Abstract: A container system includes a flexible bag, a probe port, and a probe. The probe port includes an elongated tubular member having an interior surface bounding a first passageway extending between a first end and an opposing second end, the tubular member being made of a polymeric or elastomeric material and being flexible. The probe port also includes a flange coupled to the tubular member and radially outwardly projecting therefrom, the flange being secured to the flexible bag so that the first end of the tubular member projects into a chamber of the flexible bag while the second end of the first passageway of the tubular member is accessible from outside of the flexible bag. The probe is received within the first passageway of the probe port.

Abstract: A motion simulator is constructed from a base driving an intermediate member via a 6 DOF hexapod, and a platform driven by a 2DOF simulator is provided on the intermediate member to supplement pitch and roll.

Abstract: A stress detector for detecting an in-situ stress profile of an electrode has a liquid cell, a holder configured to attach to one end of a sample electrode so that the sample electrode is cantilevered in the liquid cell, a piezo sensor comprising a piezo material in the liquid cell and having a movable end configured to contact the sample electrode and a fixed end fixedly engaged within the liquid cell and a measurement sensor in contact with the piezo sensor.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a bird-scaring device. The bird-scaring device simulates a predatory bird in flight. The bird-scaring device is comprised of an upper body segment, a lower body segment, a middle body segment with a pair of wings, a positioning element, a positioning element mount and an upper fastening element and a lower fastening element for the slidable positioning of the bird-scaring device. The bird-scaring device may have unexpected and unpredictable motion as it slides between the upper and lower fastening element, sways with the positioning element and pivots on the positioning element mount. The wings may project laterally from the middle segment of the body and also may move in the wind to simulate the natural flying motion of a bird. In this way, the bird-scaring device may generate unpredictable, realistic predator bird motion to dispel pest birds.

Abstract: A sensor for measuring a density of a fluid is provided. The sensor (200) includes a flow tube (104) for receiving the fluid and a vibration driver (102) coupled to the flow tube, the vibration driver configured to drive the flow tube to vibrate. The sensor also includes a vibration detector (106) coupled to the flow tube, the vibration detector detecting characteristics related to the vibrating flow tube, and a distributed temperature sensor (202) coupled to the flow tube, the distributed temperature sensor measuring a temperature of the flow tube as the flow tube vibrates. The sensor further includes measurement circuitry (110) coupled to the vibration detector and the distributed temperature sensor, the measurement circuitry determining a density of the fluid from the detected characteristics related to the vibrating flow tube and the measured temperature of the flow tube.

Abstract: A non-destructive weld testing system for testing spot welds includes a weld monitoring tool monitoring at least one weld characteristic of the spot welds and generating weld data based on the at least one weld characteristic; a weld analysis tool analyzing the weld data to determine a weld quality of each spot weld based on analysis criteria; and a non-destructive weld testing tool configured to test spot welds. The weld testing system causes the weld testing tool to target testing of spot welds determined by the weld analysis tool to have a weld quality beyond a threshold weld quality. The weld testing tool may be a robot-mounted phased array transducer generating weld test data based on testing results and provides feedback to the weld analysis tool correlating to the weld test data. The weld analysis tool updates the analysis criteria based on the weld test data.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided that comprises a vibrating member (402). The vibrating member (402) is for a vibrating densitometer (400). The vibrating member (402) includes one or more apertures (420). The one or more apertures (420) are sized and located in the vibrating member (402) to increase a frequency separation between a resonant frequency of a desired vibrational drive mode and a resonant frequency of one or more undesired vibrational modes.

Abstract: A ring arrangement with a synthetic material sealing ring between an outer radial guiding ring and an inner radial guiding ring, wherein the outer guiding ring has a greater coefficient of thermal expansion than the inner guiding ring, so that an effective volume expansion coefficient of an annular gap between the guiding rings is greater than the volume expansion coefficient of the synthetic material of the synthetic material sealing ring. Through a large effective coefficient of thermal expansion for the annular gap volume, as achieved via different coefficients of expansion of the outer and inner guiding rings, fluctuation of the axial clamping forces of the synthetic material sealing ring can be limited.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of monitoring the health of an abradable seal located on a piston of an actuator, the method comprising the steps of: (i) measuring an initial velocity of said actuator piston while said actuator is maintained in a passive condition at an initial time; (ii) operating said actuator; (iii) measuring a subsequent velocity of said actuator piston while said actuator is maintained in a passive condition at a subsequent time; (iv) repeating steps (ii)-(iii) and either: recording or outputting the measured subsequent velocities over time; or determining a health status of said actuator when said subsequent velocity has increased above a predetermined amount.

Abstract: An athermal open-loop hung mass accelerometer configures the CTE of the sensor heads such that any growth by the body in response to a body temperature gradient along the longitudinal axis is offset by the growth of the sensor heads in the equal and opposite direction to null the effects of the temperature gradient. In many configurations, the sensor head CTE is strictly less than the body CTE and typically between 60-80% of the body CTE to null the effects of the predicted body temperature gradient.

Abstract: The invention relates to a three-in-one testing machine for a coded luggage lock. The three-in-one testing machine includes a testing machine table and a control unit. At least two coded lock fixing clamps, a code wheel code-rubbing testing mechanism and a key pulling/insertion/rotation testing mechanism are installed on a working table top of the testing machine table. In the invention, by means of the structure, two testing mechanisms on one testing machine can complete testing on three functions including the rotation life of a code wheel, key insertion/pulling to detect the fatigue strength of a lock kernel and a lock row and key rotation to detect the rotation strength of the lock kernel and the fatigue resistance of a locating pit cooperating with the lock kernel.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device for aligning a workpiece in a mass-centering device, in which in an initial position an upper flange (1) and a lower flange (2) are arranged concentrically around an axis (3) of a balancing spindle of the mass-centering device, with the upper flange (1) comprising an interface (4) for clamping means to clamp the workpiece, and the lower flange (2) an interface (5) for fastening means to fasten the device to the balancing spindle. At least two spring elements (22, 23) reside between the upper and the lower flange (1, 2), such that in the initial position the upper flange (1) takes support axially and radially exclusively on the two spring elements (22, 23). In the initial position, the upper flange (1) is movable relative to the lower flange (2) into an eccentric position by a force acting in opposition to the spring elements (22, 23).

Abstract: A peak hold circuit configured for use in a downhole sensor includes a long tail pair circuit, a correction circuit, and a current mirror circuit. The current mirror circuit includes two current mirrors connected to a long tail pair formed by a first transistor and a second transistor. The current mirror also includes a first resistor and a second resistor connected to a third transistor. The first transistor is connected to a correction transistor of the correction circuit. The value of the first resistor is selected to be essentially equal to the same value as the second resistor so that when the long tail pair is balanced, the current flowing through a collector of the second transistor is equal to the current flowing through the first transistor, causing the correction transistor to switch off.

Abstract: A gauge profile apparatus (100) includes a gauge profile system (104) and a lap count system (106) for determining an average three-dimensional profile over the length of a sheet coil (10). The gauge profile system (104) includes a lap profile measuring device (112) which will make a distance determination between top and bottom surfaces for the sheet coil (10). The lap count system (106) includes a distance sensor (288) and camera (290) for determining the average thickness of the sheet coil (10). A second embodiment of the gauge profile system (400) is also provided, which utilizes a PDA (404), an ultrasonic tester (406) and a string encoder (432).

Abstract: A personal-sized, portable explosive detection field test kit (ETK) and related methods of use. Embodiments of the disclosed ETK include a case having a closing system featuring three levels of closure which retain the case cover securely in a closed position until ready for use, while being easily opened when necessary. The ETK instructions are permanently attached to the case to prevent loss. The case includes retention features which retain the kit components until needed and protects them against loss or damage. The ETK includes one or more test tubes that are color coded and include abbreviated instructions.

Abstract: A MEMS device includes: a substrate; a proof mass suspended over the substrate, the proof mass including at least one proof mass body and a proof mass frame connected to and accommodating the proof mass body, the proof mass frame including at least one self-test frame; and at least one self-test electrode inside the self-test frame, and connected to the substrate; wherein when a voltage difference is applied between the self-test electrode and the self-test frame, the proof mass is driven to have an in-plane movement, and wherein the self-test electrode and the self-test frame do not form a sensing capacitor in between.

Abstract: A method for determining a signal offset between a crankshaft angle signal and a combustion chamber pressure signal includes: measuring the combustion chamber pressure signal; shifting an alignment of the measured combustion chamber pressure signal with respect to the crankshaft angle signal by a plurality of respective offset angles to generate a plurality of offset combustion chamber pressure signals; reconstructing the offset combustion chamber pressure signals using a plurality of predetermined inherent pressure curves to generate reconstructed combustion chamber pressure signals; determining reconstruction errors of the reconstructed combustion chamber pressure signals as a function of differences between the offset combustion chamber pressure signals and the reconstructed combustion chamber pressure signals; and determining the signal offset between the crankshaft angle signal and the combustion chamber pressure signal as a one of the plurality of offset angles producing the reconstruction error having

Abstract: A fluid sensor for sensing at least one characteristic of a fluid. The fluid sensor including a sensing area; a sensing element configured to sense a characteristic of a fluid located within the sensing area; and a shroud having a textured area. The shroud configured to allow a liquid portion of the fluid to enter and exit the sensing area, and substantially prohibit a gas portion of the fluid to enter the sensing area.

Abstract: A contact detector circuit that detects a change in a DC sensor signal based on a change in a physical amount to be detected includes: a reference signal generation circuit that generates a reference signal based on the DC sensor signal; a trigger signal output circuit that compares the DC sensor signal with the reference signal and outputs a trigger signal based on a result of the comparison; and a sampling-and-holding circuit that holds the reference signal when the trigger signal is started to be outputted and outputs the held reference signal to the trigger signal output circuit while the trigger signal is outputted. The trigger signal output circuit uses the reference signal outputted by the sampling-and-holding circuit for the comparison with the DC sensor signal while the trigger signal is outputted.

Abstract: A seating posture mannequin configured to be used for evaluating a seat, the seating posture mannequin including: a pelvic part configured to be placed on a seat cushion; a chest part configured to be disposed at a position facing a seat back, wherein a relative position between the chest part and the pelvic part can be changed; a slope adjustment device configured to change a slope of the chest part; and a processing device configured to control the slope adjustment device by using a result detected by a detector.