An apparatus for determining a vertical level or density of a material column including one or more of a granular solid, a wet granular solid, a slurry, and a suspension, the apparatus having a support member; and at least one measurement module, wherein the measurement module includes a support arm mounted to the support member and extending outwardly from the support member; a displacer mounted to the support arm, and a force measurement device configured to measure a force attributable to a mass of the displacer mediated by a buoyancy of the displacer in the material column, wherein the measurement module has a data connection to a data processing unit for transmitting measurement data from the measurement module to the data processing unit to generate level or density information about the material column.

A system and method are disclosed for differentiating sugar-free and regular carbonated beverages. The system and method exploit the difference in specific gravity of fluid materials by observing calibrated beads immersed in fluids.

A system and method are disclosed for differentiating sugar-free and regular carbonated beverages. The system and method exploit the difference in specific gravity of fluid materials by observing calibrated beads immersed in fluids.

A digital hydrometer and methods of digitally displaying a specific gravity measured by a hydrometer are provided. The digital hydrometer can comprise a base, a displacement vessel, an inductive distance sensor, an output circuit, and a hydrometer float. The displacement vessel and inductive distance sensor can be mounted in or on the base. The displacement vessel can hold a displacement fluid. The hydrometer float can float in the displacement fluid. The output circuit can be in electrical communication with the inductive distance sensor and comprise a digital display device configured to display a digital value that is commensurate with a change in impedance attributable to the proximity of a metallic object, in the hydrometer float, to the sensor or its inductor. The digital value can be a specific gravity of the displacement fluid.

A digital hydrometer and methods of digitally displaying a specific gravity measured by a hydrometer are provided. The digital hydrometer can comprise a base, a displacement vessel, an inductive distance sensor, an output circuit, and a hydrometer float. The displacement vessel and inductive distance sensor can be mounted in or on the base. The displacement vessel can hold a displacement fluid. The hydrometer float can float in the displacement fluid. The output circuit can be in electrical communication with the inductive distance sensor and comprise a digital display device configured to display a digital value that is commensurate with a change in impedance attributable to the proximity of a metallic object, in the hydrometer float, to the sensor or its inductor. The digital value can be a specific gravity of the displacement fluid.

A hydrometer device according to an example includes a floating waterproof device container, and a liquid level sensor positioned in the device container to sense an immersion level of the device container when the device container is floating in a container of liquid. The hydrometer device further includes a conversion circuit positioned in the device container to convert the sensed immersion level to a digital value, and a controller positioned in the device container to determine a liquid density value for the liquid based on the digital value.

A hydrometer device according to an example includes a floating waterproof device container, and a liquid level sensor positioned in the device container to sense an immersion level of the device container when the device container is floating in a container of liquid. The hydrometer device further includes a conversion circuit positioned in the device container to convert the sensed immersion level to a digital value, and a controller positioned in the device container to determine a liquid density value for the liquid based on the digital value.

A digital hydrometer and methods of digitally displaying a specific gravity measured by a hydrometer are provided. The digital hydrometer can comprise a base, a displacement vessel, an inductive distance sensor, an output circuit, and a hydrometer float. The displacement vessel and inductive distance sensor can be mounted in or on the base. The displacement vessel can hold a displacement fluid. The hydrometer float can float in the displacement fluid. The output circuit can be in electrical communication with the inductive distance sensor and comprise a digital display device configured to display a digital value that is commensurate with a change in impedance attributable to the proximity of a metallic object, in the hydrometer float, to the sensor or its inductor. The digital value can be a specific gravity of the displacement fluid.

The method can determine a density of concrete based on the measured buoyancy of a buoy immersed in fresh concrete contained in a ready mix drum and rotatable therein as the drum is rotated, the method can include obtaining a first measurement of a force applied to the buoy while the buoy is being moved tangentially in the fresh concrete, obtaining a second measurement of a force applied to the buoy while the buoy is being moved tangentially in the fresh concrete by rotation of the cylindrical wall, obtaining an indication of the buoyancy of the buoy in the concrete including factoring out the yield effect based on at least the first measurement and the second measurement.

The method can determine a density of concrete based on the measured buoyancy of a buoy immersed in fresh concrete contained in a ready mix drum and rotatable therein as the drum is rotated, the method can include obtaining a first measurement of a force applied to the buoy while the buoy is being moved tangentially in the fresh concrete, obtaining a second measurement of a force applied to the buoy while the buoy is being moved tangentially in the fresh concrete by rotation of the cylindrical wall, obtaining an indication of the buoyancy of the buoy in the concrete including factoring out the yield effect based on at least the first measurement and the second measurement.