to a patient for a system by which, via a flexible line, a liquid is fed to and/or out from a patient, for monitoring the vascular access in extra-corporeal blood treatment or for monitoring a central venous catheter for acute dialysis, and a method of producing a moisture sensor are described. The moisture sensor has a substrate material with an electrically conductive structure having conductor paths arranged at a distance from one another and connected together across a terminating resistor. The terminating resistor is an electrically conductive film which is applied in a section of the substrate material on which are formed electrical contacting regions for connecting the terminating resistor to the conductor paths, such that an external terminating resistor is not required and the moisture sensor can be produced easily in large numbers complete with the terminating resistor.

Abstract: A hydrostatic head tester arrangement has a frame, a test pressure generating device, a clamping device having first clamping ring and a second clamping ring and wherein a power gain element is connected to the first clamping ring. Further, the power gain element is connected to an actuation lever via a resilient member.