Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning the sight glass tube used in determining level of the contents of a vehicle mounted vacuum tank is disclosed. The apparatus includes a cleaning fluid tank holding a quantity of cleaning fluid mounted to the vacuum tank vehicle, a cleaning fluid vacuum line running between the sight glass tube and the cleaning fluid tank, and a control valve for opening and closing the cleaning fluid vacuum line whereby opening the cleaning fluid line will draw a quantity of cleaning fluid from the cleaning fluid tank through the cleaning fluid vacuum line and through the sight glass tube and thereby cleaning the sight glass tube.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus to generate an energy consumption index are disclosed. In one described example, a method to generate an energy consumption index is disclosed, the method including measuring resources consumed at a home associated with a first person and calculating a home energy value indicative of the resources consumed at the home and measuring resources consumed by the person while located outside the home and calculating an out of home energy value indicative of the resources consumed by the person while located outside the home. The example method further includes identifying goods purchased by the person and calculating a purchase energy value indicative of the resources associated with the purchased goods, and generating an energy consumption index associated with the person based on the home energy value, the out of home energy value, and the purchase energy value.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cleanable sight glass for installation on welded pads. In one embodiment of the invention, an adapter plate is provided to allow existing welded pad sight glasses to be retrofitted, allowing cleaning without disassembling the glass each time a cleaning is needed. The adapter plate mates between the original welded pad for the sight glass and the original top plate that was installed over the sight glass. The adapter plate contains ports on each end for the installation of plugs. The plugs can be removed and a brush can be used to clean the glass without disassembly of the welded pad sight glass. In an alternative embodiment, the ports for the plugs can be installed into the ends of the welded pad itself upon original manufacture of the particular piece of equipment so that an adapter plate is not needed. The welded pad should be made of thickness great enough to accommodate said ports.

Abstract: Generally, a fuel tank sight glass cleanable without disassemble. Specifically, a fuel tank sight glass in which a sight glass cleaner element travels to remove deposition material from the surface of the surface of a sight glass.

Abstract: A redundant level measuring system comprises a chamber for fluidic coupling to a process vessel whereby material level in the vessel equalizes with material level in the chamber. A float including a magnet in the chamber rises and falls with material level in the chamber. A magnet actuated visual indicator is mounted to the chamber for indicating level of the magnet in the chamber. A measurement instrument includes a probe and a measurement circuit. The instrument is mounted atop the chamber with the probe extending downwardly into the chamber. The measurement circuit measures a characteristic of the probe representing level of the material in the chamber. A shield in the chamber isolate the float from the probe.

Abstract: An oil-gauge for the axle-end of a vehicle includes a transparent or translucid lid (15) for inspecting the level of oil in a chamber (13) housing the wheel-mounting bearings. A disk partition (23) is bolted to the inside of the lid to form a shallow subchamber (25). The disk is provided with orifices for oil level in the subchamber to follow the oil level in the main chamber. The visible surface (29) of the disk is painted white and the subchamber houses one or more loose elements (31) to wipe the inside of the lid clean.

Abstract: An ultrasound system is described which exhibits reduced power consumption and improved reliability. When the ultrasound system is idle for a period of time it automatically invokes a sequence of energy-saving procedures, including readying the system for use at a predetermined time. The use of periodically invoked low power states, even if only for seconds at a time, will over the long term save energy including the cost of air conditioning the site of the ultrasound system. Such low power states also reduce the heat dissipation and exposure of components to heat, one of the major causes of component failure. Thus an embodiment of the present invention can improve ultrasound system reliability and long term effectiveness and cost.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for charging a bioreactor with feed material through a sight port in the bioreactor vessel wall without compromising sterility of the material or the vessel or releasing organisms from the vessel to the surrounding atmosphere.

Abstract: A self-cleaning assembly for a vertically oriented sight tube interposed in a flow line is suspended from a bearing member for free rotation within the sight tube. The assembly includes a support member having a pair of cleaning members suspended remote from the tube axis. A flow directing assembly upstream from the sight tube (either above or below) sets up a spiral flow pattern within the sight tube. This spiral flow pattern causes the cleaning assembly to spin, and centrifugal force pushes the cleaning members against the interior wall of the sight tube to effect a scouring action thereon.

Abstract: A sight glass assembly is bolted to a mounting flange welded to a barge deck around an opening therein at the top of a cargo tank in the barge. A couple of wiper assemblies are mounted to the sight glass and are operable from outside the glass by hand cranks. Each wiper assembly includes a replaceable wiper cartridge having an O-ring as the glass wiping member. The sight glass assembly can be unbolted from the mounting flange for ready access to the replaceable cartridges.

Abstract: A tubular housing is provided at one end thereof with a protective glass prism facing an observation opening in a pressurized reactor. The other end of the housing is closed and the intermediate part thereof supports an inclined mirror. A viewing tubular piece is arranged transversely to the tubular housing to receive light rays reflected from the mirror. The free end of the viewing piece is also provided with a protective glass prism.

Abstract: A gear driven and spring biased elongated generally diametrically extending wiper assembly is provided for at least the central area of a circular sight glass. The gear drive enables high torque transfer to the wiper assembly and insures precise movement thereof and the spring biasing of the wiper assembly insures the desired frictional contact of the wiper assembly with the opposing sight glass surface. In addition, the wiper assembly is mounted wholly within a central opening formed in base structure for the associated sight glass assembly to be secured to the exterior of a vessel having a viewing port formed therein.

Abstract: A sight glass assembly (10), especially adapted for use with continuous vulcanizing lines and the like wherein visual or optical access is required, constructed so as to provide self-sealing action during assembly and continuously self-cleaning action during use. A chamber (19) having an exit flow aperture (25) adjacent the viewing element (14) is subjected to a pressurized fluid or gas flow, which is discharged across the inner face of the viewing element. The pressurized fluid or gas is supplied externally through a passageway communicating (16) with the chamber.

Abstract: A die-cutting machine comprises two form-carrying rolls (10,12) operable in timed relation to produce alternate blanks, with minimum wastage between the blanks, from a web fed at constant speed by a conventional feed mechanism (14). The rolls (10,12) are driven by computer-controlled variable speed high impulse duty D.C. motors (28, 30) supplied with electrical power from thyristor controlled power supplies (36,38). Sensors (18, 24, 26) provide feedback signals representing web speed and instantaneous roll positions and speeds to the programmable computer units (32, 34). The use of the computer-controlled D.C. motors avoids backlash problems in previously proposed mechanical drives and allows greater flexibility, especially in maintaining registration between the rolls and preprinted areas on the web. A flywheel arrangement is employed to reduce the loading on the motors during large variations in roll speed.

Abstract: A sight-glass adapter which may be provided in the form of a separate kit for use with existing sight-glass arrangements as currently in use with tanks and other vessels. The adapter unit of this kit provides all of the necessary elements for connection between the existing valves and the existing sight glass in order to properly hold the sight glass in a manner which will permit easy and quick access to the interior thereof for the purpose of cleaning same. The adapter includes a main body element having a threaded projection at one end thereof for receiving a sight-glass retaining nut thereon together with appropriate rubber seal and metal washer structure. The other end of the main body member has a removable screw plug for permitting quick access to the interior of the member as well as the interior of the sight glass itself.

Abstract: A quick shut-off device for attachment to the side of a liquid filled container to measure the amount of liquid therein. Upper and lower valves with a sight glass extending between them are provided with ball valves to allow the on-off positions of the upper and lower valves to be controlled by a 90.degree. change in position of rods connected to the ball valves. In the closed position of both valves, the interior of the sight glass and the main ball valve passageways are in alignment for easy cleaning without sight glass removal. The upper and lower valves are identical in construction so they can be readily interchanged.

Abstract: An engine oil level detection device of a construction, wherein an observation window is provided in one part of an oil receptacle or pan, and a wiper to clean the inner surface of the window soiled with the lubricant oil stuck thereonto by splashing is held on the window portion in a manner to be rotatable by finger actions or by a tool.