Abstract: Apparatus for measuring the fluid characteristics of a sample comprises a frame, at least a first stage mounted on the frame for rectilinear movement, first mounting means mounted on the first stage, and a first member carried by the mounting means, a second member mounted to the frame in register with the first member, at least one of the first member and second member being readily interchangeable, positioning means for moving the first stage to adjust the relative positions of the members whereby a sample carried by one of the members can be brought into contact with the other of the members and whereby to adjust the spacing between the first and second members to a preselected distance, a device for vibrating the first mounting means rectilinearly, and thus the first member carried thereby, at a preselected frequency.

Abstract: A method and device for the continuous monitoring of very low level concentrations of materials such as volatile organic compound (VOC) pollutant levels in a fluid (gaseous or liquid) stream, including stack gases and waste water. The fluid stream passes through an on-line micro sorbent trap (OLMT) for entrapment of VOCs. The pollutants are concentrated in the OLMT and electrically rapidly heated to simulate an injection into a gas chromatograph system or other detector. The concentration and heating steps are effected at predetermined time intervals and temperature conditions with correlation to known fluid flow rates. Pollutants separate in the chromatographic column with a chromatograph being obtained with each injection for identification of pollutants and respective pollution levels. Alternatively, without chromatograph, a single peak is obtained which represents the total quantity of pollutants in the fluid stream.

Abstract: Hydrostatic pressure testing apparatus for sealing and delivering fluid into a pipe wherein the pipe wall is maintained in tension. A pair of cam actuated movable jaws are mounted on a body for engaging the outer wall of the pipe. A seal ring on a mandrel is positioned to expand into sealing engagement with the inner wall of the pipe. A shaped passage in segments of a split die block lock behind the upset portion on the end of the pipe.

Abstract: A sensor device for gaseous hydrocarbons includes two semiconductor oxide-based sensitive elements, one of which is a sensitive reference element and the other a sensitive measuring element, this measuring element being covered with a layer of electrically insulating porous material containing a dispersed noble metal. The two sensitive elements are formed by silk-screen processes, are connected to an electronic signal comparison system, and are maintained at different temperatures when in operation. The sensor has improved selectivity in determining gaseous hydrocarbons, in particular methane, even if high concentrations of interfering gases such as ethanol are present.

Abstract: A lightweight absorbent foam is produced using a high internal phase emulsion (HIPE), the production of which incorporates the use of capillary viscosity measurements as an in-line diagnostic for HIPE quality. The in-line diagnostics yield measurements of viscosity slope and amplitude. These measurements offer several advantages for monitoring emulsion quality, including stable high resolution measurement of hardware-independent parameters of the whole flow, without the need for sampling.

Abstract: Inclusions in a liquid flow, such as air bubbles in a blood flow, are detected by transmitting a signal through the fluid and receiving and interpreting the received signal based on the expected degree of attenuation for the liquid and the inclusions. The amplitude of the transmitted signal is automatically adjusted to maintain a constant average amplitude of the detected signal, thus compensating for changes in the detection environment. The average amplitude of the transmitted signal is controlled by integrating the received signal using an integrator with a time constant longer than the time constant of the expected inclusion signals, and comparing the integrated signal to a constant reference level.The presence of microbubbles is detected and a signal comprising a string of high frequency pulses is generated while the microbubbles are present.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon analyzer for rapidly measuring both methane and nonmethane hydrocarbons is provided. The analyzer includes a nonmethane hydrocarbon absorbing first column connected in series with a methane absorbing second column. A sample gas is propelled in a carrier gas through a carrier gas line into the first and second columns via a change-over valve for switching between a branched line severably connected between the carrier gas line and a first flame ionization detector for measuring nonmethane hydrocarbons and a second flame ionization detector connected to the second column for measuring methane.

Abstract: A bubble detecting apparatus for an infusion pump, including a set of ultrasonic sensor constituted by an ultrasonic oscillator and a receiver provided, respectively, at opposed locations on an outer face of a liquid transport tube for feeding liquid such as medicinal liquid by a predetermined pumping operation of a pumping mechanism such that air bubbles produced in or mixed into the liquid in the liquid transport tube are detected by the ultrasonic oscillator and the receiver. In the apparatus, at least three sets of the ultrasonic sensors are arranged along the liquid transport tube at different intervals.

Abstract: The present invention provides an acoustic cell for determining the composition of gas mixtures. The acoustic gas composition analysis cell has transducers acoustically isolated from the cell body through the use of an acoustic isolation material positioned at least between the transducers and the transducer housings to produce a signal-to-noise ratio of at least 4 to 1. Additionally, the transducers employed in the acoustic cell operate in the kilohertz range, reducing attenuation in the gas mixture being analyzed. The cell body employs vacuum seals which permit the use of the cell in line with vacuum equipment.

Abstract: An electrically conductive particle detector that includes a hollow spool or sleeve of insulating material having an open end, a sidewall and a circumferential array of elongated fluid passages that extend radially through the sidewall. A pair of internested helical conductors are mounted in corresponding helical grooves on the interior of the sleeve sidewall, with helical reaches of the conductors spaced from each other by the sleeve. Electrical circuitry is connected to the conductors for detecting impingement of a conductive particle that bridges adjacent reaches of the conductors in fluid that flows through the sleeve. A perforated strainer is carried by the sleeve spaced from the conductors for removing particles in the fluid that flows through the sleeve.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in one-hundred percent leak testing of food containers used in conjunction with a tracer gas. The apparatus includes a shell with entrance and exit air locks to create a controlled atmosphere through which a series of containers is conveyed by a conveyor belt. The pressure in the shell is kept lower than the pressure in the containers and the atmosphere is made to flow with the containers so that a tracer gas placed in the packages before sealing them will leak more readily, but the leaked tracer gas will remain associated with the leaking package as it moves through the shell. The leaks are detected with a sniffer probe in fluid communication with a gas chromatograph. The gas chromatograph issues a signal when it detects a leak to an ejector that will eject the leaking container from the conveyor.

Abstract: In order to measure the relative proportions of oil, water and gas passing along a pipe, the pipe is passed through the coils of a number of coil resonators having different resonant frequencies. By measuring changes in the resonant frequencies of the coil resonators the proportions of oil, water and gas in the flow through the pipe can be calculated.

Abstract: A viscosity measurement apparatus for measuring viscosity of a fluid under known pressure. A tube of known diameter and length allows the fluid to pass therethrough. A closed chamber is in fluid communication with the tube. A piston, sealably engaged with the chamber, may be moved by force of the fluid passing through the tube. A linear gauge measures the time required to move the piston. A mechanism is provided to reset the piston by forcing fluid back through the tube to empty the chamber to begin another measurement.

Abstract: A sensor or detector for fluid parameters is in the form of a substrate having at least two cavities and at least two sensing or detecting portions bridging respective cavities. The sensing portions include a first sensing unit which is exposed to the ambient and a second sensing unit which serves a compensating function and is in an air-tight enclosure formed by joining a cover plate with the substrate by a solid adhesive layer formed around the boundary of the second sensing unit. An adhesive tape can be attached to the cover plate to facilitate dicing and separating sensors or detectors that are initially formed on the same substrate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a highly reliable, accurate humidity measuring device which detects differences in humidity between datum air and measuring air as a time or a phase difference in the propagation velocity of ultrasonic waves, using ultrasonic wave generating and receiving means, and processes this difference using circuitry.

Abstract: A density sensor comprises a cavity arranged to receive the gas whose density is to be sensed. The cavity is divided into two chambers by a flexibly mounted diaphragm. A piezoelectric excitation device at one end of the cavity is used to excite the gas in the cavity into resonant vibration in a mode having an anti-node at the diaphragm, which causes the diaphragm to vibrate with the gas. Another piezoelectric device senses the vibration, whose frequency is a function of the known mass of the diaphragm and the density and speed of sound in the gas. This last parameter can be sensed by exciting the gas in the cavity into resonant vibration in a second mode having a node at the diaphragm, so that the diaphragm does not take part in the vibration. Alternatively, it can be sensed by providing a second cavity, also arranged to receive the gas but not having a diaphragm, and resonantly vibrating the gas in the second cavity.

Abstract: Fluidic proximity sensing apparatus for use with a linear induction motor car. The apparatus is comprised of a floating sensor head in operative combination with a dual flapper valve which forms two air gaps. A change in the proximity of the sensor head to a track surface is converted to a dimensional variation in the air gaps, which in turn is sensed by fluidic oscillators.

Abstract: Centrifugal pumps and similar fluid handling machines may be tested to detect leakage from shaft seal assemblies by an apparatus which includes a support flange for supporting a section of the pump casing including the seal assembly. The apparatus includes a housing portion with an interior chamber which may be placed in communication with a source of pressure fluid such as compressed air to act on the seal assembly to detect any fluid leakage therefrom. The apparatus includes a cylindrical support flange and removable adaptor plates which may be interchanged depending on the configuration of the pump casing.

Abstract: A method of testing a gas-cooled electrical generator (12) for leakage of pressurized coolant gas includes steps of communicating a container (14) with pressurized coolant gas that is within the generator (12); sealing the container (14) once the container (14) becomes filled with coolant gas at a pressure which is equal to a pressure within the sealed space; and subsequently comparing the pressure in the sealed space with the pressure in the sealed container (14), whereby a lower pressure in the sealed space will indicate coolant leakage. Preferably, the container (14) is insulated to preserve the coolant gas at the temperature it was at within the generator (12), for accurate measurements. In contrast to previously known methods, this method can be performed while the generator is operational, resulting in improved and more realistic detection and measurement of leakage.

Abstract: The area of a cross-section perpendicular to a flow direction in a flow path for guiding a sample gas to a detector is set to be larger than that of a cross-section perpendicular to the flow direction in a hollow portion of a base under a membrane of the detector so as to set the volume of the flow path near the hollow portion to be larger than that of the hollow portion. One or both of a thermal conductivity of the gas and its change are measured with high sensitivity and high precision.