Abstract: A method and apparatus for calibrating a flow sensor composed of two heat sensors each having an electrical impedance parameter which varies as a defined function of the temperature of the heat sensor and disposed in thermal communication with a fluid such that the relation between heat flow to or from one sensor and heat flow to or from the other sensor varies with the rate of fluid flow, a source supplying electric power at a selected level to the heat sensors, and an output device connected to produce an output signal representative of that heat flow relation, calibration being performed by: establishing a known flow rate for the fluid; electrically connecting one of the heat sensors to a circuit element which alters the magnitude of current flowing through the one heat sensor; and determining, in a first determining step, output signal value while the one heat sensor is electrically connected to the circuit element.

Abstract: A sample of powder granules flowing through an online conveyor is removed periodically and fed to a supply hopper where a predetermined amount of granules are stored. A small portion of the granules are removed from the supply hopper and continuously fed to the upper surface of a rotary table to form a single layer thereon. The sample on the table is optically sensed to detect foreign particles. The foreign particles are removed and subsequently the good particles are removed and passed to a weighing hopper. The ratio of good product after sensing and the sample in the hopper is calculated to determine the relative amount of foreign particles flowing in the system.

Abstract: A stylus profilometer having a counterbalanced stylus with a motion transducer using a vane moving between parallel, spaced-apart, conductive plates which damp the motion of the vane by means of trapped air. The vane forms an electrode with the plates so that the combination is a pair of capacitors in a balanced bridge arrangement. Motion of the stylus causes an unbalance of the bridge indicative of the extent of stylus motion. A lever arm associated with the stylus has a tip influenced by a magnetic field which biases the stylus or controls force on a surface to be measured. The entire assembly has a very low moment of inertia to reduce the effects of vibration on the stylus and thereby increase resolution of the device and reduce damage to the substrate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a measuring instrument, in particular for measuring waste gases from heating installations, comprising at least one sensor and pump arranged in a measuring channel, a microcomputer for controlling the measuring sequence and for processing the sensor signals, which is connected to an alphanumeric display device and two control elements, wherein one control element serves for paging in a selection menu, by which one menu item is displayed on the display device, and wherein the other control element serves to input in accordance with the menu item displayed.

Abstract: In a method of diagnosing the deterioration of the insulating paper in an oil-filled electric apparatus, the total amount of furfural is determined by adding the amount of furfural adsorbed on the insulating paper to the amount of furfural dissolved in insulating oil in an oil-filled electric apparatus, and the deterioration of the insulating paper is diagnosed by the correlation between the total amount of furfural determined and the polymerization degree of the insulating paper, which indicates the degree of deterioration thereof. The method thus permits the precise diagnosis of the deterioration of the insulating paper.

Abstract: A cylinder identifying apparatus for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine can generate an exact reference position signal at an earliest possible time during engine start-up operation, thereby making it possible to identify predetermined reference positions of each cylinder in a highly accurate manner. A first signal generator 1 is provided on a camshaft for generating a cylinder identifying signal SC in synchronization with the rotation of the camshaft. A second signal generator 4 is provided on a crankshaft for generating, in synchronization with the rotation of the crankshaft, a pulse signal P containing a series of pulses each corresponding to predetermined first and second crank positions of each cylinder.

Abstract: For taking liquid samples, such as active solutions in an irradiated nuclear fuel processing plant within a confined area (10) located below a protective slab (12), use is made of vacuum pots (44), which are pneumatically transferred into a vessel (14) located beneath the slab and which are engaged on needles (40) supplied with fluid to be sampled and projecting into the bottom of the vessel. A pot (44) is moved pneumatically into a nacelle, pod or basket (76) of a rotary drum (72) by means of a transfer duct (60), which passes through a slab element (62) installed in a rotary plug (20). The positioning of the pot vertically with respect to a needle (40) is ensured by the combined rotations of the drum (72) and the plug (20). A vertical displacement of the slab element (62) ensures the sampling before the filled pot is pneumatically evacuated by the reverse path.

Abstract: A pneumatic calibration device is provided including a body having an air inlet port and an air outlet port, a pressure gauge extending from the body, and a mechanism for adjusting pressure disposed within the body. The pressure adjusting mechanism communicates with the pressure gauge. The air inlet and outlet ports are pneumatically coupled to the pressure adjusting mechanism so as to regulate inflation of an inflatable member.

Abstract: The pressure atop a fluid filled flexible column, with the top end in a fixed position, is electronically measured and the result is utilized to indicate the vertical distance between points of interest. Associated electronics plus a suitable display, indicates the vertical distance between the points. As the lower end of the flexible fluid column is moved, the display continuously indicates the vertical distance relative to a reference point. The points of interest (one being a reference point) are measured by placing the opposite end of the flexible column on those points. As applied to a backhoe or excavator, the fluid filled flexible column is adhered to the boom and stick (major moving members of the equipment) and thereby furnishes the equipment operator the vertical position of the bucket (cutting edge of the equipment) compared to an established reference. The system continuously displays the relative vertical position of the bucket without the operator having to actuate any switch or valve.

Abstract: A response time test apparatus for a mass air flow sensor (10) mounted on a sensor manifold (12) connectable to the air intake manifold of an internal combustion engine. The test apparatus has a connector member (28) to which the sensor manifold (12) may be attached and a primary manifold (30) connected between a vacuum source (46,48) and the connector member (30). The primary manifold (30) has a first branch (32) and a parallel second branch (38). The first branch (32) has a first sonic nozzle (34) and a first valve (38) controlling the air flow through the first branch (32). The second branch (38) has a second sonic nozzle (40) and a second valve (42) controlling the air flow through the second branch (32). The first and second sonic nozzles (34,40) producing substantially different air flow rates in the primary manifold (30).

Abstract: There is provided a device for placing a capsule into a container, slitting the capsule to release its content, washing the capsule and that part of the device which is in direct contact with the capsule and its content for quantitatively transferring the total content into said container for subsequent analysis.

Abstract: The line of gas to be analyzed, the "zero" gas line and calibration gas line are each provided with a restriction operating in sonic rate supplying a nominal constant flow and downstream, have a discharge duct provided with a flow regulator. The nominal flows in the first and second lines are higher than the given flow supplied to the analyzer so that during each of the calibration and analysis steps, the whole of the circuit portion of the device is permanently flushed with the nominal gas of the line and/or by a portion of the recirculated flow of gas originating from another line.

Abstract: An article (40), such as a piece of manufacturing tooling, is modified prior to use by treating a portion of its surface (38) to be worn so that the treated surface worn more than a preselected amount has a different appearance than the treated surface worn less than the preselected amount, using a treatment process in which the treated surface is at least as wear resistant as the untreated surface. In one approach, the surface (38) is treated by implanting ions to a preselected depth. The ions are chosen so that the substrate has a different color at depths less than the preselected depth than does the substrate at depths greater than the preselected depth. After wear, the treated surface is visually inspected for color variations that indicate wear to more than the preselected depth. The surface treatment can also be accomplished by ion implanting or ion beam mixing a previously deposited surface coating.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are disclosed for taking a representative milk sample during the delivery of a milk charge from one container to another. With respect to the errors encountered in operating peristaltic pumps with different speeds of revolution, the invention predetermines a corrected pumping characteristic as a function of an acceptance characteristic and correspondingly controls the taking of samples.

Abstract: A method for evaluating performance of an aluminum alloy wiring film includes the steps of forming a first aluminum alloy film on a substrate, forming a second aluminum alloy film on another substrate, measuring hardness of the both films, and evaluating the superiority of stressmigration of the aluminum alloy films by comparison between the films in hardness.

Abstract: A hot-stick with a selective transformer-penetration tool is described. The tool combination is useful for remote sampling of oil from an energized high-voltage utility transformer without introducing an environmental and maintenance risk. The sample is then independently tested for PCB contamination. The tool used in combination with the hot-stick is selected from among a remote drill chuck provided for drilling a guide hole in the transformer, an impalement spike for enlarging the guide hole, a remote syringe to withdraw an oil sample from the transformer, a remote rivet setter, and a remote caulking gun to close and seal the hole.

Abstract: Successive workpieces of a series of identical and/or different workpieces are measured at a monitoring station to which the workpieces are delivered by a conveyor serving to advance the workpieces along and/or against one or more orienting devices. A workpiece at the monitoring station is engaged by a clamping device which can enter an axial passage of the workpiece, or can engage a coaxial stud of the workpiece, and is mounted on an elevator which can shift a properly engaged workpiece above or below the transporting level. The workpiece is thereupon monitored by one or more sensors in suspended condition and is returned onto the conveyor.

Abstract: A gas sampling system utilizing a pair of parallel sonic orifices. One of the orifices is connected to a source of filtered, heated samples. The second, larger orifice is connected to a source of dilution gas. A vacuum pump maintains a substantial vacuum behind the orifices, thus assuring critical flow therethrough. The sample and diffusion gas are mixed behind the orifices and transported under partial vacuum for analysis. The dew point of the sample is affected by both the ratio of the diameter of orifices and the degree of vacuum transporting the gas mixture. As such, the dew point can be varied indefinitely by any reasonable combination of orifice ratio and vacuum pump strength.

Abstract: A slurry sampling device (3) for sampling a slurry in which solid particles are dispersed has upper and lower blocks (105, 109), and a rotator (102) for collection which is rotatably held between the blocks and has a plurality of through holes (111) each having a volume corresponding to the amount of sample to be collected. The upper and lower blocks are provided with slurry conduits (101, 108) and carrier fluid conduits (107, 110) which can be communicated with the through holes so that slurry and carrier fluid can flow therethrough. Arc-shaped long grooves (113, 114) are provided on portions of the upper and lower blocks where ends of the slurry conduits (101, 108) come into contact with, or are adjacent to, the rotator, so that at least one of the through holes is thereby constantly in contact with the long grooves.

Abstract: Broadly, the present invention is directed to a method for achieving high pressure wherein a sample is placed between a pair of diamond anvils and the anvils compressed. The improvement comprises forming the anvils from one or more of isotopically-pure .sup.12 C or .sup.13 C diamond. Isotopically-pure .sup.13 C diamond is preferred as it has the highest atomic or bond density parameter of any known material and, therefore, should have the highest hardness also Isotopically-enriched diamond .sup.13 C diamond should find utility as an anvil with higher .sup.13 C contents increasing the hardness of the anvil product. By utilizing isotopically pure diamond anvils, less breakage at current pressures should be realized concomitant with the ability to achieve yet higher pressures.