Abstract: Instruments for use by medical laboratories to measure oncotic (colloid osmotic) pressure of blood for determining the risk of pulmonary edema are improved by the provision in the sensing heads thereof of a sinuous, preferably spiral, elongate, sample chamber facing one side of the usual osmotic membrane, whose other side faces a similar reference chamber for saline solution. The membrane is preferably pre-mounted in a ring holder, which merely slips into place within a receiving recess of the sensing head, and a special waste collection system is provided for receiving liquid flushed from the sample chamber between individual uses of the device. Such waste collection system comprises a drainage receptacle which constantly maintains a constant depth pool of the drained liquid about the discharge end of the drain tube that leads from the sample chamber, so as to maintain a constant end effect for such drain tube.

Abstract: A coupling that permits a connection to be made to a fluid system with a minimum of included air, even though the coupled device is not pre-filled. The coupling is particularly advantageously employed as part of a sampler used to take fluid samples for analysis as to air content. It includes a valve housing, a valve seat slidable within the housing and a valve closure member slidable within the seat. A lost motion mechanism allows joint movement of the seat and closure member prior to disengagement of the seat from the closure member. The fluid passage by which fluid is withdrawn from the system extends through the closure member.

Abstract: A thermometer including a heat sensitive material which undergoes a reversible visible change from a crystalline solid to a viscous mass at a predetermined temperature, said heat sensitive material comprising an individual or mixture of low molecular weight organic compounds and a polymer, said polymer being present in said mixture in an amount, effective to retard the crystallization of said organic compound between temperatures of from about room temperature to said predetermined temperature. Preferably a plurality of discreet heat sensitive materials each of which undergoes a visible change at a different predetermined temperature are supported on either a flat sheet or round cylinder which may be a dark transparent filter material. The heat sensitive materials are covered by a light transparent filter material which is preferably yellow. In the most preferred embodiment of the instant invention, said heat sensitive materials are contained in the compartments above perforations of a perforated sheet.

Abstract: Method of and appartus for liquid recirculation in at least substantially closed circuit which is particularly suitable for recycled liquid chromatography. The circulating liquid is brought into motion in the circuit inlet by working fluid supplied under pressure, e.g. from a pump, pressure gas cylinder, or the like. Circulating liquid approaching the end of the circuit beyond the circuit outlet is mechanically and at regular intervals repeatedly transported in the form of slugs into the beginning of the circuit in advance of the circuit inlet where these slugs are again forced into the circuit inlet by means of working fluid. The injection of one slug into the circuit inlet and the pushing of the following slug of equal volume out from the circuit outlet are carried out simultaneously.

Abstract: The viscosity of a fluid material, e.g. a synthetic-resin composition, or the coagulation of blood or plasma monitored by placing a quantity of the fluid substance on a support, directing a beam of light upon the sample, detecting reflected light from the sample and vibrating the support at a given frequency and amplitude to disturb its surface. The reflected light detected is a function of the viscosity or the degree of coagulation.

Abstract: Method of determining the pore water pressure in a soil, which includes installing a water-filled tube bearing a pore pressure sound at its lower end and said pore pressure sound bearing a filter through which the pore pressure in the soil is conveyed; lowering a measuring device down the tube and connecting it to the pore pressure sound; taking a reading which represents the pore pressure in the soil; disconnecting said measuring device from the pore water sound and then taking a reading which represents the water pressure in the tube; and calculating the pore pressure by comparison of the readings for the pore water pressure and the water pressure in the tube. A device for determining the pore water pressure is also provided.

Abstract: A method for evaluating foam-producing surfactants by measuring the resistance to the flow of a gas, for example, nitrogen, through a standard sand pack containing a solution of the surfactant. The resistance is also measured when the sand pack contains water, thereby allowing the surfactant solution's resistance factor to be determined. The resistance factor for a surfactant solution is defined as the ratio of the maximum pressure drop observed across the sand pack when the pore space was filled with the surfactant foam to the maximum pressure drop when the sand pack was filled with water and was being displaced by a gas flow.

Abstract: A thromboelastographic apparatus comprises a body suspended to a resilient tape and immersed in operation in a liquid to be studied. The liquid is received in a receptacle which is oscillated about the axis of the tape with a predetermined frequency and amplitude. The amount of oscillatory movement impressed to the body is measured by induction.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the viscosity or consistency of fluids, such as liquids, emulsions and suspensions, comprises a hydraulic pressure sensor, such as a pressure transducer, and an impeller rotating in front of the sensor so as to produce a periodically varying flow of fluid in a direction towards the sensor.

Abstract: An automated entrainment abundance sampler for the collection of ichthyoplankton specimens and its operation is disclosed. An inverted conical screen or net is utilized to collect specimens from water supplied by a suitable pump. After a set time period, the collected specimens are further concentrated in a secondary concentrator and transferred to a sample container. The conical screen is rinsed to insure that all the specimens are transferred to the secondary collector which is, in turn, rinsed to further insure that all the specimens are carried to the sample container. A suitable control system is provided to allow the sampler system to operate automaticaly in the collection of specimens over a preselected period of time.

Abstract: A cap inspection apparatus has an inspection stand and sorter for sorting defectively capped bottles from properly capped bottles. The inspection stand has a nozzle with a rearward flat bottom surface and a front inclined bottom surface inclined upwardly from the rear bottom surface. An air passage extends through the rear bottom surface. A low pressure air stream is operably connected to the air passage and passes through the nozzle. A pressure sensitive switch means is operably connected to the low pressure air stream. A solenoid valve is operably attached to the pressure sensitive switch means and controls a high pressure air stream operably connected to an air operated cylinder and rod. An ejection block is mounted at the end of the extendible rod for pushing defectively capped bottles.

Abstract: A vein preparation and testing device has a rimmed base forming a shallow basin upstanding from which are a head block and a tail block. In the head block is a removable hollow chuck rotatable about an axis and connected to a liquid reservoir on the base and to a pump. The hollow chuck communicates with a hollow head grip having a tube adapted to lie inside a vein. A fastener holds the vein in place on the tube. In the tail block is a removable tail grip mounted to rotate about the same axis. The tail block is movable along the same axis.

Abstract: A Viscometer includes a casing defining therein a chamber and a rotor mounted in the chamber so as to define with the walls of the chamber a space for receiving the liquid whose viscosity is to be measured. Bearing means is interposed between the casing and the rotor is capable of rotational movement about an axis thereof relative to the casing, and means is operable to monitor the deceleration of the rotor when the rotor is rotating under the action of stored kinetic energy against the viscous drag of said liquid, the monitoring means being responsive to at least two of the three variables time, angular distance travelled by the rotor, and angular speed of the rotor.

Abstract: A method of analyzing plastic concrete comprising the steps of measuring a known amount of a plastic concrete sample into an elutriator, removing cement from the sample by passing a known weight of water through the sample, weighing the water and cement and determining the weight of cement in the sample. The method can be extended to determine, inter alia, the weight of cement per unit volume of concrete, the weight of water per unit volume of concrete, the ratio of water to cement in the samples. Apparatus for carrying out the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: The fluidity of a plastic fluid, cement mortar for example, is measured by passing the fluid through a flow passage packed with an aggregate for simulating an actual mould, measuring the flow pressure, and measuring the quantitative flow coefficient between the fluid and the flow passage. The pressure remaining in the passage after the fluid has been poured into the passage and after the flow speed has been decreased to zero or the pressure after a quantity of the fluid has been added to the passage and prior to the discharge of the fluid from the passage is measured to determine the relative shear stress yielding value. Thereafter, the fluid is caused to flow to determine again the relative shear stress yielding value, and the relative closure coefficient is determined by the difference between said two relative shear stress yielding values.

Abstract: An ultrasonic scanner for producing a sector scan in an object to be examined in which one or more ultrasonic transducers traverse an arcuate path with respect to a reflector which is positioned to receive the ultrasonic waves scanning the surface of the reflector from each of the transducers and converge such waves at a point of a preselected distance in front of the reflector. In general, the ultrasonic waves are converged at a point outside the scanner and inside the object to produce a sector scan in the object having its center at the convergence point. In one embodiment of the scanner the reflector only partially reflects the ultrasonic waves and an additional stationary transducer is provided which is positioned to produce ultrasonic waves which radiate through the reflector and coincide with one of the lines of the sector scan, thus permitting simultaneous M-mode or pulse Doppler echo information to be obtained in perfect registration with the sector scan lines.

Abstract: The manufacture of a tachometer of a type having annularly arranged tachometer markings on a rotary tachometer device includes the steps of rotating the tachometer device. A signal is generated having recurring signal portions for providing tachometer markings upon recordation on the rotary tachometer device. The number of signal portions occurring in the latter signal durin a revolution of the rotating tachometer device is adapted to a whole number of tachometer markings accommodable on the tachometer device in a continuous circular array. The signal having the mentioned adapted number of signal portions is recorded onto the rotating tachometer device to provide the tachometer markings in a continuous circular array.

Abstract: A device for continuously measuring the liquid level in a container, wherein a capacitive sensor is disposed in the liquid to be measured and is connected with an oscillator as the frequency controlling element thereof, the output of the oscillator being connected with a suitable indicator or control, and wherein the capacitive sensor is formed of an elongate flexible strip of insulating material having opposite faces, with a plurality of elongate conductive elements embedded in the strip of material spaced approximately equidistantly from the opposite faces so that an electric field generated between the conductive elements can be substantially equally acted upon simultaneously on both sides of the device by the liquid to be measured, thereby enhancing the sensitivity of the sensing element, and enabling linear gauge characteristics to be obtained in irregularly shaped containers.

Abstract: A gage for measuring the width of a gap. The gage includes a gaging conduit with an inlet and an outlet. Pressure means supplies gas to the inlet. A hot-wire anemometer is placed in the gaging conduit, and means is responsive to the condition of the anemometer to measure the size of the gap between the outlet of the gaging conduit and the surface as a function of the gas flow rate in the gaging conduit. In a preferred embodiment, a reference conduit is provided which has an inlet and an outlet, and which receives gas under pressure from the pressure source, and a reference orifice through which gas flows when exiting through the reference conduit. A hot-wire anemometer is placed in this reference conduit, the said means being responsive to differences in conditions of the two anemometers.

Abstract: A test coupon, more particularly a deposition test coupon, for measuring the deposition rate of scale on surfaces in contact with a scale-forming medium such as industrial cooling water.