Abstract: An aquatic cultivation system includes a bowl and a siphon equipment. The bowl contains a liquid. The siphon equipment includes a liquid intake tube, and a liquid exit tube. At least one of the liquid tube and the liquid exit tube includes an air vent. The siphon equipment includes a water level control element corresponding to the air vent. The water level control element includes a connection portion and a brake portion located on the connection portion. The brake portion is movable on a reciprocal movement locus when subject to change of liquid water level elevation to close or release the air vent, thereby drives the siphon equipment to draw intermittently the liquid in the bowl. As a result, filths in the bowl can be removed and an intermittent turbulent current can be generated to prevent the filths from depositing at the bottom of the bowl.

Abstract: An external cultivation liquid siphon includes a liquid delivery equipment located in a cultivation liquid storage tank to continuously pump cultivation liquid to a plant cultivation pot and an external siphon equipment to bridge the cultivation liquid storage tank and the plant cultivation pot. The external siphon equipment has a tubular facility with variations in tubular diameters to generate siphonage action to fill the tubular facility with flowing liquid. Thus the cultivation liquid pumped by the liquid delivery equipment to the plant cultivation pot can circulate reciprocally between an upper liquid level and a lower liquid level to cultivate plants.

Abstract: A semiconductor wafer metrology technique which corrects for the effect of electrostatic forces on an atmospheric buoyancy compensated weight force measurement of a semiconductor wafer. In one aspect a wafer is weighed in a faraday cage whose is measured independently. A change in the measured weight of the faraday cage can be used to correct the measure weight the wafer. In another aspect a direct electrostatic measurement can be converted into a weight correction using a predetermined correlation between an electrostatic charge measured by the charge meter and a weight error force. In another aspect the electrostatic measurement may be indirect, e.g. derived from varying the distance between the wafer and a grounded plate parallel to the wafer to effect a change in an electrostatic force between the grounded plate and the wafer.

Abstract: A hydraulic scale for planter calibration is disclosed. The hydraulic scale includes a tube having indicia disposed thereon. The tube has a substantially closed bottom and a substantially open top. The indicia disposed on the tube include at least one scale having a zero line. The tube is configured to float substantially upright when positioned in a liquid, such that the zero line is substantially aligned with the surface of the liquid. A non-zero line portion of the scale is configured to align with the surface of the liquid when at least one of seeds and feed are placed within the tube.

Abstract: A portable underwater weighing apparatus is provided comprising a buoyant frame having sufficient buoyancy to support the apparatus and the weight of a person being weighed upon the surface of water, said frame defining a central opening therein; a support member attached to said frame and extending across said central opening; a weighing platform suspended from said support member within said central opening by means of suspension members; and load cells located along each of said suspension cables for measuring the relative load upon said cables when a person to be weighed is positioned on said weighing platform.

Abstract: In a method for measuring density and related properties by weighing a solid body while it is suspended in a fluid, there are significant advantages if the fluid has a) a density that is smaller than the density of water; b) a surface tension that is significantly smaller than the surface tension of water; c) a rate of evaporation that is slower than the evaporation rate of water, due to a vapor pressure that is smaller than the vapor pressure of water-by at least a factor of 2; and d) a water absorption of less than 1%. Preferably, the fluid contains at least one cyclosilane.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for ascertaining whether or not the contents of an aerosol medication inhaler canister are near depletion. The apparatus is comprised of a tank having transparent walls and a reference indicia on the tank visible through a transparent front wall panel. The reference indicia depicts the orientation of the longitudinal axis of an empty aerosol medication inhaler canister floating in water relative to horizontal. Preferably, the reference indicia is mounted on a dial attached to the rear wall of the tank. The dial includes a pointer. Canister model code marks are printed on the rear wall of the tank immediately beneath the dial. The user rotates the dial to align the pointer with the particular model code mark corresponding to the canister model the user wishes to measure. This brings the reference indicia on the dial into the fully discharged orientation which an empty canister of that model will assume when placed in water.

Abstract: An aerosol spray dispenser of flowable pharmaceutical product is provided with a flotation stabilizing arrangement such that it will float in water in a stabilized erect position even when empty of product; a scale is associated with the dispenser so that the depth at which it floats can be read by comparing the position of the surface of the water in which it floats with graduations on the scale. The stabilizing action may be obtained by placing the dispenser in a floatable bottom-weighted vial, with the scale located in the exterior of the vial, and the combination of vial and dispenser then floated in water. In other embodiments the vial need not be used, in which case the dispenser itself may be bottom-weighted to assure its stabilized erect flotation and the scale placed on the exterior of the dispenser; or, a cap may be provided for the dispenser which is positioned on the dispenser while both are floated in the water, the cap being top-weighted so that the assembly floats stably upside-down.

Abstract: An aerosol spray dispenser of flowable pharmaceutical product is provided with a flotation stabilizing arrangement such that it will float in water in a stabilized erect position even when empty of product; a scale is associated with the dispenser so that the depth at which it floats can be read by comparing the position of the surface of the water in which it floats with graduations on the scale. The stabilizing action may be obtained by placing the dispenser in a floatable bottom-weighted vial, with the scale located in the exterior of the vial, and the combination of vial and dispenser then floated in water. In other embodiments the vial need not be used, in which case the dispenser itself may be bottom-weighted to assure its stabilized erect flotation and the scale placed on the exterior of the dispenser; or, a cap may be provided for the dispenser which is positioned on the dispenser while both are floated in the water, the cap being top-weighted so that the assembly floats stably upside-down.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically measuring the apparent weight of a sludge contained in a liquid and a system for automatically measuring the PONSAR index of such a sludge, using the apparatus. The apparent weight of a liter of clarified liquid is obtained by means of optoelectronic means (22, 106, 108) allowing the measurement of the difference between the two levels of clarified liquid in a reservoir (18), corresponding to the reaching therein of an equilibrium position by a flask (20) successively filled with sludge-charged liquid and clarified liquid respectively. Detection means (52, 54) allow the measurement of the volume of sludge decanted in half an hour in a test tube (28) filled with 1 liter of sludge-charged liquid and 1.5 liter of clarified liquid. Calculation of the volume-to-weight ratio then gives the PONSAR index.Application to the operation of sewerage plants. FIG. 2.

Abstract: Apparatus for weighing a specimen while suspended in water to determine its specific gravity. A scale is mounted on a table. A rectangular frame having legs surrounding the scale is supported on the table. A liquid filled container is supported directly on the rectangular frame. A second rectangular frame having legs supported directly on the scale has its legs extending through the top of the first mentioned rectangular frame without contact with the top. A specimen is suspended by suspension means from the top of the second rectangular frame to the liquid in the container so that its weight and that of the second rectangular frame and suspension means are the only weights borne directly by the scale.

Abstract: A device for hydrostatic weighing of humans in existing swimming pools having a cradle for supporting a human body under water, a scale suspending the cradle for measuring the percent body fat of a human, a beam suspending the scale over the pool and a support frame for suspending the beam over the water. The frame includes a hollow base leg, a hollow upright post at the end of the base leg, and an upright post at the poolside end of the base leg so that the beam may be adequately supported. The weight of the human in the cradle is counterbalanced by filling the hollow base leg and hollow upright post with water by means of a hose and valve assembly located at the front of the base leg.

Abstract: A fluid measuring device comprises a plunger positioned within a tank containing fluid to be weighed by a load measuring cell and weight indicator. The weight of the plunger exceeds the maximum fluid upthrust exerted on it, and the net weight is transmitted to the load measuring cell and weight indicator through levers. At any fluid level there is a constant ratio between the horizontal cross-sectional areas of the plunger and the tank, and the weight indicator multiplies the measured load by this factor and any leverage ratios not accounted for by the load measuring cell. Callibration and testing is achieved, without having to remove the plunger from the tank or having to manipulate the fluid contained in the tank, by operating a lifting means to raise the plunger sufficiently to disconnect a hook joint, by applying a compensating moment to the lever through the application of the weight, by adjusting a counterpoise weight, and by using callibration weights.

Abstract: An assembly that enables an observer stationed outside an opaque upstanding bin that contains fungible goods such as grain, feed, and the like, to determine the volumetric contents of such bin, by weight.The assembly includes a frame assembly that is lowered within the bin by the observer stationed outside the bin until a plurality of circumferentially spaced shoe members-carried by such frame-contact the stored goods. The contact is sensed by the observer through a pulley-mounted cable member that carries the frame assembly at one of its ends, the other of its ends being manipulated by the observer to accomplish the lowering of such frame.A preselected outer surface of the bin is marked with vertically spaced graduations that indirectly indicate the volumetric contents of the bin, by weight, when an indicator member carried by the cable enters into visually perceived alignment with an individual one of said graduations.

Abstract: An apparatus for accurately and conveniently weighing the load carried in a vehicle provides a readout of the weight of the cargo by sensing the relative vertical movement of the load-carrying portion of the vehicle, which is proportional to the weight of the load, and by converting the sensed relative vertical motion to a readout of the weight of the load.

Abstract: Apparatus for determining the weight, density or volume of a solid body and the weight and density of a liquid. The apparatus comprises a capacitive transducer means and compensating means therefor, as well as electronic circuitry comprising computing means including memory means, calculating means, control means and digital display means. Methods of determining the weight, density or volume of solids and the weight and density of liquids are also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus suitable for determining the dry and submerged weights of a large volume of water-bearing food material on a more or less continuous basis. The determinations enable the calculation of the density of the food material and, therefore, its solids content.

Abstract: The immersible pneumatic weighing doser for molten metals comprises a measuring vessel communicating with a compressed gas source, and a weighing controller. The weighing controller is provided with a lever cantilevering said measuring vessel, and a stress pick-up acted upon by said lever. According to the invention, the measuring vessel is provided with a filling opening closing device comprising a drive disposed on the weighing controller lever.

Abstract: The invention concerns a weighing apparatus for weighing in rapid sequence a series of small weights particularly for use in the packaging industry. The apparatus incorporates a float which is resiliently suspended for vertical movement but held against transverse or torsional movement. The float cooperates with measuring means operative to give an electrical output signal.

Abstract: A buoyancy balance incorporating a buoyant body floating in a fluid and a load bowl or scale operatively coupled with the buoyant body. The invention contemplates the provision of means for partially compensating the change in buoyancy brought about by the movement of the load bowl.