Abstract: A correlation is derived between a variable, defined as “virtual age,” indicative of brake fluid's service age and/or mileage and the concentration of copper in the fluid. Virtual age is utilized to estimate the degree of degradation of the fluid. A reactive test strip is used to measure the concentration of copper ions in the brake fluid in terms of a readily visible color change. The strip is immersed in the fluid and any resulting color change is compared to a color chart and a standard representative of the maximum concentration determined empirically to correspond to the desirable “virtual-age” threshold for fluid replacement. An automated embodiment of the invention includes an optical instrument to compare the color obtained from the test to a predetermined standard and determine whether a fluid change is recommended.

Abstract: A system and method for measuring viscosity, melt flow index (MFI), and melt volume rate (MVR) of a polymer melt in real-time during an extrusion process to provide quick and accurate feedback for process control. The system includes a polymer processing rate sensor (36), a polymer melt temperature sensor (30), an extruder pressure sensor (32), and a die head temperature sensor (34) for taking in-line measurements during the extrusion process. The in-line measurements are made on the main process stream of the polymer melt, with the determination of viscosity, MFI, and MVR based on these measured values and those obtained during a calibration run with polymers having known properties. The invention can be used in any polymer compounding and extrusion process utilizing die opening with any constant geometry for monitoring quality and providing feedback for process control.

Abstract: An apparatus for testing polymeric samples is shown in which a polymer specimen is subjected to sinusoidal, oscillatory motion. The oscillatory motion is generated by the use of a continuously variable eccentric cam that is affixed to a drive shaft rotated by a motor. The amplitude of oscillation is determined by the eccentricity of the cam, and verified by measurement of angular deflection. The eccentricity of the cam can be altered, in one embodiment, through the manual manipulation of an adjustable nut, and, in another, automated embodiment, through the motion of the rotating motor. The eccentricity of the cam is continuously variable and can quickly be changed within a single test.

Abstract: A measurement apparatus for making magnetic and gravity component measurements in a borehole, including measurements made while the apparatus is rotating about the borehole axis, comprising a magnetic field component sensing device having at least two axes of sensitivity normal to the borehole axis and normal to each other, a gravity field component sensing device having at least two axes of sensitivity normal to the borehole axis and normal to each other, an inertial angular rotation sensing device having an axis of sensitivity along the borehole axis to sense inertial angular motion about the borehole axis, control, power and processing circuitry to operate said sensing devices and to process the outputs of said sensing devices to obtain stabilized component data in a coordinate system that does not rotate with the said measurement apparatus, communication circuitry to transmit output data to auxiliary equipment at the surface or in the borehole, and support structure to support the sensing devices.

Abstract: An acoustic measurement system detects solids within a fluid includes a sample cell 10 for containing the fluid, a first transducer 20 for outputting a first acoustic detection signal at a first frequency, a first acoustic receiver 20 responsive to the first acoustic detection signal, and a second acoustic transducer 20 for outputting an acoustic second mixing signal at a second frequency to mix the solids in the fluid within the sample cell. Controller 40 may vary the “on” time of the second transducer with respect to the measurement of the first acoustic signal. The fluid within the cell may be tested under a wide range of temperatures and pressures. The acoustic measurement system may also be used to measure the bulk modulus of the liquid. The method of the invention allows for the detection of crystallization for a portion of the fluid in the sample cell under widely varying conditions.

Abstract: A chamber for trapping soil gases as they evolve from the soil without disturbance to the soil and to the natural microclimate within the chamber has been invented. The chamber opens between measurements and therefore does not alter the metabolic processes that influence soil gas efflux rates. A multiple chamber system provides for repetitive multi-point sampling, undisturbed metabolic soil processes between sampling, and an essentially airtight sampling chamber operating at ambient pressure.

Abstract: A microfluidic system is provided for separating components of many fluid samples in a parallel fashion through an array of capillary conduits. The system includes capillary conduits for receiving fluid samples, and for effecting separation of substituents of the sample by passing the sample through a corresponding array of capillary separation conduits containing a solid separation medium. The microfluidic circuit is made of three or more substrate layers and preferably includes etched channels in different layers that are dimensioned relative to one another to provide for retaining the solid composition within the capillary separation conduits. The system also includes an array of detector flow cells in fluid communication with the capillary separation conduits, and an array of high pressure connectors for connecting discrete capillary tubes to the fluid passages in the microfluidic circuit for introducing and removing the fluid samples from the system.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device capable of simply formulating an arbitrary gradient pattern in a low flow gradient high performance liquid chromatography. That is, the present invention provides a split tubing apparatus for a gradient high performance liquid chromatography, which comprises a solvent inlet part, a split tubing part split into two or more plural tubes, and a solvent outlet part.

Abstract: A measurement device is provided that determines fluid properties from vibration frequencies of a sample cavity and a reference cavity. In one embodiment, the measurement device includes a sample flow tube, a reference flow tube, vibration sources and detectors mounted on the tubes, and a measurement module. The sample flow tube receives a flow of sample fluid for characterization. The reference flow tube is filled with a reference fluid having well-characterized properties. The measurement module employs the vibration sources to generate vibrations in both tubes. The measurement module combines the signals from the vibration detectors on the tubes to determine properties of the sample fluid, such as density, viscosity, compressibility, water fraction, and bubble size. The measurement module may further detect certain flow patterns such as slug flow, for example.

Abstract: A gas chromatography system includes a gas chromatography oven having a door adapted for integration with gas chromatography modules which are located outside of the oven cavity. For these purposes, the oven door has module receiving openings in which the modules are secured. The gas chromatography module includes a module housing containing a main coil of the capillary column, a pair of transfer lines sleeved on the free ends of the capillary column, a heater wire wound on the transfer lines, and, optionally, a pair of chromatography connectors which extend into the oven cavity and through which the free ends of the capillary column, as well as transfer lines, projecting into the oven cavity. A wall of the GC oven has an injector port and a detector port for injection of a sample into the oven cavity and for detecting the sample constituents. Column lengths extend within the oven cavity between the module and injector and detector, respectively.

Abstract: A method for generating indicators relating to the condition of lubricating oil in an internal combustion engine. A set of variables relating to operation of the internal combustion engine serve as proxy variables for brake mean effective pressure developed by the internal combustion engine. Operation of an engine is monitored to develop values for the proxy variables. Soot being added to the lubricating oil from the developed values and accumulated to provide an estimate of total soot in the lubricating oil. Lubricating oil temperature is periodically monitored and a history of the lubricating oil temperature measurements is kept to allow generation therefrom of an estimate of shear of the lubricating oil. Accumulated estimate of soot is kept as a distance remaining until the lubricating oil becomes unsuitable for continued use in the internal combustion engine. Similarly, estimated shear is expressed as a distance until the lubricating oil is to be replaced.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting leakage from a evaporative emission space of an automotive vehicle fuel system. A reciprocating pump is operated in a pressurizing mode to build pressure in the space toward a nominal test pressure. The pressurizing mode involves operating the pump in a repeating cycle wherein the pump operates alternately in an accelerated pumping mode and a natural frequency pumping mode. During the pressurizing mode, a characteristic of successive occurrences of the natural frequency pumping mode indicative of pressure in the space is measured. The number of times the cycle repeats is counted and compared to a predefined reference.

Abstract: In an odor measuring apparatus, a plurality of detection outputs with respect to a sample gas is obtained by a plurality of odor sensors having different response characteristics. In an odor fractionation processing section, based on the detection outputs, it is determined which one of a plurality of predetermined odor categories the odor of the sample gas belongs to. In case of calculating an odor index from the detection outputs, the same regression line can be utilized for the same odor category. An odor index calculating section utilizes regression coefficients determined in advance for each odor category, to thereby calculate the odor index. Accordingly, without using an organoleptic test by panels, the odor index can be obtained easily and accurately.

Abstract: A system for providing process control information, such as viscosity, concerning a polymer melt comprises a means containing a polymer melt under pressure; means for diverting a stream of the polymer melt directly from said containing means to and through an orifice of predetermined geometrical shape wherein the flow of said diverted portion to and through said orifice is unobstructed and directly dependent on the pressure of said main polymer melt wherein the cross sectional area is sized to permit the flow of said diverted melt polymer therethrough absence additional independent means acting on said diverted melt polymer for increasing flow through said orifice; temperature sensing means for measuring the temperature of the diverted melt stream and producing a resultant temperature signal; pressure sensing means for measuring the pressure of the diverted melt stream and producing a resultant pressure signal, said pressure signal being directly dependent on the pressure of polymer in said main polymer melt

Abstract: The present invention relates to a monitoring well which includes an enclosure defining a cavity and a water reservoir enclosed within the cavity and wherein the reservoir has an inlet and an outlet. The monitoring well further includes a porous housing borne by the enclosure and which defines a fluid chamber which is oriented in fluid communication with the outlet of the reservoir, and wherein the porous housing is positioned in an earthen soil location below-grade. A geophysical monitoring device is provided and mounted in sensing relation relative to the fluid chamber of the porous housing; and a coupler is selectively moveable relative to the outlet of reservoir to couple the porous housing and water reservoir in fluid communication. An actuator is coupled in force transmitting relation relative to the coupler to selectively position the coupler in a location to allow fluid communication between the reservoir and the fluid chamber defined by the porous housing.