Abstract: There is described a method and apparatus for measuring small changes in the thickness profile of band-shaped or web material wound onto a reel, such as photographic base paper. The invention includes a measuring sensor with a scanning tip. The measuring sensor is positioned in the center of the rectangular block. The block and sensor are supported in a movable manner in a casing which is moved in an axial direction over the surface of the reel. The length of the block preferably contributes a mechanical amplification of the sensed variation in thickness profile of the web material.

Abstract: The quantity of a flow of bulk material passing over a measuring wheel is continuously measured by measuring the load r.p.m. of the wheel or of a motor driving the wheel and the power output torque of the motor. The resulting r.p.m. and torque values are used for calculating the quantity. Interfering influences are substantially eliminated by using a correction value in the calculation. The correction value is based on the inertia moment of all rotating components of the system and on variations in the load r.p.m. Load r.p.m. and power output torque measuring devices provide data to a microprocessor for the calculations for achieving a high measuring precision even when the r.p.m. varies.

Abstract: An ultrasonic detector for detecting air in a fluid. A fluid pumping cassette includes an elastomeric member that defines three sides of a fluid passageway, a base of the cassette defining the other side. Resilient lobes on the elastomeric member extend outwardly in opposite directions on each side of the passageway, directly contacting an ultrasonic sound generator on one side and a piezoelectric sound receiver on the opposite side, the direct contact enhancing transmission of an ultrasound signal through the elastomeric member to facilitate detection of an air bubble in the fluid passage.

Abstract: The invention provides an ultrasonic method of inspecting contents (fluid food, for instance) of a package by disposing an ultrasonic transmitter-receiver system on at least one side of the package and evaluating the occurrence or degree of degradation of the contents on the basis of output data from the system. The invention also provides an ultrasonic apparatus for inspecting contents of a package which comprises a shaking device for feeding and shaking the package, an ultrasonic device disposed independently and downstream of the shaking device, and a guide device for feeding the package downstream of the shaking device to the ultrasonic device and further downstream.

Abstract: A fluid detector that senses fluids, activates an alarm and preserves a sample of the fluid for laboratory or on-site testing. The fluid detector includes a first container having a sealable cap and a fluid-passing portion, a second container disposable within the first container for collecting and storing a sample of the fluid. The detector can contain a fluid-responsive material which undergoes a change upon contact with the fluid. The change in the fluid-responsive material causes the second container to be sealed. The second container can contain a fluid collector so that the fluid can be analyzed.

Abstract: An apparatus for testing the surface properties of a material is disclosed. The apparatus includes an indentor which is suspended above the surface of a sample and dropped onto the sample. Several testing methods are also disclosed. Surface toughness is measured by dropping the indentor from a variable height and inspecting the surface for failure. Thin film strength is tested by making several drops from various heights and inspecting the surface for flaking of the layer. In addition, damping capacity can be measured by comparing the kinetic energy of the resulting from the drop of the indentor to the strain energy measured by a probe on the opposing surface of the sample.

Abstract: An improved running speed detecting device for a watercraft wherein the speed signal is derived from a water pressure signal. The water pressure signal is transmitted to a voltage signal at different amplification factors at different running speeds so as to provide a greater degree of accuracy throughput the watercraft speed ranges.

Abstract: A so-called birdcage coil must be quickly deactivated after having generated an RF magnetic field, so as not to disturb the detection of the generated spin resonance signals by the surface coil (or another coil). To this end, semiconductor switches are included in some of the rod conductors of the birdcage coil. The switches are arranged substantially halfway along the rod conductors, because the RF voltage exhibits a zero crossing at that area. As a result, the semiconductor switches can operate with a low voltage. It has been found that the interruption of the rod conductors which are situated in one symmetry half of the birdcage coil and which carry most current in that half suffices for substantial deactivation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a multislice MR tomography method. Because the sequences for the individual slices are not performed successively in time but rather in an interleaved manner, shorter cycle periods and an improved T2 contrast can be obtained.

Abstract: An apparatus for testing the resistance to cleavage of cardboard tubes which have previously been cut into test pieces which includes a key mandrel which is mounted free to rotate, at least one sleeve for each test piece having a different outer diameter, the inner diameter of at least one sleeve being approximately equal to the outer diameter of a test piece so that for each test piece there corresponds at least one sleeve intended to house the test piece. The key mandrel is adapted to receive each test piece surrounded by a corresponding sleeve. A drive device and belt are provided to rotatably drive an assembly which includes the key mandrel and a test piece housed in a corresponding sleeve.

Abstract: A coil assembly for radio frequency NMR imaging is designed to resonate at a desired frequency. The assembly includes a cylindrical field coil having a pair of conductive end loops disposed in a spaced-apart relation along a central axis. A plurality of conductive segments electrically interconnect the conductive end loops at periodic points around their periphery. These conductive segments include reactive elements which cause the field coil to resonate at a given frequency. A magnetic shield is disposed about the field coil. A plurality of reactive shunts are coupled between different locations about the periphery of the field coil and a common electrical node, such as the shield. Each of the reactive shunts is variable to increase or decrease the resonant frequency of the field coil, thereby tuning it to the desired frequency.

Abstract: A disposable plastic cartridge contains three fine lightweight wire mesh collectors, each of phosphor bronze. One collector has an oxidized surface for collecting drug particulates. The other two have surfaces electroplated with zinc to form a rough multi-fissured surface for trapping low volatility vapors. In use, a portion of a warm sample air stream is chilled and passed through the collectors in parallel for sample collection. Simultaneously part of the sample air stream by-passes the chiller and is fed directly into a mass analyzer for real time analysis. Next, both collection and real time analysis are terminated, and each collector is desorbed in sequence with a pulse of hot air which flows into the mass analyzer for sequential analysis.

Abstract: A method for rapid and sensitive membrane assisted Flow Injection Analysis. A sample, containing a component to be analyzed, is injected into a flowing stream of carrier liquid and flowed past one side of a two-sided membrane. A receiving liquid is flowed past the other side of the membrane. The component to be analyzed is absorbed by the membrane from the carrier stream, is desorbed into the receiving stream and is carried to a detector for analysis in less than about 5 minutes. Critically, the partition coefficient of the component to be analyzed between the membrane and the receiving liquid is less than about 1.times.10.sup.1.

Abstract: A switched coil arrangement is connected in a bridge configuration of four switches S.sub.1, S.sub.2, S.sub.3 and S.sub.4 which are each shunted by diodes D.sub.1, D.sub.2, D.sub.3 and D.sub.4 so that current can flow in either direction through a coil L depending on the setting of the switches. A capacitor C is connected across the bridge through a switch S.sub.5 to receive the inductive energy stored in coil L on breaking the current flow path through the coil. The electrostatic energy stored in capacitor C can then be used to supply current through the coil in the reverse direction either immediately or after a time delay. Coil L may be a superconductive coil. Losses in the circuit can be made up by a trickle charge of capacitor C from a separate supply V.sub.2.

Abstract: Disclosed is a digital ultrasonic instrument for measuring the corneal thickness (often referred to as a pachymeter) and for measuring the axial length of the eye (often referred to as a biometric ruler). A number representing corneal thickness or axial length is displayed digitally on a liquid crystal display. The pachymeter incorporates a 20 MHz solid phase piezoelectric transducer, a microprocessor, a gate array, a hybrid analog receiver circuit, a liquid crystal display and four batteries. When axial length is measured, the instrument operates as a biometric ruler, a 10 MHz transducer is used and the software in the microprocessor is modified. Ultrasonic echoes generated by the transducer and various interfaces in the eye are sampled at the rate of 40 MHz which results in equal or greater sensitivity, resolution and accuracy as compared to other pachymeters and biometric rulers currently available.

Abstract: Defects are detected in cylindrical rods, tubes or the like by a stationary transmission and receiving device arranged along the path which the test object passes axially by providing per test cycle a particular pulse being split for propagating bidirectionally azimuthally in the test object; both pulses are received repeatedly, once per circulation, so that a plurality of pulses appear with gradually declining amplitude; a sequence of burst signals, each of limited duration, is provided for purposes of timing and gating the burst being repeated per circulation on the basis of the expected and known propagation time between transmission and receiving portions; peaks of the received signal are detected once or twice per circulation and in synchronism with the timing and gating signal; the respective detected peak signals are digitized, summed in groups and the quotient of the sums is formed as quality indicator.

Abstract: A device for the removal of liquid samples from a liquid receptacle comprises a sample container with a piston which subdivides the container into a first chamber receiving a liquid sample and a second chamber receiving a piston driving medium. The device further includes a dosing device for the piston driving medium, which is connectable to the sample container by a plug-in coupling which can be locked at both sides thereof.

Abstract: An improved fluid line leak detector of the type including a casing attached to the fluid line having a passageway therethrough forming an integral part of the fluid line, including a valve located within the passageway of the casing for dividing the fluid line into upstream and downstream portions and movable between an open position in which fluid can freely flow from the upstream portion to the downstream portion, and including an auxiliary flow passageway extending between the upstream and downstream portions of the fluid line for providing a passageway from the upstream portion to the downstream portion when the valve is in the closed position.

Abstract: A phantom for evaluating and calibrating a nuclear magnetic resonance imaging system. The phantom includes a cylindrical housing having a central axis and defining a hollow region therein. The phantom also includes a first conical wall member and a second conical wall member which are congruous to each other and secured to one another at their respective bases. The conical wall members are disposed within and separate the hollow region into a first region outside of the conical wall members and a second region within the conical wall members. The first region is filled with a first predetermined fluid and the second region is filled with a second predetermined fluid. Preferably each conical wall member is symmetrical about central axis and has its apex disposed along the central axis.

Abstract: In the process of collecting data to be used in determining the capillary pressure of immiscible fluids in a porous rock sample, fluid is expelled from the sample by spinning a sample disk about its own center axis instead of centrifuging a core plug in the usual manner. The disk is contained in a cylindrical chamber whose dimensions are only slightly larger than those of the sample disk. A rotating shaft is connected to the center of the bottom face of the chamber and vessels are connected to the chamber about its periphery to collect the expelled fluid.