Abstract: A pig loader device can include a breech assembly having a chamber body, a ramrod compartment, a breech, and a neck. A ramrod having a push plate, a rod, and a breech plate may be disposed within the ramrod compartment and configured to slideably traverse the ramrod compartment and the breech. In use, the device can be connected to an ancillary pipe via the neck, and a pig may be placed within the breech and aligned be to be slid within the breech and neck upon engagement with the ramrod to facilitate pigging operations of a pipeline. The ramrod may then be forced forward to an extended position, thereby urging the pig through the neck to be seated within the pipe. The device may then be detached from the pipe to enable continued pigging operations.

Abstract: Apparatus for launching and receiving a pig into or from a pipeline, comprising an extension having an internal space with an access point, into the internal space, located at the end, and an exit point in the direction of the pipeline or entering into the latter, in which the internal space can be fluidically connected to the pipeline, in which in the internal space there is arranged a guiding element, for receiving the pig, that can be moved in the longitudinal direction of the extension and in the internal space, and arrangement for launching or receiving a pig in a pipeline.

Abstract: Water meter sensing systems and methods of use are provided herein. A system includes a sensor that mounts to a fluid meter, the sensor measuring analog or digital fluid flow measurements of the fluid meter, a communications interface that transmits and receives data, a microprocessor that is communicatively coupled with the fluid sensor and the communications interface, and a component enclosure that includes a power source that powers both the fluid sensor and a communications interface. The microprocessor infers a flow rate based on the analog or digital fluid flow measurements and generates fluid flow signals, the fluid flow signals being transmitted to a receiving system.

Abstract: An electrode for lithium ion batteries, the electrode having a metal film which is inert to lithium ions and having a plurality of silicon nanowires protruding from the film, which are arranged on at least one flat side of the film, wherein sections of the nanowires are enclosed by the metal film.

Abstract: A prover includes a measurement cylinder; a hydraulic cylinder coupled with a side of a downstream end of the measurement cylinder; a measuring piston that moves through a predetermined distance from an upstream side toward a downstream side through the measurement cylinder to eject a reference volume of fluid; and a piston rod that is movably accommodated in the hydraulic cylinder, and has the measuring piston and the piston rod separately constructed. The prover includes measurement standby position stop means, and when returning the measuring piston to a predetermined measurement standby position, the piston rod moves the measuring piston from the downstream side to the upstream side and the measurement standby position stop means stops the measuring piston at the predetermined measurement standby position, after which only the piston rod is caused to move from the upstream side to the downstream side and is accommodated in the hydraulic cylinder.

Abstract: A leak sensor for sensing fluid flow through the bearings and seals about a shaft extending from a prover. Any leakage of fluid through the bearings and seals will migrate into the annular cavity within a housing and surrounding the shaft. A conduit or passageway in fluid communication with the annular cavity conveys the leaking fluid into a collection chamber. A float within the collection chamber will trigger an electrical or mechanical signal when the float rises a preset distance. If electrical, the signal is transmitted to an alarm unit to trigger a warning indicative of the amount of fluid in the collection chamber.

Abstract: A liquid proving system is provided with a small volume liquid prover draining into a liquid holding tank that has capacity for multiple proving measurements. The small volume liquid prover can either be top-filled or bottom-filled, or exclusively bottom-filled. A liquid holding tank baffle assembly contains saturated vapor from an initial number of fills of the liquid holding tank within the small volume prover to improve overall accuracy of the proving measurements. When liquid is pumped into the prover evaporation of the liquid being pumped into the prover, and release of vapors from the prover, is inhibited due to the saturated vapor environment established by a saturated vapor volume in the prover, which results in a more accurate prover measurement of liquid pumped into the prover.

Abstract: An explosion-proof system for generating acoustic energy. An exemplary embodiment of the system includes a main housing defining an open housing space and an opening. A cover structure is configured for removable attachment to the main housing structure to cover the opening and provide an explosion-proof housing structure. The cover structure includes an integral head mass. An acoustic energy emitting assembly includes the head mass, and an excitation assembly disposed within the explosion-proof housing structure. An electronic circuit is disposed within the explosion-proof housing structure to generate a drive signal for driving the excitation assembly to cause the acoustic energy emitting assembly to resonate and generate acoustic energy. In one embodiment the acoustic energy is a beam of ultrasonic energy useful for testing ultrasonic gas detectors. A method is also described for testing ultrasonic gas leak detectors using an ultrasonic source.

Abstract: A method of monitoring status of an energy reserve accumulator, connected to a fluid system, includes the following successive operations once the fluid system has stabilized for pressure: measuring a first time taken by the fluid system to progress from a predetermined first pressure to a predetermined second pressure, lower than the predetermined first pressure; measuring a second time taken by the system to progress from a predetermined third pressure, lower than the predetermined second pressure, to a predetermined fourth pressure, lower than the predetermined third pressure; and comparing the first and second times to determine the status of the energy reserve accumulator. Such a method may find use for example in an aircraft.

Abstract: In order to functionally test a leak detector (20) that comprises a partial pressure sensor (21), a testing device (30) having a variable volume (33) is connected to the leak detector. Said testing device can be a syringe. By changing the volume (33), the partial pressure of the test gas contained in the ambient air is changed. A test is carried out to check whether the leak detector (20) indicates the change. According to the invention, a vacuum pumping device having mechanical vacuum pumps is not required. The method is suitable for testing vacuum systems that contain a vacuum pumping device that is used in the leak test to generate a required vacuum. The service technician can perform the functional test of the leak detector (20) separately from the system and the vacuum pumping device.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a test fluid may be provided into a chamber associated with a cooling system for an electronic integrated circuit. Moreover, a valve may be partially inserted into an opening of the chamber to seal the chamber. The valve may include a first sealing portion to seal the chamber at the opening when the valve shaft is inserted the first distance. The valve may then be inserted an intermediate distance, between the first distance and a second distance, to unseal the chamber. Note that the valve may include a second sealing portion, offset from the first sealing portion, to seal the chamber at the opening when the valve is inserted the second distance. The valve may further define a passage, between the first and second sealing portions, to permit a flow of the test fluid when the valve is inserted the intermediate distance.

Abstract: A method for making a reference leak includes the steps of: (a) preparing a substrate; (b) forming a patterned catalyst layer on the substrate, the patterned catalyst layer comprising one or more catalyst blocks; (c) forming one or more elongate nano-structures extending from the corresponding catalyst blocks by a chemical vapor deposition method; (d) forming a leak layer of one of a metallic material, a glass material, and a ceramic material on the substrate with the one or more elongate nano-structures partly or completely embedded therein; and (e) removing the one or more elongate nano-structures and the substrate to obtain a reference leak with one or more leak holes defined therein.

Abstract: A leak in a membrane on top of a horizontal roof deck is located by applying conductive wires on the membrane underneath the aggregate in a grid pattern. A measuring and switching circuit generates voltage having a positive attached to the roof deck and a negative attached to the wires. The circuit has a relay for each wire which can be switched between a current sensor system and the negative potential. The sensor system is arranged to sense at each of the wires in turn the current flowing from the roof deck through any leak in the membrane to the wire. A microprocessor operates the relays in turn to connect all the other wires to the negative as a shield while each wire is sensed. From the output of the grid the changes in current in the x and y directions are analyzed to locate the leak in the membrane.

Abstract: Disclosed are portable, easy-to-install apparatuses for detecting and containing fluid leaked or otherwise discharged from a fluid-filled device and for facilitating testing and maintenance of the apparatus and fluid-filled devices. In one aspect of the disclosed invention, upon sensing a fluid discharge, the apparatus activates audible and/or visual alarms and directs the discharged fluid to a predetermined drainage area to prevent damage to areas surrounding the fluid-filled device. In another aspect of the present invention, no plumbing or electrical wiring is required to install the apparatus, thereby allowing an unskilled individual to easily and inexpensively install the apparatus. In yet another aspect of the present invention, the apparatus may be easily located since it is not dependent on gravity or a drainage pipe for discharge of the fluid. Furthermore, the apparatus optionally includes an integral leveling mechanism to accommodate leveling of the apparatus when placed on uneven surfaces.

Abstract: A meter calibration apparatus includes a fluid intake conduit, a fluid discharge conduit, and a calibration cylinder connected in fluid communication with the intake and discharge conduits, the calibration cylinder defining a chamber. The apparatus further includes a piston slidable within the cylinder and defining first and second chamber portions on opposite sides of the piston, and at least one valve having an intake port in fluid communication with the intake conduit, a first flow port with a first flow conduit extending therefrom and connected to the first chamber portion for providing fluid communication therebetween, and a second flow port with a second flow conduit extending therefrom and connected to the second chamber portion for providing fluid communication therebetween.

Abstract: A method of calibrating a level sensor installed in an empty tank. In the tank, the level sensor includes a float that is allowed to rest against a first stop, such as the tank bottom or tank top. This position of the float is stored as a first level, such as a minimum level, in memory of sensor electronics of the level sensor. The float is thereafter moved, such as under the force of gravity by inverting the tank, against a second stop such as the tank top or the tank bottom. This position of the float is stored as a second level, such as a maximum level.

Abstract: A test leak unit (1) includes a supply of test gas, preferably helium, and an element (14) for determining leakage rates. The aim of the invention is to create a simple, robust and easily refilled test leak unit, especially for detecting packaging leaks. To this end, the test gas supply is stored under substantially atmospheric pressure in a resealable reservoir (2) including a closing part (3), such that when the reservoir (2) is closed, a test gas-impermeable seal is developed between the closing part (3) and the reservoir (2), and the leakage rate-determining element (14) forms part of the closing part (3).

Abstract: A malfunction detection device of a bellows type accumulator for pressurized fluid includes malfunction judgment unit for judging a malfunction of the bellows type accumulator on the basis of a detection output of the pressure sensor. The malfunction judgment unit judges that the malfunction of the seal member generates when the difference between a peak pressure value appeared before a predetermined time is past after the starting of the pressure increase from a value below a predetermined value in the inlet and outlet port and a stable fluid pressure appeared after the appearance of the peak pressure value is not within a predetermined range and/or when the peak pressure value does not appear before the progress of the predetermined time.