Abstract: Apparatus for determining the actual and proportional amounts of a volatile fluid in a test staple is described. The test staple is stored in a sealed container after being collected and kept in the sealed container through testing. The volatile fluid of interest is evolved from the test sample and a carrier gas transports the volatile fluid past a sensor. The sensor determined the relative amount of the volatile fluid of interest in the carrier gas. The flow rate of the carrier gas is precisely known and is predetermined. A microcomputer is utilized to predict with great accuracy the actual and proportional amount of the volatile fluid in the test sample.

Abstract: An electronic viscometer having a vibrating drive in a hollow probe which oscillates along its longitudinal axis and is damped by a sample into which the probe is inserted. The viscometer has a piezoelectric crystal having a feedback electrode, a phase locked loop circuit to track the resonant frequency, drive amplifiers and buffers, and a phase compensation network to ensure that the proper phase relationship is maintained between piezoelectric drive and feedback signals.

Abstract: A pressure leakage detector includes a primary gage and a secondary gage selectively connected to each other by means of a valve. The primary gage is connected to an air compressor via a pressure regulator for regulating the pressure supplied thereto and has an outlet port adapted to directly continuously supply the pressure to a large container to detect the leakage of container by means of visual inspection. The secondary gage has an outlet port adapted to connect to a closed system on which a leakage detection is to be carried out. By opening the valve between the two gages to have the closed system reaches a predetermined internal pressured set by the regulator and then closing the valve, a leakage of the closed system may be found by a drop of the pressure reading of the secondary gage. Thereafter, a visual inspection will indicate the exact location of leakage. Thus a precise and correct detection on either a small volume closed system or a large container may be preformed in an quite easy manner.

Abstract: A sample S is placed in a rigid body 1 of a device, in a containment cell laterally delimited by a supple sheath 21 and, at the two opposite ends thereof, by two cell ends 13, 14. Channels (15, 16) in these ends communicate with the sample, by means of semipermeable membranes (17, 18), and with fluid circulation means including a pump (39) providing a first fluid (such as water), a column (28) for injecting a second fluid such as oil, two burets (33, 36) receiving the fluids displaced out of the sample and a supply assembly (43, 46) associated with valves, providing gas that can be applied to the injection column (28) in order to push the second fluid injected into the containment cell for measurements with three-phase fluids. The device and its method of operation can be used for studying geologic samples, for example.

Abstract: A novel apparatus, for determining the concentration of gas components in exhaust gas from a motor vehicle, features a lambda sensor element, an electric heater thermally coupled to the sensor element, a control unit regulating application of voltage to the heater, and at least two voltage sources which can be alternatively applied to the heater, as commanded by the control unit.

Abstract: A method and a system for determining the density of an insulating gas in electrical apparatus in the vicinity of parts carrying electrical current, the method comprising the following steps:a) a reference temperature is measured outside the apparatus and in the vicinity thereof;b) the current passing through the apparatus is measured, and the temperature rise of the gas above the reference temperature is determined on the basis of gas temperature rise values as a function of current values and of various reference temperatures, said temperature rise values having been previously determined by testing or by a mathematical model;c) the gas temperature is computed by adding the reference temperature and the temperature rise;d) the gas pressure inside the apparatus is measured; ande) the density .rho. of the gas is computed on the basis of equations of state of the gas .rho.=F(T,P) which equations are tabulated data.

Abstract: A selective gas sensor (10) for detecting a particular compound, or group of compounds, such as non-methane hydrocarbons, within a high temperature gas stream (12) includes an oxygen generation system (14) positioned over an oxygen diffusion region (15). The oxygen generation system (14) and the oxygen diffusion region (15) provide oxygen through a medial temperature control zone (20) to a sensing element (16). The temperature and flux of hydrocarbon components within the high temperature gas stream (12) are regulated by components within the high temperature control zone (20) and by an external temperature control zone (22) in thermal contact with the sensing element (16).

Abstract: An atmospheric tide and air density detector. The detector includes a chamber having an inlet and an outlet. A barometer is positioned within the chamber. An impeller, driven by a motor, is positioned in the outlet for drawing air from the chamber. An air flow restrictor is positioned in the inlet. A gauge is connected to the air flow restrictor for measuring the pressure exerted on the air flow restrictor by air drawn into the chamber during operation of the impeller.

Abstract: An analytical instrument preferably in the form of a chromatograph includes a computer, a pneumatic controller responsive to the computer, and planar manifold assembly. The planar manifold assembly includes one or more fluid-handling functional devices that may be surface mounted to a planar manifold. The fluid-handling functional device may be constructed as a valve, operable in response to a control signal from pneumatic controller for controlling fluid flow in selected fluid flow paths in the chromatograph, or as a sensor, a fluid regulator, a fluid flow input or output line, or the like.

Abstract: There is provided a method for sample introduction into a gas chromatograph for performing sample analysis, in which a sample is introduced into a removable sample container, the container is placed in a sample introduction device, the device with said container is inserted into a gas chromatograph injector, and the sample is then vaporized for effecting analysis thereof by the gas chromatograph. The non-volatile residues of the sample retained in the container after vaporization and are removed with the container prior to performing the next analysis.

Abstract: A differential capacitive moisture sensor, relying for its operation on the time-varying couplings in two moisture-sensing regions to provide indication of presence of moisture, with selectivity of sensing surface provided by a shielding electrode, and with temperature information provided by a simultaneously-fabricated resistive temperature sensor. Various electrode connections and sensor electronics may be used.

Abstract: A stator for a sensitive rotating viscometer is directly connected to the viscometer module housing or the viscometer module lower housing (rotor housing) particularly on lower portions or about a side of the same. The stator connector can employ the bayonet-attachment principle, where a suitable stator is inserted into the connector and, with a twist of the inserted stator, is attached to the connector. The stator can include a hollow tube housing having an open top and a closed bottom, with a wide lip extending outwardly and generally normal to the tube housing at the top of the tube housing, and may have a stator retaining hole in the lip. Lip ears may be present in conjunction with or separately from a lip extension. Gas entry and exit orifices may be present in a side wall of the housing.

Abstract: A hermetic enclosure 100 comprising a socket 155, an inlet 110 coupled to a compressor 105 via a pressure valve 115, and an outlet 130 coupled to a vacuum generator 140 via a vacuum valve 135, for over pressure testing a pressure sensitive device 10. Locating the pressure sensitive device in the socket 155 in the hermetic chamber 100, applying a predetermined pressure generated by the compressor 105 to the pressure sensitive device in the enclosure 100. Subsequently relieving the predetermined pressure and applying a predetermined vacuum generated by the vacuum generator 140 to the pressure sensitive device 10 to remove fragments of the pressure sensitive device 10, when the pressure sensitive device 10 fails the over pressure test and disintegrates.

Abstract: A method of detecting a malfunction or failure of a pressure regulator in a corrosive or reactive gas distribution system while in use involves continuously measuring or monitoring the output pressure of the pressure regulator, both in the presence and the absence of gas flow. The onset of a malfunction of the pressure regulator can be predicted when the differential output pressure between flowing and non-flowing gas fluctuates highly and increases gradually. Failure of the pressure regulator or of the total system is detected when the differential output pressure in the presence and absence of flowing gas exceeds some experimentally determined value.

Abstract: A device for measuring relative viscosity includes a fluid reservoir, a stirrer, and a sensing system. The stirrer has two members, with one member being more bendable than the other. When the stirrer is moving, the sensing system detects a differential bend between the members; the differential bend is related to the viscosity of a fluid in the fluid reservoir. The sensing system includes two spaced sensors which detect when magnets on the members pass the sensors. A timer provides a time lapsed between passage of one of the members past a sensor and passage of the other member past the other sensor. The time lapsed is related to the viscosity of the fluid in the fluid reservoir. A controller automatically controls the addition of a solvent to the fluid within the fluid reservoir; the addition of the solvent is dependent on the time lapsed.

Abstract: A method of analyzing internal pressure of a closed container includes inducing vibration in a surface of a closed container; detecting sound resulting from the vibration; deriving information representing the detected sound; and determining whether the information corresponds to a predetermined spectral frequency condition and a predetermined spectral amplitude condition. The surface is at least partially conductive and inducing includes imposing a magnetic field on the surface. The predetermined spectral frequency condition and the predetermined spectral amplitude condition correspond to ranges of acceptable values. The detected sound is used to determine whether the closed container contains a pressure level within a predetermined range of pressure levels.

Abstract: An artificial olfactory system and associated method for rapidly identifying an object by its aroma. The artificial olfactory system includes a testing chamber in which is disposed an array of gas sensors. The object to be identified is placed in close proximity to the testing chamber. The air pressure within the testing chamber is then lowered below ambient, thereby causing ambient air to flow past the object being identified and into the testing chamber. As air flows past the object being identified, the aroma of the object becomes mixed with the air and is carried into the testing chamber. Once within the testing chamber, the aroma/air mixture is exposed to the array of gas sensors. The gas sensors detect the levels of various gases comprising the aroma/air mixture and produce a sensor pattern capable of being identified using pattern recognition techniques.

Abstract: A transducer measures density, viscosity, flowrate or suchlike of fluids or flowable solids using a resonator having two vibratile beam elements, one of which is disposed coaxially within the other. The outer element may be a closed tube which forms a chamber around the inner element. A drive and sensor may be disposed on a base which provides a common root for the beam elements.

Abstract: An electrochemical gas sensor assembly comprises an electrochemical gas sensor (1) including sensing (39) and counter (32) electrodes, an intervening body of electrolyte contacting the electrodes, and means (5) for controlling the diffusion of gas to the sensing electrode. A test gas generator (7) is connected to the sensor so as to supply a test gas directly to the sensing electrode (39) by-passing the gas diffusion control means (5).

Abstract: Apparatus for testing can lids or other discrete articles for leaks includes a conveyor belt having a plurality of grommets attached thereto. The articles to be tested are placed on the grommets and tested for leaks by applying a pressurized gas to one side of the articles while applying a vacuum to the other side of the articles. A detector detects the flow of a gaseous fluid through the discrete articles as a result of the vacuum application or as a result of the combined application of vacuum and pressurized gas.