A monitoring method and system include an antenna disposed spaced from a structural member (SM), which itself can be the target object or attachable to a target object, without using any in-dwelling strain sensor. The antenna is arranged to not touch the SM in at least the no load condition. As the target object undergoes displacement and/or deformation, the SM undergoes displacement and/or deformation. The SM is juxtaposed, partially contained with, or fully contained within a magnetic or electromagnetic field and electromagnetically coupled to the emitting antenna. Characteristics of the electromagnetic field coupling between the antenna and the SM shift over time due to the displacement and/or deformation applied to the SM. The shift in the characteristics of the electromagnetic field coupling between the antenna and the SM over time can be used to determine the temporal change in deformation and/or displacement of the SM over time to enable diagnosis of the target structural object being monitored.

A monitoring method and system include an antenna disposed spaced from a structural member (SM), which itself can be the target object or attachable to a target object, without using any in-dwelling strain sensor. The antenna is arranged to not touch the SM in at least the no load condition. As the target object undergoes displacement and/or deformation, the SM undergoes displacement and/or deformation. The SM is juxtaposed, partially contained with, or fully contained within a magnetic or electromagnetic field and electromagnetically coupled to the emitting antenna. Characteristics of the electromagnetic field coupling between the antenna and the SM shift over time due to the displacement and/or deformation applied to the SM. The shift in the characteristics of the electromagnetic field coupling between the antenna and the SM over time can be used to determine the temporal change in deformation and/or displacement of the SM over time to enable diagnosis of the target structural object being monitored.

A breakaway coupling includes a body and a valve assembly inside the body. The body includes a fluid conduit and a shear groove between first and second portions. The shear groove is designed to crack, break, or separate under certain conditions. The valve assembly is designed to shut off fluid flow through the fluid conduit when the shear groove cracks, breaks, or separates. The valve assembly includes a valve seat, a sealing element, one or more pins, and a biasing member. The one or more pins hold the sealing element in an open position while the shear groove is in tack, and allow the sealing element to move to a closed position (with the help of the biasing member) in the event the shear groove cracks, breaks, or separates.

A breakaway coupling includes a body and a valve assembly inside the body. The body includes a fluid conduit and a shear groove between first and second portions. The shear groove is designed to crack, break, or separate under certain conditions. The valve assembly is designed to shut off fluid flow through the fluid conduit when the shear groove cracks, breaks, or separates. The valve assembly includes a valve seat, a sealing element, one or more pins, and a biasing member. The one or more pins hold the sealing element in an open position while the shear groove is in tack, and allow the sealing element to move to a closed position (with the help of the biasing member) in the event the shear groove cracks, breaks, or separates.

Disclosed is a calibration system and method for a phased array ultrasound pipe inspection system, in which reliable calibration is obtained for notches at all angles using only a small number of notches for the calibration. The method comprises a one-time normalization step and a system calibration step which may be performed at regular intervals. Ultrasound transmission is in a single diverging beam for each aperture, while reception is selective for multiple well-defined reception angles. During the normalization step, plots of maximum response vs reception angle are plotted for each notch, and a normalization curve is constructed by fitting the maxima of these plots. The normalization curve is used to derive calibration targets at specific reception angles for specific calibration notches, which are then used for the system calibrations.

Disclosed is a calibration system and method for a phased array ultrasound pipe inspection system, in which reliable calibration is obtained for notches at all angles using only a small number of notches for the calibration. The method comprises a one-time normalization step and a system calibration step which may be performed at regular intervals. Ultrasound transmission is in a single diverging beam for each aperture, while reception is selective for multiple well-defined reception angles. During the normalization step, plots of maximum response vs reception angle are plotted for each notch, and a normalization curve is constructed by fitting the maxima of these plots. The normalization curve is used to derive calibration targets at specific reception angles for specific calibration notches, which are then used for the system calibrations.

A method is disclosed for mitigating wheel hop of a motor vehicle. The method may involve detecting an oscillation of a wheel speed of a driven wheel of the motor vehicle of the motor vehicle. When oscillation of the wheel is detected, a low amplitude, high frequency ripple braking signal is applied to a brake caliper associated with the wheel to modulate a braking action acting on the wheel.

There is disclosed inhaler testing apparatus, in which at least one flow regulation valve, such as a needle valve, is located within a conduit. The flow regulation valve divides the conduit into inlet and outlet sides of the valve. The inlet side is arranged for connection to an inhaler and the outlet side for connection to a vacuum source. An electric motor provides variable adjustment of a flow opening through the valve. At least one sensor senses pressure or flow rate in the inlet side and a controller automatically adjusts the flow opening through the valve in response to readings from the at least one sensor. The apparatus may also comprise a shut off valve, such as a solenoid valve.

There is disclosed inhaler testing apparatus, in which at least one flow regulation valve, such as a needle valve, is located within a conduit. The flow regulation valve divides the conduit into inlet and outlet sides of the valve. The inlet side is arranged for connection to an inhaler and the outlet side for connection to a vacuum source. An electric motor provides variable adjustment of a flow opening through the valve. At least one sensor senses pressure or flow rate in the inlet side and a controller automatically adjusts the flow opening through the valve in response to readings from the at least one sensor. The apparatus may also comprise a shut off valve, such as a solenoid valve.

A system and method provide for monitoring and controlling fluid flow in semiconductor manufacturing apparatuses. The method and system include a vortex flow meter coupled to a digital readout that displays the measured flow rate and trip point. The flow meter display includes input devices used to adjust the trip point. The system and method provide for sending signals via a custom relay to the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus which is adapted to terminate a processing operation or change the fluid flow if the trip point is tripped. The system and method also provide for sending an electrical signal to a computer by way of a data acquisition unit and a converter. The converter converts the signal to a communication protocol consistent with the computer network and provides fluid flow information and trip point data as a function of time to the computer which then displays such data graphically.