Abstract: A method for chilling an animal carcass comprises spraying the outer surface of the carcass with a liquid, preferably water, which will freeze on the outer surface of the carcass to form a solid shell to prevent moisture loss from the carcass. Preferably, the liquid is sprayed onto the outer surfaces of the carcass at a critical point in the chilling process at which the outer surface of the carcass reaches a temperature close to the freezing point of the liquid. The liquid is preferably sprayed onto the carcass within a spray cabinet which is preferably positioned along a conveyor line in a refrigeration chamber through which the carcass is conveyed. The spray cabinet comprises heated side walls which maintain a temperature inside the cabinet greater than the freezing point of the liquid, which is sprayed onto the carcass by a plurality of nozzles located within the spray cabinet.

Abstract: A cooling air passage apparatus of a refrigerator includes: a left cooling air duct installed having a plurality of cooling air discharge holes in the vertical direction at the left side of the opened marginal portion of an inner case forming a storage chamber, and discharging cooling air from the left side of the storage chamber toward a refrigerator door; a right cooling air duct installed having a plurality of cooling air discharge holes in the vertical direction at the right side of the opened marginal portion of the inner case, and discharging cooling air from the right side of the storage chamber toward the refrigerator door; a ventilating unit for ventilating cooling air generated from a freezing system to the storage chamber; and a diverging unit for diverging and guiding cooling air ventilated by the ventilating unit to the left cooling air duct and the right cooling air duct.

Abstract: A device for providing a number of products. The device may include an enclosure and a number of directional light emitting diodes positioned within the enclosure for illuminating the products.

Abstract: A refrigeration device. The refrigeration device may include a refrigeration deck frame and a refrigeration deck removably positioned within the refrigeration deck frame. The refrigeration deck may include a sealing member and a seal compression mechanism positioned thereon. The seal compression mechanism may include a rotating member so as to urge the sealing member against the refrigeration deck frame.

Abstract: A decorative thermally insulated beverage bottle holder having a detachable carrying strap, a bottle opener, and a bottle cap. The bottle holder is made of a flexible insulating material such as neoprene. A vertically disposed zipper allows for the easy opening and closing of the contour fitting holder. Indicia can be placed on the holder to enhance its appearance.

Abstract: In an absorption chiller/absorption chiller-heater wherein a pressure rise preventing means such as a safety valve, rapture disk or breakable plate is disposed in a high temperature regenerator or in the refrigerant vapor piping from the high temperature regenerator, with the discharge opening of the pressure rise preventing means being open to the atmosphere, in order to prevent the pressure rise in the high temperature regenerator, the discharge opening of safety valve is connected to low pressure units such as the low temperature regenerator through pressure relief piping so that, when the safety valve is activated, the refrigerant vapor and absorption solution of the high pressure side will be discharged to low pressure units such as the low temperature regenerator designed so as to generally maintain a vacuum therein during operation.

Abstract: In an air conditioner using a flammable refrigerant of the present invention, an inner diameter of a liquid-side connecting pipe is reduced to less than 42.5% of that of a gas-side connecting pipe. By reducing the inner diameter of the pipe in which a liquid refrigerant of the air conditioner is reduced, it is possible to reduce the amount of refrigerant to be charged into the system without decreasing the capacity and the efficiency.

Abstract: An improved process and apparatus used to perform the process for batch distillation of a multi-component mixture containing three or more components is provided. The process and apparatus uses at least three distillation zones. For a time period during distillation operation, the component of intermediate volatility is collected along with the collection of either the volatile component and/or the heavy component.

Abstract: A gemstone setting is disclosed with rounded gemstones with outer faceted surfaces, each gemstone forming an outwardly contoured or convex gemstone configuration which is invisibly set in flush, surface to surface, mating relation within the setting. A section of a rounded gemstone is cut away, leaving a concave inset within and a curved concave inner surface on the gemstone. This concave configuration allows the partially cut away gemstone to mate in flush, surface to surface relation with the convex outer surface of the adjacent gemstone. Grooves within the side facets of the gemstone invisibly set the gemstones in position within supporting housings. The setting of gemstones in this fashion, employing surface to surface flush mating contact, can be used in infinite jewelry designs which employ rounded, curved edge, contoured or generally convex configured gemstones.

Abstract: An article of jewelry with ornamental male and female inserts that are reversible relative to their frame. The inserts form an opening on top to accept wire from a balled wire attached to the tubing on the frame. The balled wire allows the inserts to be flipped easily, while a wire, passing through the tubing, is the axis of rotation. A spring wire is attached to the bottom of the frame and fits into a notch formed by the mating inserts to secure the inserts in place. A stop is positioned on the back of the frame to prevent the inserts from extending beyond the back of the frame.

Abstract: The invention concerns a quartz glass body for an optical component for the transmission of UV radiation with a wavelength of 250 nm and less, especially for a wavelength of 157 nm, as well as a process for the manufacture of the quartz glass body where fine quartz glass particles are formed by flame hydrolysis of a silicon compound, deposited and vitrified. Suitability of a quartz glass as represented by high base transmission and radiation resistance depends on structural properties caused by local stoichiometric deviations, and on the chemical composition. The quartz glass body according to the inventions is distinguished by a uniform base transmission (relative change of base transmission ≦1%) in the wavelength range from 155 nm to 250 nm (radiation penetration depth of 10 mm) of at least 80%, a low OH content (less than 10 ppm by weight) and a glass structure substantially free from oxygen defect centers.

Abstract: A glass substrate for use as an information recording medium has an average surface roughness (Ra) in the range of 0.3 nm≦Ra<3.0 nm and includes surface irregularities shaped and distributed isotropically and arranged substantially in succession. The surface irregularities include 5 to 50,000 convexities having a height of at least 3 nm and no convexities having a height of at least 15 nm within an area of 50 &mgr;m×50 &mgr;m. A porous region produced by an acid treatment process in the glass substrate would be completely removed if excessively etched by an alkaline solution. However, the etching process using the alkaline solution can be stopped at a stage where the pores in the porous region are enlarged by controlling conditions for the acid and alkali treatment processes.

Abstract: The disclosed invention includes a method of making an optical fiber drawn from a multiple crucible. The method includes moving a first crucible of the multiple crucible relative to a second crucible of the multiple crucible. The invention also includes minimizing core and cladding diffusion. A tip of the first crucible is disposed axially above a tip of the second crucible by a preselected distance. The invention further includes the ability to alter a diameter of the core of the fiber. A differential pressure is applied to the first crucible. A positive differential pressure is applied to increase the core diameter. A negative differential pressure is applied to decrease the core diameter. Furthermore, the invention includes drawing the fiber under non-isothermal conditions; there is a thermal gradient of at least 10° C./m between the two tips.

Abstract: The invention involves fabricating a ceramic tube, e.g., a silica overcladding tube, with very little bow, e.g., about 0.3 mm per meter or less. In particular, the invention involves securing the tube by a handle that both allows the tube to hang plumb during treatment, and also is capable of deforming during such heat treatment to maintain the plumb arrangement.

Abstract: A fiber (106) having low polarization mode dispersion is made by heating the end of a preform (100) with a furnace (101). The fiber is drawn from the heated end. The fiber passes between two rollers (102, 104). As the fiber passes therebetween, the angular tilt of each of the rollers is changed so that a spin is imparted to the fiber.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an optical fiber (100) having low PMD, comprises the steps of: a) heating at least one end portion (3a) of a preform (3); b) drawing an optical fiber (100) from a free end of said heated end portion (3a) along a fiber drawing axis (I—I); c) coating said optical fiber (100) with a suitable coating material; d) applying to said coated optical fiber (100) a torque about said fiber drawing axis (I—I), e) winding said coated optical fiber (100) onto a collecting spool (9). According to the invention, step d) is carried out by means of a pulley (16) supported upstream of said collecting spool (9) and rotated about the fiber drawing axis (I—I), said optical fiber (100) being wound up onto said pulley (16) for an angle of at least about 360°. Advantageously, such method also allows to notably increase the amount of optical fiber produced per unit of time with respect to the prior art.

Abstract: Optical fiber is provided with a periodically reversing spin while the fiber is pulled through a melt zone. A cooled region of the fiber downstream from the melt zone passes between a pair of opposed elements. The opposed elements are moved so that surface regions engaging the fiber move in opposite lateral directions relative to one another, thus spinning the fiber about its axis. The lateral movement of the engaged surface portions is periodically reversed to reverse the spin direction. The opposed elements may include belts or rollers, which can be tilted to orientations oblique to the longitudinal direction of the fiber.

Abstract: Knitting of a knitted fabric having a forked portion which is forked into a first knitting region and a second knitting region at a certain point of its knitting width by using a flat knitting machine including at least two yarn feeders arranged over needle beds. Prior to the knitted fabric being forked, a pair of right and left widening stitch loops that confront each other across the forked portion are formed at the back side of the knitted fabric during a course knitting of the knitted fabric, first, and, then, two groups of stitch loops, consisting of a pair of right and left stitch loops that are formed at a front side of the knitted fabric and confront each other across the forked portion and a pair of right and left widening stitch loops that are newly formed, are crossed to each other across a boundary of the forked portion. This can provide enhanced strength for the forked portion without impairing the appearance of the knitted fabric.

Abstract: A fluctuation in tension of a knitting yarn to be fed is reduced, and the knitting yarn having an accurate length is fed even if the amount of demand for the knitting yarn is suddenly changed. A knitting yarn is interposed between a main roller and a driven roller and is thus fed, and is supplied from a yarn feeding port to a fabric, with storage depending on an inclination of a buffer rod. A yarn feeding controller predicts the amount of demand for the knitting yarn based on a signal sent from a knitting controller and PID controls a servo motor such that a position of a tip portion of the buffer rod aims for a position of an origin according to the inclination angle of the buffer rod, which angle is detected by an inclination angle sensor.

Abstract: The invention concerns lingerie articles comprising at least a moulded region to create a retaining and supporting volume of at least a curved part of the human body, made from a tubular knitted fabric (1) formed with a first extensible and thermoformable material, provided with a ribbing (2) which forms one of the edges of said article elastically enclosing the body, the final shape of the article being produced by cuts performed in the tubular knitted fabric from the free end opposite the ribbing.

Abstract: Shirts may be fabricated with a minimal number of sewn seams utilizing a first circularly knitted fabric tube forming a shirt body and a second circularly knitted fabric tube forming shoulder portions and sleeves by orienting the tubes essentially transversely to one another and sewing one axial end of the tubular fabric of the shirt body to a side portion medially along the length of the tubular fabric of the shoulders and sleeves.

Abstract: There is provided lower torso garments that have an integral panty or brief, circularly knit garment blanks for such lower torso garments, and methods of producing lower torso garments that have an integral panty or brief from circularly knit garment blanks. Lower torso garments according to the present invention have an outer layer and an inner layer. The inner layer has an integral panty. The garment is formed from a blank that is circularly knitted with a welt band seamlessly joined to a first fabric segment forming the outer layer and a second fabric segment forming the inner layer with the integral panty.

Abstract: A double-layer sock includes substantially coextensive, separately knitted inner and outer layers that cooperatively form a fabric receptacle dimensioned to fit over the foot and at least a portion of the leg of the wearer. The separately knitted inner and outer fabric layers are joined by sewn attachment stitches. The attachment stitches include stitching extending completely around the open leg end of the receptacle and tack stitching located within the toe sections of the layers. The layers are each preferably knit in a manner, such as by a circular knitting machine, requiring toe closure seams. The toe closure seams face toward one another in a juxtaposed relationship, such that the rib presented by each seam is overlain and concealed by the opposite fabric layer. The outer layer preferably presents inwardly facing terry loops so as to further minimize bulging created by the closure seams. A form for facilitating fabrication of a double-layer sock is also disclosed.

Abstract: A drum type washing machine includes a drum for accommodating laundry and a variable speed electric motor for rotating the drum. A rise time is detected when the drum or the motor is accelerated from a first predetermined rotational speed to a second predetermined rotational speed while a predetermined constant power is being supplied to the motor. A fall time is detected when the drum or the motor is decelerated from a third predetermined rotational speed to a fourth predetermined rotational speed while the motor is in a free running state. A weight of the laundry in the drum is detected on the basis of the detected rise and fall times. A balance of the laundry in the drum is detected. The detected weight is compensated according to a result of balance detection.

Abstract: A safety device for a laundry washing machine or the like where the washing machine comprises a treatment chamber (12) for laundry that is pressurized in order to treat the laundry with a treating agent, for instance, carbon dioxide. The treatment chamber has an inlet opening (13) which during the treatment is covered by a door (16) that is secured to a housing (11) enclosing the chamber by means of a first holder device (35) which is part of a locking means. The locking means also comprises a second holder device (34) which is activated if the first holder device (35) is deactivated and thereby keeps the door (16) in its closed position as long as chamber is pressurized.

Abstract: A dynamic balancer for an automatic washer includes an annular hollow first chamber. A first fluid is held within the first chamber and only partly fills the first chamber. An annular hollow second chamber is disposed adjacent to the first chamber and includes a plurality of objects disposed therein which are movable along the chamber. A second fluid is also held in the second chamber and, in combination with the solid bodies, only partly fills the second chamber. The first fluid in the first chamber produces a first balancing characteristic of the dynamic balancer. The movable objects within the second chamber produce a second balancing characteristic of the, dynamic balancer. The second fluid held in the second chamber also produces a third balancing characteristic of the dynamic balancer.

Abstract: A garment lock has a casing, a spool, two springs, and a member, flexible long and thin. The casing has a first side with a post and a second side with tabs, both joined by a rim. The casing attaches to a garment with a pin. The spool rotates upon the post within the casing. The springs resist rotation and movement of the spool. The member as wire, chain, or tape, winds upon the spool. Upon reaching the desired length of the member, the casing removably locks the spool. After use, the flexible thin member retracts into the casing.

Abstract: The present invention 10 discloses a disk-like member 15 that would be placed on the cover-retaining flange 20 in the manhole tube 22 on which the cover 16 would ordinarily rest. The operator would then insert a turnkey 24 through a central recess 26 in the manhole security device 10 until it matched up with its corresponding mate on the underside of the plate and then rotate the turnkey, thereby extending two locking members 46 in opposing directions until their tips 33 are imbedded in the soft metal of the manhole ring 18. The extended, imbedded locking members 46 below the cover retaining flange 20 prevent the manhole security device from being removed until the proper mating turnkey 24 is inserted and the locking members 46 are retracted. The manhole cover 16 is placed over the locked manhole security device 10 until such time that authorized removal is desired.

Abstract: A vehicle door handle has a support, a lock cylinder, and a handle recess unit. A lock bolt on the support has a release position, allowing mounting and demounting of the handle recess unit, and a securing position preventing demounting. The lock cylinder is bayonet-coupled in the support. A locking member locks the coupled lock cylinder, but can move from a locking into an unlocking position allowing coupling and decoupling of the lock cylinder. A cover is movable between an initial position preventing access to the lock bolt, and an end position, allowing access to the lock bolt. In the unlocking position, the locking member prevents a reversing movement of the cover; in the locking position, it allows a reversing movement. In the end position the cover prevents access to and adjustment of the locking member, but in its initial position allows access and adjustment between the unlocking and locking positions.

Abstract: Although a door locking handle assembly is small as a whole in thickness, it permits through a computerized personal management system of users a plurality of persons or users to have easily access to instruments contained in a box which is provided with the door locking handle assembly. In this assembly, a combination lock (19), which is opened by turning each of a set of its specially marked dial discs (21) a given number of times to establish a unique combination of marks of the dial discs (21), is incorporated in a door handle (13) or a base body (1) of the assembly. In operation, a locking member (44) of the assembly prevents the door handle (13) from being pulled out of the base body (1), and is driven to reach its unlocked position when the combination lock (19) is opened.

Abstract: An automobile steering wheel lock with alarm function in the invention has a locking means combined in a lock housing of a lock body and comprising a sleeve, several core plates, two actuating rods, a driving member, a shell, a moving member and an alarm device having a circuit plate connecting a buzzer plate with electric cords and two actuating pieces corresponding to the actuating rods. The actuating rods can pass through the core plates and the driving member having an axle rod fixed with the circuit plate and an end inserted in the moving member. The alarm device will sound when a tool is inserted to push one of the actuating rods to contact with one of the actuating pieces, but not sound when a matching key is inserted to match with the core plates to make both actuating rods contact with or withdraw from the actuating pieces simultaneously.

Abstract: A lockset keyway cover-up mechanism is composed of a rotor, a retainer, a bushing, magnetic pins and springs adapted with a key, which is provided with an unlocking part containing multiples of magnets, characterized by that the keyway and multiples of pinholes to accommodate the springs and those magnetic pins are directly or with a rotor case cover provided on the front end of the rotor; multiples of insertion holes are provided in recess on the retainer so that the retainer holds against the end of the rotor by means of the bushing and those insertion holes of the retainer are held in position by the insertion of those magnetic pins protruding from the front face of the rotor for the through hole of the retainer to be at a location apart from the keyway, which in turn is covered up.

Abstract: A cylinder lock has a first tumbler, a second tumbler and a third tumbler all received in a hollow cylindrical housing. The first tumbler is selectively rotatable relative to the second tumbler and the second tumbler together with the first tumbler is selectively rotatable to the third tumbler. By pressing downward the actuating pin, a rearrangement between first tumbler pins and second tumbler pins by relative rotation of the first tumbler to the second tumbler adapts to a different key.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing annularly corrugated metal tubes, particularly the outer conductor of coaxial high-frequency cables, using at least one pressure roller revolving around a plain tube. The corrugations are formed in the plain tube by the teeth of the pressure roller, which is rotatable about an axis at a 90° angle to the longitudinal axis of the tube, and the axis of rotation of the pressure roller, itself in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tube, revolves around the plain tube being fed to the pressure roller as the corrugations are produced. The plain tube in turn rotates the pressure roller by its feed. The tips of the teeth are substantially flat, the tube is tightly guided in a guide bushing (12) in front of and behind the engagement with the pressure roller (13), and the number of teeth (Z) ranges between 7 and 11, preferably between 8 and 10.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an inclined helical spring having a plurality of coils along an inclined coil axis. Each coil constituting a part or the whole length of the helical compression spring is increased and decreased in diameter along the longitudinal axis of the spring, and forming the longitudinal axis of the spring in a free state thereof to be inclined substantially at a predetermined angle to an axis to be mounted with the spring. For example, one section of each coil having approximately a half of the circumference of each coil, which is divided by a plane including the coil axis, is increased in diameter, whereas the other one section of approximately a half of the circumference of each coil is decreased in diameter. The inclined helical spring may be mounted on a vehicle suspension.

Abstract: In metal stamping dies, by taking advantage of improved material flow by selectively warming the die, flat sections of the die can contribute to the flow of material throughout the workpiece. Local surface heating can be accomplished by placing a heating block in the die. Distribution of heating at the flat lower train central regions outside of the bend region allows a softer flow at a lower stress to enable material flow into the thinner, higher strain areas at the bend/s. The heating block is inserted into the die and is powered by a power supply.

Abstract: A die assembly for machines used to bend lengths of pipe for pipeline applications. The die assembly includes three major components, an exterior housing, a flexible die, and an eggcrate assembly. The exterior housing encompasses the flexible die and eggcrate assembly and pins into conventional bending machines. The flexible die includes a plurality of narrow plate segments positioned along a pair of tie rods. The plate segments are free floating and spaced so as to converge or diverge with respect to the direction of flex of the tie rods. The eggcrate assembly provides support for a plurality of spring plates. Each spring plate has a radius of curvature consistent with the amount of desired bend in the length of pipe.

Abstract: A method of compensating a MOS gas sensor is described and which includes using a MOS gas sensor to provide a signal indicative of gas concentration of a target gas in an ambient; providing a signal representative of dew point of the ambient; and modifying the signal from the MOS gas sensor using the signal representative of dew point to simultaneously compensate for the effects of both temperature and relative humidity on the MOS gas sensor.

Abstract: Before starting an air-fuel ratio feedback control utilizing an air-fuel ratio sensor, activation of a wide-range air-fuel ratio sensor in an internal combustion engine is diagnosed by calculating heat transferred to and from the air-fuel ratio sensor, the output value of the wide-range air-fuel ratio sensor varies in response to oxygen concentration in exhaust which varies according to the air-fuel ratio of an intake air-fuel mixture of the internal combustion engine. The activation time from the starting of the engine until the air-fuel ratio sensor is activated is estimate based on the calculated result of the heat transfer. Alternatively, activation of the sensor is diagnosed under the condition that an output voltage of the oxygen concentration detecting unit of the sensor is fixed to a value either equal to or above a rich-side set voltage or equal to or under a lean-side set voltage, before starting the air-fuel ratio feedback control.

Abstract: An upper housing is ultrasonically welded to a lower housing forming a hermetic seal about two opposed ferromagnetic leads extending from a reed switch. A shock sensing magnet has a cylindrical bore and is spring biased within the housing to slide along the glass capsule of the reed switch in response to acceleration. The magnet functions as a shock sensing mass, and is shaped to increase the reed switch dwell time. The reed switch leads are bent to extend downwardly along the sides of the housing and are bent horizontally to be parallel to the housing sides and a circuit board. A strip of mu-metal wraps three sides of the housing and has tabs extending partly beneath the housing for soldering to the circuit board. The magnet and the housing are constructed from plastics which can withstand momentary high temperature associated with a re-flow solder process.

Abstract: A process for cleaning exhaust gas flow from an internal combustion engine using a catalyst, a lambda probe is disposed in the exhaust gas flow upstream from the catalyst and is connected to a controller that actuates the lambda probe, the controller receives a raw signal output from the lambda probe and forms a measurement signal that is supplied to control the internal combustion engine. The process includes regulating operation of the internal combustion engine such that a predetermined value of the lambda probe corresponds to a certain level of the measurement signal. Trimming the certain level of the measurement signal by a set value determined with an additional measuring pickup located downstream of the catalyst is performed, the trimming corrects the certain level of the measurement signal that corresponds to the predetermined value of the lambda probe.

Abstract: There is provided a gas analyzing apparatus capable of minimizing gas remaining by integrating gas switching apparatuses into one and capable of analyzing impurities of ppb level to sub-ppb level contained in various kinds of high-purity gases efficiently and accurately.

Abstract: A gas sensor 1 includes an outer cylinder 18, a metallic shell 3, and a sensor element 2. The metallic shell 3 is disposed inside the outer cylinder 18. The sensor element 2 is disposed in a through-hole 30 formed in the metallic shell 3 and is adapted to detect a component of a gas to be measured. A sealing material layer 32 is mainly made of glass and is disposed between the inner surface of the metallic shell 3 and the outer surface of the sensor element 2. A cushion layer 34 formed of a porous inorganic substance is disposed in contact with the end of the sealing material layer 32 on the front-end side with respect to the axial direction of the sensor element 2. A cushion layer 33 formed of talc glass is disposed in contact with the end of the sealing material layer 32 on the rear-end side with respect to the axial direction of the sensor element 2.

Abstract: A high-sensitivity carbon monoxide sensor is shown and described. The sensor includes a sensing element having a catalyst dispersed over a metal oxide layer. The catalyst is capable of adsorbing carbon monoxide. The sensing element can also include a heater and a temperature sensor. A flow sensor is provided for sensing a flow rate of gas directed at the sensing element. The signal processing module is coupled to the flow sensor and the temperature sensor. A flow sensor sends signals indicative of the flow rate to the processing module while the temperature sensor sends signals indicative of the temperature of the sensing element to the processing module. After carbon monoxide has been adsorbed onto the catalyst and metal oxide layer for a fixed time period, the heater is activated to heat the sensing element above the light-off temperature or at least as high as the oxidation temperature of the adsorbed carbon monoxide.

Abstract: A method for error detection during an evaluation of sensor signals, in particular during an evaluation of output signals of knock sensors in an internal combustion engine, with at least one sensor and an evaluating device connected therewith, the method includes the steps of forming at least one variable reference level from output signals of a sensor or sensors; comparing the variable reference level for error detection with upper and/or limiting values; making a conclusion about an error in the case of a predeterminable exceeding of the upper and/or exceeding of the lower limiting value by the actual reference level; and forming at least one limiting value in dependence on preceding reference values.

Abstract: A method for determining the air/fuel ratio in an internal combustion engine combustion chamber having at least two ignition plugs spaced apart from one another. Ion-current measurement is carried out during successive operating cycles, wherein a first ignition plug is operated as an ion-current sensor and does not release ignition energy. The time of arrival at the first ignition plug of a flame front formed at the ignition point of a second ignition plug, is detected. The detected time of arrival of the flame front, the ignition point and the ignition-plug spacing are used to determine the speed of the flame and, from this, the air/fuel ratio is determined as a function of the speed and/or load of the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: The invention relates to a test gas leakage detection apparatus (1) comprising a test chamber (2) and supply and measuring devices such as fore-pumps and high-vacuum pumps, test gas detectors, electronic components, etc. In order to construct an apparatus of this type in a manner which is simple and which does not restrict mobility, the invention provides that the test chamber (2) and the supply and measuring devices are combined to form a modular unit, and that the test chamber (2) is supported on a housing (3) in which the supply and measuring devices are accommodated. In addition, air cooling devices are assigned to thermally critical components of the supply and measuring devices.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for simply and economically detecting leaks in a isolation valve disposed in an on-line fluid transport system having at least an upstream pipe and a downstream pipe is provided, the apparatus comprising a isolation valve connected between the upstream pipe and downstream pipe for isolating fluid flow through the transport system; wherein the isolation valve includes at least one upstream seal, one downstream seal, and an inner cavity effectively isolated from the fluid flow by the seals.

Abstract: An active charcoal filter (20) of a tank-venting system stores fuel vaporizing in a tank (10). In order to check the operability of the tank-venting system, a leakage diagnostic unit (60) having a pump (50) is provided wherein the pump (50) is connected downstream of a switchover valve (70). A reference leak (81) is arranged parallel to the switchover valve (70). The switchover valve (70) includes two switching positions I and II. In the position I, the pump (50) is pressure-conductively connected to the line (80) and then pumps ambient air into the line (80) through the reference leak (81). The pumped flow, which is present at the output (51) of the pump (50), is, in the position I of the switchover valve (70) pure ambient air and, in the position II of the switchover valve (70), is air cleaned by the active charcoal filter (20). The pumped flow can therefore be outputted to the ambient of the vehicle via a line (52) without problems for the environment.

Abstract: A diagnostic method and system detects leaks in a vapor handling system of a vehicle that includes a fuel tank and a pressure/vacuum sensor that senses pressure and vacuum in the fuel tank. A canister recovers vapor from the fuel tank. A canister vent solenoid selectively provides atmospheric air to the canister. A controller connected to the canister vent solenoid and the pressure/vacuum sensor executes a leakage detection test that is capable of detecting leaks in the vapor handling system that have a diameter on the order of 0.020 inch. The leakage detection test includes a volatility test phase, a pressure phase, a vacuum phase, an analysis phase and a results phase. In other features, the leakage detection algorithm generates data sets having greater than 25 standard deviations between leakage and no-leakage data sets.