Abstract: A probe used for programming a robot arm in order to perform a cutting operation on a work-piece. During the programming operation, the probe is attached to the robot arm and moved around the profile of a test-piece. An electric lamp is provided for indicating contact between the probe and the test piece. Additional circuitry including an electric lamp is provided for indicating when the body of the probe and a pin (4) having an end tip (8) which actually forms the contracting portion of the probe are misaligned.

Abstract: A calibration device utilizing a series of highly accurate mass flow controllers is provided for rapidly delivering ultra high purity calibration gas mixtures, and sample gas, to a gas analyzer at elevated temperature conditions. Steady flow rates are desirably provided to the highly sensitive analyzer. Valves exterior (20-25) and interior (3-5) to the heated compartment (9), heated by temperature controlled heater strips (9a), control the mixing of the reference gases with the sample gas and/or the flow of sample or calibration gas to the analyzer (16). The interior valves are diaphragm valves.

Abstract: The invention relates to equipment which includes a device for the analysis of gaseous compositions (1) to which is attached a device (16) for taking a sample of the substance to be analyzed and then vaporizing it. The analysis device (1) is connected to the sampling device (16) in such a way that it can use the vapors produced by the latter as a gaseous composition. The substance to be analyzed may consist of a liquid, or even of solid particles. The invention makes it possible to detect contaminated zones as well as the composition of the substances which cause contamination.

Abstract: The invention relates to a measuring cell for analyzing solid granular or pulverous material, which measuring cell (1) is provided with an aperture (5) in the wall for a measuring window (6). Through the measuring window, the material fed in the measuring cell (1) can be analyzed according to the invention, so that inside the measuring cell (1) there is installed a feeder (10) in order to regulate the essentially continuous material flow passing through the measuring cell (1), and a guide member (8) in order to guide the material flow to pass by essentially near to the measuring window (6).

Abstract: A method for and a device to insert filters into disposable pipette tips uses a turntable adapted to receive a plurality of tips adjacent its circumference and powered by a stepping motor to incrementally rotate pipette tips to various positions for appropriate actions. After a tip is placed in the turntable, it is moved successively to a position where a filter of predetermined size may be inserted into the tip. The filter is then tamped into the desired final position at still another position. After checking for the presence of a filter, the pipette is removed from the turntable.

Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus for the selective determination of e concentration of a substance dissolved in a solvent by means of an osmosis cell. The osmosis cell according to the invention contains a substance not contained in the solution to be tested, which is either practically insoluble or is impermeable for the membrane. This substance reacts chemically with the substance permeating into the osmosis cell, with a product resulting from it in the cell or with a product resulting from the substance in the solution to be tested and permeating into the cell. Reaction products are thereby formed which produce a pressure in the osmosis cell, which is different from the osmotic pressure of the chemically converted portion of the substance. A pressure increase thereby occurs in the cell, from which the concentration of the substance in the solution to be tested can be determined on the basis of standard values.

Abstract: A method to accurately determine and assure proper clamping force or bolt tension in fastening systems comprises statistically sampling washer or flanged bolt lots for clamping force versus deflection relationships, encoding the lots and subsequently installing the fasteners to the prescribed deflections of the lots. A validator and validation method is disclosed that provides the statistical sampling and a corresponding sensor device is disclosed for measuring the deflection as the fastener is installed. Thus, the deflection of the washer or bolt flange as the fastener is installed determines the clamping force applied by the fastener and assures that the proper clamping force has been obtained. The new method and sensor are applicable to special flanged bolt and standard bolt-Belleville washer combinations. No modification of the bolts or washers is required.

Abstract: A measuring device comprising two or more sensors for one or several values to be measured, these sensors being arranged so as to be connected to an electric power supply and to provide, through output lines, signals which are a function of the value to be measured, the device further comprising transmission and processing devices for the output signals from the sensors.

Abstract: A safety pipette is characterized in that an openable seal (6) is present within the pipette, necessitating the use of a forcing element (9) to hold the seal in an open position in order to use the pipette. Pipette inserts provide the seal in standard pipettes. Pipette adaptors provide the necessary forcing element. Pipette supports or nosepieces for pipetting devices are modified with a pipette adapter (8) allowing the use of safety pipettes. The forcing element is a pin, or rod, firmly made part of a nosepiece, or an adaptor that moves a flap or ball within a pipette away from a closed position into an open position, allowing air flow through the safety pipette. Kits comprise modified nosepieces or replacement elements thereof with safety pipettes per se, or with safety pipette inserts, and kits comprise pipette adaptors with safety pipettes or safety pipette inserts.

Abstract: A porous rock is saturated with a first fluid and electrical resistivity is measured along its length. A second fluid, immiscible with the first fluid, is injected into the porous rock at a first flow rate. This injection continues until displacement of the first fluid from the porous rock ceases and the pressure drop along the porous rock becomes constant, indicating a first residual fluid saturation equilibrium. The foregoing is repeated for a plurality of increasing second fluid injection flow rates to effect electrical resistivity measurements at decreasing residual fluid saturation equilibriums. The method may then be repeated substituting the second fluid for the first and vice versa to perform an imbibition experiment.

Abstract: A subsurface sampler including a cylindrical casing with portholes to provide access below ground to sample potentially hazardous substances without contaminating investigative probes that are inserted into the interior cavity of the casing. The sampler has an inner sleeve that seals the portholes on the casing during the insertion operation. After the casing is inserted into the ground, the inner sleeve is rotated such that the windows on the sleeve and casing line up exposing the soil to a variety of investigative probes. A tab or wiper is attached to the inner sleeve to clear soil blocking the portholes in the casing and to cut through the "smear" zone immediately along side of the outer surface of the casing. Once the sampler casing is in the ground and portholes are open, a sampling probe is inserted into the interior cavity of the casing following a track or guide system.

Abstract: A semiconductor handling device having a self-check mechanism comprising a product placement area in which a plurality of products are placed, a standard sample holding area for holding a standard sample, a tester for testing a product or the standard sample, and checking the characteristic thereof, a transfer robot for transferring the product or the standard sample between the product area or the standard sample holding area and the tester, and controller for causing the tester to test the standard sample when a testing operation starts or when the tester continuously determines that products are articles of inferior quality.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a system for recycling wash residue of ready mixed concrete include the steps of condensing used cement sludge to a predetermined concentration, storing the condensed sludge, sampling the stored sludge and determining the unhydration ratio of cement contained in the sludge, and weighing the stored sludge based on the determined unhydration ratio of cement in order to prepare a new batch of ready mixed concrete or motar. By determining the unhydration ratio of cement contained in the sludge which has been condensed to a predetermined concentration, it becomes possible to accurately know the ratio of cement contributing as cement and its ratio contributing as the aggregate in a new batch of ready mixed concrete. A new batch of ready mixed concrete can be prepared by weighing the amount of the sludge on the basis of the determined unhydration ratio. The ready mixed concrete thus prepared will have a desired hardening strength and drying shrinkage.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for testing chemical concentrations of fluids (liquids, gases) and for sensors used in such tests; methods and apparatuses for calibrating sensors and, in particular, for calibrating optical fiber sensors, the apparatus in one aspect including a body member with a cavity having gas inlet(s) and outlet(s) and a microporous tube therein for holding a fluid into which an optical probe sensor is insertable.

Abstract: A suspension device is provided for simulating the free-free boundary conditions of space for a low frequency structure. A support cable is connected at one end to the test structure and is vertically guided by a guiding ring. The other end of the cable is connected to a cam having an outer circumference which supports the cable. A drive axle passes through the cam center of rotation and is rotatably journalled in a suitable manner to a rigid structure. Two torsion springs are provided about the drive axle. One end of each spring is connected to a respective face of the cam and the other end is connected to the fixed support. The cam is shaped and the torsion springs selected such that Wr.sub.(t) =T.sub.s(t), wherein W is the weight of the test structure; r.sub.(t) is the instantaneous moment arm defined as the perpendicular distance from the rotational center of the cam to the cable at time t, and T.sub.s(t) is the total spring torque exerted by the two springs on the cam at time t.

Abstract: A properly designed expansion chamber is mounted in a flowmeter test equipment configuration to quench or prevent pulsations from resonating the acoustic cavities in the configuration and, thereby, eliminate resonation errors in testing the accuracy of the flowmeter. The invention is particularly though not exclusively adapted to use with a testing configuration including a prover master meter and a conduit connecting the inlet of the prover master meter to the outlet of the gaseous flowmeter being tested. In the practice of the present invention, the pulsation frequencies can be quenched before the acoustic cavity within the conduit can be excited by introducing an expansion chamber at one or both ends of the conduit.

Abstract: A sensor for detecting particle flux in a stream has a hollow armored housing enclosing a vibration transducer coupled to the housing for detecting particles impinging on the housing. Also enclosed in the housing is a data logging and control unit for recording particle flux for later retrieval. An ultrasonic acoustic beacon for signalling the condition of the sensor and for indicating the position of the sensor in the event of displacement is also mounted on the sensor. Additionally a brightly colored long buoyant pennant is attached for enabling visual relocation of a displaced sensor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for assisting in the detection of bubbles in a fluid stream such as an intravascular line. Tubing having ribbing or other texturing spaced along the longitudinal axis to enhance signal transmission characteristics and to increase the number of signals intercepted by a passing bubble, is placed between an ultrasonic or other transmitter and detector. In other embodiments, bubbles are concentrated into a detection zone by a centrifugator or are concentrated and recirculated in a detection zone by an eddy-producing protrusion in the fluid stream.

Abstract: An apparatus for testing an alcohol concentration sensor used in measuring an alcohol concentration of a fluid containing alcohol. The alcohol concentration sensor includes a capacitive probe having a capacity dependent upon the alcohol concentration of the fluid, and a circuit sensitive to the capacity of the capacitive probe for producing an output signal indicative of a sensed alcohol concentration. The apparatus comprises a plurality of capacitors having different capacities each corresponding to a predetermined alcohol concentration. A selected one of the capacitors is connected in parallel with the capacitive probe. When the selected capacitor is connected with the capacitive probe, the output signal is read.

Abstract: Testing apparatus and processes are described for testing containers or selected portions thereof for leaks. The device includes container receivers for receiving a container. A support engages a surface of the container. The support includes a network of rigid support surfaces, preferably a screen shaped by a rigid base to conform to and engage the container surface. Open fluid passageways are interspersed within the network of rigid support surfaces which hold the container against deformation in response to applied pressure differential. A pressure differential across the surface being tested will result in passage of fluid through a leak in the test area. The fluid passageways facilitate free flow of the fluid from one side to the other. Flow of fluid will produce a detectable pressure differential between the two sides, quickly identifiable as a container leak. The support surfaces expand and contract to facilitate placement and removal of the container.