Abstract: A device including a housing having an access opening, a swing arm mounted to the housing and configured to be selectively pivoted toward and away from the access opening, and a closure captured by the swing arm. The closure can be configured to be selectively moved in a substantially vertical motion relative to the swing arm between a retracted position and an inserted position at least partially in the access opening and can have locking features for cooperating with engagement features in the device to move the closure into a closed and sealed configuration.

Abstract: A device including a housing having an access opening, a swing arm mounted to the housing and configured to be selectively pivoted toward and away from the access opening, and a closure captured by the swing arm. The closure can be configured to be selectively moved in a substantially vertical motion relative to the swing arm between a retracted position and an inserted position at least partially in the access opening and can have locking features for cooperating with engagement features in the device to move the closure into a closed and sealed configuration.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dynamically adjusting pressure ramping to maximize determination of capillary porosity resolution of a porous material. The method dynamically increases pressure ramp rate applied to a wetted sample as rate of mass flow change decreases and dynamically decreases pressure ramp rate as rate of mass flow change increases. The method can further control the pressure ramp sensitivity to changes in mass flow rate and can apply a resolution parameter to control the rate of pressure change.

Abstract: Systems and methods for calibrating a gas pycnometer utilizing a custom volume reference standard are disclosed. The custom volume reference standard may include a material. The material may include a low CTE and high-accuracy dimensions. The material may have a high-aspect ratio reference shape corresponding to an inner area of a custom made sample cup. The custom volume reference standard may include a specified number of inclusions of the material, a high purity, and/or an accurately known density. The custom volume reference standard may include a known volume.

Abstract: A device including a housing having an access opening, a swing arm mounted to the housing and configured to be selectively pivoted toward and away from the access opening, and a closure captured by the swing arm. The closure can be configured to be selectively moved in a substantially vertical motion relative to the swing arm between a retracted position and an inserted position at least partially in the access opening and can have locking features for cooperating with engagement features in the device to move the closure into a closed and sealed configuration.

Abstract: Systems and methods for calibrating a gas pycnometer utilizing a custom volume reference standard are disclosed. The custom volume reference standard may include a material. The material may include a low CTE and high-accuracy dimensions. The material may have a high-aspect ratio reference shape corresponding to an inner area of a custom made sample cup. The custom volume reference standard may include a specified number of inclusions of the material, a high purity, and/or an accurately known density. The custom volume reference standard may include a known volume.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for characterizing particles, comprising: a microscope objective with an optical axis and a depth of field; a holder cell (22) configured to position the particles in a generally planar volume below the microscope objective, the planar volume being substantially normal to the optical axis and having a depth that is less than or equal to the depth of field, wherein a portion of the cell holder (22) for positioning in the optical axis of the microscope objective is substantially free of significant spectral features in a Raman spectral range; an x-y stage (20) to move the microscope objective relative to the holder cell (22) in x and y directions to align particles with the optical axis of the microscope objective while the particles are held by the holder cell (22), a detector (18) for acquiring an image of a particle through the microscope objective, a laser operable to illuminate a particle held by the holder cell (22), a Raman spectrometer (16) arranged to obtain a spectrum including the R

Abstract: The disclosure relates to methods and device for detecting properties of heterogeneous samples, including detecting properties of particles or fluid droplets in industrial processes. A probe may be inserted into a first of multiple heterogeneous fluid samples. A portion of the first sample may be drawn into the probe and past a two-dimensional array detector. The portion of the first sample may be illuminated as it is drawn past the array detector and an image of the portion of the first sample may be acquired. The probe may be inserted into a second of multiple heterogeneous fluid samples. A portion of the second sample may be drawn into the probe and past a two-dimensional array detector. The portion of the second sample may be illuminated as it is drawn past the array detector and an image of the portion of the second sample may be acquired.

Abstract: Disclosed in one general aspect is a particle interaction characterization instrument that comprises a flow cell for a liquid sample that includes suspended particles and a light source positioned to illuminate the suspended particles in the liquid sample fluid in the sample vessel. A first scattering detector is positioned to receive light from the light source that has been scattered by the particles suspended in sample fluid in the sample vessel at at least one predetermined scattering angle. An ultraviolet transmittance detector is positioned to receive a portion of the light from the source that passes through the suspended particles without being absorbed or scattered. Interaction analysis logic is responsive to both the scattering detector and the ultraviolet detector, and is operative to derive at least one interaction property for the suspended particles.

Abstract: Viscometers and viscometry methods are disclosed. In one general aspect, a fluid is driven through capillary tubes with different inside volumes, and successive images of the fluid are acquired as it advances through the inside volume of the capillary tubes. A range of different viscosity values of the fluid are derived from the successive acquired images, and results of this step are reported in a manner that provides insight into non-Newtonian effects in the fluid. In another general aspect, a viscosity value is selected based on detected pressure levels.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and apparatus for detecting properties of heterogeneous samples, including detecting properties of particles or fluid droplets in industrial processes. Embodiments disclosed include a particle characterization method, comprising: providing a fluid containing suspended particles; causing at least a first subset of the suspended particles to flow past a first two-dimensional array detector (24); illuminating the first subset of suspended particles as they flow past the first two-dimensional array detector (24) in the fluid; acquiring a plurality of images of the first subset of particles as they flow past the first two-dimensional array detector (24) in the fluid; and automatically counting the particles in the images.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for characterizing particles, comprising: a microscope objective with an optical axis and a depth of field; a holder cell (22) configured to position the particles in a generally planar volume below the microscope objective, the planar volume being substantially normal to the optical axis and having a depth that is less than or equal to the depth of field, wherein a portion of the cell holder (22) for positioning in the optical axis of the microscope objective is substantially free of significant spectral features in a Raman spectral range; an x-y stage (20) to move the microscope objective relative to the holder cell (22) in x and y directions to align particles with the optical axis of the microscope objective while the particles are held by the holder cell (22), a detector (18) for acquiring an image of a particle through the microscope objective, a laser operable to illuminate a particle held by the holder cell (22), a Raman spectrometer (16) arranged to obtain a spectrum including the R

Abstract: A particle characterization apparatus and corresponding method is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a sample cell (14). The sample cell includes: an input opening (26) for receiving a fluid that carries particles flowing along a flow axis, a central acquisition channel (32) hydraulically responsive to the input opening (26) for receiving a first subset of the fluid, a pair of lateral bypass channels (32, 34) hydraulically responsive to the input opening (26) and disposed on either side of the central acquisition channel (32) for receiving second and third subsets of the fluid, a window (36) in the central acquisition channel (32) for illuminating the first subset of the fluid in the central acquisition channel (32),an illumination source (18) positioned to illuminate the fluid in the central acquisition channel (32) through the window (36), and a detector (20) positioned to receive light from the fluid in the central acquisition channel (32) after it has interacted with the fluid.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and apparatus for detecting properties of heterogeneous samples, including detecting properties of particles or fluid droplets in industrial processes. Embodiments disclosed include a particle characterization method, comprising: providing a fluid containing suspended particles; causing at least a first subset of the suspended particles to flow past a first two-dimensional array detector (24); illuminating the first subset of suspended particles as they flow past the first two-dimensional array detector (24) in the fluid; acquiring a plurality of images of the first subset of particles as they flow past the first two-dimensional array detector (24) in the fluid; and automatically counting the particles in the images.

Abstract: A viscometer, comprising: a source of fluid pressure, a tube, an array of optical detectors, an acquisition driver circuit and viscosity computation logic. The tube has an inside volume that is hydraulically responsive to the source of fluid pressure. The array of optical detectors is positioned along a length of the first tube with a plurality of its detectors optically responsive to the inside volume of the first tube and including an image data output. The acquisition driver circuit is responsive to the image data output of the first array to acquire a series of successive images of the inside volume of the first tube. The viscosity computation logic is responsive to the acquisition driver circuit and operative to compute the viscosity of a fluid flowing along the first tube from the series of images of the inside volume of the first tube.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to methods and apparatus for detecting properties of heterogeneous samples, including detecting properties of particles or fluid droplets in industrial processes. Embodiments disclosed include a particle characterization method, comprising: suspending particles in a fluid; causing the suspended particles to flow past a two-dimensional array detector; illuminating the suspended particles as they flow past the two-dimensional array detector in the fluid; acquiring a plurality of images of the particles as they flow past the two-dimensional array detector in the fluid; and applying a particle characterization function to results of steps of acquiring a plurality of images for at least some of the suspended particles.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to methods and device for detecting properties of heterogeneous samples, including detecting properties of particles or fluid droplets in industrial processes. A probe may be inserted into a first of multiple heterogeneous fluid samples. A portion of the first sample may be drawn into the probe and past a two-dimensional array detector. The portion of the first sample may be illuminated as it is drawn past the array detector and an image of the portion of the first sample may be acquired. The probe may be inserted into a second of multiple heterogeneous fluid samples. A portion of the second sample may be drawn into the probe and past a two-dimensional array detector. The portion of the second sample may be illuminated as it is drawn past the array detector and an image of the portion of the second sample may be acquired.

Abstract: A gas chromatography system comprising a sample introduction device, an oven coupled to the sample introduction device and a detector coupled to the oven is disclosed. In certain examples, the oven may be configured to receive a chromatography column in a space in the oven. In some examples, the oven may be constructed and arranged to provide a substantially constant temperature to the space during an analysis stage of the gas chromatography system.

Abstract: In one general aspect, a particle characterization method is disclosed that includes suspending particles in a fluid, causing them to flow past a two-dimensional array detector, and illuminating them as they do so. The method also includes acquiring images of the particles as they flow past the two-dimensional array detector in the fluid, and applying a particle characterization function to the images for at least some of the suspended particles.

Abstract: A gas chromatography system comprising a sample introduction device, an oven coupled to the sample introduction device and a detector coupled to the oven is disclosed. In certain examples, the oven may be configured to receive a chromatography column in a space in the oven. In some examples, the oven may be constructed and arranged to provide a substantially constant temperature to the space during an analysis stage of the gas chromatography system.