Abstract: A meat doneness tester is disclosed. The invention uses the known principle that the doneness of the meat is directly proportional to the firmness of the meat, i.e. the more the meat is cooked the firmer it becomes. The invention includes a body member, the lowermost portion(s) of the body member being co-planar, with the plane constituting a reference plane for positioning against the surface of the meat. A probe is attached to the body member for up and down movement towards and away from the body member beneath the body member. The probe is biased downwardly by a spring member, i.e. away from said body member. An indicator member is provided for indicating the displacement of the probe member from the reference plane. In the preferred embodiment, the probe, the spring member and the indicator member are provided in the form of a single element, namely a spring steel strip. The strip is fastened to the body, and a probe portion is produced by forming the strip into a downwardly-projecting V-shape.

Abstract: A gauge protector provides a shield device for the protection of the lenses of skin diving gauges and related articles. The device comprises one or more crossbar elements extending between crossbar base portions, of a size and shape to fit over the gauge lens, and is releasably captured between the dive gauge body and its associated flexible protective boot member. The crossbar base portions preferably include downwardly-extending peripheral flange portions for releasable capture of the sides of the gauge body.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for determining sliding resistance between a surface of a portion of a glass section and a surface of a strip of resilient material, such as an elastomeric weatherstrip, which defines a channel having a longitudinal axis. The apparatus includes a plate which is slidably engaged with a platform and structure for rigidly securing at least one strip of weatherstrip to the plate. Further included in the disclosed apparatus is a device for exerting on the glass section a plurality of forces relative to gravity so that the portion of the glass section passes at a selected rate through the channel along the channels longitudinal axis. Friction between the surface of the glass section and surface of the strip of resilient material results in a portion of the exerted force being transmitted to the plate. A force measuring device, which is coupled to the platform, measures the portion of the force exerted on the glass section that is transmitted to the plate.

Abstract: A portable test apparatus is set forth herein. It incorporates a twenty-two inch structure terminating in a protective cover with a loop for tool belt engagement by personnel climbing on chemical product processing equipment. The protective cover is removed by a quarter turn twist-lock mechanism. The test equipment includes a cylinder, a piston therein, heads at the opposite ends of the cylinder and valves to admit a sample measured thereto and further admitting product into the chamber and then from the chamber to test equipment through suitable control valve mechanisms.

Abstract: A method of making a storage tank comprises forming a cylindrical-shaped tank from thin gauge metal and adding spaced support ribs. In a preferred embodiment, an outer wall comprises of a series of sections which are at least partially separated from the tank's walls between each set of support ribs is provided. Each outer wall section is bonded to side walls of the ribs at a distance of less than about 90% of the height of the support ribs such that the ribs protrude from the outer surface of the storage tank.

Abstract: A gear reduction mechanism is provided with a rotatable shaft supported by a pair of spaced apart bearings in a one piece retainer having coaxially aligned holes for receiving said bearings. A potentiometer is supported from the same retainer and is provided with an input axle adjustably connected to the shaft to provide an output signal indicative of the angular position of the shaft. The adjustment may take place through a vent hole in the housing of the mechanism which has a removable filter therein.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a device for cooling testing tubes during sampling by evaporating a liquid. The cooling device causes a controlled cooling effect that is practically independent of the state of the ambient air during the sampling and is easy to handle. After flowing through the testing tube (2), the gas to be investigated flows through a layer of filler (7) that surrounds the testing tube (2) and is impregnated with a liquid.

Abstract: A system for measuring steam flowing through a convergent-divergent nozzle at critical flow uses selected measurements along with Napier's Parameter, Dimensionless Critical Steam Flux and Critical Density Ratio to determine steam quality and flow rate.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are disclosed for calibrating a load cell such as a load cell used in apparatus for measuring the forces applied to a pull tab during the formation of an opening in a container lid. The load cell first transmits a signal to a computer-recorder which is indicative of a no force applied condition. A known maximum force is then applied to the load cell which transmits a signal to the computer-recorder which is indicative of a known maximum force applied condition. An intermediate known force is then applied to the load cell which transmits a signal to the computer-recorder which is indicative of a known intermediate force applied condition. The computer-recorder uses the three signals to establish a load slope for use in the force measuring apparatus.

Abstract: A pipe-inspecting apparatus having a self-propelled unit. The self-propelled unit comprises an elastic tube which has forward and rear ends, and into which a fluid is supplied and from which the fluid is discharged, a restriction member mounted on the elastic tube, for restricting an axial expansion of the elastic tube, a bias member for biasing the elastic tube in the axial direction thereof, first and second holding members coupled to the ends of the elastic tube, respectively, for holding the ends of the elastic tube to the inner periphery of a pipe being inspected, while the fluid is being supplied into the holding members, and releasing the ends of the elastic tube from the inner periphery of the pipe, while the fluid is being discharged from the holding members. An observation device is coupled to the self-propelled unit. A display device is connected to the observation device, for displaying the image scanned by the observation device.

Abstract: A digital compass system for use in a wide variety of motor vehicle models, especially in the automotive aftermarket, and including various features which simplify installation and calibration by non-professionals. A knowledge of magnetic direction is not required. During calibration, only true geographic directions are used throughout. While searching for a suitable location within the vehicle to mount the magnetic sensor, the installer is advised by the digital display unit of the system as to whether or not a given location contains excessively strong magnetic components.

Abstract: An automatic isokinetic sampling device for measuring aerosols in a fluid flow has a vacuum or suction pressure device attached to the end of a tubular collector which is placed in the path of the fluid flow. A differential air flow sensor senses and determines the difference in velocity between the fluid flow outside the tubular collector and that portion of the fluid flow received by the tubular collector. A filter for collecting a sample the aerosols in the fluid flow is placed along the straight downwind path of the fluid flow and within the tubular collector. As the fluid flow velocity changes the flow inside the tubular collector is equalized to the flow outside the tubular collector providing isokinetic sampling of the aerosols.

Abstract: An improved pipeline caliper pig for providing a record of the deviations of the interior wall of a pipeline including a pig body assembly having a longitudinal axis and support members so that the pig body assembly is supported within a pipeline, the support members impeding the flow of fluid therepast so that the pig body is propelled by fluid flow along the interior of the pipeline, an integrator plate carried by the pig body assembly, arms extending from the pig body assembly for responding to deviations in the interior wall of the pipeline and coupling members to transfer the deviations to the integrator plate, a plurality of axially positionable shafts affixed at one end of the integrator plate, and electrical transducers at the other end of each shaft so that movement of the integrator plate relative to the pig body is transmitted into electrical signals, an orientation detection member and a signal receiver and recorder to record the electrical signals of the transducers and the orientation detection

Abstract: Apparatus for monitoring and correcting gas analyzers having a measuring chamber with an inlet and an outlet, and a pump for supplying a pressurized measuring gas, further includes a flow throttle for providing flow resistance and being connected to the outlet of the analyzer to obtain a gas pressure in the chamber above a level downstream from the throttle; a pressure transducer is connected to measuring gas pressure of the measuring gas upstream from the throttle but downstream from the pump, preferably also upstream from the analyzer; an output signal from the transducer is used for correcting errors of the measuring signal of the gas analyzer caused by variations of gas pressure in the measuring chamber on account of variations in the gas pressure, for using the same output signal to extract a rate of flow indication as to the measuring gas and for ascertaining that the flow remains within specified limits.

Abstract: A plurality of liquid samples are introduced successively to and stored in a variable volume chamber formed in a sample container by periodically establishing communication between the chamber and a liquid source and increasing the volume of the chamber by the exact amount of the sample that is introduced into the chamber, and without varying the pressure of the liquid entering or accommodated in the chamber. The chamber remains at all times completely filled with liquid.

Abstract: A dynamic calibration arrangement comprising, a brake handle for controlling the braking of a railway vehicle, an absolute position encoder for monitoring the position of the brake handle, an electrical switch for ascertaining when the brake handle is in a release position, and a logic gate for activating an enable circuit for reading the absolute position encoder, and a storage register for storing and for employing the reading as an offset value for correcting subsequent readings of other positions of the brake handle.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring very small flows into and out of large tanks comprising a reference vessel substantially vertical and proximate the tank to be metered and connected in fluid communication with the tank and having transducers located between the connection point and the surface of the fluid in the reference vessel for converting the mass of fluid flow there through to an electrical signal readable into equivalent volume change in the main tank and a meter for reading the electrical signal.

Abstract: A sampling device for sampling a corrosive medium, is comprised of an inner tube with a flange and an outer tube with a flange, both made of a synthetic material; a metallic tube with flange is interposed between the inner and outer tubes to serve as armoring in this coaxial synthetic tube arrangement; the flange of the metal tube grips around the flange of the outer tube; and a recess in one of the synthetic flanges exposes a portion of the metal flange of the intermediate tube as a support surface for a fastening structure.

Abstract: A probe apparatus having a measuring section with a first system for electrically measuring an object. A loader section has a second system for carrying objects to the measuring section and a marking section has a third system for marking objects. These sections are independent of each other so that a vibration occurring in one section is not transmitted to the other sections.

Abstract: A pipetting insert for a pipetting device for taking a liquid sample from a vacuum tube closed in air-tight manner by a stopper. In order to prevent the undesirable escape of fragments of a sample from the vacuum tube before the sample is taken, the pipetting insert is made of plastic, has an elongated body which has a conical part at one end, a hollow tip in the form of a wall for piercing by a pipetting needle at the other end, and a central tubular part therebetween. The central part of the body has a bore along its longitudinal axis for connecting the interior of the conical part to the interior of the hollow tip, and the outer wall of the central part of the body contains at least one connecting duct which extends between the conical part and the tip and the cross-section of which is considerably smaller than the cross-section of the bore in the central part of the body.