Abstract: A locking ring is described that permits removal of filamentary material housed in a walled container through a payout tube defining a payout tube axis and through which a first end of the filamentary material extends. The ring includes an annular flange around a ring axis and a body having a tubular wall extending from an inner edge of the annular flange to a distal edge of the ring. The tubular wall is coaxial with the ring axis, and has a plurality of teeth circumferentially spaced around the tubular wall and extend from the tubular wall radially outwardly and toward the annular flange. Each tooth resiliently deflects radially inwardly in response to interference between the tooth and an inner wall of the payout tube. The curved edges form a thread permitting the ring to advance axially into and secure with the payout tube.

Abstract: A locking ring is described that permits removal of filamentary material housed in a walled container through a payout tube defining a payout tube axis and through which a first end of the filamentary material extends. The ring includes an annular flange around a ring axis and a body having a tubular wall extending from an inner edge of the annular flange to a distal edge of the ring. The tubular wall is coaxial with the ring axis, and has a plurality of teeth circumferentially spaced around the tubular wall and extend from the tubular wall radially outwardly and toward the annular flange. Each tooth resiliently deflects radially inwardly in response to interference between the tooth and an inner wall of the payout tube. The curved edges form a thread permitting the ring to advance axially into and secure with the payout tube.

Abstract: An analyte concentration, in a sample fluid, is determined by differential measurement. Two or more capacitive field effect sensors have an identical basic structure and are arranged in a shared measuring cell. One of the sensors forms a measuring sensor with an active transductor layer. Another sensor forms a reference sensor without an active transductor layer. The sensors are contacted with the sample fluid and the sensors, have an associated reference electrode, or have a shared reference electrode. A bias voltage composed of an electric DC voltage and a superimposed AC voltage is applied between each sensor and associated reference electrode(s) Capacitance changes due to the analyte are eliminated by controlling the bias voltage applied to the measuring sensor in a closed control loop. A measuring signal is obtained by calculating a difference between voltage values representative of DC voltage potentials applied to the measuring sensor and reference sensor, respectively.

Abstract: An analyte concentration, in a sample fluid, is determined by differential measurement. Two or more capacitive field effect sensors have an identical basic structure and are arranged in a shared measuring cell. One of the sensors forms a measuring sensor with an active transductor layer. Another sensor forms a reference sensor without an active transductor layer. The sensors are contacted with the sample fluid and the sensors, have an associated reference electrode, or have a shared reference electrode. A bias voltage composed of an electric DC voltage and a superimposed AC voltage is applied between each sensor and associated reference electrode(s) Capacitance changes due to the analyte are eliminated by controlling the bias voltage applied to the measuring sensor in a closed control loop. A measuring signal is obtained by calculating a difference between voltage values representative of DC voltage potentials applied to the measuring sensor and reference sensor, respectively.