Abstract: The invention relates to a means of enabling inspection of engineering components, such as rails used in the railway industry. A rail inspection device comprises a sensor (24) and a compliant spacer (26). The compliant spacer (26) has an inner surface and outer surface. The sensor (24) is urged against the inner surface of the spacer (26) and, when in use, the outer surface of the spacer (26) is in contact with the rail under inspection.

Abstract: A system and method are presented for creating and maintaining quality control records. The system includes a plurality of client devices. Each client device captures information, data and decisions associated with raw material, components and assemblies of components. The information, data and decisions document operations and operating conditions at a plurality of stages in a life cycle of the raw materials, components and assemblies. The system includes a communication network and one or more servers operatively coupled to the client devices over the network. The servers create quality control records including the information, data and decisions for the materials, components and assemblies. The system includes one or more data stores that store the quality control records. The information, data and decisions includes measurements and readings taken by the input-output devices and decisions made at the stages and that document properties of the raw materials, components and assemblies.

Abstract: The invention relates to a means of enabling inspection of engineering components, such as rails used in the railway industry. A rail inspection device comprises a sensor (24) and a compliant spacer (26). The compliant spacer (26) has an inner surface and outer surface. The sensor (24) is urged against the inner surface of the spacer (26) and, when in use, the outer surface of the spacer (26) is in contact with the rail under inspection.

Abstract: The invention relates a method for providing reconnection to a ferrule to a service line from within the bore of a lined host pipe adapted to carry a fluid, comprising lining the host pipe with a liner, locating the ferrule from within the lined host pipe, forming a passage for fluid through the liner to the ferrule, and forming a seal of the liner with the system whereby to obviate leakage of fluid between the liner and host pipe.

Abstract: An apparatus that couples automated injection with flow feedback to provide nanoliter accuracy in controlling microliter volumes. The apparatus comprises generally a source of hydraulic fluid pressure, a fluid isolator joined to the outlet of the hydraulic pressure source and a flow sensor to provide pressure-driven analyte metering. For operation generally and particularly in microfluidic systems the hydraulic pressure source is typically an electrokinetic (EK) pump that incorporates gasless electrodes. The apparatus is capable of metering sub-microliter volumes at flowrates of 1-100 ?L/min into microsystem load pressures of up to 1000-50 psi, respectively. Flowrates can be specified within 0.5 ?L/min and volumes as small as 80 nL can be metered.

Abstract: Gas bubble-free electrodes are necessary for stable long-term operation of millimeter-scale electrokinetic (EK) pumps when currents exceed 10-50 ?A. An accompanying Technical Advance describes EK pumps that draw 1-3 mA. We have developed gasless and gas bubble-free electrodes that can run millimeter-scale (and smaller) EK pumps continuously at high current densities. Two types of gasless electrodes based on porous carbon and ruthenium/tantalum-on-titanium oxides have been developed that are supercapacitors which store ions from a fluid electrolyte. The gas bubble-free electrodes isolate gas generated by water electrolysis of the pump fluid from the fluid channels by means of an electrically-conductive polymer. Nafion® tubing is a cationic-selective polymer that is used to pass currents and water for electrolysis at titanium and platinum surfaces. The gas bubble-free electrodes are easy to fabricate and can operate well even with typical, low-conductivity electrolytes.

Abstract: Electrokinetic (“EK”) pumps convert electric to mechanical work when an electric field exerts a body force on ions in the Debye layer of a fluid in a packed-bed, which then viscously drags the fluid. Porous silica and polymer monoliths (2.5-mm O.D., and 6-mm to 10-mm length) having a narrow pore size distribution have been developed that are capable of large pressure gradients (250-500 psi/mm) when large electric fields (1000-1500 V/cm) are applied. Flowrates up to 200 ?L/min and delivery pressures up to 1200 psi have been demonstrated. Forces up to 5 lb-force at 0.5 mm/s (12 mW) have been demonstrated with a battery-powered DC-DC converter. Hydraulic power of 17 mW (900 psi@ 180 uL/min) has been demonstrated with wall-powered high voltage supplies. The force and stroke delivered by an actuator utilizing an EK pump are shown to exceed the output of solenoids, stepper motors, and DC motors of similar size, despite the low thermodynamic efficiency.

Abstract: A freeze-thaw valve and a method of micro-machining the freeze-thaw valve is provided and includes a valve housing, wherein the valve housing defines a housing cavity and includes a housing inlet, a housing vent, a capillary tubing inlet and a capillary tubing outlet. A valve body is provided, at least a portion of which is lithographically constructed, wherein the valve body includes a refrigerant inlet, a refrigerant outlet and an expansion chamber. The expansion chamber is disposed to communicate the refrigerant inlet with the refrigerant outlet and includes a restriction region having a flow restriction. Additionally, the valve body is disposed within the housing cavity to form an insulating channel between the valve housing and the valve body.

Abstract: Methods and materials are described for the joining of plastics and other materials wherein polymerizable substances are diffused into the material to form a surface diffusion zone adjacent to the surface of the plastic workpiece to be joined. The surfaces are brought into contact and the polymerization reactions in the surface diffusion zone are initiated, creating thereby a strong bond across the contacting surfaces. High-performance engineered plastics such as polyetherimides, polyphenylenes, and polyether-ether-ketones are among the materials that are advantageously joined by this technique. Polymerizable substances including styrene and divinylbenzene are shown to give good bonds. Such joining methods can bond dissimilar materials difficult or impossible to join by other techniques. The surfaces to be joined are dry prior to initiation of the polymerization reaction, permitting repositioning and realignment of the surfaces as often as desired before joining.

Abstract: A device for measuring fluid flow rates over a wide range of flow rates (<1 nL/min to >10 ?L/min) and at pressures at least as great as 2,000 psi. The invention is particularly adapted for use in microfluidic systems. The device operates by producing compositional variations in the fluid, or pulses, that are subsequently detected downstream from the point of creation to derive a flow rate. Each pulse, comprising a small fluid volume, whose composition is different from the mean composition of the fluid, can be created by electrochemical means, such as by electrolysis of a solvent, electrolysis of a dissolved species, or electrodialysis of a dissolved ionic species. Measurements of the conductivity of the fluid can be used to detect the arrival time of the pulses, from which the fluid flow rate can be determined. A pair of spaced apart electrodes can be used to produce the electrochemical pulse.

Abstract: A piezoelectric transducer comprising a casing having an opening in one face and a piezoelectric element extending across the opening has a casing containing a backing material in direct contact with the piezoelectric element. The backing material comprises a polymeric composition which may contain a heavy metal oxide, e.g. BiO, or a metal, e.g. Ni, in particulate form, and/or may contain particles of a material of lower specific gravity than the surrounding composition, the distribution of said particles being such that they are most concentrated in a region remote from the piezoelectric element and are least concentrated or essentially absent in the region immediately adjacent the piezoelectric element.