Abstract: A trailer includes: a chassis; a floating coupling apparatus coupled to the chassis, a portion of the floating coupling apparatus configured to move in a vertical direction relative to the chassis; a kingpin attached to the floating coupling apparatus; a displacement-sensing device positioned between an attachment portion on the chassis and an attachment portion on the floating coupling apparatus, the displacement-sensing device configured to sense a load acting on the displacement-sensing device; and a fluid system in fluid communication with the displacement-sensing device.

Abstract: A conveyor belt and a weighing system for weighing articles conveyed on a conveyor belt. The conveyor belt includes an array of force-sensing elements embedded in the belt to measure forces normal to the belt's conveying surface. The force-sensing elements form parts of passive resonant circuits that each include a capacitor and an inductive coil. Either the capacitor or the inductive coil can be a force-sensitive element. Measuring circuits external to the belt include an oscillator having a coil that inductively couples to the resonant circuit in the belt as it passes closely by. A force applied to the belt at a force-sensitive element changes the resonant frequency of its resonant circuit, which also causes a change in the oscillator frequency. Frequency detectors in the measuring circuits measure that frequency change and convert it into a proportional force value used to compute the weights of conveyed articles on the fly.

Abstract: Devices and methods for measuring subsurface thermal fluxes and for estimating a rate of change in the amount of a reactive material within a subsurface formation using the measured thermal fluxes are described herein. The methods of measuring subsurface thermal fluxes may use at least one array of temperature sensors distributed along a vertical transect projecting from the surface and into the subsurface of a region of interest. Methods of estimating a rate of change in the amount of a reactive material within a portion of the region of interest based on perturbations of the thermal profile within the subsurface due to an endothermic or exothermic degradation of the reactive material within the portion of the region of interest are also described herein.

Abstract: A weight determining system is for use with non-singulated and non-spaced arrangements of items on a conveyor system. The system includes an array of load cells, a scanning apparatus, and processors. Each of the items bears upon one or more of the load cells. Each of the load cells bears one or more of the items, and generates load data associated with them. The scanning apparatus generates scan data for the arrangements of the items on the conveyor. Based on the scan data, the processors: apportion the load data from each load cell to the items bearing on it; allocate to each item the load data apportioned from the various load cells; and determine a weight for each item. Also disclosed are a corresponding weight determining method, as well as a computer readable medium containing executable instructions to encode the processors to perform as aforesaid.

Abstract: A system and method for rapid thermometry using intrapulse spectroscopy can include a laser for propagating pulses of electromagnetic radiation to a region. Each of the pulses can be chirped. The pulses from the region can be detected. An intrapulse absorbance spectrum can be determined from the pulses. An instantaneous temperature of the region based on the intrapulse absorbance spectrum can be determined.

Abstract: A leak detecting device for water filled vessel such as a swimming pool. An annular resilient seal having a central opening contacts the surface of the vessel under water and creates a seal between the resilient seal and the vessel. A rigid housing open in its interior is coupled to the resilient seal and has an opening for an inlet to deliver fluid into the interior of the housing, or couple a flow meter thereto to measure the fluid flow, or deliver a dye into the housing and through the central opening of the resilient seal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a multifunctional comprehensive testing machine for a luggage lock. The multifunctional comprehensive testing machine includes a testing machine table and a control unit, wherein a luggage lock fixing clamp, a push button and zipper hook piece testing mechanism, an elastic zipper sheet testing mechanism and a number-changing key testing mechanism are installed on a working table top of the testing machine table; and the control unit includes a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) arranged in the testing machine table, a touch display screen and a start-stop switch, the touch display screen and the start-stop switch being installed on the side of the machine table, and an alarm lamp being arranged on the side of the machine table.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for testing the porosity of an object, such as a secure instrument having a substrate, visual data, and a security feature, is disclosed. The method and apparatus include a fluid source, a gasochromic material, an excitation source configured to excite the gasochromic material, and a detection device configured to sense changes in emissions from the gasochromic material after it is contacted with the fluid and excited by the excitation source. The object is configured to fit within a space between the fluid source and the gasochromic material such that when the fluid is emitted from the fluid source, at least a portion of the fluid is configured to flow through the object before contacting the gasochromic material.

Abstract: A weight management mat for passively and automatically monitoring weight for one or more individuals in a household. The weight management mat generally includes a housing having an upper mat and a lower mat between which is sealed a pair of perpendicular sensor arrays. Each sensor array includes fiber optic cables laid out in a grid pattern. One or more microbend inducers act to induce detectable microbends in the fiber optic cables when an individual steps on the upper mat. The change in light intensity caused by these microbends is recorded by photodetectors and processed by a microcontroller. The present invention may be utilized to identify each unique individual stepping on the present invention by the pressure map of their feet. Thus, recorded weight measurements may be tracked to aid in weight management.

Abstract: A monitoring system functions both as a device for lifting the object and as a weighing system for monitoring or measuring the weight of an object, such as a feed bin. Various embodiments having a suspended load cell and methods of retrofitting the monitoring system to existing object are provided. Further, the accuracy provided by various embodiments enables one to accurately predict when the feed bin will be empty. Thus, the feed mill can be aware of anticipated needs days in advance, allowing the feed mill to better optimize its scheduling and deliveries.

Abstract: A device for measuring weight on board may include a sensor mounter coupled to a shackle, a first motor mounted to have a same rotation center as a first rotation center of the shackle being connected to the vehicle body, a second motor mounted to have a same rotation center as a second rotation center of the shackle being connected to an eye of the spring, a first angle sensor rotating by receiving torque of the first motor, and a second angle sensor rotating by receiving torque of the second motor, in which a rotation angle of the shackle about the first rotation center may be measured by the first angle sensor, and a rotation angle of the shackle about the second rotation center may be measured by the second angle sensor, and weight on board may be measured depending on variation of the rotation angle of the shackle.

Abstract: A method and system for removing and accounting for scrap removed from a facility by providing a plurality of collection bins for one or more customers to collect scraps, providing a weigh station having a scale to weigh the scrap collected, providing a computer to record and keep track of the total scrap collected by each customer, providing a plurality of waste bins to discard the scrap collected in the collection bin, and accounting for the total scrap collected for each customer on-site before the waste bins are removed for permanent disposal. The collection bins of each customer can be monitored using a tracking system, such as a tag and reader, GPS device, camera, and the like.

Abstract: The embodiments described herein generally relate to a method and apparatus for providing a back up system of Directional and Inclination (D&I) information to be gathered and transmitted in addition to primary D&I sensors currently employed in industry. A downhole probe assembly including primary sensors, back up sensors and a controller is disclosed. The primary sensors comprise primary accelerometers and primary magnetometers configured to gather information relating to each of orthogonal axes X, Y and Z. The back up sensors comprise back up accelerometers configured to gather information relating to each of orthogonal axes X, Y and Z, the back up accelerometers being solid state accelerometers. The controller is in electrical communication with the primary sensors and the back up sensors.

Abstract: A tire inspection device according to the present invention includes a support portion which supports a tire such that a center axis of the tire is positioned along a vertical direction, a lifting and lowering portion which moves the tire and a rim relative to each other in the vertical direction to fit the rim to the tire, a position detection unit which detects a position of a surface of the tire in the vertical direction at three or more detection points, and a posture detection unit which detects posture information of the tire based on position information detected by the position detection unit.

Abstract: A tire valve registration system including: a plurality of tire valves that are respectively installed on a plurality of tires and on a spare tire and that each transmit a radio signal that includes a valve ID and data on tire air pressure; and a receiver that is provided to a vehicle body and that is capable of receiving the radio signal from each of the plurality of tire valves. The system includes: a spare tire ID collecting unit that collects, as at least one spare tire candidate ID, the valve ID of at least one radio signal received by the receiver; and a spare tire ID confirming unit that confirms the ID of the spare tire.

Abstract: A weight-measuring system for measuring a weight amount of one or more items loaded into a bed of a vehicle is provided. The weight amount can be used to determine whether a weight limit has been exceeded and whether some additional action should be taken. In addition, one type of weight-measuring system is operable under varied conditions, such as rapid weight fluctuations, and is capable of measuring a weight amount when the bed is in various positions (e.g., transporting mode or ground-level, loading mode).

Abstract: Extracorporeal blood treatment apparatus with reservoir status lights and methods of monitoring reservoir status using the same are described. The extracorporeal blood treatment apparatus include a plurality of reservoir scales (30), each of which is configured to weigh a reservoir (32) used in connection with the extracorporeal blood treatment apparatus. A plurality of reservoir status lights (40) are provided, with one or more of the reservoir status lights (40) associated with one of the reservoir scales (30). The one or more reservoir status lights (40) associated with one of the reservoir scales (30) emit light from a location that is closer to their associated reservoir scale than to any other reservoir scale of the extracorporeal blood treatment apparatus.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a controller operable to determine the true patient weight by detecting the net weight change of the patient supported on the patient support apparatus. The controller is configured to automatically detect and distinguish the addition or removal of non-patient loads from patient-related loads by determining the rate of weight change of each weight event signals. The controller is further configured to determine the net weight change of the patient by automatically updating a net weight of the non-patient loads on the patient support apparatus.

Abstract: A weighing system for the dynamic weighing of transported commodities, including a housing with a drive and a weighing cell arranged therein. A drive shaft of the drive is fed through a first housing opening in the horizontal direction laterally out of the housing, and support elements can also be coupled through the same opening to the load receiver of the weighing cell arranged inside the housing.

Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus for analyte sampling, and a method of analyte sampling and an analyte sampling analysis system using the same.