Measuring distance along a wire rope, by steps that include moving the wire rope across a sensor head; counting rotations of a rotary encoder driven by the moving wire rope; detecting a first distance marker crossing the sensor head at a first position of the wire rope; detecting a second distance marker crossing the sensor head at a second position of the wire rope; and establishing calibration parameters for producing a calibrated distance measurement corresponding to any output of the rotary encoder, based at least on correlating a known distance between the first and second distance markers to a counted number of pulses of the rotary encoder between the first and second positions of the wire rope.

Provided is a discharge ionization current detector that is highly durable and yet can be produced at a low cost. An electrode structure 19 consisting of a dielectric-coated metal tube 16, with an insulator-coated metal wire 18 included therein, is inserted from above into a first gas passage including a dielectric tube 10. The metal tube 16 is connected to the ground on the upstream side of the first gas passage. One end of the metal wire 18 is extracted from the upstream side of the first gas passage to the outside and connected to a bias power source 33. An area which is not covered with the insulator is provided at the other end of the wire 18. This area is arranged in a second gas passage, which extends from the downstream end of the first gas passage. A metal electrode consisting of a flanged metal tube 28 is placed in the second gas passage and connected to an ion current detecting circuit 34. In the present configuration, the second gas passage, which should be heated to high temperatures, has fewer portions at which metallic parts are in contact with insulating members. This is advantageous for improving the durability of the device and reducing the used amount of expensive, highly heat-resistant sealing members and/or insulating members.

A method and measurement device for measuring the ability of a flowing powder to electrostatically charge comprising a conduit comprised of a straight upper part fluidly connected to a straight lower part, the upper part being positioned at a first angle to the horizontal and the lower part being positioned at a second angle to the horizontal and wherein upper and lower part are positioned at a third angle relative to each other defining a bend at the intersection of the upper and lower part, wherein the upper part is provided with a supply opening for the powder and the lower part is provided with a discharge opening to discharge the powder and a faraday cup is connected to an electrometer positioned relative to the discharge opening to receive powder the from the conduit.

A method and measurement device for measuring the ability of a flowing powder to electrostatically charge comprising a conduit comprised of a straight upper part fluidly connected to a straight lower part, the upper part being positioned at a first angle to the horizontal and the lower part being positioned at a second angle to the horizontal and wherein upper and lower part are positioned at a third angle relative to each other defining a bend at the intersection of the upper and lower part, wherein the upper part is provided with a supply opening for the powder and the lower part is provided with a discharge opening to discharge the powder and a faraday cup is connected to an electrometer positioned relative to the discharge opening to receive powder the from the conduit.

An electromagnetic field analysis method for an anisotropic conductive material involves using an analysis grid having a first side and a second side that are orthogonal to each other to analyze an electromagnetic property of an anisotropic conductive material in which conductivity in a first direction is different from conductivity in a second direction. One or both of the first direction and the second direction are parallel to a direction different from either one of the first side and the second side of the analysis grid. One electromagnetic field component located on the first side and extending along the second side is calculated based on electromagnetic field components that are located on a plurality of the second sides surrounding the one electromagnetic field component and that extend along the second sides.

An electromagnetic field analysis method for an anisotropic conductive material involves using an analysis grid having a first side and a second side that are orthogonal to each other to analyze an electromagnetic property of an anisotropic conductive material in which conductivity in a first direction is different from conductivity in a second direction. One or both of the first direction and the second direction are parallel to a direction different from either one of the first side and the second side of the analysis grid. One electromagnetic field component located on the first side and extending along the second side is calculated based on electromagnetic field components that are located on a plurality of the second sides surrounding the one electromagnetic field component and that extend along the second sides.

A system for determining an amount of and applying a preservative to an individual charge of crop material, wherein the charge is combined with other charges to form a bale. Loose crop material is collected and packed into a feeder chute in such a manner as to pre-compress the material to form the charge. A moisture content of the charge is measured by a sensor while the charge is still in the feeder chute. The charge is moved into a forming chamber, and a control unit determines a correct amount of a preservative to apply to the charge based on the moisture content. The correct amount of the preservative is applied to the charge either before or after the charge is incorporated into the bale. Thus, the system measures the moisture content of each charge, and measures the moisture content of the same charge to which the preservative is applied.

A system for analyzing a content of a sample material is presented. The system includes a fiber sensitized to a first substance, and at least one electrode configured to expose the fiber to an electric field. The system includes an optical sensor configured to detect a displacement of the fiber when the fiber is exposed to the electric field, and a processor configured to use the displacement of the fiber to characterize a content of the sample material.

A system for analyzing a content of a sample material is presented. The system includes a fiber sensitized to a first substance, and at least one electrode configured to expose the fiber to an electric field. The system includes an optical sensor configured to detect a displacement of the fiber when the fiber is exposed to the electric field, and a processor configured to use the displacement of the fiber to characterize a content of the sample material.

A charge potential distributed over a vehicle body resulting from the contact, separation, and friction between a tire and a road surface is detected by a detecting unit provided with a sensing electrode that is disposed on the external surface of the vehicle body, a reference electrode that is disposed apart from the external surface of the vehicle body with a space therebetween, and a sensor amplifier that senses a potential between the sensing electrode and the reference electrode as a signal and amplifies the signal. And the amplitude of the charge potential detected by the detecting unit is monitored by a data processing unit, thereby making it possible to accurately identify not only the state of the road surface but also an internal pressure state of the tire, a wear state of the tire, and the like during vehicular travel.