Abstract: A pipette includes a cylinder having a distal end portion to which a pipette tip is removably fitted; and a piston fitted to be freely advanced and retreated in a cylinder chamber. The piston is retreated to suck liquid and advanced to eject the liquid thus sucked. The piston includes, on an outer periphery thereof, a communication groove for allowing an inside of the cylinder chamber to communicate with an outside of the cylinder chamber when the piston is advanced by an amount corresponding to a dimension larger than a predetermined dimension. The communication groove is located on the outside of the cylinder chamber when the piston is located at a retreated position. When the piston is advanced by the amount corresponding to the dimension larger than the predetermined dimension, a seal between the cylinder chamber and the piston is released so that pressure in the cylinder chamber becomes equal to the atmospheric pressure, and a suction/ejection effect is eliminated.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for inspection of tubes in a boiler is disclosed. The apparatus includes a sensor adapted to generate and detect guided-waves and a mechanical device adapted to reach into a tube bundle and clamp the sensor onto an interior tube selected for inspection. The mechanical device includes a housing adapted to contain the sensor and an air cylinder adapted to actuate the housing to allow the housing to clamp onto the interior tube.

Abstract: A sample introduction system configured for introducing analytes of a solid phase micro extraction (SPME) sample into an analytical instrument system (e.g., mass spectrometer) is described. The sample introduction system includes a pressure vessel configured with an inlet port via which a probe portion (e.g., SPME fiber) of a SPME assembly is received into a sealed volume of the pressure vessel. The probe portion of the SPME assembly is coated with an extracting phase material, the analytes being absorbed into and/or adsorbed onto the extracting phase material. The pressure vessel is configured for providing an environment in which desorption of the analytes from the extracting phase material occurs at a gaseous pressure which is substantially less than atmospheric pressure (e.g., less than 100 mTorr). The desorbed analytes are then directed to the vacuum chamber of the analytical instrument system via an outlet port of the pressure vessel.

Abstract: A pipe inspection system comprises an inspection head at the end of a flexible shaft, wherein the inspection head comprises a rigid distal end portion and a rigid intermediate portion spaced from the distal end portion by a flexible region. The flexible region comprises a series of sections with pivotal connections between adjacent sections which allow pivoting about two orthogonal axes, wherein the range of pivoting between adjacent sections is limited such that the complete series can be pivoted by a maximum angle of between 80 and 100 degrees.

Abstract: Various embodiments describe a method of quantifying bow in a wafer. In one embodiment, the method includes measuring a first plurality of distances from a first sensor to a first surface of the wafer to calculate the bow in the wafer. The first sensor is positioned outside of a set of process modules of the plasma processing system. A determination is made whether the calculated bow of the wafer is within a pre-determined range. If the calculated bow of the wafer is within the pre-determined range, the wafer is moved into a process module of the set of process modules for processing and a recipe for processing the wafer is adjusted based on the calculated bow of the wafer. If the calculated bow of the wafer is outside the pre-determined range, the wafer is removed from the plasma processing system. Other methods are described as well.

Abstract: A garment includes a fabric portion, an electrode fixedly connected to the fabric portion, a receptacle fixedly connected to the fabric portion, and an electronics module releasably positioned in the receptacle. The receptacle includes a receptacle housing, an electrode lead, and a receptacle contact. The electrode lead is attached to the electrode. The electrode lead engages the receptacle contact to establish an electrical connection with the receptacle contact without being attached to the receptacle contact. The electronics module includes a module contact that engages the receptacle contact when the electronics module is positioned in the socket to establish an electrical connection between the module contact and the receptacle contact.

Abstract: A sampling system for use in a sampling station that includes a sampling device that is releasable connectable to a branch line so that it may be removed when not needed at that site via a releasable coupling. The device has a main tube connected to the releasable coupling via a valve that is manually operated through an operating tube that is connected to the main tube so that it also functions to clear the main tube.

Abstract: A device is provided for the complete uptake of liquids from vessels using removal units having removal tips. The removal tips or the vessel bottoms are configured or arranged relative to one another such that the area of the surface of a vessel bottom on which the respective removal tip would touch down, when that removal tip is inserted into the vessel, and the end surface of the removal tip are tilted relative to each another, at least on a portion of the two surfaces. That is to say, the surfaces are not parallel there.

Abstract: An exhaust sampling system includes a pre-fill gas source having a pre-fill gas. A sampling conduit is configured to collect exhaust gas and make-up gas. A sample bag is fluidly connected to the sampling conduit and the pre-fill gas source. A controller is programmed to run a test procedure in which a sample of exhaust gas and make-up gas is collected in the sample bag. The controller sends a command that fills the sample bag with pre-fill gas prior to the test procedure. The pre-fill gas remains in the sample bag during the test procedure. In one example, the amount of pre-fill gas is selected to prevent the sample from condensing in the sample bag during the test procedure. In another example, the amount of pre-fill gas is selected to provide a sufficient volume of gases for analysis during the test procedure.

Abstract: An inspection apparatus for nondestructive inspection/evaluation. The inspection apparatus may include a probe, and sensor, and a biasing spring. The probe may have a first end and a second, free end defining an opening. The sensor may be received in the opening. The biasing spring may be received in the opening in between the first end of the probe and the sensor to urge the sensor away from the first end of the probe. The probe may include a gimbal joint or ball and socket type joint and a spindle, where the joint provides for deflection of the probe relative to the spindle. A blocking pin for limiting the range of movement of the sensor retains part of the sensor in the opening. The sensor may have a position extending out of the opening, and a position where an end of the sensor is substantially flush with the end of the probe.

Abstract: A device for determining an operating state of a bi-directionally actuated hydraulic adjusting device of a transmission shifting element, which pressurizes active surfaces of a piston. The piston is biased to opposite end positions depending on which of a first active surface or a second active surface is pressurized with high pressure. The areas of the adjusting device, which can be pressurized with the pressure at the active surfaces of the piston, are connected with one another in positions of the piston element, between the end positions, via a throttle device. One of each area can be coupled for adjustment of the piston with the high-pressure area, and the other area with the low pressure area. An additional throttle device is provided upstream of the low pressure area and a pressure measuring device is provided upstream of the additional throttle device.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting an anode pressure sensor failure in a fuel cell system. The system and method include a controller that sets an initial minimum anode pressure sensor value and an initial maximum anode pressure sensor value. The controller determines a desired time interval for sampling anode pressure measurements and determines a total number of samples of anode pressure measurements to be collected by the controller from an anode pressure sensor. The controller also compares a pressure difference between the initial or a measured minimum anode pressure and the initial or a measured maximum anode pressure to a predetermined pressure difference threshold and sets a pressure sensor fault if the pressure difference between the initial or measured minimum anode pressure and the initial or maximum anode pressure is less than the predetermined pressure difference threshold.

Abstract: Apparatus for sampling material being conveyed on a primary conveyor comprises a diverter arranged to divert material onto a sampling conveyor running alongside the primary conveyor where it can be weighed by a weightometer and elevated to a discharge point before falling into a falling-stream sample cutter. Material is then returned to the primary conveyor at by a return conveyor. Options include the use of an impact conveyor between the diverter and the sampling conveyor, and the configuration of the sampling conveyor with a wider belt running at a slower speed to improve accuracy.

Abstract: A sample analyzer which transports and analyzes samples, includes: a first measurement apparatus which measures samples; a second measurement apparatus which is arranged downstream, in a transport direction, from the first measurement apparatus, and which measures samples; a transporting apparatus which transports samples to a first supply position for supplying a sample to the first measurement apparatus, and to a second supply position for supplying a sample to the second measurement apparatus; and a controller which controls transportation of a sample present at the first supply position, in accordance with a processing status of a sample present at the second supply position.

Abstract: A container for collecting a biological specimen is provided that includes a peripheral wall extending from a base. The container further includes a longitudinal tower disposed within the container. The tower forms a partition within the container to form at least a first chamber and a second chamber therein, wherein the first and second chambers are in fluid communication with one another. In addition, the container include an insert disposed within the container opposite the base, the insert comprising at least a first opening and a second opening. The second opening provides access to the second chamber and is further configured to engage a specimen collecting device to leave a portion of the specimen collecting device within the second chamber. The first opening provides access to the first chamber and is further configured to receive a syringe therein for accessing the biological specimen. Associated systems and methods are also provided.

Abstract: A specimen analyzing apparatus comprising: a detector for detecting component information regarding a component in a specimen contained in each of analyzing containers, the analyzing containers comprising first and second analyzing containers; an analyzing part for analyzing the component information detected by the detector; a transporting device for transporting specimen containers each containing a specimen, the specimen containers comprising first and second specimen containers; an operation mode selector for selecting one of a first operation mode and a second operation mode; a first supplying device for supplying the specimen of a first amount; a second supplying device for supplying the specimen of a second amount greater than the first amount; and a supply controller for controlling the first and second supplying devices in accordance with an operation mode selected by the operation mode selector, is disclosed. A specimen analyzing method is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for sensing position according to flow velocity includes at least two pitot tubes each defining a central axis is along mutually orthogonal axes. Each of at least two pressure sensors is positioned in fluid communication with a corresponding one of the at least two pitot tubes. A controller receives outputs from the at least two pressure sensors and analyzes to determine at least one of an angular and translational velocity according to the outputs. A distance traveled is then determined according to the at least one of an angular and translational velocity. Corresponding methods of use and calibration are also disclosed.

Abstract: Sample application systems can include an extraction mechanism to remove a sample from sample containers, a sample vessel disposed on a deployment mechanism, where the deployment mechanism is arranged to move the sample vessel to receive a sample, an extraction mechanism washing station to wash the extraction mechanism, a sample applicator to remove a portion of the sample in the sample vessel and apply it onto a sample carrier, where the deployment mechanism can move the sample vessel to a sample application position, a sample vessel washing station to wash the sample vessel, where the deployment mechanism can move the sample vessel to the sample vessel washing station, a sample applicator washing station to wash the sample applicator after the sample has been dispensed onto the sample carrier, and a fluid control system to control flow of a fluid provided to the extraction mechanism and the sample applicator.

Abstract: Embodiments for determining oxygen concentration using an oxygen sensor are provided. In one example, a method for determining oxygen concentration O2 in a gas flow of an internal combustion engine which is equipped with an engine controller and an oxygen sensor comprises determining the oxygen concentration O2,sens of the gas flow in a ceramic measurement cell of the sensor by current ISens which is detected by measurement and which flows when a constant voltage USens is applied and maintained, and correcting the oxygen concentration based on a pressure pSens at the measurement cell. In this way, the measured oxygen concentration may be corrected based on the pressure of the air at the sensor.

Abstract: In a method for calibrating a star probe of an image measuring machine, the star probe includes one or more probe heads. Probe configuration information for the star probe is configured when there is no probe configuration file of the star probe stored in a storage device of the image measuring machine, and one of the probe heads to be calibrated is selected from the star probe. The method calibrates a radius value of the selected probe head, and calibrates the deviation between the center point of the selected probe head and the focus of the camera lens. The method further generates a star probe model of the star probe according to the probe configuration information and the probe calibration information, and displays the star probe model of the star probe on a display device of the image measuring machine.