Abstract: A test apparatus for use in determining the concentration of oils or other soluble contaminants in a petroleum hydrocarbon solvent. The apparatus includes a positioner for a two-layer fibrous sheet, or two separate sheets, in either case providing an upper layer of material that is sorptive to polar materials and a lower layer that is absorptive to non-polar hydrocarbon liquids. When the contaminated liquid evaporates either, as by being heated, a characteristic stain indicative of contaminant level remains on the lower layer. The method includes applying contaminated solvent, separating particulates in the upper fibrous level, and allowing the soluble materials to stain the lower layer. Some embodiments of the apparatus include built-in heating and air circulation means.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon gas detection device operates by dissociating or electro-chemically oxidizing hydrocarbons adsorbed to a silicon carbide detection layer. Dissociation or oxidation are driven by a varying potential applied to the detection layer. Different hydrocarbon species undergo reaction at different applied potentials so that the device is able to discriminate among various hydrocarbon species. The device can operate at temperatures between 100.degree. C. and at least 650.degree. C., allowing hydrocarbon detection in hot exhaust gases. The dissociation reaction is detected either as a change in a capacitor or, preferably, as a change of current flow through an FET which incorporates the silicon carbide detection layers. The silicon carbide detection layer can be augmented with a pad of catalytic material which provides a signal without an applied potential. Comparisons between the catalytically produced signal and the varying potential produced signal may further help identify the hydrocarbon present.

Abstract: A device for indicating the water content of a medium into which the device is inserted, and which includes a scale which mounts a body of a water-swellable hydrogel. The scale has marked thereon an indication of water content, such that contact of the hydrogel body with water or moisture in the medium causes a peripheral portion of the hydrogel to expand and such that the position of the expanded peripheral portion in conjunction with the scale indicates the water content of the medium.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring viscosity of liquids includes an external chamber (10) which encloses an internal chamber/duct (20) having an inlet (21) and an outlet (22). Internal chamber (20) houses a fan (30) for forcing air through the duct, a first heater (40) for heating air within the duct, a second heater (81/82) for heating air externally of the duct, a thermal ballast (50) for maintaining the temperature of the air in the duct constant, and a viscometer (72) for measuring viscosity of liquids.

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: An object has a plurality of parts, wherein each part of the plurality of parts can face a predetermined direction. A plurality of resonant circuits are mounted in different predetermined positions of the object, and have different resonance frequencies. A sending unit sends signals having a plurality of frequencies corresponding to the resonance frequencies of the plurality of resonant circuits. A detecting unit detects resonance signals of the plurality of resonant circuits. A plate has therein the sending unit and detecting unit. A determining unit determines a part of the object placed on the plate, the part facing the predetermined direction, using differences of detected levels of the resonance signals of the plurality of resonant circuits of the object detected by the detecting unit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for operating a controlled heat conductance vacuum gauge with a measuring cell (18) comprising a Wheatstone bridge (1) with supply voltage (12, 13) and measurement voltage terminals (14, 15), a power supply and measuring instrument (21) and a connecting cable (19) containing several conductors and to a circuit therefor; in order to prevent errors of measurement caused by connecting cables (19) of different lengths and to automate cable length equalization it is proposed that the voltage of a power supply terminal (12, 13) of the Wheatstone bridge (1) in the measuring cell (18) be recorded without current via one (26) of the conductors of the connecting cable (19) and taken into account in the formation of the measurement value.

Abstract: The rig comprises a vertical electric motor in a shell-type framework carrying a force balance itself supporting either a main rotor in dynamic tests or a complete propulsion assembly with main rotor in endurance tests, or a height extender supporting, on the one hand, an upper shaft line being coupled to a lower shaft line supported in the framework and driven by the motor and, on the other hand, an inverse-thrust rotor mast, driving a hub jig linked to blades mounted inverted so as to exercise a thrust downwards. The mast is linked to the shaft line by a torque meter and is mounted rotating in a bearing supported by a second balance fixed to the height extender. The mast and the upper shaft line are removable with the height extender in order to make the rig multi-purpose and useable for performance, endurance and dynamic tests of helicopter rotors.

Abstract: A device for detecting the presence of liquid in a flow of gas has a heated temperature sensor mounted on a heated member in thermal contact with the gas and an unheated temperature sensor in thermal contact with the gas, but thermally isolated from the heated temperature sensor. Liquid in the gas flow evaporates by absorbing heat from the heated member and therefore reduces the temperature of the heated temperature sensor. The reduction in temperature is used to detect the presence of liquid. The device is suitable for detecting liquid at the output of an evaporator in a heat transfer system, and may be used as part of a control system which reduces the flow of refrigerant through the evaporator when liquid is detected at the output, so avoiding damage caused by liquid entering the compressor of the heat transfer system.

Abstract: A gas detector, preferably for carbon monoxide detection, which includes a light detector(5), a light source (1) for providing a light beam which travels along a light path to the detector and detection chemistry (3) disposed in the light path for altering the light beam responsive to the impingement of a predetermined gas thereon. The detection chemistry includes a plurality of spaced apart members, each disposed in the light path. Each member includes a chemistry responsive to the impingement of the predetermined gas thereon for reversibly altering the light transmissive properties of the detection chemistry. The chemistry of any one of the members can differ from the chemistry of one or more of the other members if more than two members are present. The detection chemistry can, in part, act as a filter to light from the light beam. The detection chemistry is disposed in a gas ambient, the gas ambient being disposed between the spaced apart members.

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: The invention relates to a method of measuring the quantity of fuel in a tank of a space vehicle. It includes a step of measuring the level of fuel in the tank during at least one acceleration stage of the space vehicle. The level of fuel can be measured by detecting the level of fuel in a tube having a first end in communication with a first region of the tank which constitutes a bottom of the tank relative to an acceleration direction, and having a second end in communication with a second region of the tank that is spaced apart from the first region.

Abstract: A leak detection system which operates at relatively high pressures and senses relatively large pressure drops to monitor for leakage in fuel product lines such as those used for dispensing of fuel at gasoline service stations. Leakage tests of various degrees of precision are carried out, and the possible effects of thermally induced expansion and contraction are taken into account. The system also checks for faulty pressure sensors and dry tank conditions. Leak indications are confirmed by a time delay and retesting before a leak alarm is given.

Abstract: 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 sonic waves, using sonic wave generating and receiving means, and processes this difference using circuitry to provide the humidity condition in the air being tested. Also an oven or heating cooker is disclosed equipped with the humidity measuring device so that it can detect the cooking condition of food by measuring temperature changes due to the steam generated from the food and then using the humidity measuring device to determine when to shut off the heat source of the oven.

Abstract: The invention relates to concentration measurement transmitters, more specifically to an arrangement for a static, blade-type transmitter, which includes a blade active in the medium to be measured and suspended by a spindle such that shear force moment at the blade is translated via the spindle to a measurement converter for determining fiber concentration in the medium, the converter preferably being situated in the transmitter housing, into which the spindle extends and is sealed against it with the aid of a lead-through.

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: An aboveground storage tank is provided with a mass balance system for quantitative detection of leakage of liquid from a tank. Arrays of temperature sensors measure the exterior wall temperature of the tank and temperature sensors in an open-ended standpipe within the tank measure the temperature of stored liquid. The temperature measurements and measurements of liquid level change in a chamber mounted at the upper end of the standpipe are polled at intervals to detect changes of the mass of liquid within the tank.

Abstract: An improved impeller for a rotating consistency transmitter and a method of measuring the consistency of pulp slurry flowing in a main pipeline. The impeller includes an intercepting surface designed to minimize the creation of turbulence in pulp slurry and the frictional forces on the front edge thereof when rotated in the pulp slurry. Using the impeller, a method of measuring the consistency of the pulp slurry is provided which measures the work done by forces acting on the impeller.

Abstract: When an ultrasonic transducer for detecting flaws in metal plates or the wall of a metal cylinder is directed at a surface to be inspected at a particular angle, about ten percent of the signal will appear as Harris waves which propagate into the test plate at ninety degrees to the surface. This signal which propagates vertically is polarized, with the result that the signal has a greatly improved signal to noise ratio. For an incident medium of water and employing shear wave refracting in the medium of cast iron the specific angle is approximately 33 degrees from the vertical for best signal to noise ratio. For steel the specific angle is approximately 31 degrees and is about 50 degrees for brass. Shear or longitudinal waves can be employed to affect the detection of subsurface defects with the particular angle changing depending on the relation of the velocity of the sound waves in the refracting medium to the velocity of sound waves in the incident medium.

Abstract: An improved invasive acoustic sensor apparatus detects particulate matter in a flow by impingement thereon. The apparatus includes an axially extending probe body having an active length positionable in a flow and a distributed piezoelectric transducer disposed therein. The transducer is acoustically coupled to an interior surface of the body, along substantially the entire active length thereof, and may be a piezoelectric film, piezoelectric tube, or a plurality of electrically parallel connected piezoelectric tube elements. The apparatus further includes an acoustic isolation layer disposed between the probe body and positioning structure to reduce transmission of process wall vibration to the transducer.