Abstract: A method for monitoring flow condition of a liquid metal which employs a detector consisting of an excitation coil applied with an a.c. current and at least two detection coils disposed on both sides of said excitation coil. The detector is disposed in the flowing direction of the liquid metal and a peak point of the cross-correlation function of fluctuation signals occurring in said detection coils is examined. By detecting the moving direction, the polarity and the magnitude of the peak point, the flow condition can be comprehensively ascertained, such as a change in flow velocity, a change in void fraction, the presence of voids and transit velocity of void.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for detecting ferrous contamination in a fluid such as engine transmission lubricant. The apparatus has two spaced apart electrodes, a magnetic flux extending between the electrodes the lines of force of which are substantially rectilinear, the electrodes being connectable to a circuit for signalling when an electrically conductive path is formed from one electrode to the other by metal particles attracted to the flux and formed into an electrode spanning bridge. For preference the sensor is a hollow plug, which in use is screwed into a transmission housing port, and has a flat end wall in contact with the lubricant in the housing. The plug contains a magnet having both poles disposed towards the plug end wall, a portion of the end wall acting as one electrode. A ferromagnetic disc mounted externally from the plug end wall, and electrically insulated therefrom, overlies the poles.

Abstract: An electromagnetic system is provided to monitor the activity of a ferrous debris detector of the type which uses electric discharges to automatically disintegrate magnetically concentrated accumulations of micron sized wear particles in hydraulic systems. The data provided are used to detect instances of abnormal wear as shown by either an unusually large number of such discharges or an excessive rate of discharge. Where such abnormality occurs the monitor will provide an audiovisual alarm to warn of the problem in time to prevent catastrophic failure of the system.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon detection system is provided for use in a subsea hydrocarbon production installation which includes production tree assemblies, an electro-hydraulic control module located on the sea floor and remote from the production trees, cable assemblies interconnecting the control module with the production trees through magnetic coupling devices. A pair of inductive elements are electrically coupled by the surrounding sea water. Displacement of the conductive sea water by escaping hydrocarbons affects the coupling between the inductive elements to produce a hydrocarbon-presence-responsive output signal. The inductive elements are resonated within a selected frequency range by capacitors coupled with a primary inductor coil by auxiliary windings on a common core element. An excitation signal sweeps over the selected frequency range at a rate effective to produce a peak detected signal at the resonant frequency.

Abstract: The invention is an improved liquid level indicator for the liquid in a reservoir. The invention consists of float mechanism in a framework which permits the float mechanism to be immersed in the liquid in the reservoir and float thereon. The float mechanism magnetically controls a companion device in a hollow enclosure, protected from contact with the liquid in the reservoir. As the level of the liquid in the reservoir changes and the float mechanism follows the changing level of the liquid, it likewise changes the position of the companion device through its magnetic control. The companion device is wired to signal the liquid level at an appropriate read-out site.

Abstract: In order to determine the homogeneity of a magnetic dispersion, part of the dispersion is conducted through a measuring cell prior to its application to a base, the size, number and type of those regions of the magnetic dispersion which interfere with the homogeneity being determined with the aid of magnetic measurements. The measuring cell contains a magnetic head, a magnetic dispersion is made to flow in a stream of constant cross section past the air gap of the magnetic head, and a magnetic field at least partially penetrating the magnetic dispersion is produced. From the characteristics of the amplified output voltage of the magnetic head the various parameters of the inhomogeneities in the magnetic dispersion can then be ascertained.

Abstract: An electromagnetic system is provided to capture ferrous particles in a circulating fluid medium and provide analog and digital data which relate both to the mass of any significant individual particles captured and the total mass of such particles accumulated in a given time for subsequent retrieval. A periodic self checking capability is also included to determine if the system is functioning normally.

Abstract: 1. An underwater eddy current detector comprising a hollow elongated conding member, said conducting member having a plurality of longitudinal conducting paths forming portions of the exterior surface of said conducting member, a portion of said conducting member formed of material having conductivity of lesser degree than said conducting member and arranged to direct eddy currents induced in said conducting member to said conducting paths, a plurality of toroidal detector coils wound upon annular laminated structures, each of said detector coils encircling one of said conducting paths, whereby a potential which is proportional to a detected signal is induced in said coils when said conducting member is submerged in a conducting medium and located in the path of flow of a plurality of currents flowing in said conducting medium.

Abstract: A method of, and apparatus for, regulating the bath level of a continuous casting mold by means of electromagnetic alternating fields which contemplates measuring changes in the inductance as a function of the bath level and employing such measured changes as an input signal for bath level regulation. According to specific aspects of the invention an electromagnetic primary alternating field is directed at one mold wall from the side of the continuous casting mold where the molten metal is poured-in. This alternating field induces a current in the mold wall and a secondary electromagnetic alternating field produced by such current is measured and employed as an input signal for regulation of the bath level in the continuous casting mold.

Abstract: A powdered toner mixture comprising a non-magnetic toner component and a ferromagnetic carrier component is caused to flow downwardly through a vertical conduit by gravity. An electromagnetic coil is wound around the conduit and energized with an alternating electric signal. An electrically conductive and magnetic mass is disposed inside the conduit. The permeability of the toner mixture decreases as the toner density, or the ratio of the toner component to the carrier component, increases. The lower the permeability of the toner mixture, the greater the proportion of magnetic flux passing through the mass. The flux passing through the mass induces eddy currents therein which, in combination with hysterisis and skin effect losses, dissipate a portion of the electric signal. The amount of power dissipation is a function of the relative proportion of flux through the mass and thereby the toner density and, when measured, provides a measure of the toner density.

Abstract: Deterioration of a dry developing substance causes toner particles to be so strongly adhered to carrier particles that they cannot be readily separated therefrom. The present apparatus comprises means for applying a predetermined electrostatic or air suction force to the developer to readily remove toner therefrom except for spent toner particles strongly adhered to the carrier particles. The toner density, or the ratio of toner to carrier particles, is then measured electromagnetically or optically and compared to a reference value. The developer deterioration determines what proportion of toner will be removed from the developer by said force and thereby the subsequently sensed toner density. The higher the sensed toner density, the greater the degree of deterioration.

Abstract: A device for determining the blood sedimentation rate in a substantially vertical test tube, where the electrical or magnetic property of a given volume of liquid, which is changed by the settling of the erythrocytes in the test tube is measured as a function of time, by means of an oscillator with an output circuit which is completed via the column of liquid to be measured and by means of a measured-value pickup, having an output signal of which a pulse sequence of a definite frequency can be fed to a pulse counter with an indicating device.A coil-capacitor resonant circuit is coupled inductively with its coil or capacitively with its capacitor to liquid at a definite height in the test tube. An additional coil inductively coupled to the resonant-circuit coil serves as the measuring pickup. A retuning circuit is provided for the retuning of the resonance of the tuned L-C circuit which is detuned by the lowering of the boundary layer between the erythrocyte column and the plasma in the test tube.

Abstract: In detecting the presence or absence of a developing agent or determining the residual amount thereof, at least one coil is arranged outside a developing agent container, so that a change in magnetic permeability caused by the presence or absence of a developing agent within the container or a change in the amount thereof can be detected as a change in the inductance of the coil.

Abstract: A paramagnetic oxygen sensor wherein a reference chamber is oscillated into and out of an air gap of a magnetic circuit by means of a piezoelectric bender bar. The oscillating reference periodically displaces the ambient gas under measurement in the air gap and causes a varying flux in the magnetic circuit which is sensed, amplified and provided as an output signal indicative of the partial pressure of oxygen of the gas mixture.

Abstract: A valve device for metallurgical containers includes an electric circuit formed by two electrodes opening out into the molten metal at the tapping point. The electric circuit measures the resistive voltage drop across the molten metal at the tapping point to determine the slag content in the tap stream by changes in the measured resistive voltage drop. The rate of tapping of the melt can be controlled simultaneously along with the indication of the presence of slag in the tap stream.

Abstract: A detector to be inserted into a flowing conductive fluid, e.g. sodium coolant in a nuclear reactor, comprising at least one exciting coil to receive an a-c signal applied thereto and two detecting coils located in the proximity of the exciting coil. The difference and/or the sum of the output signals of the detecting coils is computed to produce a flow velocity signal and/or a temperature-responsive signal for the fluid. Such flow velocity signal or temperature signal is rectified synchronously by a signal the phase of which is shifted substantially .+-. 90.degree. with respect to the flow velocity signal or temperature signal, thereby enabling the device to detect voids in the flowing fluid without adverse effects from flow velocity variations or flow disturbances occurring in the fluid.

Abstract: A ferrous metal detecting apparatus is disclosed for detecting metal particles in a flowing fluid, such as engine oil. The detecting apparatus has soft-iron pole pieces with a bridging gap therebetween. The soft-iron pole pieces are electrically insulated from each other and magnetized by direct current through an electromagnetic coil. After a sufficient amount of ferrous metal has accumulated on the bridging gap, a level detector will give a warning signal and cause the electromagnetic coil to degauss the soft-iron pole pieces by applying an alternating current to the electromagnetic coil. After the flowing fluid has washed away the ferrous metal, the direct current will remagnetize the soft-iron pole pieces. If repeated warning signals are within predetermined time intervals, an indication of the amount of ferrous metal contained in the fluid can be interpolated. The recycling for repeated warning signals may be automatically provided through a timing circuit and control logic.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring externally of the human body magnetic susceptibility changes within the body particularly the human heart and interpreting these changes in order to quantify the flow of blood.

Abstract: A variable inductor having a U-shaped magnetic core with a short-circuiting plate providing a short-circuiting ring for both legs of the core movable along the core legs in response to a displacement to be measured is connected in an electronic circuit to generate oscillation of a frequency that is either directly or inversely proportional to the displacement. For the inversely proportional case, the variable inductance component can be combined with an integrator function and connected to an operational amplifier, for generation of the output frequency with a small number of electrical components. The thickness and spacing of the core legs are varied along their length to produce a highly linear inductive transducer characteristic. The core legs are bent in a circle when it is desired to measure an angular displacement.

Abstract: A strip of material is reacted in situ with a chemical agent so as to create a chemical change affecting the magnetic properties of the material. From past history with the same kind of strip under identical conditions of reactions with the chemical agent, data such as time of exposure, temperature and partial pressure are recorded providing a calibration of any sensed magnetic property changes in such strip. An accurate direct measurement is thus made possible with an identical strip exposed to unknown temperature or partial pressure, by sensing of the degree of magnetization of the strip.