Abstract: A reactive test strip having a pre-exposure color is used to measure and indicate the concentration of copper ions in brake fluid in terms of a readily visible color change. The strip is immersed in the fluid within a brake fluid container and any resulting color change is compared to a color chart and a known test standard representative of the maximum metal concentration determined empirically to correspond to a boiling point considered safe for normal operation. If the color change indicates a higher copper concentration than the known test standard, then the fluid is considered inadequate for safe operation and thus recommended for replacement without any further tests. Similar copper or metal strips can also be used in a similar test to determine iron or zinc concentration within the brake fluid so as to also determine suitability of the brake fluid for ensuring safe operation.

Abstract: The grade of oil used in a machine or apparatus can be determined by determining a temperature and pressure within an oil supply and determining the oil grade in response to determining the temperature and pressure.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining a volatility of a fuel sample. A fuel sample is collected in a container and heated for a time period using a heater device. Periodically during the heating, the capacitance of the fuel sample and the temperature of the heater device are determined. After a time period passes, the volatility of the fuel sample is determined using the capacitance decrease and the temperature increase. Specifically, a voltage across the heater device is used, along with the current through the heater device to determine the resistance of the heater device, which gives the temperature of the heater device and the sample. The capacitance and temperature are compared to values derived from experimentation for fuels of varying DI. The first measurement of capacitance with a known sample volume can be used to determine the MTBE or ethanol content in gasoline fuels.

Abstract: Fluid leak detection through thermal sensing is disclosed. A sensor includes one or more flexible, thermally conductive, fluid isolating layers, and a thermally sensitive detector situated within the flexible, thermally conductive, fluid isolating layers. The detector is responsive to a temperature change resulting from leaking fluid coming in contact with the sensor. The sensor may also including an affixing mechanism, such as glue, on the isolating layers, to affix the sensor to a potential fluid leak source, such as a tank or a piping line. The sensor may further include connectors located at its ends. The detector may be a thermally sensitive resistor, such as platinum or nickel, and the, fluid isolating layers may be capton.

Abstract: A sensor cell measures a component of a two-component liquid mixture. A control apparatus controls a concentration of the component in the mixture. The control apparatus can be applied to an etching system for etching a silicon nitride layer. The sensor cell contains a sample inlet for feeding the mixture, a sample drain, a vapor outlet, an apparatus for setting a temperature of the liquid mixture to a temperature below the boiling point, a heating element for elevating the temperature of the liquid mixture to a temperature above the boiling point, and a device for calculating the concentration of the component based on a temperature of the liquid versus temperature of the heating element characteristics. The concentration of the component can be assessed by determining a point at which a slope of the temperature of the liquid versus temperature of the heating element characteristics is changed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing an indication of the composition of an examined fluid by using an electrical resistor, particularly a positive temperature coefficient thermistor, for measuring the thermal conductivity of the examined fluid with the known thermal conductivity of different fluid compositions. The method and apparatus are particularly described for indicating the relative proportions of a working fluid in the liquid and vapor phases in one or more stages of a heat pump. Another described application is for indicating the liquid level in a liquid vaporizer.

Abstract: A wall film can form around a temperature sensor as a result of the temperature sensor being fitted in the intake port of the internal combustion engine, in such a manner that at least some of the fuel jet from the injection valve is sprayed onto it. The reduction in temperature that occurs as a result of the enthalpy of vaporization at the temperature sensor is measured and used as a criterion for determining the quality of the fuel supplied to the internal combustion engine. This information can be used to correct the change in injection time exclusively or in addition to adapting the starting quantity and/or using the lack-of-smoothness method.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for accurately determining weight loss of a sample during heating in a furnace. The method includes the steps of placing a sample in a heated furnace, heating the sample while measurements of sample weight are made, determining rate function from the sample weight measurements, producing a weight loss correction factor using the rate function and using the weight loss correction factor to obtain a corrected weight loss for the sample.

Abstract: The method determines the fuel concentration in fluidic fuels for fuel cells, and in particular the alcohol concentration in an alcohol/water mixture for fuel cells operated with the mixture, such as direct methanol fuel cells. The alcohol/water mixture is passed through a heating section at a constant flow rate, a known quantity of heat is supplied to the mixture, the temperature difference between the entry and exit of the heating section is measured and the alcohol concentration is determined therefrom.

Abstract: A correlation is derived between a variable, defined as “virtual age,” indicative of brake fluid's service age and/or mileage and the concentration of copper in the fluid. Virtual age is utilized to estimate the degree of degradation of the fluid. A reactive test strip is used to measure the concentration of copper ions in the brake fluid in terms of a readily visible color change. The strip is immersed in the fluid and any resulting color change is compared to a color chart and a standard representative of the maximum concentration determined empirically to correspond to the desirable “virtual-age” threshold for fluid replacement. An automated embodiment of the invention includes an optical instrument to compare the color obtained from the test to a predetermined standard and determine whether a fluid change is recommended.

Abstract: A method of quickly and safely determining the component concentrations of a three-component mixture comprising substantially sulfuric acid, hydrogen fluoride and water, which comprises measuring at least one set of three physical quantities of (1) temperature, (2) ultrasonic wave propagation velocity and (3) electric conductivity or viscosity of the three-component mixture and converting the obtained values to the component concentrations on the basis of a working curve representing the relationship between each component concentration of the three-component mixture and the three physical quantities; and a method of continuous production of hydrogen fluoride for controlling a water concentration in the reaction system by using this method.