Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting a flow disruption within a gas chromatograph (GC) inlet. A controller controls an input flow of a gas entering a chamber of the GC inlet, and the output flow of gas leaving the chamber. A flow disruption is detected when at least one of the input and output flows deviates from a target value.

Abstract: A system for controlling fluid flow comprises a first fluid conduit having a length, an inner diameter, an input pressure and an output pressure, and a second fluid conduit having a length, an inner diameter, an input pressure and an output pressure where the output pressure of the first fluid conduit is the input pressure of the second fluid conduit. The system also comprises a pressure sensor configured to determine the output pressure of the first fluid conduit, and a controller configured to control the output pressure of the first fluid conduit, thereby establishing a desired fluid flow through the second fluid conduit based on the length of the second fluid conduit, the inner diameter of the second fluid conduit, the temperature of the second fluid conduit and the type of fluid flowing in the second fluid conduit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting a flow disruption within a gas chromatograph (GC) inlet. A controller controls an input flow of a gas entering a chamber of the GC inlet, and the output flow of gas leaving the chamber. A flow disruption is detected when at least one of the input and output flows deviates from a target value.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a novel apparatus and method to restrict pneumatic flow in a planar manifold. A forming tool of specific geometry is pressed into a planar manifold causing the pneumatic channel inside to collapse onto itself in a predictable and controllable way, therefore restricting the fluid flow in the pneumatic channel. The geometry of the forming tool is provided with angles and radii so that the planar manifold is not ripped during the pressing operation. Further, the geometry limits the deformed area so that distortion of adjacent pneumatic channels, and the potential for springing leaks between layers is minimized. In a preferred embodiment, the tooling also provides flow measurement while the forming tool is pressed into the planar manifold at a specific orientation.

Abstract: A composite box end wrench has a non-metallic body including a handle portion and at least one head portion which defines a fastener-receiving opening therethrough. The wrench includes strengthening and/or retaining structure which strengthens the head portion and can change the failure mode to confine wrench parts in the event of failure. In one embodiment each head portion has a fastener-engaging member insert molded therein along with a reinforcing plate which encircles the member and preferably extends slightly into the handle portion. The reinforcing structure could alternatively be a band extending the length of the wrench and encircling the fastener-engaging member (or members in a double-ended wrench). In a ratcheting version of the wrench the non-metallic body may be split lengthwise into two parts, each of which has reinforcing structure embedded therein, the fastener-engaging member being a ratchet gear which, along with an associated pawl, is disposed between the body parts.

Abstract: A composite box end wrench has a non-metallic body including a handle portion and at least one head portion which defines a fastener-receiving opening therethrough. The wrench includes strengthening and/or retaining structure which strengthens the head portion and can change the failure mode to confine wrench parts in the event of failure. In one embodiment each head portion has a fastener-engaging member insert molded therein along with a reinforcing plate which encircles the member and preferably extends slightly into the handle portion. The reinforcing structure could alternatively be a band extending the length of the wrench and encircling the fastener-engaging member (or members in a double-ended wrench). In a ratcheting version of the wrench the non-metallic body may be split lengthwise into two parts, each of which has reinforcing structure embedded therein, the fastener-engaging member being a ratchet gear which, along with an associated pawl, is disposed between the body parts.

Abstract: A socket tool has an elongated body with driving and driven inserts, respectively, embedded in the opposite ends thereof, the inserts being flush with or recessed inwardly from the ends of the body. The inserts may be knurled around all or a portion of the outer surfaces thereof. Metal or non-metallic annular reinforcing members encircle at least one of the inserts. In one embodiment the reinforcement is a non-metallic sleeve which encircles the body along its entire length, and which may have end flanges overlapping the ends of the body. In other embodiments the reinforcement is entirely embedded in the body and in contact with the inner end surface and/or the peripheral side surface of at least one insert. In one embodiment the reinforcement extends from the insert to the outer surface of the body.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for controlling at least one physicochemical property of carrier fluids and/or support fluids provided to chromatographic detectors by determining a physicochemical property of the one or both fluids and controlling that property using interactive feedback loops.

Abstract: The invention is a device for angular fixation of a delivery or drainage tube at, for example, the point where that tube exits through the skin from a body cavity. The tube may be used for delivery, extraction, or evacuation of fluids or gases through a surgically formed stoma in a patient. In the enteral feeding, or delivery, embodiment, an enteral feeding tube extends outwardly from the patient to support the components of the device. The components include a sleeve disposed along and movable along the feeding tube and a base elbow unit through which the feeding tube passes. The base elbow unit includes a subdermal portion, a sleeve engaging portion, and a generally cylindrical tube-engaging portion. The feeding tube is movable from a first, substantially straight position to a second, acutely angled position. In this second, acutely angled position, the tube is immobilized by locking engagement to the tube engaging portion.

Abstract: A machine-implemented process, and apparatus, for performing a set membership test on large sets through the technique of binary hash coding with a known allowable expectation of an error. The present invention does not employ content addressable memory; rather, the present invention performs set membership testing by utilizing a hash function, which produces a randomized plurality of simple address locations within a bulk memory, for each item in the set. A testing for membership comprises employing a logical AND operation upon all values of binary indicators at memory locations addressed by hash values of a test item, to determine whether each and every hash value generated for the test item exactly matches with previously loaded indicators at those address locations in the bulk memory, which in the pereferred embodiment is of the CCD type. The present invention is a machine-implemented process, and employs a known algorithm as part of the overall process.