Abstract: A method of, and apparatus for, controlling the startup, the normal operation and the stopping of all spinning positions of an open-end spinning machine provided with an electronic control unit supplied with power via a supply line. Control circuits extend from the electronic control unit to devices which influence the course of the spinning position. In the event of failure of the electronic control unit the normal operation is maintained.

Abstract: The mixture control system of an internal combustion engine which employs an exhaust gas oxygen sensor is provided with circuitry which subjects the output signal from the sensor to comparison with established threshold values to determine the operational readiness of the sensor. When the amplitude of the sensor signal is sufficiently high, indicating proper operational temperature of the sensor, the test signal is turned off and the monitoring is taken over by a circuit which looks for regular alternation of the sensor signal at a sufficiently rapid rate. When the sensor signal is found inadequate for any reason, the closed loop control system is disengaged and the mixture control is provided on the basis of an average sensor voltage supplied by the circuit.

Abstract: An ultrasonic scanner having a housing, an ultrasonic transducer disposed within the housing and mounted for movement in a predetermined path therewithin. Magnetic means are provided for effecting movement of the transducer in a predetermined path, and electrical means are provided for energizing the transducer and receiving signals therefrom.The scanner may be servo-controlled and be provided with position sensing means for determining the position of the transducer within the predetermined path, and signal processing means for receiving feedback signals from said position sensing means and adjusting said transducer position responsive to said feedback signals indicating the existence of a departure from the desired transducer position.

Abstract: An improved fluid-test apparatus having a plurality of hose connectors one of which is made to provide a flow capacity at least substantially equal to the cumulative flow capacity of a plurality of others of such connectors. The disclosed apparatus includes valves associated with each of the respective connectors, and in the illustrated embodiment, four such connectors and valves are provided. Gauges are further associated with the apparatus to have fluid communication with a manifold chamber within the apparatus body. At least one of the valves for controlling the hose connections to the manifold chamber may also be used for controlling theconnection of the gauge to the manifold chamber. At least one of the gauges may have continuous fluid communication with at least one of the hose connections at all times.

Abstract: A thermometer unit for monitoring the temperature of a fluid cooled electric transformer, the unit having a ceramic body insertable between the coils of the transformer winding immersed in cooling fluid in the transformer case. A nylon element responsive to heat changes is confined in the interior of the body and is adapted to expand according to developing heat changes. A flexible tubing having a loop portion fronting a tapered end of the nylon element is filled with a fluid which is caused to oscillate in the tubing accordingly as a rocker arm alternate actuates a pair of associated bellows. As the nylon element expands in response to a temperature rise, it squeezes the tubing causing a load to be placed upon the rocker arm which is indicative of the corresponding temperature change.

Abstract: A method and device which are suitable for the in-place inspection of pipelines are provided. A completely self-contained, mobile inspection station is placed inside a pipeline. The station runs through the pipe and transmits Lamb waves within the pipe wall, receives reflected and transmitted portions of the waves, and records the amplitude and phase of the received waves. The recorded information is analyzed to determine the location and nature of discontinuities in the pipe.

Abstract: A method of analyzing a trace gas, in which the trace gas is transported in a carrier gas stream into a reaction chamber where the trace gas is ionized. The carrier gas includes or is a reagent gas which is ionized in the reaction chamber and the ions of which in turn form trace gas ions. The carrier gas, which is cryopumpable, is then injected with the trace gas ions into a vacuum chamber, the walls of which are cooled to cryopump the reagent gas and thus strip it away from the trace gas ions. The trace gas ions are focussed into an analyzer and analyzed.

Abstract: Apparatus and process of determining stress underground, the apparatus having a central standard or shaft provided with a sensing head formed of equally circumferentially spaced, radially extending blades or vanes carried at the lower end portion of the shaft. Sensor elements or cells are carried within each blade, each sensor element having a pair of spaced, deformable, deflection diaphragms separated by a porous interior. The sensor head is inserted directly into the ground or lowered through a hollow auger to project into the ground, therefrom. In other embodiments, the sensor head is carried by a flexible actuator riding in a curved track of a housing. The head, which may be a single blade or a plurality of blades with embedded sensor cells, is recessed in the housing and is projected sidewise from the housing by manipulation of the actuator.

Abstract: A reaction control system nozzle block is provided for testing the response characteristics of space vehicles to a variety of reaction control thruster configurations. A pressurized air system is connected with the supply lines which lead to the individual jet nozzles. Each supply line terminates in a compact cylindrical plenum volume, axially perpendicular and adjacent the throat of the jet nozzle. The volume of the cylindrical plenum is sized to provide uniform thrust characteristics from each jet nozzle irrespective of the angle of approach of the supply line to the plenum. Each supply line may be plugged or capped to stop the air supply to selected jet nozzles, thereby enabling a variety of nozzle configurations to be obtained from a single model nozzle block.

Abstract: A process is described for improving the ammonolytic stability of polyester textile yarn without substantial loss of its tensile strength which comprises exposing separated fibers of the yarn to corona discharge for a total of about 0.01 to 3 seconds at a speed of at least 100 feet per minute and then reforming the yarn. A cord made from this yarn is described, as well as a tire produced by bonding the cord to rubber.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring the volume of the buffy coat and constituent cell sub-layers in blood. The apparatus includes a capillary tube with an insert disposed in the tube bore. The insert is formed of a material having a specific gravity which will enable it to float on the red cell layer of a centrifuged blood sample. The insert is an elongated body having a circular side wall, such as a cylinder, with a tapered upper end. The insert forms an annular free space with the tube bore into which the white cell layer settles. A small, axial channel is formed in or on the body to allow ready passage of the fluid constituent of the blood sample during centrifugation so as to minimize disruption of the cell layer interfaces which may otherwise occur during centrifugation of the blood sample.

Abstract: A photoacoustic method of simultaneously determining optical bulk and surface absorption coefficients in solids in which a transducer is attached to the solid for measuring the amplitude of the acoustic wave generated by a beam of incident radiation as a function of distance of the transducer to the incident beam at a wavelength where bulk and surface losses, respectively, are heavily dominant. The transducer is chosen so as to give different functional dependencies for the bulk and surface absorption curves, respectively. The solid sample is also calibrated at wavelengths where bulk and surface absorption, respectively, are known. The output versus position or distance is measured at the wavelength of interest, and values of surface and bulk absorption coefficients are fitted to the respective pure curves so that they will add up to the experimentally generated composite curve.

Abstract: A device for detecting dents or out of round conditions of a buried pipeline, intended to be towed by a pipeline pig, comprises two concentric annular rings, the outer ring sized to accurately fit the inner diameter of the pipeline to be inspected and having electrical contacts on its inner surface, the inner ring is supported concentric with the outer ring by chains, cables or the like and has electrical contacts on its outer surface to complete an electric circuit when the outer ring is deformed radially inwardly as it passes by a dent.

Abstract: Apparatus suitable for use as a hydrostatic pressure standard comprises a vertically-mounted container charged with a predetermined amount of a liquid having a low-vapor pressure, such as an hydraulic oil, to provide a predetermined pressure head at a port at the lower end of the container. The container is provided at its upper end with a closure in the form of a variable volume device which is so arranged that the pressure in the space within the container above the liquid is maintained substantially equal to the external, e.g. atmospheric pressure. A system for determining the mass of a liquid in a tank and embodying two such pressure standards is also described.

Abstract: A method for determining the relative amounts of two fluid phases in a subterranean formation containing one mobile phase and a substantially immobile phase. A fluid which is substantially free of the immobile phase is injected into the formation by means of a well in an amount such that a portion of the injected fluid in the formation remains unsaturated with the immobile phase. The injected fluid is then preferably produced from the formation by means of the injection well. In another embodiment, the injected fluid is produced from the formation by means of a second well. The concentration of immobile fluid dissolved in the produced fluid is measured to determine the relative amounts of the two fluid phases in the formation.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for testing the pressure integrity of blowout preventers and wellhead casing hanger seals. An annular pressure chamber between the blowout preventer and wellhead casing hanger is formed by closing the blowout preventer on a tubular member having a test plug which seats within and sealingly engages the casing hanger. Pressure sensing means disposed along the length of the tubular member are used to monitor pressure above, below and within the annular chamber. Pressure changes detected by the sensing means are indicative of leakage across the blowout preventer or wellhead casing seal.

Abstract: An improved fluid quantity indicator, such as for aviation fuel, of the type utilizing capacitive type sensing probes in which a capacitance change occurs proportional to the amount of fluid in a tank due to the dielectric constant of the fluid, such as aviation fuel, being different from that of air, in which the improvement comprises automatic compensation for the zero fluid capacitance variation in a tank and automatic adjustment of the fluid full scale reading for variation in fluid tank capacitance. Programmable digital to analog convertors are utilized to provide a universal apparatus full scale set compensation for containers for the fluid substantially independent of the container configuration for compensating for variation in full scale capacitance of a given container and to provide a universal apparatus zero set compensation for containers for the fluid substantially independent of the container configuration for compensating for variations in zero fluid capacitance of a given container.

Abstract: A sheet of clear plastic or vinyl type material having a clear adhesive covering the entire one side thereof so to adhere to a front of a roadway sign and prevent it from becoming defaced by vandals having spray cans of paint; the sheet being readily peeled off and replaced by a fresh sheet after being excessively defaced.

Abstract: In a spinning or twisting machine in which the ring positioned about each spindle and bobbin is carried rotatably by the ring rail. A traveler is carried by each ring. A wheel is located next to each ring. An endless drive belt extends between each ring and wheel. Each wheel is shiftable so as to move the drive belt from a location spaced from the adjacent ring into contact with the ring to cause the ring to be driven rotatably about the spindle and bobbin.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for producing a stress-strain type curve for evaluating the functionality of a thermoplastic bottle. The method generally comprises the steps of internally pressurizing a thermoplastic bottle with an incompressible fluid by relative movement of a piston and a cylinder, sensing the pressure of said fluid and sensing the relative movement of said piston and cylinder as said bottle is being pressurized by such movement, and graphically and automatically recording said sensed pressure and said sensed relative movement as said bottle is being pressurized. The technique is rapidly performed with high sensitivity and automatically produces a curve in which one axis is pressure related and another axis is relatable to the deformation of the bottle.