Abstract: The invention is an assembly of abutting vacuum insulated panels configured and arranged to form a retention chamber with a slip surface providing a low kinetic coefficient of friction interposed between the panels within the abutment areas.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for shipping articles under controlled temperature conditions, by providing an article enclosure surrounded by a set of hollow walls, and at least partially filling the hollow walls with phase change material, and providing an insulating enclosure about the article enclosure, the insulating enclosure having a relatively high “R” factor for restricting the flow of thermal flux into and out of the article enclosure.

Abstract: An apparatus for shipping articles under controlled temperature conditions, having a metallic article enclosure surrounded by a set of insulating panels, with a predetermined volume separation between the enclosure and the insulating panels, and the predetermined volume being filled with phase change material.

Abstract: An apparatus for shipping articles under controlled temperature conditions, having alternating enclosure walls for providing temperature insulation and for providing alternating reservoirs of phase change materials, wherein the respective phase change materials are different in each alternating reservoir. The innermost reservoirs comprise a thermal insert which modifies the control temperature inside the container.

Abstract: An apparatus for shipping articles under controlled temperature conditions, having a metallic article enclosure surrounded by a set of insulating panels, with a predetermined volume separation between the enclosure and the insulating panels, and the predetermined volume being filled with phase change material.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for shipping articles under controlled temperature conditions, by providing an article enclosure surrounded by a set of hollow walls, and at least partially filling the hollow walls with phase change material, and providing an insulating enclosure about the article enclosure, the insulating enclosure having a relatively high “R” factor for restricting the flow of thermal flux into and out of the article enclosure.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring and comparing the permeant transmission rate through film material on a moving conveyor, including a first and second chamber through which the film material is moved, a permeant supply to the first chamber and a permeant detector connected to the second chamber. A computer processor is connected to the detector to quantify the detected amounts of permeant and to compare the detected permeant amounts with similar amounts detected for a different material sample, and for determining the permeant transmission rate characteristics of the film material by such comparison.

Abstract: A process for measuring the vapor transmission rate characteristics of a test material by first measuring the vapor transmission through a test chamber and sample material and subsequently repeating the measurement with the test material adjacent the sample material. By subtracting the first measured transmission rate reciprocal from the second measured transmission rate reciprocal, a value is determined which is the reciprocal of the vapor transmission rate characteristic of the test material.

Abstract: A device for checking the weights of individual capsules in a stream of capsules by passing the stream of capsules past a capacitance sensor which measures the capacitance of each capsule as representative of the capsule weight, and passing the stream of capsules past a velocity sensor which measures the velocity of each capsule as representative of the capsule weight. The measured capacitance and measured velocity values are each compared against preset ranges of values, and a capsule is mechanically deflected from the moving stream if the comparison shows either measured value to be outside the respective preset range of values.

Abstract: A method for measuring the permeability of a gas through a material, wherein the steps include exposing the material to the gas to be measured and measuring the outgassing characteristics of the material over increments of time to develop exponential expressions representative of the measured amounts and solving the exponential expressions for the diffusion coefficient D and the solubility coefficient S; and then calculating the permeability of the material by forming the product of the diffusion coefficient D and the solubility coefficient S.

Abstract: A method for measuring the permeability of a gas through a material, wherein the steps include exposing the material to the gas to be measured and measuring the outgassing characteristics of the material over increments of time, to develop exponential expressions representative of the measured amounts, and solving the exponential expressions for the diffusion coefficient D and the solubility coefficient S; and then calculating the permeability of the material by forming the product of the diffusion coefficient D and the solubility coefficient S.

Abstract: An absorption cell of the type used to measure gas concentrations by pressure fluctuations of the concentrated gas in an IR radiation field, wherein the IR radiation through the field is affected by the pressurized gas fluctuations to thereby provide an electrical measurement of gas concentration. The sensitivity, linearity and accuracy of the measured gas concentration is improved by controlling the surface roughness of the interior walls of the measurement cell; the wall roughness is preferably controlled to between 15 and 70 microinches.

Abstract: An oxygen sensor constructed as a coulometric sensor and capable of detecting oxygen concentrations in the range of 1% or greater concentrations. The coulometric sensor utilizes a gas flow path which has a predetermined section constructed with oxygen-permeable tubing, wherein a portion of the oxygen flowing through the gas flow path will permeate into the sensor to generate an electric current flow indicative of the permeating oxygen level. The length of the tubing section which is constructed from oxygen-permeable material maybe selectively adjusted to control the relative attenuation of oxygen flow through the sensor.

Abstract: A method for reactivating and recovering electrolyte cells by drilling a hole through the battery case and injecting a volume of electrolyte liquid into the case for absorption into the cell separator material. The battery is subjected to multiple charge/discharge cycles while the cell opening remains unsealed, and is subjected to a final charge prior to sealing the drilled hole through the cell outer case.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for extracting and measuring a gas sample from a package. The apparatus includes a hollow needle for puncturing the package, a suction pump for withdrawing a gas sample, and an intermediate sensor and valve to receive and direct gas flow through the system. The method includes puncturing the package, activating the suction pump for a predetermined time, equalizing the pressure drop across the sensor, and measuring the gas oxygen content.

Abstract: A method apparatus for constructing an oxygen sensor in a layered construction including an anode element, a cathode element and an intermediate electrolyte-retentive insulator, wherein the layered anode element has a central flat metallic plate with two narrower outer plates bound against respective surfaces of the plate by an electrical conductor wrap, and the cathode element is uniformly compressed toward the anode along an elongate length by elongated support struts.

Abstract: A method apparatus for constructing an oxygen sensor in a layered construction including an anode element, a cathode element and an intermediate electrolyte-retentive insulator, wherein the layered anode element has a central flat metallic plate with two narrower outer plates bound against respective surfaces of the plate by an electrical conductor wrap, and the cathode element is uniformly compressed toward the anode along an elongate length by elongated support struts.

Abstract: An oxygen detection device utilizing a water permeable humidifier and two galvanic cells connected in series gas flow connection, each of the galvanic cells having an anode and cathode; the respective cathodes being connected to a common connection between two load resistors, and the respective anodes being separately connected across one each of the load resistors; the device further having a third galvanic cell in close proximity to a water permeable tube to provide an oxygen getter and humidifier.

Abstract: A capacitance sensor for measuring changes in thickness of a dielectric film, such as plastic film, passed through the sensor, having an upper and lower housing projecting from a back plate, the lower housing having an upper electrode surface and the upper housing having an insulator aligned with the electrode surface; the insulator having an electrode conneced to an electrical conductor; the materials for constructing the two housings, the electrode and the insulator all having a coefficient of linear temperature expansion of less than 1.times.10.sup.-6 per degree Centigrade.

Abstract: A capacitance sensor for measuring thickness variations in film materials, having a sensor mounted in a housing plate slot, with an air gap between the sensor and the housing plate, the sensor being affixed to an insulator support plate, the insulator support plate being affixed to the housing plate, with a bottom plate affixed against the lower side of the housing plate, having enlarged openings for permitting the passage of a conductor to the sensor; all of the conductor and insulator materials having a coefficient of linear temperature expansion of less than 1.times.10.sup.-6 per degree centrigrade, the insulator materials having virtually no dialectic variation with temperature.