Combustion Engineering, Inc.

Reynolds Metals Company

Sangamo Weston, Inc.

Constar Plastics Inc.

James W Larsen

James K Hayes

Jan W Gooch

Nile F Hartman

Daniel P Campbell

Carl M Verber

A bottle stress analysis system using polarized light for determining stress levels of a transparent plastic bottle includes a rotation assembly for rotating the bottle. A polarized light source assembly is insertible into the bottle cavity to direct plane polarized light through the bottle wall and an analyzer assembly is positioned outside the bottle for measuring intensity of light passing through the bottle wall. In order to measure changes in polarization, the analyzer assembly has a polarization analyzer positioned to transmit the light to a photodetector. A mechanism for rotating either the polarized light source or the analyzer to determine maximum and minimum polarized light intensity at the photodetector facilitates determination of stress at a plurality of points along the bottle wall. A computer controlled analysis of the polarized light intensity can be used to produce a stress profile of the bottle, permitting rejection of bottles having abnormal internal stress that are likely to fail under internal pressure loading.

Bottle stress analysis system

An apparatus 10 for inspecting the surface of an object S moving in the direction of travel 23 relative to the apparatus comprises a modular sensing head assembly 11 including a plurality of sensing head modules 12, 13, each of which includes a number of sensing stations 16-21. Each sensing station includes a light source 77, 81, 84 for generating a line of light extending across substantially the width of the surface of the object and a plurality of optical detector means for detecting light scattered from the line of light by the surface of the object. The optical detectors are positioned and oriented to receive scattered light scattered along paths lying in detection planes which are perpendicular to each other and perpendicular to the surface of the object. Signal processing electronics are provided to convert the light received by the detectors into analog signals which are multiplexed, converted to digital signals, filtered and then compared to preselected thresholds to determine the existence of any defects in the surface.

Modular surface inspection method and apparatus using optical fibers

The magnet filter (10,100) has a frame for supporting a plurality of elongated, non-magnetic tubes (20, 108) in a regular, spaced-apart array. A plurality of magnetic bodies (38,112), which can take a variety of forms, are situated in the spaces between the tubes of the array, for imposing a magnetic field within each tube over substantially the full length of each tube. The upstream end of each tube is adapted for receiving a fluid to be magnetically filtered and the downstream end is adapted for discharging such fluid. As the fluid passes through each tube, the magnetic field imparts a force to the magnetizable particulates, which are drawn toward the magnetized internal structure within the tube where they are deposited, thus filtering the fluid. The magnetic bodies may produce a field that is oriented either substantially parallel to the tube, or transverse to the tube. The latter arrangement is particularly effective when used in conjunction with a plurality of magnetizable bars (112) supported in spaced-apart relation within each tube to provide an increased surface for particulate deposition within the tube.

High volume permanent magnet filter

A Hall device is formed from a generally rectangular body of material exhibiting the Hall effect, with two excitation electrodes disposed along opposite edges of the device. Two Hall output voltage electrodes are disposed along one of the remaining edges of the main body and at least one additional output electrode is disposed on the edge of the main body opposite the first pair of electrodes. At least two of the output electrodes are offset from a centerline drawn through the electrical midpoint of the main body. By deliberately offsetting the Hall voltage output electrodes from the centerline the first and second order voltage offsets due to inhomogeneities of the Hall material and mask misalignment are eliminated or easily compensated.

Growing community of inventors

Douglasville, GA, United States of America

James W Larsen