Abstract: Apparatus for sample volatilization and collection has a housing which includes volatilization and collection equipment mounting adaptation(s) and a pressure gage for monitoring internal pressure of such equipment. The housing can contain power and/or power line(s) to include for heating the equipment and/or providing a vacuum for the equipment, and/or a device for providing an internal vacuum for the equipment; additional condition monitoring gage(s), and so forth. The apparatus can include the equipment, which can be especially adapted for Noack-type testing.

Abstract: A device for the precise replacement of liquids before, during, or after operation of a mechanism such as, for example, an automobile motor or automatic transmission, includes a housing and a piston or diaphragm for separation of the housing into inlet and exit portions. A plurality of bags can be employed in the housing for inlet and exit portions and as a diaphragm. Pressure from the volume of liquid in a closed vessel that is to be replaced is used to measure the amount of liquid replacing the liquid that is in the closed vessel. The device can be employed during normal operation of the mechanism, and a method for the precise replacement of liquids employs the device during normal operation of the mechanism.

Abstract: Device can include an array of stators placed in a carousel which can hold the stators in the array apart from one another while precisely cooled by a suitable source. For example, the device can be provided with cooling in conjunction with an instrument having a highly circulated, cold liquid bath for temperature control such as by insertion of the stators in the carousel through housing of a versatile sensitive rotating viscometer instrument into its bath. The sample carousel has a lower base containing a plurality of stator accommodating orifices in a first array, and an upper base connected to the lower base. The upper base can have a plurality of rotor control pin accommodating orifices in a second array, and the upper base is mounted to the lower base such that the second array of orifices in the upper base is disposed in registry with the first array of orifices in the lower base.

Abstract: Foam tester device, which is useful for testing the foaming of liquids at elevated temperatures, has an insulated cabinet containing a temperature-regulatable volume; a heater capable of heating a gas for the volume; a feature to circulate heated gas in the volume; an access system such that sample container(s), each capable of holding a liquid sample, is(are) insertable into the volume so as to be heated; and a feature, for example, a window, to observe any sample(s) in the sample container(s) such that observation can be conducted from outside the cabinet. The foam tester is a gas, especially air, bath. Cooling may be provided by water or other liquid, for example, propylene glycol and water mixture, and/or by insert of a cooling device, for example, a cooling carosel or insert drawer in place of the foam tester sample carousel. Foam test operation is simplified, and the foam tester may be employed to operate sample testing cycles without removal of samples from the tester between tests.

Abstract: Vapors are removed from a vessel by a sweeping of a carrier gas gently above and/or across the surface of a solid or liquid sample and upward to an exit orifice. With an apparatus of the invention employed in a version of the sample volatility and vapor retrieval test, for example, the precision of high-yield vapor collection from lubricating oil samples at low pressure can be increased significantly and in some cases generally by an order of magnitude.

Abstract: A stator for a sensitive rotating viscometer is directly connected to the viscometer module housing or the viscometer module lower housing (rotor housing) particularly on lower portions or about a side of the same. The stator connector can employ the bayonet-attachment principle, where a suitable stator is inserted into the connector and, with a twist of the inserted stator, is attached to the connector. The stator can include a hollow tube housing having an open top and a closed bottom, with a wide lip extending outwardly and generally normal to the tube housing at the top of the tube housing, and may have a stator retaining hole in the lip. Lip ears may be present in conjunction with or separately from a lip extension. Gas entry and exit orifices may be present in a side wall of the housing.

Abstract: Selective volatilization and collection method includes providing a substance, for example, solid and/or liquid, in a contained system; providing thermal energy to the system and substance, and a current, i.e., directed mass flow, from external to the system, such that, substantially without boiling, nor disturbing the substance surface, at least one component of the substance is volatilized. Volatilized substance component(s) are gently swept away from remaining substance by the current and collected. Apparatus useful in the method includes a generally enclosed vessel for holding the substance; gaseous matter entry port, with its exit end above the substance; and exit/collection port with a feature for collection of volatilized substance. An entry port wand having a throttle, porous ball, director channel(s) or other feature for tempering and/or directing incoming gaseous matter, which supplies the current in the method, may be in the apparatus.

Abstract: Pivoting leveling stand has a base with an outer, horizontal boundary; a pivot, downward of and in contact with the base, and positioned inwardly of the outer horizontal boundary of the base; and at least three leveling machines in contact with the base placed outwardly of the pivot. The pivot is capable of contacting an underlying support surface, and the leveling machines are attachable to an underlying support. As an option, from the base, preferably above the pivot, a fixture, for example, an upright rod such as for attaching a sensitive rotating viscometer, may be attached to the stand.

Abstract: Temperature control chimney has a hollow cylindrical housing, which is immersible in a liquid of a bath tub, having means for positioning in the tub, and top and bottom openings in the housing useful for permitting uniform liquid current flow. Preferably, it has means for holding at least one sample within the housing. The invention can be used to improve sample preparation, for an illustrative example, in sensitive viscosity testing.

Abstract: A stationary or movable object suitable for holding a fluid can have the fluid sampled unobserved, and the sample is separate from the working and/or storage system(s) of the object. For example, an engine oil collection apparatus effectively collects engine oil during mimic of a normal oil change procedure, and allows for collection of samples without the sample going through the crankcase of the engine. The collected fluid, for example, the oil, can be set aside and/or analyzed for its composition afterwards.

Abstract: Vessel, useful in heat transmission regulation, includes a sealable, outer housing and a sample compartment generally enclosed therein such that a hollow portion between at least a part of the housing and compartment is present. The hollow compartment can contain a predetermined quantity of a gas. The sample compartment may be supported, and a multiple-part vessel can be provided. Such a vessel can be made to include standard-manufacture components, being easy to make and use, and/or be especially useful in viscosity testing.

Abstract: Exemplary stacked component tapered bearing simulator device, the principles of which can be applied more broadly in such instrumentation as dynamometers and viscometers, can have a stator block with a sample receiving bore; a rotor complementary to the stator block bore extending axially into the bore to define a thin measuring gap, the rotor having a drive shaft extending axially upward from it; a motor, which can rotate in response to torque from a test sample present in the thin gap and which drives the shaft and rotor along a rotation axis; a part for sensing the torque, fixable to the motor, and connectable to a platform that is vertically adjustable by an elevator mechanism, which generally, externally bounds the axis of rotation of the motor, drive shaft, and rotor.

Abstract: A stator for a sensitive rotating viscometer is directly connected to the viscometer module housing or the viscometer module lower housing (rotor housing) particularly on lower portions or about the side of the same.

Abstract: A vessel has a sealable, hollow housing about a sample compartment, and the hollow portion contains a predetermined amount of a gas. It provides for heat transmission control. Accordingly, for an illustrative example, viscosity testing with a sensitive rotating viscometer and an oleaginous sample which is subjected to temperature control can be carried out with high reliability.

Abstract: Non-axially-cylindrical journal and bearing assembly operates with hydrodynamic lubrication and has high load capability.

Abstract: A rotational viscometer instrument of the type having a rotor driven to rotate about an axis, the rotor for contact with a fluid, the viscosity or related property of which can be measured by measuring torque or drag on the rotor rotating in contact with the fluid through a torque or drag measuring element, is improved by a means for interjecting a predetermined calibration factor into the instrument based on a viscosity of a fluid of known viscosity and the rotor and the torque or drag measuring element such that the true viscosity sensing ability of the instrument is enhanced.

Abstract: A sensitive rotating viscometer instrument generally having a housing surrounding a bath tub, the housing having a top upon which can be provided at least one sensitive rotating viscometer with a stator insertable through the top of the housing and into the bath, and which head remains above the top of the housing, includes at least one of the following features:(A) a conduit for supply of dry gas, extending under the top of the housing in a concealed or inconspicuous manner to couple near the viscometer head, for a dry gas blanket over the fluid to be tested in the stator;(B) an ergonomically positioned panel to include for at least one of the following: dry gas, power, and data transmission line control(s), coupling(s) and data display terminal(s) at highly visible, line of sight, and easily accessible position(s) above the top of the housing;(C) an offset viscometer head arrangement in which the locations of viscometer heads form symmetrically offset, non-rectangular rows or columns in an array when plural