Abstract: Apparatus for measuring the real evapotranspiration of a plant cover, for measuring the amount of carbon dioxide exchanged between said plant cover and the atmosphere and for measuring the hydrous state of the ground around the plant cover. The apparatus includes an assembly of terminals, an electronic command and calculation unit, and a unit to store the results calculated by the electronic command and calculation unit. The apparatus permits the calculation of the evapotranspiration by the application of any one of the Bowen ratio method, the simplified direct aerodynamic method, or the simplified combined aerodynamic method.

Abstract: A fluid detector device and method capable of detecting the presence of a first fluid such as a gas, which may be mixed with a second fluid, in an external atmosphere where the first fluid is a hydrocarbon gas such as methane or the like, mixed with air, a semi permeable membrane, which extends across an opening of a detection chamber is utilized. Air and the gas have different rates of permeability across the membrane causing a volume change in the chamber. A volume sensitive device signals the presence of the gas. A displaceable element is shiftable in response to the volumetric change in the chamber, allowing the change without significant pressure changes. A capacitive plate can be integral with a displaceable element so that capacitance varies with the change in volume caused by the presence of the gas.

Abstract: This invention provides a method of analyzing materials, comprising the steps of subjecting a surface of the material to high energy impact by a laser to cause ablation and vaporization such as to generate a gaseous and/or gas-born sample of the material, transporting all or part of the gaseous and/or gas-born sample of the material to a remote analytical apparatus, and analyzing the gaseous and/or gas-born sample of the material at the remote analytical device so as to determine the constituent compartments of the material, together with Apparatus for carrying out this method.

Abstract: A planar inertial sensor includes a sheet member having one inner planar element adapted for limited angular motion about a (Y) axis perpendicular to an input (Z) axis. In a gyroscope form, the inner planar element is also adapted for limited angular motion about an (X) axis normal to and intersecting with the Y axis. The gyroscope form includes an outer driving planar element which is continuously driven in an oscillatory manner in limited excursions about the Y axis. The driving element is coupled to the inner element so that oscillatory motion of the driving element is coupled to the inner element. Position sensors provide signals representative of the angular position of the inner element relative to the X axis, which in turn are representative of angular rates impressed on the sensor about the input (Z) axis which is orthogonal to the X and Y axes. In an accelerometer form, the inner planar element is characterized by a mass imbalance across the Y axis.

Abstract: A rock detachment evaluation device (10) having an energy transducer unit 1) for sensing vibrations imparted to a subject rock (172) for converting the sensed vibrations into electrical signals, a low band pass filter unit (12) for receiving the electrical signal and transmitting only a low frequency segment thereof, a high band pass filter unit (13) for receiving the electrical signals and for transmitting only a high frequency segment thereof, a comparison unit (14) for receiving the low frequency and high frequency signals and for determining the difference in power between the signals, and a display unit (16) for displaying indicia of the difference, which provides a quantitative measure of rock detachment.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for determining water content of gases and vapors. The primary sensing device is a fluidic oscillator through which a sample of gas is passed. It is primarily useful in systems where the moisture content is large and there is a small difference between the molecular weight of water and the average molecular weight of the other components of the gas (or vapor) or systems where there is a large difference between the molecular weight of water and the average molecular weight of the other components.

Abstract: In an acoustic ranging system, an echo signal received following a shot is repeatedly sampled and the samples digitized to produce a statistical data base representing the received echo profile which can be analyzed by various methods to determine the point on the time axis of the profile which corresponds to a wanted echo, and the degree of confidence with which the wanted echo has been identified. The number of shots taken depends upon the conditions at the site being monitored and upon the degree of confidence with which the wanted echo has been determined, and the order in which points in a multipoint system are monitored is determined by an adaptive scanning system which directs shots to different points following a system determined by a predetermined hierarchy, by the results provided by previous shots, by the conditions existing at different points, and by the receipt of outside signals.

Abstract: Some forms of corrosion, and inter-granular attack in particular, occur without significantly altering the bulk dimensions of the body attacked. Where elastic properties are changed, this is detected by a sensitive ultrasonic inspection based upon the resonant frequency or frequencies with which the ultrasonic signals reverberate within the body. Resolution is improved by gating out the first, top, surface reflection and by swept gain control through the gating period.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring fluid flow parameters operate under conditions wherein the composition of the fluid flow can change rapidly thereby changing the speed of sound within the fluid and wherein the actual flow rate can change rapidly thereby further changing the transit time of acoustic energy traversing an interrogation path within the fluid. The apparatus determines the speed of sound in the fluid and the fluid flow velocity by measuring an upstream and a downstream transit time of acoustic energy within the fluid. The fluid is typically flowing within a conduit, and the transducers for transmitting and receiving the acoustic energy are precisely and carefully installed in the conduit. The measurements also allow an estimate to be made of the average molecular weight of gases passing through the conduit and hence of the mass flow rate of a gas.

Abstract: A gas component detecting plug including a gas component-sensitive element, lead wires connected to the gas component-sensitive element, a tubular or board-like insulator which supports both the gas component-sensitive element and the lead wires, and an enclosure, the insulator being sealed to the enclosure so that the gas component-sensitive element is positioned on a leg portion side, characterized in that a spacer is disposed and retained in a gap formed between the insulator and the enclosure, in that a space on a head portion side formed by the insulator, enclosure, spacer and electrode wires is filled with glass and in that a rubbery elastic member having an insulating property is inserted in the head portion side. The gas component detecting plug is superior in water-proofness, gas-tightness, heat insulating property and productivity.

Abstract: An electrodynamic transducer head for the non-destructive ultrasonic testing of workpieces (12) comprises an electromagnet having a magnet yoke with an external pole shoe and an internal pole shoe (10, 14) surrounded by the external pole shoe. Exciting and receiving coils (16, 18) are arranged on these pole shoes. To enable the internal pole shoe (10, 14) to be placed directly on the workpiece (12) moving relative thereto without danger, these pole shoes are provided with a protective cap (20) surrounded by a protective ring (22), the end face of the protective ring (22) turned towards the workpiece (12) projecting beyond that of the protective cap.

Abstract: A piezoelectric beam structure for a vibrating beam force sensor in which three coplanar beams of piezoelectric material are spaced side by side and supported between respective common mountings at either end. The two outer counterbalancing beams in operation flex in opposite phase to the center main beam, with each beam flexing in a direction normal to the beam plane. A force sensor which includes this piezoelectric beam structure.

Abstract: Apparatus of the invention enables gas entrained particulate collection and transfer of collected particulate into position for scanning by a scanning electron microscope; and it comprises:(a) structure forming a cavity and including a nozzle having an orifice for directing flow of gas and particulates entrained therein toward the cavity,(b) and a holder mounted in the cavity in association with such structure and having an electrically conductive surface facing toward the orifice in the path of flow and normal to the path of flow from the orifice so that particulates collect on the holder proximate said surface,(c) the holder being sized and adapted for use in the scanning electron microscope whereby the holder may be directly transferred to that microscope for electron beam scanning of the in situ collected particulate.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for continuously detecting and monitoring the hydrocarbon dew point of a gas. A sample of the gas stream whose dew point is to be monitored is heated and/or cooled prior to detection by a dew point detector. The cooling of a first portion of a sample may be accomplished by a second portion of the sample which is removed prior to the dew point detector and allowed to expand to cool the first portion of the sample. The sample is normally cooled until the presence of condensate is detected in the gas by the dew point detector whereupon the sample gas is heated to above the dew point and the procedure of cooling and heating the gas stream occurs in a continuous manner.

Abstract: An ultrasonic head is a linear array consisting of a plurality of transducer elements. The array is perpendicular to a sectional plane of the object under study and can be rotated about its longitudinal axis. Several groups each consisting of jointly controlled transducer elements are driven to form a beam aperture. Between each two adjacent driven groups there is provided at least one group that is switched off. The ultrasonic tomography unit thus obtained scans several parallel section levels one after the other or even, at least approximately simultaneously, without additional mechanical movement.

Abstract: A mechanism for attaching an ultrasonic head of an ultrasonic microscope to a vibration shaft of a vibrator is disclosed. A first connector half to which an R.F. cable is connected is fixedly arranged to the vibration shaft and a second connector half having the ultrasonic head coupled therewith is detachably attached to the first connector half, so that an exchange of the ultrasonic head can be performed in an easy and swift manner without affecting the position and characteristics of the R.F. cable.

Abstract: Automated gas chromatographic apparatus is utilized to analyze various gases dissolved in the insulating oil of an oil-filled power transformer in an expeditious and reliable manner. A sample of the insulating oil is introduced into a sample loop via a sampling valve, from which it is propelled by an inert carrier gas into a degassing chamber comprised of a vertically oriented tube packed with spherical packing elements. The carrier gas sweeping upwardly through this tube strips the various gases out of solution for conveyance by the carrier gas in plug flow fashion to a gas chromatograph where the stripped gases are separated and individually analyzed.

Abstract: A GC/IR system for analyzing the constituents of a gas sample is disclosed and claimed in which a floating light pipe assembly is disposed in a bore and troughs of a heater chamber in a heater assembly. The floating light pipe assembly has two transfer tubes and a light pipe tube that provide a completely chemically resistant path to the flow of a gas sample and carrier gas from a GC capillary column to a supplemental GC detector. The flow path is chemically inert since no contaminating sealants are used and substantially all of the flow path is gold plated. The light pipe assembly "floats" because it is allowed to thermally expand within the heater chamber so that high reflectivity in the IR region will be maintained as the light pipe assembly is being heated by the heater plates on opposite sides of the heater chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing a simple, low-frequency electrodeless discharge system for atmospheric pressure afterglow generation. A single quartz tube through which a gas mixture is passed is extended beyond a concentric electrode positioned thereabout. A grounding rod is placed directly above the tube outlet to permit optical viewing of the discharge between the electrodes.

Abstract: A transducer assembly for maintaining a transducer in contact with, and in alignment with, a surface includes a pair of opposed swivel bars, each of which is pivotably mounted to a cradle. The swivel bars are free to pivot about a roll axis. Two tension arms are pivotably mounted to one of the swivel bars. Each tension arm resiliently urges an end of the transducer into contact with the surface. One of the swivel bars supports two spaced-apart wheels whose contact with the surface is effective to rotate its swivel bar into a predetermined rotation about the roll axis. The transducer, being attached to the swivel bar by one of the tension arms is also rotated into a predetermined angle about the roll axis.