The present invention relates to a calibration device and method for use in calibrating a thermal cycler having a reaction zone (140), an excitation light source (120) and an optical detector (110), the device comprising one or more ambient condition sensors (210, 230), each adapted to sense an ambient condition at a respective position within said reaction zone, one or more emission light generators (220) adapted to be in optical communication with the optical detector (110), and control circuitry coupled to the one or more ambient condition sensors and to the one or more emission light generators, wherein the control circuitry is configured to alter the emission light generated by the one or more emission light generators based on the ambient condition sensed by the one or more ambient condition sensors.

The present invention relates to a calibration device and method for use in calibrating a thermal cycler having a reaction zone (140), an excitation light source (120) and an optical detector (110), the device comprising one or more ambient condition sensors (210, 230), each adapted to sense an ambient condition at a respective position within said reaction zone, one or more emission light generators (220) adapted to be in optical communication with the optical detector (110), and control circuitry coupled to the one or more ambient condition sensors and to the one or more emission light generators, wherein the control circuitry is configured to alter the emission light generated by the one or more emission light generators based on the ambient condition sensed by the one or more ambient condition sensors.

A thermometric powder metal material for testing to replicate an actual powder material during use of the actual powder metal material in an internal combustion engine is provided. The thermometric powder metal material includes pores and has a decrease in hardness as a function of temperature according to the following equation: D Hardness/D Temperature=>0.5 HV/ C. The properties of the actual powder metal material, when the actual powder metal is used in an internal combustion engine, can be estimated using the thermometric powder metal material by first adjusting the thermal conductivity of the thermometric powder metal material or controlling the porosity of the thermometric powder metal material to replicate the actual powder metal material, and then subjecting thermometric powder metal material to an engine test. For example, the thermal conductivity can be adjusted by infiltrating the thermometric powder metal material with copper.

A drop-in probe includes a measurement head having an immersion end and an opposing second end having an end face. The measurement head is formed of first and second body halves configured to mate together along a parting line. A sample chamber, arranged within the measurement head, is thermally isolated from a cooling mass thereof and includes a metal wall having a thickness of 2.5 mm or less. An inlet tube has an inlet opening to the sample chamber. The inlet opening has a diameter D.sub.inlet and is spaced apart from the end face of the measurement head at a distance of at least $\frac{D_{\mathrm{inlet}}}{2}.$
When the sample chamber is filled with a sample of the molten metal, a ratio of a mass of the metal sample to a mass of the metal wall of the sample chamber is greater than 2.6 and less than 6.

A lid mounted water sampling system adapted to be fluidly coupled to a water line for obtaining water quality parameters corresponding to a sample of pressurized water from the water line and transmitting information associated with said water quality parameters to a remote location, the system comprising: a pit lid adapted to be positioned to cover a pit box such that during use an outer surface of the pit lid is substantially at ground level and adapted to be positioned upon the pit box located underground; the pit lid further comprising an in-use underside portion coupled to a water sampling apparatus, the water sampling apparatus adapted to be positioned in an internal volume defined by the pit box, the water sampling apparatus being fluidly coupled to the water line for obtaining water quality parameters corresponding to a sample of the pressurized water from the water line; and a data transmitter positioned adjacent said pit lid in electronic communication with the water sampling apparatus for transmitting the water quality parameters to the remote location.

A test specimen holder includes a specimen engaging portion operable to selectively engage and hold a test specimen. The test specimen holder includes a first shield disposed around the specimen engaging portion wherein a first gap is formed between the shield and the specimen engaging portion to remove heat from the specimen engaging portion.

A test specimen holder includes a specimen engaging portion operable to selectively engage and hold a test specimen. The test specimen holder includes a first shield disposed around the specimen engaging portion wherein a first gap is formed between the shield and the specimen engaging portion to remove heat from the specimen engaging portion.

A thermal simulator simulates the thermal behavior of items such as eggs for which the actual internal temperature profile is difficult to measure. A yolk body simulates the egg yolk, an albumen body surrounds the yolk body and simulates the egg albumen, and a shell layer surrounds the albumen body to simulate the shell. The thermal properties of the materials forming the egg body, albumen body and shell layer are tuned to match the thermal properties of the egg yolk, egg albumen and egg shell. Thermometric devices are positioned within the egg body and egg albumen along with communication devices which process signals from the thermometric devices indicative of temperature and communicate these signals to a computer for further processing and display.

A thermal simulator simulates the thermal behavior of items such as eggs for which the actual internal temperature profile is difficult to measure. A yolk body simulates the egg yolk, an albumen body surrounds the yolk body and simulates the egg albumen, and a shell layer surrounds the albumen body to simulate the shell. The thermal properties of the materials forming the egg body, albumen body and shell layer are tuned to match the thermal properties of the egg yolk, egg albumen and egg shell. Thermometric devices are positioned within the egg body and egg albumen along with communication devices which process signals from the thermometric devices indicative of temperature and communicate these signals to a computer for further processing and display.

A thermal simulator simulates the thermal behavior of items such as eggs for which the actual internal temperature profile is difficult to measure. A yolk body simulates the egg yolk, an albumen body surrounds the yolk body and simulates the egg albumen, and a shell layer surrounds the albumen body to simulate the shell. The thermal properties of the materials forming the egg body, albumen body and shell layer are tuned to match the thermal properties of the egg yolk, egg albumen and egg shell. Thermometric devices are positioned within the egg body and egg albumen along with communication devices which process signals from the thermometric devices indicative of temperature and communicate these signals to a computer for further processing and display.