Abstract: Low voltage discharge lamp assembly which has a plug-in base and, in some embodiments, includes a power supply as an integral part of the assembly. The electrode leads pass through a base cap to form contact pins for engagement with a socket. By controlling the orientation of the pins relative to the electrodes and discharge path within the lamp, the lamp is easily removed and replaced without disturbing the direction and focusing of the light it produces.

Abstract: Apparatus for cleaning the interior surface of a window in an inline optical sensors which is subject to contamination and fouling by a product stream in contact therewith. The window surface is wiped by a blade driven by a pneumatic operator, and the amount of air supplied to the operator is adjusted to control the speed at which the blade moves across the window surface. When a cleaning operation is initiated, the blade is wiped across the window surface a predetermined number of times, and measurements utilizing data from the sensor are suspended until the cleaning operation is completed and the data has had time to restabilize.

Abstract: System and method for controlling the content of a fluid product such as milk. The entire product stream is monitored continuously, and the actual content of the stream is compared with the desired content. A correction signal which varies in accordance with the difference between the actual content and the desired content is provided, and in one disclosed embodiment the content of the product is adjusted in response to the correction signal by an amount which decreases as the content approaches the desired level. In another disclosed embodiment, the butterfat content of both the standardized milk product and an excess cream output are controlled. The correction signals are adapted to control valves which control flow to result in both the standardized milk product and excess cream output having the desired butterfat content.

Abstract: System and method for controlling the content of a fluid product such as milk. The entire product stream is monitored continuously with an optical density meter, and the a signal corresponding to actual content of the stream is compared with the desired content. A correction signal which varies in accordance with the difference between the actual content signal and the desired content signal is provided, and the content of the product is adjusted in response to the correction signal by an amount which decreases as the content approaches the desired level.

Abstract: An optical concentration measuring apparatus and method which provides an output signal which is a substantially linear function of the concentration. The apparatus includes a chamber for containing a fluid sample and a source of optical radiation which develops a beam which is transmitted through the chamber and the sample. A first photoelectric cell is disposed to receive the transmitted beam for generating an electrical signal commensurate with the intensity of the beam after passage through the chamber and the fluid sample, and a second photoelectric cell which is disposed at a selected angle with respect to the direct beam for providing an electrical signal commensurate with the light scattered in a direction corresponding to the selected signal. The signal commensurate with the scattered beam and the signal commensurate with the direct beam are applied to a signal processor which develops a ratio of these signals, one of the signals being multiplied by a constant.

Abstract: An apparatus for the measurement of particulate scattering in fluids which is particularly suitable for low particulate concentration. The apparatus includes a housing with a cuvette for confining the fluid containing the particulate to be measured placed substantially at the center of the housing. A collimated light source provides a beam directed along an axis for illuminating the contents of the cuvette, and a light sensitive detector for receiving light scattered due to particulates along a selected axis. Surrounding the detector are a pair of equidistantly spaced baffles, of cylindrical or spherical configuration, which have a pair of aligned apertures centered about the scattering axis, and nonreflective facing surfaces.