A fluid level detector is provided, which has a transmitter, a receiver, and a sensing zone adjacent the transmitter and receiver. The transmitter and receiver are arranged such that when an electric field forms between the transmitter and receiver, a fringe electric field extends from the transmitter into the sensing zone. The transmitter and receiver are both on a same side of the sensing zone, and a fluid located at the sensing zone changes a measured capacitance at the transmitter and receiver system.

A device for monitoring the level or amount of a material within a container is provided. The device includes a detection mechanism that can be a direct detection mechanism or an indirect detection mechanism. When the detection mechanism senses an upper level of the substance in the container that is below a predetermined lower limit for the substance, the mechanism operates an alarm mechanism to emit an alarm to alert an individual to the low level of the substance within the container. The alarm can wirelessly communicate a salt level state to a wireless network or a device on a wireless network that can transmit the status through the Internet to any remote location. In one aspect, the alarm can be sent on a mesh network with a device that can transmit the status and other conditions through the Internet and to an application executing on a mobile device.

A chemical vessel used for holding a liquid chemical precursor is disclosed comprising a liquid level sensor tube. The liquid level sensor tube is configured to operate in an environment where the liquid chemical precursor is heated to a point of boiling or vaporization. The liquid level sensor tube comprises housing with a slot built in to prevent any false readings of sensors disposed within the liquid level sensor tube.

A sample processing station includes two or more container holders on a platform that is rotatable about a central axis of rotation. Each holder is configured to rotate about a secondary axis of rotation. The station includes a capping/decapping mechanism to cap or decap a container held in one of the container holders and an elevator with a chuck guide that contact the container holder as the chuck is lowered by the elevator to positon the chuck with respect to the cap of the container held in the holder and to hold jaws of the container holder in a closed position. In embodiment, the chuck guide includes a yoke with opposed arms and spindles located near distal ends of the arms that engage beveled shoulders of the container holder.

A production logging tool comprises an elongated cylindrical body of longitudinal axis, the body carrying an articulated dual arms deploying arrangement comprising two deploying arms, the deploying arms being operable from a retracted configuration into a vertically extended configuration. At least one arm carries a segmented water level capacitance probe comprising multiple water level capacitance sensors sensitive to a water content of a multiphase fluid mixture flowing in a hydrocarbon well. The water level capacitance sensors are positioned along the arm such as to be positioned at different height from a bottom to a top of a highly deviated or horizontal section of the hydrocarbon well.

The invention is an impedance threshold level sensor, comprising: a measuring probe which can be influenced by a medium surrounding the measuring probe in a measuring capacitance, the measuring probe comprising a measurement electrode and a reference electrode insulated from the measurement electrode, between which the measuring capacitance is formed, a measuring resonant circuit, in which the measuring probe is arranged as a capacitance-determining element, an electronic unit having a signal generator for exciting the measuring resonant circuit and a signal detector for determining a response signal of the measuring resonant circuit, a signal processing unit for generating a measurement signal, which is connected to the electronic unit, wherein the measurement electrode and the reference electrode are designed and arranged such that an increasing filling level of the medium reaches the reference electrode earlier than or together with the measurement electrode.

A measuring device, configured to detect a process variable in a container, is provided, the measuring device including: electronic circuitry with a housing and a sealing abutting the housing, the measuring device being further configured to be arranged in a container opening, and when the measuring device is arranged in the container opening: the sealing is configured to seal the container opening, and the electronic circuitry is arranged below a geometric plane of the sealing. A container including a container opening and the measuring device is also provided.

A capacitive sensor includes a metal radiator disposed at an extreme end of a sensor assembly. A coaxial electrode is electrically interconnected to the metal radiator. The coaxial electrode has a center conductor, a dielectric around the center conductor, and an outer conductor, the center conductor being in electrical continuity with the metal radiator. An insulator configured to fit adjacent the metal radiator is configured to electrically and thermally isolate the metal radiator from selected electrical and thermal properties in an environment wherein the capacitive sensor probe is disposed. A connector is disposed distal from the metal radiator on the coaxial electrode, a portion of the connector being in electrical continuity with the metal radiator.

There is provided an automatic analyzer that improves the adjustment accuracy of a washing fluid amount by detecting a change in a washing water amount in high sensitivity. An automatic analyzer includes a dispensing mechanism including a dispensing probe configured to dispense a sample or reagent into a reaction container, a washing nozzle configured to discharge a washing fluid to the dispensing probe, and a control unit configured to control the dispensing mechanism. In confirming a liquid amount of the washing fluid, the control unit positions a horizontal position of the dispensing probe on a more downstream side from the washing nozzle in comparison with a horizontal position of the dispensing probe in washing the dispensing probe.

A vaporizing device for consuming a stimulant or a pharmaceutical substance by inhaling a vapour comprise a housing having an exit opening provided at one end of said housing, a vaporizer connected to said exit opening via a vapour conduit, said vaporizer having an electrically driven heating unit and a liquid exposure section that is heated by the heating unit to vaporize a liquid in said liquid exposure section, a liquid reservoir connected to said liquid exposure section via a liquid conduit, and an electrical energy storage unit electrically connected to said heating unit, wherein an electrical fluid level sensor is associated with said liquid reservoir, said fluid level sensor being arranged and adapted to produce a low-level-signal if the liquid level within said liquid reservoir is below a predetermined threshold.