A device for the checking of the level and the movement of the mass under process inside a vibrating machine which consists of a metal bar (5), acting as a pendulum, the lower end (6) of which is periodically plunged into the said mass while the upper end (13) interacts with a detector (7) for the reading of the required technical data.

A dipstick locator device is mounted inside the engine compartment of a motor vehicle, and more particularly to the dipstick assembly. The device includes a light source which is activated at least when the hood is lifted to enable a person to locate the dipstick even under poor lighting conditions.

Bei einer bekannten Öleinfüllvorrichtung ist der Ölmeßstab mit dem Verschlußdeckel integriert. Eine Ölabsaugung erfolgt durch eine separate Absaugsonde oder durch separate bodenseitige Verschlußschrauben in der Ölwanne.

Erfindungsgemäß wird eine Öleinfüllvorrichtung (1) mit einem Öleinfüllrohr (2) und einem Ölmeßstab (3) vorgeschlagen, der in einem mit einem Öleinfüllrohr (2) einstückig ausgebildeten Führungsrohr (4) aufge­nommen ist, dessen bodenseitige Öffnung bis in den Bereich des Ölsumpfes reicht. Bevorzugt ist dabei das Führungsrohr (4) vollständig im Inneren des Öleinfüllrohrs (2) angeordnet. Das Führungsrohr (4) kann bei herausgenommenem Ölmeßstab (3) als Ölabsaug­rohr verwendet werden.

A machine for spreading material, in particular granular and/or pulverulent material such as fertilizer. The machine comprises a frame (2), a hopper (3) and one or more spreading members (4, 5, 57), means (28, 56) being provided at or near the hopper (3, 56), with the aid of which the position and/or the shape of the upper surface of the material contained therein can be measured in such a manner that on the basis thereof it is possible to establish the quantity of material still present in the hopper and that already spread therefrom. The means (28) include elements (29 to 36) extending in the hopper and extending, respectively, at least along part of the upper surface level of the quantity of material in the hopper or include a distance measuring device (65) provided above the hopper (56) for measuring the position of the upper surface level of the quantity of material in the hopper.

A dipstick comprises a blade (1) having a handle (4) connected to one end of the blade by means of an intermediate resilient tubular collar (3), said one end of the blade and said collar being provided with first formations (10, 11) that cooperate as a snap-fit when said one end of the blade is inserted into the collar thereby to retain the two axially together, and said handle having a central aperture (5) to receive the collar as a close fit and said handle and said collar being provided with second formations (16, 18) that cooperate as a snap-fit when said collar is inserted into the central aperture in the handle thereby to retain the two axially together, said first formations (10, 11) then being constrained radially within said aperture (5) so as to lock the blade therein. Thus, the blade and collar can be easily assembled together and both then inserted into the handle to form the complete assembly in a simple manner. Preferably, the handle and collar are composed of plastics material and the blade is either metal or plastics depending upon the particular application. Said first formations may comprise a pair of notches (10) in the,blade and a cooperating projection (11) on the inner surface of the collar. Said second formations may comprise a pair of lugs (16), provided on an end of the collar that project from said central aperture and cooperate with a shoulder. An axial slit divides said projecting end of the collar into two in a plane perpendicular to the blade and extends as far as the notches in the blade.

A visual indicating paste composition for producing a detectable colour change upon contact with an aqueous solution, said paste comprising an indicator dye capable of changing colour in the pH range between about 7 and about 11, an inorganic base in the form of a caustic powder, said base being dispersed in a liquid carrier capable of absorbing water but which is not rapidly leached by water or hydrocarbon, and preferably a minor amount of a boron containing compound. When applied to a measuring probe, the paste composition is particularly adapted for detecting the water level in the bottom of tanks and delivery systems containing gasoline, and especially gasoline containing oxygenated blending components, by producing a clear detectable colour change without bleeding or run-off upon contact with an aqueous solution.

Um ein Verfahren zur Bestimmung des Schlammspiegels in Absetzbecken von Kläranlagen zur Verfügung zu stellen, durch das es ermöglicht wird, eine sehr einfache Vorrichtung zur Durchführung des Verfahrens zu verwenden, die entweder selbsttätig, oder in Verbindung mit einem Prozeßrechner der Kläranlage den Schlammspiegel bestimmt, wird vorgeschlagen, daß ein Meßkörper, dessen obere Fläche regelmäßig, d.h. von bekannter Form und Größe ausgebildet ist, kontinuierlich in die Flüssigkeit abgesenkt wird, daß ein von einer ortsfest angebrachten Kamera aufgenommenes Bild des Meßkörpers mit dem tatsächlich zurückgelegten Weg des Meßkörpers verglichen wird, daß ein Sprung in der Helligkeitsabnahme der von der Kamera aufgenommenen Bilder ein Eintauchen des Meßkörpers in den abgesetzten Schlamm anzeigt und daß der von dem Meßkörper von der Flüssigkeitsoberfläche bis zu seinem vollständigen Verschwinden zurückgelegte Weg ein Maß für die Höhe der Flüssigkeit über dem Schlammspiegel ist. Die Vorrichtung weist in einer ortsfest angeordneten Hülle (1), die oben geschlossen und unten offen ist, einen Meßkörper (3), der mittels einer Absenkeinrichtung (6,7,8) lotrecht bewegbar ist, eine Kamera (2), einen Wegmesser (11), einen Vergleichslichtfühler (10) und einen Rechner (9) auf.

A sensing probe including a wound, flexible, resilient, metal 10 tube in which an insulated wire 24 extends and is secured at one end to the outer end portion of an insulative member 12 sealingly positioned within the tube and extending from the tube. The sensing probe is particularly useful to adapt an internal combustion engine so the crankcase oil level can be sensed electronically via electronic circuitry connected to the insulated wire of the probe.

A dipstick is formed of a single length of wire and comprises a generally straight main body (32) and a loop-shaped handle portion (34). The wire is circular in cross section, relatively small in diameter and possesses a relatively high resilience such that the main body (32) can resiliently flex in all directions to follow a complexty curved dipstick guiding conduit (36). The main body (32) has a pair of axially spaced and radially projected stopper portions (32a, 32b). The handle portion (34) extends from the main body (32) and terminates in an end (34a) which is wound round the main body (32) between the stopper portions (32a, 32b) such that the end (34a) of the handle portion (34) is prevented from relative movement in the axial direction of the main body (₃₂).