An automated computer-controlled sampling system and related methods for collecting, processing, and analyzing agricultural samples for various chemical properties such as plant available nutrients. The sampling system allows multiple samples to be processed and analyzed for different analytes or chemical properties in a simultaneous concurrent or semi-concurrent manner. Advantageously, the system can process soil samples in the as collected condition without drying or grinding. The system generally includes a sample preparation sub-system which receives soil samples collected by a probe collection sub-system and produces a slurry (i.e. mixture of soil, vegetation, and/or manure and water), and a chemical analysis sub-system which processes the prepared slurry samples for quantifying multiple analytes and/or chemical properties of the sample. The sample preparation and chemical analysis sub-systems can be used to analyze soil, vegetation, and/or manure samples.

An automated computer-controlled sampling system and related methods for collecting, processing, and analyzing agricultural samples for various chemical properties such as plant available nutrients. The sampling system allows multiple samples to be processed and analyzed for different analytes or chemical properties in a simultaneous concurrent or semi-concurrent manner. Advantageously, the system can process soil samples in the as collected condition without drying or grinding. The system generally includes a sample preparation sub-system which receives soil samples collected by a probe collection sub-system and produces a slurry (i.e. mixture of soil, vegetation, and/or manure and water), and a chemical analysis sub-system which processes the prepared slurry samples for quantifying multiple analytes and/or chemical properties of the sample. The sample preparation and chemical analysis sub-systems can be used to analyze soil, vegetation, and/or manure samples.

A check valve includes an upper housing having an inlet of the check valve, a lower housing axially coupled to the upper housing and having an outlet of the check valve, a valve portion cooperatively formed by the upper and lower housings, a passageway extending between the inlet and outlet, a first filter included in the upper housing to limit passage of undesirable matter in fluid flowing through the check valve, a second filter included in the lower housing to limit passage of undesirable matter in fluid flowing through the check valve, each of the first filter and the second filter including a plurality of vertical structures disposed in the valve portion and extending axially and radially in the valve portion, and a valve member positioned in the valve portion to selectively permit fluid to flow through the check valve.

For a lubricant press (1), a follower piston (13) is proposed that can be inserted into a cartridge (4) and is matched to a closing wall (6) of a cartridge holder (3), such that the follower piston (13) in the used-up cartridge (4) lies against the closing wall (6) in a planar manner.

A fuel injector assembly includes a fuel injector and an annular filter coupled with the fuel injector, the annular filter being snap-fitted with one of a nozzle case or an injector body of the fuel injector and slip-fitted with the other of the nozzle case or the injector body. The annular filter has a perforated wall forming a filtration screen covering an actuation fluid inlet formed in the nozzle case and positioned upstream of the actuation fluid inlet to trap particulates in incoming actuation fluid.

A check valve includes an upper housing having an inlet of the check valve, a lower housing axially coupled to the upper housing and having an outlet of the check valve, a valve portion cooperatively formed by the upper and lower housings, a passageway extending between the inlet and outlet, a first filter included in the upper housing to limit passage of undesirable matter in fluid flowing through the check valve, a second filter included in the lower housing to limit passage of undesirable matter in fluid flowing through the check valve, each of the first filter and the second filter including a plurality of vertical structures disposed in the valve portion and extending axially and radially in the valve portion, and a valve member positioned in the valve portion to selectively permit fluid to flow through the check valve.

A filter band assembly for a solenoid-actuated valve includes a filter band adapted to be disposed about a valve body of the solenoid-actuated valve. The filter band has a first end at one end and a second end at another end. The filter band assembly also includes a separate bracket affixed to one of the first end and the second end and adapted to support the one of the first end and the second end on the valve body to allow the first end and the second end to be joined together in a closed position.

A filter element includes a first end cap, a second end cap, and a ring of filter media disposed between the first end cap and the second end cap. The ring of filter media circumscribes a central cavity. The filter element also includes an air-bleed conduit axially extending through the central cavity. The air-bleed conduit includes a first portion integrally formed with the first end cap and a second portion integrally formed with the second end cap. The second portion is configured to fluidly connect to the first portion.

A check valve includes an upper housing having an inlet of the check valve, a lower housing axially coupled to the upper housing and having an outlet of the check valve, a valve portion cooperatively formed by the upper and lower housings, a passageway extending between the inlet and outlet, a first filter included in the upper housing to limit passage of undesirable matter in fluid flowing through the check valve, a second filter included in the lower housing to limit passage of undesirable matter in fluid flowing through the check valve, each of the first filter and the second filter including a plurality of vertical structures disposed in the valve portion and extending axially and radially in the valve portion, and a valve member positioned in the valve portion to selectively permit fluid to flow through the check valve.

A tubular mesh filter has a first ring-shaped portion formed in one end side of a tubular filter portion that filters out a foreign object from a fluid and a second ring-shaped portion formed in the other end side of the filter portion. The first and second ring-shaped portions are thicker than the filter portion. The first and second ring-shaped portions and the filter portion are injection-molded in an integral manner by initially injecting molten resin into a first cavity portion used to shape the first ring-shaped portion, flowing the molten resin filled in the first cavity portion evenly to a second cavity portion used to shape the filter portion, and supplying the molten resin filled in the second cavity portion to a third cavity portion used to shape the second ring-shaped portion.