Abstract: A measurement device and method are provided for OES measurements in air. An arc electrode (201, 501) has a certain thickness and a pointed end having a certain grinding angle. Holding means (202, 502) hold the arc electrode (201, 501) at a certain distance from the material to be measured. A voltage and current supply (203) generates and maintains a voltage between the arc electrode and the material to be measured and supplies current through the arc. Focusing and detection optics (205, 206, 402, 403, 404, 405, 406, 407, 408, 505, 506, 509, 604) collect and detect optical radiation. The thickness of the arc electrode (201, 501) is between 3 and 10 mm and the grinding angle is between 50 and 130 degrees. The arc distance is between 0.5 and 3 mm. An ignition spark voltage is between 5 and 20 kV, an arc voltage between 20 and 160 V and an arc current between 1 and 10 A.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for in situ measurements of at least one property of a liquid contained within a vessel.

Abstract: A method of detecting the presence of radioactive waste material (11) on the surface of a storage drum (10), wherein Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy techniques are used to obtain electronic emission spectra characteristic of the waste material (11) where this is present on the surface of the drum (10). Because electronic emission spectra are not affected by the strong background nuclear radiation from the waste material contained within the drum (10), a much improved accuracy of detection is achieved.

Abstract: This invention provides a quantitative determination method capable of quickly determining a mean composition of oxide type inclusions and oxygen concentration of a metallic material such as a steel by using an optical emission spectrometer alone. This method comprises the steps of (1) conducting a plurality of times a discharge operation between the metallic material and an opposing electrode in an inert gas atmosphere to obtain an emission spectrochemical spectrum, (2) selecting a discharge in which at least either the oxygen A spectrum or the oxide-forming element spectrum exceed a predetermined intensity for each discharge operation, and (3) subtracting a background from the intensity of the oxygen spectrum and/or the intensity of the oxide-forming elements in the selected discharge, accumulating the balances to obtain a cumulative spectral intensity, and executing quantitative determination by a calibration curve method.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for analyzing lubricant oils and functional fluids includes an optical emission spectrometer (OES) (26) having a substantially continuously valued wavelength versus intensity output (140). The OES (26) analyzes light captured from a spark emission stand (58) through which the fluid sample is flowed. An expert system (160-172) operates according to a set of Rules that corrects background influence from the electrodes, and generates diagnostic text (174) for an operator based on the information about the fluid sample provided by the OES (26) and other measurement devices. The apparatus (10) is reduce in size, weight and cost.

Abstract: In order to localize element concentrations in the edge areas of a horizontally manufactured continuous casting of alloyed non-ferrous metals, a longitudinal section is removed from the continuous casting. At least one strip of surface layer is then removed transversely by a metal removal unit from the longitudinal section forming a test specimen having a defined thickness. A point-by-point spectroanalysis of the metal composition is then carried out in linear sequence with the aid of a spectral-analysis head in the longitudinal direction of the strip. The element concentration determined in this manner is displayed numerically and/or graphically with the aid of a computer. The metal-removal unit and the spectral-analysis head are placed under the influence of a metal-removal and analysis control unit which is coupled to the computer via a programmable controller and via a spectrometer, respectively.

Abstract: Apparatus and process for non-destructively testing a fluid-filled container for leaktightness, the process comprising: (a) subjecting the fluid-filled container to a vacuum or near vacuum environment; (b) utilizing electrical equipment to form an electrical discharge in the vacuum or near vacuum environment sufficient to stimulate spectral light emissions from volatile fluid-filled container contents present in the vacuum or near vacuum environment; (c) detecting the spectral light emissions from the volatile fluid-filled container contents produced in step (b); and (d) evaluating the spectral light emissions detected in step (c) to determine the amount of volatile fluid-filled container contents present in the vacuum or near vacuum environment by comparing: (i) the measured brightness level of the spectral light emissions obtained from step (c), to (ii) a base brightness level obtained by measuring the brightness level of the spectral emissions due to the presence of residual gas or air molecules in the

Abstract: According to the method the intensity of at least one pressure-independent (impurity detection) or pressure-dependent (gas pressure determination) spectral line is measured selectively. Indirect detection utilizes the intensity of spectral lines whose wavelengths correspond to higher levels of excitation energy than those of the impurities. The intensity of these spectral lines is a measure of the impurities. Alternatively, the intensity of at least one spectral line of the respective impurity is measured directly. In order to eliminate co-phasal interference, two spectral lines are measured and the ratio is formed therefrom. The intensity ratio of argon lines of wavelengths .lambda..sub.1 =772.4 nm and .lambda..sub.2 =738.4 nm has in particular proved acceptable for the indirect detection of impurities in argon and the intensity ratio V of the argon lines of wavelengths .lambda..sub.1 =763.5 nm and .lambda..sub.2 =738.4 nm has proved acceptable for determining the argon pressure.

Abstract: A rangefinder includes an angle sensitive transducer and a programmed data processor to calculate the distance to a target. In one embodiment, the rangefinder also includes a point-to-point measuring device. Another embodiment provides a linear actuator to selectively move a sight indicator vertically. A yet additional embodiment includes a liquid crystal display which displays information to the user.

Abstract: An image pickup frame is divided into a plurality of areas. A contrast at each area is measured. An area where a main subject is located is detected by comparing contrasts at areas. A distance to a subject in the area where the main subject is located is measured. With this range finding technique, even if a main subject is not located at the central area of an image pickup frame, an area where the main subject is located can be identified and range finding can be performed only for that area.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a detection system for detecting an object, comprising optical elements including a radiation source of an electromagnetic nature and at least one detector detecting radiation reflected off the object from the radiation source. The system is configured so that trigonometric relationships are established between all or selected of the optical elements and the object. Using the angle of radiation from the radiation source and the angle of reflection into the detector, the system determines the range or distance, and/or velocity of the object relative to the system. While the use of one detector is sufficient to provide an angle measurement for the system to determine the object range and/or velocity, an additional detector may be used to increase accuracy and flexibility. The detectors of the system may have be normal-looking, or side-looking detectors, either of which detects intensity variations.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a one-step process useful in the chemical analysis for atomising electrolyte solutions or fluids with electric conductivity, and a multielement direct analysis method of the components of such fluids, which is also operable in a monitoring mode. In this analysis method, the one-step atomisation of the fluid is followed by optical and/or mass spectroscopy determination of the sample components. The atomisation process is characterised by generating an electric discharge of 1000 to 5000 V/cm on the surface of said electrolyte between the fluid as cathode and the anode positioned in the gas atmosphere above the said fluid.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of detecting an end point of plasma process performed on an object, and a plasma process apparatus. The method includes the steps of detecting an emission spectrum over a wavelength region specific to C.sub.2 in the plasma, by optical detecting means, and determining the end point of the plasma process from the emission intensity of the emission spectrum detected by the optical detector. The apparatus has a process chamber, a pair of electrodes, a light-collecting device, an optical detector, and a determining device. The chamber has a monitor window. The electrodes are located in the process chamber. The first electrode is used to support the object. A high-frequency power is supplied between the electrodes to change a process gas into plasma. The light-collecting device collects the light from the plasma through the monitor window. The optical detector detects an emission spectrum from the light collected.

Abstract: An improved emission spectral analysis method and apparatus for analyzing a sample by causing discharge and light emission between the sample and the counter electrode, spectroscopically dispersing the spectral lines peculiar to the elements, and measuring the wavelength and intensity of each spectral line. The discharge is caused in such a way that the surface of the sample facing the counter electrode is made to almost parallel to the light gathering axis of a spectroscope. Consequently, spectral lines which are not affected by the light of the sample itself and vapor can be gathered into the spectroscope and the background variation of the spectral lines can be reduced. In addition, light is gathered in a plurality of directions, so that the analysis accuracy can be improved and the lower determination limit can be expanded.

Abstract: In a method of assaying for an analyte in a fluid sample, the presence of the analyte is detected by determining the resulting change in refractive index at a solid optical surface in contact with the sample, which change is caused by the analyte involving or influencing the binding or release of a refractive index enhancing species to or from, respectively, the optical surface, the refractive index of the refractive index enhancing species varying with wavelength. According to the invention, the determination comprises determining the variation with wavelength of the resulting change of refractive index, caused by the variation of refractive index with wavelength of the refractive index enhancing species, for a number of discrete wavelengths or for a continuous range of wavelengths. This variation is representative of the amount of analyte.

Abstract: An analytical system for analyzing a liquid sample includes structure defining an analysis region with an inlet and an outlet, a polychromator system disposed in sensing relation to the analysis region, structure defining a sample inlet port, and structure connecting the sample inlet port to the inlet of the analysis region. The analysis region includes sample excitation apparatus with a pair of spaced metal electrodes, one of the electrodes having an upper surface in spaced juxtaposition to the other electrode and passage structure connected to the inlet of the analysis region. The one metal electrode is disposed with the passage structure extending to an outlet port in the upper surface, and structure in the upper surface defines a plurality of channels extending away from the outlet port of the passage structure for discharge of excess quantities of a liquid sample to be analyzed flowed through the passage structure.

Abstract: An optical position detector is provided with an image forming member 1, a scale plate 2, and an image pickup 3, which are disposed sequentially along an optical axis in the order mentioned, and a position computing unit 10 connected to the image pickup 3. The scale plate 2 has a plurality of pattern elements arranged periodically along a front coordinate plane perpendicularly intersecting the optical axis. The image forming member 1 condenses a light beam emitted from an object point 4 and converts the same into a reference light converging into an image forming point and, at the same time, spot-illuminates a part, of the scale plate 2 with the reference light, and projects a certain pattern element in a magnified scale. The image pickup 3 has a light receiving surface disposed along a rear coordinate plane perpendicularly intersecting the optical axis and picks up the shadow of the pattern clement projected in the magnified scale and outputs corresponding image data.

Abstract: An analytical system for analyzing a liquid sample that includes structure defining an analysis region with an inlet and an outlet, a spectrometer system disposed in sensing relation to the analysis region, structure defining a sample inlet port, and structure connecting the sample inlet port to the inlet of the analysis region. The analysis region includes sample excitation apparatus with a pair of spaced metal electrodes, one of the electrodes having an upper surface in spaced juxtaposition to the other electrode and passage structure connected to the inlet of the analysis region, and the other electrode having a lower surface of annular configuration in spaced juxtaposition to the upper surface of the one electrode.

Abstract: An instrument system for monitoring corona and like conditions of electrical equipment such as generators includes an optical probe which receives light from a plurality of different areas in the equipment and separately conveys the light acquired from each area to a position-sensitive photoelectric converter. The probe includes optical fibers with terminal ends disposed in spaced holes in the wall of a tubular housing. The output of the photoelectric converter is analyzed to determine the presence of corona, arcing, flame ignition combustion, or smoldering conditions at each of the monitored areas in the equipment, the severity of such conditions, and the identity of materials involved in such conditions based on the intensity and spectral content of the acquired light. The photoelectric converter includes a photomultiplier, a photodiode array, and means for automatically directing the acquired light to either one in accordance with its intensity.

Abstract: Spectrometric analysis for determining the elemental concentration of various wear metals, contaminants and additives present in a fluid sample for condition monitoring and preventive maintenance. RDE spectroscopy method and apparatus includes use of rotrode disk as a filter which captures large particles of the surface of the disk, which particles are then subjected to RDE spectroscopy for evaluation. In one method, the rotrode with the captured large-particle filtrate is subjected to a solvent wash, and the washed sample is then submitted to RDE spectroscopy to obtain a highly accurate multi-elemental determination of concentration of large particles. In another method, conventional RDE spectroscopy is used to characterize the small particles in a used oil sample, and this is combined with the obtained large particle data for highly accurate multi-elemental determination of concentration of wear debris, contaminants and additives in the fluid sample.

Abstract: A plurality of elements in a sample are specified as monitoring elements. Each time at a exciting the sample, the light intensity of the line of the monitoring elements and the measured elements is detected and memorized. From the memorized data, the distribution for the light intensity of the line of each of the monitoring elements is determined. Based on the distribution, the preferred region for the light intensity of the line of each of the monitoring elements is defined. With reference to the memorized data, the light intensity of the line of the measured elements at every exciting in which the light intensity of the line of the monitoring elements is within the preferred region integrated.

Abstract: A spark-excited fluorescence sensor (10) is provided which enables monitoring of various gas species (14), such as H.sub.2, CO.sub.x, NO.sub.x, N2, NH.sub.x and hydrocarbons added to a system as source fuels and/or additive agents, or discharged from a system as exhaust including pollutants, for more efficient use of fuels for optimizing performance of the system, and, also, for reducing pollutants in the atmosphere. The spark-excited fluorescence sensor of the invention comprises a spark plug (12) to excite molecules of the gaseous species, an optical fiber window (18) and an optical fiber bundle (20) to collect and transmit, respectively, the fluorescence, bandpass filters ( 24 ) to select predetermined wavelengths corresponding to the gases to be detected, detectors (26), and signal processor (28 ) . The output from the signal processor is then used to improve overall performance of the system.

Abstract: A quantitative analysis of the constituents in a specimen and being classified by the conditions of the constituents in the specimen, using a spectroscopic analysis is made by exciting the specimen a number of times for emission, detecting the light intensity data of the line of the constituent element and the non-constituent element of the specimen per emission, storing the light intensity data of the lines specifying emission which contains the constituent element and the non-constituent element over a predetermined level based on the stored data, and determining that there is present a composition of the constituent element and the non-constituent element at a portion of the specimen corresponding to the specified emission.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for the preparation of metal reference samples for spectrographic analysis. The method consists of producing a substantially cylindrical preform or blank by spray deposition, followed by the consolidation of the blank in the form of a bar having an appropriate diameter and finally the cutting of the reference samples therefrom. Compared with the prior art methods, the method offers the advantages of an improved chemical homogeneity and low oxygen content.

Abstract: A spark generator suitable for use in an optical emission spectrometer, and capable of generating a spark in a spark gap formed between an electrode and a sample to be analyzed, comprises a generator for generating a current of programmable amplitude in the spark gap in each of a series of discrete time intervals. The spark generator according to the invention is advantageous when compared with conventional spark generators in that it enables a higher degree of choice and control in the form of the spark. In particular, it enables the amplitudes of various portions of the spark to be independently varied, thus permitting the shape of the spark to be tailored to the particular analysis being performed. Also described are methods of optical emission spectroscopy which make use of the advantageous properties of the spark generator.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of atomic emission spectrometry includes confining a solution within an emission chamber for on-line analysis or individual sample analysis. An electrical discharge created within the liquid to directly excite an internal portion of the liquid within the liquid solution. The atomic emission is totally enclosed within a liquid solution pocket. A fiber optic probe is connected directly to the excited internal portion within the liquid and to a suitable analyzer which analyzes the atomic spectral lines to determine the atomic elements within the liquid solution. The system can be used for individual element analysis or a multiple element analysis by use of an array spectrometer, with a simultaneous display of the complete atomic spectrum of multiple elements in a liquid solution, all in less than a period of one second.

Abstract: Apparatus for emission spectrochemical analysis of a sample containing elements to be analyzed, wherein the sample is cyclically excited with relatively high energy to vaporize the sample elements and successively with relatively low energy to cause the vaporized elements to emit light containing spectral lines characteristic of the elements, which spectral lines are detected by a plurality of photomultiplier tubes corresponding to the spectral lines, with a common negative high-voltage source connected to the dynodes of the photomultiplier tubes. The negative high-voltage source is controlled in such a manner that it supplies a negative high voltage to the dynodes of the photomultiplier tubes to activate the tubes only during the low-energy excitation of the sample.

Abstract: An improved glow discharge atomic emission spectroscopy method and apparatus is offered in which the introduction of a rare gas into a glow discharge tube is temporarily cut off and after the inside of the glow discharge tube is maintained at a higher degree of vacuum, a preliminary discharge is executed to remove adsorbed or extraneous substances on the specimen surface, and then the analysis of the specimen surface is performed. The method and the apparatus described in the above are suitable for quick and simple analysis of the uppermost surface layer of a solid specimen in the direction of depth.

Abstract: A device for determining small amounts of impurities in gases comprises a measuring cell in which an arc is generated with a low frequency alternating voltage source between two electrodes. The emission spectrum of the arc is observed by means of interference filters and photosensors and the concentrations of the impurities are determined in the electronic evaluation unit for the spectral intensities typical of the impurity traces. The device is suitable for the continuous measurement of small quantities of gaseous impurities for example traces of nitrogen, argon, neon, water vapor, gaseous hydrocarbon, in helium.

Abstract: A spectroanalytical system with radiation dispersing apparatus having structure for dispersing radiation into a spectrum for concurrent application to a plurality of exit ports; a plurality of radiation sensor channel circuits, each circuit being optically coupled to a corresponding exit port for monitoring radiation at that exit port; sample excitation apparatus for exciting sample material to be analyzed to spectroemissive levels for generating a beam of radiation for dispersion by the dispersion structure; and controller structure for triggering the excitation apparatus to excite the sample material and for generating a gating interval by the channel circuitry for accumulating radiation data during an interval that commences subsequent to application of maximum energy to the sample by the excitation apparatus.

Abstract: A standard test specimen for optical emission spectrochemical analysis is prepared by molding into the specimen body finely divided particles consisting essentially of the metal or metal alloy to be analyzed without melting the same and preferably by plastic deformation of such particles. The resultant specimen is homogeneous throughout and stable in quality so that accurate analysis of any of its elements is possible and the suitability of the test material for a given product can be accurately predicted.

Abstract: An optical input apparatus (10) for use with a weld evaluation monitor (14) to determine the concentration of hydrogen in a weld arc atmosphere (62) including weld arc plasma and shield gas is disclosed as including an optical fiber bundle (16) having a single optical input (18) and a plurality of optical outputs (22). The optical fiber bundle is disposed to receive, at its optical input, electromagnetic radiation emitted from the weld arc atmosphere and, because the optical fiber bundle has an individual optical fiber path distribution that is completely randomized, to communicate proportional amount of the radiation to each of its optical outputs independent of the angular disposition of the fiber bundle.

Abstract: A method of in situ monitoring of a body of a fluid stored in a tank or groundwater or vadose zone gases in a well for the presence of selected chemical species uses a probe insertable into the well or tank via a cable and having electrical apparatus for exciting selected chemical species in the body of fluid. The probe can have a pair of electrodes for initiating a spark or a plasma cell for maintaining a plasma to excite the selected chemical species. The probe also has optical apparatus for receiving optical emissions emitted by the excited species and optically transmitting the emissions via the cable to an analysis location outside the well. The analysis includes detecting a selected wavelength in the emissions indicative of the presence of the selected chemical species.

Abstract: A glow discharge chamber for a glow discharge emission spectrometer has a housing with a cavity. The cavity has a gas inlet and a gas outlet. The gas outlet is adapted to be connected to a vacuum pump to produce flow of gas through the cavity. An anode is located within the cavity adjacent to the gas outlet. A cathode is located in the cavity and gas within the cavity emits negative glow radiation adjacent to the cathode when a voltage differential between the anode and cathode exists. A radiation transmissive, gas retaining window in the housing through which negative glow radiation passes from the cavity to one or more radiation sensors for spectral analysis. The flow of gas through the cavity channels sputtered cathode oxides away from the window due to the cathode and anode arrangement in the cavity.

Abstract: A cold-cathode gas discharge device is coupled between a gas sample inlet and a high vacuum and includes spaced-apart electrodes which, when coupled across a high voltage DC power supply, causes a glow-discharge to be set up within the device with the intensity of the emitted light being proportional to the percentage of a given gas contained within a gas mixture introduced through the sampling inlet. In accordance with the present invention, the glow-discharge device contains a tubular pathway which is bent at a point intermediate the spaced electrodes so that they are not co-linear along the tubular path. A photodetector is sighted coaxially with the downstream leg of the bent pathway and, as such, senses the light emitted in a longitudinal direction rather than in a transverse direction. As such, errors due to fogging of the pathway over time by electrode material or the like and movement of the cathode dark-spaced and Faraday dark-space within the tube do not alter the measurable radiation.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for emisson spectroscopic analysis by spark discharge, wherein each and every one of a number of spark discharges conducted for analysis of a sample comprises a high energy portion providing a sufficient amount of energy to vaporize the elements contained in the sample and a low energy portion providing a sufficient amount of energy to cause the vaporized elements to emit light, and wherein spectroscopic measurement is conducted in the low energy portion, or initiated in the end portion of high energy portion to continue in the low energy portion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a glow-discharge lamp comprising: a chamber body, provided with one or more gas supply and evacuation openings made of insulated material; a gas inner chamber, which expands toward an anode, is bordered on the sides by the inner walls of the chamber body and has a diameter which is largest at approximately the level of the anode and which has its smallest diameter corresponding to the examination sector of the sample to be examined; a sample arranged at the cathode end of the chamber body and with the anode incorporated in the chamber body, whereby the sample preferably is held at zero potential and the anode incorporated in the chamber body and having a passage opening is preferably held at high voltage; an end piece, if necessary, in the form of a window is arranged at the end of the chamber body, wherein at least one window opening (18) is provided in the chamber body (4) at the level of the negative glow light, and the sample (2) seals the inner gas chamber at the cathode

Abstract: Radioactive materials can be safely analyzed by an emission spectroscopic analyzer comprising an exciting device for exciting a radioactive material to be analyzed to emit light. The exciting device is enclosed in a radiation shielding wall. A detecting device detects the emitted light. The detecting device is located outside the radiation shielding wall. A light-transmitting device is provided between the exciting device and the detecting device such that the emitted light impinging on a first end of the light-transmitting device will be received at the detecting device as light having been transmitted through the light-transmitting device and emitted from a second end of the light-transmitting device. The light-transmitting device penetrates a hole made in the radiation shielding wall which has a sealing structure to prevent radiation leakage. The light-transmitting device penetrates the hole with a curvature.

Abstract: In the known electrical mobility analyzer, a novel means for charged particle detection instead of measuring the low level current carried by the particles is provided. This detection is based on the burst corona occuring from a positive corona electrode applied with a voltage slightly lower than its onset voltage at an instant when a negatively charged particle arrives at the tip of the corona electrode. This detection detects and counts the burst corona pulses produced by the particles negatively precharged.

Abstract: A spark discharge trace element detection system is provided which includes a spark chamber including a pair of electrodes for receiving a sample of gas to be analyzed at no greater than atmospheric pressure. A voltage is provided across the electrodes for generating a spark in the sample. The intensity of the emitted radiation in at least one primary selected narrow band of the radiation is detected. Each primary band corresponds to an element to be detected in the gas. The intensity of the emission in each detected primary band is integrated during the afterglow time interval of the spark emission and a signal representative of the integrated intensity of the emission in each selected primary bond is utilized to determine the concentration of the corresponding element in the gas.

Abstract: A sample of the steel to be analyzed is subjected to spark discharging, the optical emission of the sparks is directed onto a diffraction grating in order to separate the light emission corresponding to the element to be metered and a capacitor is charged by a current respective of the intensity of this radiation; after every elementary discharge of the integration circuit, the charge of the capacity is converted into the form of a digital data representative of the intensity of the line selected; during a spark discharging cycle, the number of intensities is determined of which the value is included in each one of a plurality of contiguous channels, in order to set up an intensity frequency diagram as a function of the intensity; the curve representing the diagram is smoothed and the content of dissolved element is determined as a linear function of the value of light intensity corresponding to the peak of the gaussian part of the smoothed curve; and the content of precipitated element is determined by summi

Abstract: The present invention briefly refers to a device and a method for analyzing samples of molten charges inside the charges themselves. An analyzing probe (1) comprising a body (4) of ceramic material with an inlet for molten charge is provided in a tube (5) of board or the like and forms a disposable probe. A cavity (2a) is provided in the ceramic body (4) and the inlet (3) has a notch or the like towards the cavity for receiving molten charge. An electrode (10) is positioned in the cavity (2a) and upon application of electric current via the electrode (10) and the molten charge a spark or a luminous arc is ignited between the electrode (10) and the portion of the sample of the molten charge adjacent the notch. A light-conducting body (8) is provided in the cavity adjacent the luminous arc or sparks for collecting light emitting therefrom.

Abstract: A spark spectroscopic high-pressure gas analyzer including a spark chamber, having a pair of electrodes, for receiving a sample of the pressurized gas to be analyzed. A voltage is provided across the electrodes for generating a spark in the pressurized gas sample. A selected wavelength band of radiation emitted from the spark discharge in the pressurized gas corresponding to a component to be sensed in the gas is detected. The intensity of the emission in the wavelength band is integrated during the afterglow time interval of the spark emission and a signal representative of the integrated intensity of the emission in the selected narrow wavelength band is employed to determine the proportion of the component in the gas.

Abstract: The circuit includes an inverter to be connected to a source of d.c. power. The inverter has a transformer with a center-tapped primary winding. Separate controllable switching devices are connected to the respective ends of the primary winding. Both switching devices are arranged to be connected in common to one output terminal of the d.c. power source. The center tap of the transformer primary winding is arranged for connection to the other output terminal of the d.c. power source. The transformer has a laminated silicon steel core, and includes a secondary winding arranged for connection across the input terminals of a gaseous discharge lamp. A control circuit is connected to control conduction by the separate controllable switching devices in alternating sequence at a desired frequency of operation.

Abstract: To identify the composition of a metal alloy, sparks generated from the alloy are optically observed and spectrographically analyzed. The spectrographic data, in the form of a full-spectrum plot of intensity versus wavelength, provide the "signature" of the metal alloy. This signature can be compared with similar plots for alloys of known composition to establish the unknown composition by a positive match with a known alloy. An alternative method is to form intensity ratios for pairs of predetermined wavelengths within the observed spectrum and to then compare the values of such ratios with similar values for known alloy compositions, thereby to positively identify the unknown alloy composition.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for the on site spectrometric analysis of metallic parts in an air gap is disclosed. The apparatus essentially comprises a probe to be positioned on the part, a mobile unit including a current-pulse generator for the probe to excite the part for analysis of its chemical composition in a direct reading optical emission spectrometer contained in the unit, and a flexible optical cable coupling the probe to the unit. The probe is designed for use on both flat and round parts, such as bars, billets, pipes, rods or wires as small as having a radius of one mm. The probe features an adjustable counter electrode, an inner sleeve serving as a contact electrode and an outer sleeve axially movable about the inner electrode and having a positioning V-groove. The probe further includes an electro-mechanical interlock to prevent accidental discharge thereof, and a self-cleaning mechanism for its sensor head.

Abstract: A system for stabilizing the arc in a DC arc lamp. An AC signal is superimposed on the DC power source of the lamp to cause small regular fluctuations in the arc. The small fluctuations prevent large fluctuations while the small regular fluctuations may be averaged to obtain a constant average value. The average is taken over 5 to 10 periods of the AC signal to produce a constant average signal with a very small standard deviation.

Abstract: Contents of elements in metals, e.g. aluminum in steel, which are present as a total quantity in an elemental/dissolved form and in a non-elemental or separated form, are determined by sparking the surface of the metal under an inert atmosphere. The spectral signal is simultaneously measured as a function of time, and a signal is obtained which initially exhibits an intensity peak, from which the non-elemental or separated element content can be concluded, and the signal then stabilizes at a stationary value from which the total content (C.sub.t) of element can be concluded. The elemental/dissolved proportion (C.sub.s) can be concluded from the total area (P.sub.1) below the peak, from the area (P.sub.2) under the stationary intensity measured over a time (t.sub.2 -t.sub.1) and from the total content (C.sub.t).

Abstract: Two opposing fingers of a robot hand are each provided with an array of optical devices which are capable of being in optical communication with one another through the gap between the fingers. One finger is provided with an array of light emitters and the other is provided with an array of light recepetors. By taking advantage of the motion of the robot hand and the small size of the optical devices, the shape of an object between the fingers can be detected by using at least one linear set, and preferably at least two linear sets, of devices in each array. Illustratively, the linear sets form a T-shaped array or a U-shaped array and are disposed along the edges of the fingers. In one embodiment the emitters are GRIN rod lenses coupled through a fiber cable to a light source, and the receptors are also GRIN rod lenses coupled through a fiber cable to a camera system. A manufacturing method utilizing such a sensor to identify the shape of objects is also described.

Abstract: A capacitor is charged to a high voltage, and then is discharged through a circuit comprising an analytical spark gap and first and second inductive elements, whereby the discharge current is oscillatory. The waveform of the discharge current is modified by a diode rectifier shunted across the series combination of the analytical spark gap and the second inductive element. To provide for adjustment of the waveform over a wide range, the second inductive element is adjustable in inductance. The first inductive element is also preferably adjustable in inductance. Provision may also be made for changing the capacitance of the capacitor. A reversing switch makes it possible to reverse the polarity of the diode rectifier. One or more control spark gaps may be connected in series with the analytical spark gap. An electronic switching device may be connected across one of the control spark gaps to initiate the discharge of the capacitor.