Abstract: A method and apparatuses to extend the time interval between out-of-service, in-tank inspections while insuring structural integrity using a risk-based, Bayesian statistical approach comprised of a passing leak detection test, determining that the tank is not leaking, estimating a thickness of the tank floor to estimate a corrosion rate, and conducting a risk assessment using the result of the leak detection test, the corrosion rate and thickness of the tank floor, and statistical data of tank failures.

Abstract: A fitting assembly for use in a fluid transfer assembly includes a fluid conduit having a first fitting with first and second ends and a bore extending between the first and second ends for receiving the fluid conduit. The first end of the first fitting is configured to sealingly dispose a ferrule assembly within a second fitting in an engaged position. The fitting assembly further includes a third fitting having first and second ends and a bore extending between the first and second ends for receiving the fluid conduit. The first end of the third fitting is configured to sealingly dispose a collet assembly within the first fitting in an engaged position.

Abstract: An analytical instrument fitting assembly for coupling first and second analytical fluid conduits is provided. The fitting assembly includes a first fitting defining a central passage adapted to receive a first fluid conduit defining an internal diameter of no greater than 0.040 inch and a second fitting. The second fitting defines a central passage extending between first and second ends and is in fluid communication with the first fitting. A separation device is disposed within a central passages of the first and second fittings to selectively separate liquids passing therethrough. The fitting assembly further includes a retractable end fitting having a housing, a tube extending within the housing, and a biasing member. Selective positioning of the tube within the housing minimizes dead space between the tube and the second end.

Abstract: A fitting assembly for use in a fluid transfer assembly includes a fluid conduit having a first fitting with first and second ends and a bore extending between the first and second ends for receiving the fluid conduit. The first end of the first fitting is configured to sealingly dispose a ferrule assembly within a second fitting in an engaged position. The fitting assembly further includes a third fitting having first and second ends and a bore extending between the first and second ends for receiving the fluid conduit. The first end of the third fitting is configured to sealingly dispose a collet assembly within the first fitting in an engaged position.

Abstract: An assembly for placing an insert into communication with an analytical chemical instrument having a first portion of tubing and a second portion of tubing includes a clamp arm assembly having first and second opposable clamp arms and a first fitting subassembly in communication with the first portion of tubing and configured to engage a first portion of an insert, wherein the first fitting subassembly is received within the first clamp arm. The assembly further includes a second fitting subassembly in communication with the second portion of tubing and configured to engage a second portion of the insert, wherein the second fitting subassembly is moveably received within the second clamp arm and biased in a direction toward the first fitting subassembly. Further included is an actuator assembly configured to move the second clamp arm toward the first clamp arm to secure the insert between the first and second fitting subassemblies.

Abstract: A ferrule for use in a fluid transfer assembly having a fluid conduit includes a frusto-conical seal portion having a first cylindrical bore sized and configured to slidably receive a fluid conduit. The seal portion is formed from a first material suitable to seal the fluid conduit within a first fitting without substantially deforming the fluid conduit. A frusto-conical collet portion is mated with the seal portion and includes a second cylindrical bore in substantial alignment with the first cylindrical bore. The collet portion includes at least one axial finger extending along the tapered end that is configured to be biased into locking engagement with the fluid conduit. The collet portion is formed from a second material that substantially prevents deformation of the fluid conduit when the finger is biased into locking engagement with the fluid conduit.

Abstract: An assembly for placing an insert into communication with an analytical chemical instrument having a first portion of tubing and a second portion of tubing includes a clamp arm assembly having first and second opposable clamp arms and a first fitting subassembly in communication with the first portion of tubing and configured to engage a first portion of an insert, wherein the first fitting subassembly is received within the first clamp arm. The assembly further includes a second fitting subassembly in communication with the second portion of tubing and configured to engage a second portion of the insert, wherein the second fitting subassembly is moveably received within the second clamp arm and biased in a direction toward the first fitting subassembly. Further included is an actuator assembly configured to move the second clamp arm toward the first clamp arm to secure the insert between the first and second fitting subassemblies.

Abstract: A ferrule for use in a fluid transfer assembly having a fluid conduit includes a frusto-conical seal portion having a first cylindrical bore sized and configured to slidably receive a fluid conduit. The seal portion is formed from a first material suitable to seal the fluid conduit within a first fitting without substantially deforming the fluid conduit. A frusto-conical collet portion is mated with the seal portion and includes a second cylindrical bore in substantial alignment with the first cylindrical bore. The collet portion includes at least one axial finger extending along the tapered end that is configured to be biased into locking engagement with the fluid conduit. The collet portion is formed from a second material that substantially prevents deformation of the fluid conduit when the finger is biased into locking engagement with the fluid conduit.

Abstract: An analytical instrument fitting assembly for coupling first and second analytical fluid conduits is provided. The fitting assembly includes a first fitting defining a central passage adapted to receive a first fluid conduit defining an internal diameter of no greater than 0.040 inch and a second fitting. The second fitting defines a central passage extending between first and second ends and is in fluid communication with the first fitting.

Abstract: A quarter turn quick connect fitting assembly (10) for connecting miniature fluid conduits, such as tubing, includes a first fitting (12) having radially projecting pins (28) and a second fitting (14) located within a rotatable quarter turn nut (16) having spiral grooves (48) which receive the pins. The first fitting defines a central passage (26) and the second fitting defines a central passage (42) which may each be configured to slidably receive a hollow tube set (104), or to threadably receive an externally threaded mating fitting. The quarter turn quick connect fitting can be configured to attach to the end of a column, and can include an adapter (158), which houses a guard column (160), or a frit (188) for filtering the fluid passing through the quarter turn quick connect fitting assembly.

Abstract: A steering system (100) includes an incremental helm (102), a control panel (104), and an autopilot (106) that are electrically connected to a command processor (108). The steering system further includes an autopilot attitude controller (110) and an incremental servo (112) for actuating the rudder. The incremental helm acts as a course selector for the autopilot. Upon autopilot engagement, the set heading is the current heading plus any heading change received from the helm after engagement. A course selection controller (120) employs a helm increment summer (122) and a washout filter (124) that are initialized to zero upon engagement. The washout filter follows short-term course changes but forgets them over a longer time. A disengage threshold block (126) receives the washout filter output and disengages the autopilot if the threshold is exceeded.

Abstract: A quarter turn quick connect fitting assembly (10) for connecting miniature fluid conduits, such as tubing, includes a first fitting (12) having radially projecting pins (28) and a second fitting (14) located within a rotatable quarter turn nut (16) having spiral grooves (48) which receive the pins. The first fitting defines a central passage (26) and the second fitting defines a central passage (42) which may each be configured to slidably receive a hollow tube set (104), or to threadably receive an externally threaded mating fitting. The quarter turn quick connect fitting can be configured to attach to the end of a column, and can include an adapter (158), which houses a guard column (160), or a frit (188) for filtering the fluid passing through the quarter turn quick connect fitting assembly. The quarter turn quick connect fitting is assembled by sliding the pins of the first fitting into the grooves of the quarter turn nut and rotating the quarter turn nut through approximately 90.degree.

Abstract: An integral fitting and filter assembly includes a tubular body (119) having a integral proximal fitting piece (121) and an integral distal fitting piece (122). A central passage (125) extends through the proximal fitting piece and the distal fitting piece of the body. A tubular filter assembly sleeve including a filter sub-assembly (142) and tubular extension sleeve (140) is slidably received within the central passage of the body. The filter sub-assembly includes two end caps (144, 145) and a center piece (146). The center piece is packed with a selective chemical-absorbent packing material (26), that is retained within the center piece by first and second porous plugs (148) secured within opposite ends of the center piece of the end caps.

Abstract: An integral fitting and filter assembly includes a tubular body (119) having a integral proximal fitting piece (121) and an integral distal fitting piece(122). A central passage (125) extends through the proximal fitting piece and the distal fitting piece of the body. A tubular filter assembly sleeve including a filter sub-assembly (142) and tubular extension sleeve (140) is slidably received within the central passage of the body. The filter sub-assembly includes two end caps (144, 145) and a center piece (146). The center piece is packed with a selective chemical-absorbent packing material (26), that is retained within the center piece by first and second porous plugs (148) secured within opposite ends of the center piece of the end caps.

Abstract: An automatic steering system (10) has a control subsystem (14) that employs a yaw rate control loop (90) and a steering control loop (92) to drive a hydraulic subsystem (12) in which the deflection rate of a steering actuator (16) is controlled without need for either a steering actuator angle sensor or an electronic steering bias integrator. Rather, the control subsystem employs a proportional rate servosystem to control the steering actuator deflection rate and a double-acting hydraulic cylinder (34) to provide the steering bias integral action. The control subsystem employs an electric compass (96) to generate heading data that are stored in a heading command register (102). An heading error is formed by calculating a difference between a desired heading and the current heading. A rate taker (94) generates a yaw rate feedback signal by differentiating changes in the current heading, or alternatively, a rate sensor (302) generates the yaw rate feedback signal directly.

Abstract: A valve (10) is used to introduce fluid from a syringe (22) into the inlet (88) of the pump of an HPLC instrument (12). The valve includes a valve body (14) that is connected to the HPLC instrument for fluid flow communication with the instrument inlet. A valve rotor (16) is rotatably engaged with the valve body. A collar fitting (18) included on the valve rotor is connectable to the syringe. The syringe acts as a valve lever, and is displaceable to rotate the valve rotor about an axis of rotation (32) between an "off" position, in which fluid flow between the syringe and the HPLC instrument inlet is prevented, and an "on" position, in which fluid flow between the syringe and the HPLC instrument inlet is permitted. The valve enables one-handed priming operation.

Abstract: An integral fitting and filter assembly (10) includes a tubular body (12) having a integral proximal fitting end (14) and an integral distal fitting end (16). A central passage (18) extends from the proximal fitting end to the distal fitting end of the body. A tubular sleeve (20) is slidably received within the central passage of the body. The tubular sleeve includes a stem portion (22) and a larger diameter head portion (24). The stem portion of the sleeve is packed with a selective chemical-absorbent packing material (26), that is retained within the sleeve by first and second porous plugs (28) secured within opposite ends of the stem portion of the sleeve. The sleeve is slidably inserted into the body, and is adjustably positioned longitudinally to provide a pre-column filter that may be used to mate with differently configured mating fittings, such as high-performance liquid chromatography instrument inlet fittings.

Abstract: An automatic steering system (10) has a control subsystem (14) that employs a yaw rate control loop (90) and a steering control loop (92) to drive a hydraulic subsystem (12) in which the deflection rate of a steering actuator (16) is controlled without need for either a steering actuator angle sensor or an electronic steering bias integrator. Rather, the control subsystem employs a proportional rate servosystem to control the steering actuator deflection rate and a double-acting hydraulic cylinder (34) to provide the steering bias integral action. The control subsystem employs an electric compass (96) to generate heading data that are stored in a heading command register (102). A heading error is formed by calculating a difference between a desired heading and the current heading. A rate taker (94) generates a yaw rate feedback signal by differentiating changes in the current heading.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a system for detecting windshear and associated downdraft effects when they are encountered in flight by an aircraft. The system includes an input unit (12), a first processing unit (14), a second processing unit (16), an output unit (18), and a pilot warning device (20). The input unit receives aircraft performance data from the instruments and/or flight systems on the aircraft and preconditions this data to produce a set of signals corresponding to various aerodynamic and inertial input parameters. The first processing unit differences signals representing the aerodynamically derived and inertially derived accelerations of the aircraft in order to generate windshear signals. These windshear signals are then corrected for pitch rate induced coriolis acceleration effects. The corrected signals are used to form a signals representing longitudinal windshear along the horizontal heading axis of the aircraft and the change in aircraft climb gradient due to longitudinal windshear.