Abstract: A device for monitoring the sealing properties of a gas-filled chamber is provided. The temperature-sensitive device is formed out of a thermally-reacting element (14, 19, 20, 24). The element changes its dimensional length depending on a temperature change. The element (14, 19, 20, 24) is disposed between a pressure measurement device (6, 11) and a valve (7, 8; 9, 10), serving as a signal generator. The device can be used for a monitoring of the pressure in a vehicle tire or of the gas density in a vehicle tire.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for quantitatively measuring the strengths, pore pressures, and mechanical properties of low permeability geologic materials, such as shales, including test specimen preparation apparatus for adjusting test specimen water content and test apparatus with an end cap having a pore pressure transducer channel disposed adjacent a test specimen filled with an immiscible, inert fluid which does not wet the test specimen, and controlling the deviatoric load on the test specimen during the test to prevent premature failure.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for automatically measuring the viscosity of a sample liquid is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a plurality of viscosimeter tubes mounted in a constant temperature bath, a plurality of vessels adapted for containing the sample liquid, a valve system for controlling the injection and the removal of the sample liquid into and from the viscosimeter tubes and the ascent and descent of the sample liquid in the viscosimeter tubes, a driving circuitry for the valve system, a photosensing device for sensing the meniscus of the liquid at predetermined indication marks of the viscosimeter tubes and a system of measuring the flow time of the sample liquid between two predetermined marks and computing the viscosity of the liquid based on the measured flow time.

Abstract: A thin flexible humidity sensor and indicator of sandwich construction sealably mounted in an opening in the wall of a container provides a visual indication of the humidity within the container. The humidity sensor and indicator has an intermediate layer of flexible humidity sensitive material chemically treated to change color corresponding to exposure to predetermined levels of humidity, a thin flexible layer of transparent water vapor barrier material on one side, and a thin flexible layer of water vapor permeable material on its opposite side which are sealed together and sealably secured over the opening in the container wall. The water vapor permeable layer is disposed on the interior of the container and provides communication between the container interior and the humidity sensitive layer and the transparent water vapor barrier layer and the humidity sensitive layer are visible from the exterior of the container to provide a visual indication of the value of the humidity within the container.

Abstract: The composition distribution of a sample in solution is determined by basing the calculation of the composition distribution on intermittent measurements of the concentration of sample remaining in solution while precipitating the sample from the solution. An apparatus for determining the composition distribution of the sample has a sample solution vessel, a temperature control for raising and lowering the temperature of a solvent within the vessel, and a device for intermittently measuring concentration of sample in solution in the vessel.

Abstract: A method for testing vapor recovery units having phase II capabilities for integrity, blockage, or both is disclosed. The vapor recovery unit is modified for vacuum testing. To test the integrity of the unit, a vacuum is drawn in the unit to a predetermined level whereupon it is monitored for decay over a predetermined period of time to ascertain whether the unit is leaking. To test for blockage, a vacuum is continuously drawn in the unit while the lines associated with the phase II capabilities are disconnected from the dispensing station at the point most proximal to the station. Flow of fluid induced by the vacuum is then measured and compared to the desired rate of flow to ascertain the extent of blockage, if any.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for measuring materials of high viscosity floating on bodies of water are to provide a solution enabling a reliable monitoring of the water surface of standing and running bodies of water using simple means. This is achieved by means of the method in that the water surface of the body of water is excited by means of an oscillating device and in that the surface waves reflecting on the water surface are measured.

Abstract: An exhaust-gas analyzer, particularly for emissions testing of motor-vehicle engines has a sampling tube into which a mixture of exhaust gas and ambient air is fed through gas lines. A gas feed pump is disposed downstream of the sampling tube with a flowmeter inserted in the air line feeding electrical signals to a computing unit. The unit computes instantaneous standard total flow rate, allowing for gas pressure and temperature.

Abstract: A method for determining the concentration of individual solutes in a body of liquid, e.g., measuring contaminants in waste water. A sparging IR process is used, in which gas in the form of minute bubbles moves upwardly in a non-flowing body of liquid. The gas remove vaporized samples of the subject solutes and flows to a gas cell, where it is subjected to infrared spectrometer analysis. The true concentration of each subject solute is measured by plotting its concentration values against elapsed time, and then extrapolating back to time zero to determine the initial concentration of the solute. In addition, the rate of depletion is used to determine the ratio of vapor pressure to solubility of the solute. Replotting the original data using logarithm values can simplify the extrapolation.

Abstract: The compressibility coefficient of liquid compositions in a liquid mixture are measured with a system comprising a separator vessel and a vessel forming a closable variable volume chamber. A quantity of liquid mixture is trapped in the chamber and the volume is reduced while measuring the pressure increase to determine the compressibility coefficient of a quantity of the liquid mixture. An incremental volume of one of the liquid component compositions is added to the liquid mixture in the chamber and the compressibility coefficient of the new liquid mixture is measured to determine the compressibility coefficient of the liquid component of the incremental volume. The compressibility factor of gas in the liquid mixture may also be determined by compressing a quantity of the gas and fitting a polynomial equation to the pressure-volume relationship.

Abstract: Steam quality is determined by taking a sample of the steam and measuring the steam pressure and the rate of condensate of the sampled steam.

Abstract: Device and method to achieve a low pressure pressurisation test in order to evaluate the integrity and the leak rate of a hermetic building. After the pressurisation to about a few kilopascals of the building and of a reference volume within said building, the reference volume is isolated and the evolution of the differential pressure as a function of time between the two is measured with a differential manometer. The tubes of the reference volume can be made of copper tubes welded together and the reference volume divided in sections wherein the volume of each section is a scale representation of the volume of a corresponding building zone. The use of a reference volume within the building allows temperature variations to be compensated. The device and the method further comprise the use of a sampling network circuit which is used to collect samples of air throughout the building and allow the partial pressure variation of some gases to be compensated for.

Abstract: The arrangement of this invention for measuring the dimensions of a workpiece (14) includes a circuit in which a fluid circulates. Such circuit comprises a first branch (15) provided with an inlet nozzle (16) and at least one measuring nozzle (17) directed towards the workpiece the dimensions of which are to be measured, and a second branch (19) provided with an inlet nozzle (20) and opening into an output reference nozzle (21). A pressure transducer (22) furnishes an electrical signal representing the pressure difference in the two branches. The arrangement is original inasmuch as the fluid employed is a liquid and that the inlet nozzles are arranged to deliver a liquid flow at their output producing a minimum of noise on the electrical signal issuing from the pressure transducer. Utilization is for in-process measurement of cylindrical bores or outer diameters of cylindrical workpieces or indeed of planar surfaces.

Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus for the selective determination of e concentration of a substance dissolved in a solvent by means of an osmosis cell. The osmosis cell according to the invention contains a substance not contained in the solution to be tested, which is either practically insoluble or is impermeable for the membrane. This substance reacts chemically with the substance permeating into the osmosis cell, with a product resulting from it in the cell or with a product resulting from the substance in the solution to be tested and permeating into the cell. Reaction products are thereby formed which produce a pressure in the osmosis cell, which is different from the osmotic pressure of the chemically converted portion of the substance. A pressure increase thereby occurs in the cell, from which the concentration of the substance in the solution to be tested can be determined on the basis of standard values.

Abstract: Particles in a fluid stream are detected by utilizing one or more probes each provided with at least one measuring or erosion element. The probe is placed in the fluid stream, and the particle content is quantitatively determined by measuring changes of electrical resistance as a function of erosion of the measuring element due to contact with particles moving in the stream. The probe may be equipped with a measuring head having a V-shaped configuration directed upstream, and the two planar surfaces defining the V-shape may each be equipped with one or more measuring elements.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a system for recycling wash residue of ready mixed concrete include the steps of condensing used cement sludge to a predetermined concentration, storing the condensed sludge, sampling the stored sludge and determining the unhydration ratio of cement contained in the sludge, and weighing the stored sludge based on the determined unhydration ratio of cement in order to prepare a new batch of ready mixed concrete or motar. By determining the unhydration ratio of cement contained in the sludge which has been condensed to a predetermined concentration, it becomes possible to accurately know the ratio of cement contributing as cement and its ratio contributing as the aggregate in a new batch of ready mixed concrete. A new batch of ready mixed concrete can be prepared by weighing the amount of the sludge on the basis of the determined unhydration ratio. The ready mixed concrete thus prepared will have a desired hardening strength and drying shrinkage.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for hydrostatically testing connections between segments of pipe whereby pressurized hydrostatic test fluid is selectively applied to the connection such that the pressures are principally applied in the vicinity of the radial orifices leading into the sealing elements of the connection and not radially to the inner or outer annular surfaces of the connection in the vicinity of the sealing elements of the connection which would tend to substantially affect the bearing pressure of the sealing elements. In addition, a method and apparatus for selectively applying pressurized hydrostatic test fluid such that the pressures are applied to those areas where the bearing pressure of the sealing elements of the connection is sensitive to the applied pressures, thus manipulating the bearing pressure and controlling the sealing capacity of the connection during hydrostatic leak testing.

Abstract: A porous rock is saturated with a first fluid and electrical resistivity is measured along its length. A second fluid, immiscible with the first fluid, is injected into the porous rock at a first flow rate. This injection continues until displacement of the first fluid from the porous rock ceases and the pressure drop along the porous rock becomes constant, indicating a first residual fluid saturation equilibrium. The foregoing is repeated for a plurality of increasing second fluid injection flow rates to effect electrical resistivity measurements at decreasing residual fluid saturation equilibriums. The method may then be repeated substituting the second fluid for the first and vice versa to perform an imbibition experiment.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises an air flow duct having an end portion fitted inside a nozzle whose front surface is trued so that it can be applied against the surface to be scanned and so that it can co-operate therewith to form a leak through which air flows as a function of the surface state of the part, and further comprises measuring means for measuring the flow rate of air passing through the leak. At its trued front surface, the nozzle delimits an annular air flow duct, and the portion of the nozzle inside the annular air flow duct includes a duct connected to the atmosphere.

Abstract: An improved leak detection float system for use in underground storage tank containing fuel wherein the float system utilizes an elongated hollow test probe extending downwardly into an underground storage tank and into the fuel stored therein. A microprocessor is contained in an upper compartment of the test probe along with control electronics. A rod is centrally affixed in the lower portion of the test probe and a float is disposed around the rod, but within the test probe so as to float on the surface of the fuel. The float uses tapered edges to minimize offset error due to surface tension. An excitation transducer is placed above the float on the rod which produces vibrational waves down the rod having a predetermined frequency, power, and duration. The vibrational wave breaks the surface tension existing between the float and the fuel so that the float can obtain a position within the fluid based upon the buoyancy of the float in the fluid.