March 2nd, 2010
The 8th International Meeting for Manikins and Modeling (8I3M) is the primary forum for international experts on the science of human thermal comfort to present and discuss current and future challenges, opportunities, and the requirements of next-generation protective clothing, high-performance sport apparel, and environmental comfort research. Abstracts and papers are invited on a broad spectrum of topics, including:
- Thermal manikin applications including aerospace, automotive, clothing, commercial, industrial and military
- Human thermal physiology and mathematical models
- New or updated manikin, modeling and testing standards
- Thermal manikin developments, including breathing, sweating, and walking systems
- Environmental comfort research and human interaction
- Flame and Chemical exposure tests
- Body part manikins
- Virtual manikins
- Validation / Correlation studies
Authors are invited to submit research abstracts (300 to 500 words in length) for consideration at 8I3M. Abstracts should be submitted as soon as possible. A sampling of those received to-date include:
- Evaporative Resistance and Thermal Insulation of Clothing under Different Posture Positions
- Numerical Simulation Study on the Heat Loss from a Thermal Foot Manikin
- Protective Clothing Design Effects on Ensemble Biophysics and Predicted Human Thermal Responses
- Using Operational Models to Predict Performance of New Concepts in (CBRN) Personal Protective Systems
Visit the official 8I3M website: www.i3mmeeting.com for the conference schedule, registration forms, research paper submission forms, information on lodging at Victoria’s luxurious Hotel Grand Pacific, and upcoming conference deadlines. Don’t miss this opportunity to be a part of the year’s most important venue for the advancement of human thermal comfort research.
Tags: 8I3M, thermal manikin, thermal mannequin, Thermal Measurement, thermal testing
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February 17th, 2010
Through one of our partners, Dillon Quality Plus, the Coast Guard purchased and used our HRT-3mm Running Line Tensiometer (or line rider) to measure the cable tension loads during some qualification testing on an improved rescue hoist for the Coast Guard H-65 Dolphin Helicopter.
An HH-65C flight crew hoists an injured hiker to safety from a mountain peak in WA at an altitude of 6,300 feet.
The hoist was improved by adding a clutch designed to release if the cable forces exceed a known value. The Coast Guard tested the release force pulling on the cable at various speeds from 1 in/s to 30 in/s. After the hoist passed this testing, the Coast Guard then conducted a number of drop tests that consisted of a 600 pound mass attached to the end of the cable and various amounts of slack in the cable from 1 to 5ft.
During all testing, the tensiometer (or dynamometer) was attached to the cable and the load output was recorded. The HRT-3mm system worked perfectly.
The HRT-3mm is designed to measure running line cable tension loads from 0-13,000 lbs. It only weighs 30lbs and is compact but reliable.
Tags: cable tension monitoring, calibration, Coast Guard, HH-65C, HH-65C Dolphin Helicopter, Injured Hiker, Line Rider, Line Tension, Running Line Tensiometer, Search and Rescue, tensiometers, tension meter, winch payout, winch tension
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February 8th, 2010
Measurement Technology NW’s new Stored Energy Test (SET) Device is designed to measure both transmitted and stored heat energy in firefighter protective clothing material systems under a specific set of exposure conditions. In real life, the combination of transmitted and stored heat within protective textiles and composites has been found to be sufficient to cause burn injuries under certain circumstances, and this new device is intended to replicate and measure these conditions.
In this new test device, a horizontally or vertically positioned fabric specimen is exposed to a radiant heat source (producing an energy output similar to the spectral density of a structural fire) for a fixed period of time. During exposure a data collection sensor, positioned above the innermost surface of the test sample, measures the heat energy transmitted through the fabric. At the end of the exposure time, the fabric specimen is then compressed against the data collection sensor, which continues to measure the heat energy stored within the sample – as per the recently-approved ASTM standard. The total energy transmitted and stored by the fabric specimen is used to predict whether a second degree burn injury will occur. If a second degree burn injury is predicted, the time to a second degree burn injury is reported.
MTNW’s exclusive Stored Energy Test Device includes a radiant heat source, specimen holder, sensor assembly, transfer tray with water-cooled carriage, pneumatically-actuated compressor assembly, data acquisition/control system, and PC with burn damage analysis software. You know you want one, so give us a call for more details and a price quote.
Tags: ASTM, protective textiles, Stored Energy Test, stored heat energy, thermal, Thermal Measurement, thermal testing
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January 15th, 2010
With the beginning of a new year comes New Year’s resolutions, and for all our sweating manikin operators we heartily recommend making the resolution to pay more attention to your manikin’s fluid circulation system. Towards that goal I have re-posted a service bulletin from a few years ago that describes the maintenance procedures our engineers have developed for the proper care of our sweating manikins – including Newton (all models) and the Thermal Hand, Thermal Foot, and Thermal Head systems. Note: The procedures shown below apply only to MTNW manikins using removable wicking fabric skins. For manikins with MTNW’s porous metal sweating skin surfaces, please contact MTNW for maintenance information specific to these systems.
MTNW Service Bulletin
Sweating Manikin Fluid System Storage and Flushing Procedures
Long-term storage of water systems, even with high purity water, can result in bacterial growth and a resulting biofilm on all wetted surfaces. Studies have demonstrated significant bacterial activity within 7 days in a high-purity closed system. The large number of variables affecting this phenomenon, including supply water purity, existing bacterial content of water system, ambient temperature, and wetted materials, can make each location unique.
MTNW’s sweating manikin systems meet many of the criteria for promoting bacterial growth. The sealed design of MTNW’s fluid system does not permit reliable purging of the internal tubes, so the system remains wetted throughout its service life. The flowrates are low and often stagnant during non-sweating operation. Water recirculates through the system, so any bacterial content developed in the manikin tubes gets returned to the reservoir. Adding more high-purity water to the reservoir does not eliminate any existing biological activity.
The maintenance procedures outlined below are intended to minimize/reduce bacterial growth, and also offer a shock treatment to systems for periodic cleaning. NOTE: All supply water should be deionized or distilled high purity water.
If you will be USING the manikin sweating system AT LEAST ONCE PER WEEK:
- Fully drain and rinse out the manikin fluid reservoir with supply water
- Refill reservoir with supply water
- Unplug recirculation (black) tube from reservoir and route it to a drain or collection bucket
- Turn on the fluid pump and allow it to run for 10 minutes to purge the old water from the system
- Top off the reservoir and resume testing
If you will be STORING the manikin or not operating the fluid system (re: non-sweating tests) for MORE THAN ONE WEEK:
- Remove the wicking fabric sweating suit
- Add 5 liters of supply water to empty reservoir
- Add 1 ml of unscented household bleach and shake the reservoir to mix and coat the inside surfaces (this will result in approximately 10 PPM sodium hypochlorite solution)
- With the manikin tubing fully connected, turn on the fluid pump and allow it to run for 10 minutes, recirculating this solution through the closed system.
- Set all the manikin sweat rates to 2000 ml/hr/m2, and allow the system to sweat for 10 minutes.
- The system can now be stored for up to 2 months containing this solution
- Prior to running sweating tests, repeat this procedure with fresh supply water to purge chlorine from the system
Every TWO MONTHS as preventative maintenance or as a special one-time shock treatment after storage:
- Very important – Long-term exposure to sodium hypochlorite can degrade internal manikin system components. Do not allow bleach solution to remain inside the manikin system for more then 10 minutes.
- Caution – This process uses bleach with a concentration which could possibly discolor fabrics or cause staining. Use colorfast or white absorbent pad and towels for this procedure. Wear eye protection.
- Remove the wicking fabric sweating suit and place an absorbent pad beneath manikin to catch runoff
- Add 5 liters of supply water to empty reservoir
- Add 100 ml of unscented household bleach and shake the reservoir to mix and coat the inside surfaces (this will result in approximately 1000 PPM sodium hypochlorite solution)
- With the manikin tubing fully connected, turn on the fluid pump and allow it to run for 5 minutes, recirculating this solution through the closed system.
- Set all the manikin sweat rates to 2000 ml/hr/m2, and allow the system to sweat for 5 minutes.
- Set sweat rates back to 0 ml/hr/m2 and quickly blot the manikin dry with a colorfast cloth and turn off fluid pump
- Immediately drain and rinse reservoir, and refill with clean supply water
- Unplug recirculation (black) tube from reservoir and route it to a drain or collection bucket
- Turn on the fluid pump and allow it to run for 5 minutes to purge the system
- Set all the manikin sweat rates to 2000 ml/hr/m2, and allow the system to sweat for 5 minutes.
- Set sweat rates back to 0 and blot manikin dry with colorfast cloth
- Allow the pump to run for an additional 10 minutes, flushing water out the recirculation (black) tube.
- Begin using the manikin for sweating tests within one week, or follow the previously mentioned storage procedure
Tags: sweating manikin, sweating mannequin, thermal, thermal hand systems, thermal manikin, thermal mannequin, Thermal Measurement, thermal testing
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January 12th, 2010
We often get asked questions about the difference between tension meters, tensiometers, and dynamometers. There is good reason for the confusion because many different industries use the same words for different applications. For example, the word tensiometer, which we use to describe our primary cable tension/payout monitoring equipment, is also used to describe a soil moisture monitor, and dynamometer is a word that was widely used within North America for a device for measuring automotive horsepower.
At Measurement Technology NW we focus on measuring cable tension in many different applications (from 1,000 lbs-1,000,000 lbs) and we use the words tensiometer (dynamometer) and tension meter interchangeably. Even though the words mean much the same thing, our tensiometers can be provided with an extra sensor to measure payout and speed – two line control parameters that are not always considered when referencing a standard “tension meter”.
Tensiometers can be of two main styles; running line tensiometers (RLT’s) are designed to ride the line and provide measurements of tension, speed and/or payout as the line moves through the unit. Static tensiometers are devices that clamp onto to non-moving lines and only need to provide a measurement of line tension.
Our customers use MTNW tension monitoring devices in applications such as: offshore mooring, barge mooring, oceanographic payload monitoring, ROV launch and recovery system monitoring, tethered pipeline inspection (or pigging) monitoring, etc. Usually it is a safety requirement that drives the procurement of these tensiometers.
Here is a picture of a barge mooring monitoring project for which Ombak Marine Group in Kuala Lumpur has installed a group of MTNW’s tensiometers. These units are defined as tensiometers (or dynamometers) because we are helping them measure all three line parameters.
Our running line tensiometers are 3 sheave devices that detect tension by the deflection of the strain gauge transducer installed in the load pin that is in the center of the top sheave.
Here is another picture from an NPCC barge mooring monitoring project. NPCC, based in Dubai, ordered 8 running line tensiometers (or dynamometers) from us. You can see how we have installed this device in a compact area under a platform. It is tethered from above to avoid damage in a slack line event and tethered fore and aft to prevent rocking.
Whether you call it a tensiometer, a tension meter, or a dynamometer (and hopefully we’ve cleared away some of the confusion), we build the most rugged, accurate, and easily installed cable tension monitoring device in the industry.
Tags: cable tension, cable tension monitoring, tensiometers, tension measurement, tension meter
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January 8th, 2010
We recently completed a refurbishment and upgrade to an older Dillon Tensiometer model owned by NDT Services. Frank Vignall, from NDT, has been using a 40KIP Dillion Tensiometer for many years to support his pipeline inspection services. In his work he mounts the tensiometer on a cable used to pull a package through a test pipeline to determine how much pressure it will require to push a similarly-sized scientific package through a fluid or gas pipeline for customers. NDT Services sends their scientific packages through pipes to find defects and identify pipe locations where repairs need to be made. Their old Dillon tensiometer had parts that were worn out and no longer serviceable. You can see in the pictures below that in our upgrade we installed modern wiring, a strain gauge module and a Hall Effect sensor to measure cable payout.
The load cell on the Dillon unit was still functional but the rotational sensor had failed. MTNW designed a special gear tooth sensor and mounted it to the spur gear on one of the outer sheaves. In this manner we were able to obtain a digital quadrature pulse train that MTNW’s LCI-90 processed into a real-time display of speed, payout and cable direction. In the course of this retrofit MTNW worked with engineers from Dillon, the spur gear manufacturers, and our rotational sensor manufacturer. In the end we were able to measure 72 pulses per sheave rotation with a highly accurate payout resolution. The existing load cell was found to be functional and when connected to our LCI-90 display found to be very accurate in calibration. We also installed new bulkhead connectors on both the tensiometer and display units.
This Dillon Tensiometer is over 10 years old and came from the original Dillon series. It weighs about 350 lbs. As you can see in the picture below, we now make comparable tensiometers (dynamometers) which weigh less than 1/3 of the original Dillon model but which can support a similar tension range. Our RL-60 frame size (shown below) can accommodate a tension range from 0-60KIPS. For greater accuracy, we have used custom load pins in this frame size for lower (0-20 & 0-40 KIPS) maximum loads.
We also paired this older Dillon unit with our WinchDAC software for PC logging and remote viewing of operational data. Now NDT can build and send data directly out of WinchDAC into Excel for further report building. See our WinchDAC Software for Single Winch images below.
Given that Dillon was one of the first tensiometer manufacturers in North America it has been gratifying to see how well suited our modern technology was to the functional upgrade of this older system.
Tags: cable tension, cable tension monitoring, Line Tension, winch tension
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December 30th, 2009
All three divisions of our company come together every year during the holidays for an intrigue-filled Christmas party. This year it was held at Vios Marketplace (a wonderful Greek restaurant in Seattle’s Capitol Hill area) but, right up to the day of the party, nobody knew where it was going to be held! Our president likes to build up anticipation for the event, and withholding the party’s location until the last minute definitely accomplishes that goal. It’s a company tradition that goes back many years, and we’ve all come to look forward to the surprise “reveal” of our evening destination.
Another fun tradition at our Christmas party is the White Elephant gift exchange. After much observation over the years I’ve determined that the ideal gift is useless and/or cheap. Bonus points if it’s both, and woe to any new employee who unthinkingly brings something worthwhile! To play we draw numbers from a hat, and when your number is called you can select an unopened gift, or steal a gift that someone opened earlier (which allows the victim to select a new gift or steal someone else’s gift, and so on…). Gifts can only be stolen twice. The third owner gets to claim it for good. This year I pulled a low number, so gift stealing was rampant. I picked and later lost a Buddha mask, a battery-powered zombie, a 6-pack of cheap beer, and a gyroscopic glider. The glider seemed like a good haul at the time – everybody likes a toy airplane – but while the package advertised “amazingly straight” flights the new owner soon learned that in reality the only thing the glider could do was fly straight into the ground.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from our team to yours!
Tags: Thermal Measurement
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December 7th, 2009
As mentioned in an earlier posting, Measurement Technology NW and Canada’s Sport Innovation (SPIN) Centre are sponsoring next year’s 8I3M Conference (8th International Meeting for Manikins & Modeling). The location is beautiful Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, and the dates are August 22-26, 2010.
The SPIN Centre is home to Canadian Sport Centre Pacific, and both are located at the new Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence (PISE). We will be holding all 8I3M sessions there. The Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence is an 80,000 sq/ft cutting-edge facility dedicated to the advancement of high performance sport, fitness education, and community awareness programs.
But the big news is that your official 8I3M website: www.i3mmeeting.com is now complete! Both the conference registration form and research paper submission form are now posted and available for downloading. A block of rooms have been reserved for 8I3M conference attendees at Victoria’s Hotel Grand Pacific, and the pre-conference registration period is underway. Attendees are encouraged to take advantage of the conference discount ($100) available to early registrants.
So log on, sign up, and begin preparing your presentations for 8I3M. All of us at Measurement Technology NW and the SPIN Centre look forward to being of service in the weeks and months ahead.
Tags: 8I3M, thermal manikin, Thermal Measurement, thermal testing
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December 4th, 2009
We just spoke with Michael Kasten, President of Coordinated Wire Rope, and during the conversation he mentioned that last Friday the CD Lyon team was working with the LCI-90 and HRT-3MM tensiometer/dynamometer system (described in our last blog post) when they hit “a snag”…literally. The CD Lyon team was pigging the pipe, which means that they were dragging a device through the existing pipe looking for obstacles, when tension readings on their LCI-90 display suddenly jumped from 3,000 lbs to 13,000 lbs.
Because the LCI-90 payout measurement is so accurate, the construction team was able to go directly to the location of the stuck pig, dig down to the pipe, remove the obstacle, repair the pipe and keep pigging…all within a couple of days. This is exactly what Measurement Technology cable tension monitoring systems are designed to do! Provide fast, accurate information that prevents problems and saves you time and money.
In the picture below you can see the “pig” device that the CD Lyon team is pulling through the pipe to look for obstacles.
Tags: cable tension, cable tension monitoring, Line Tension, mooring line tensiometer, winch payout, winch tension
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November 27th, 2009
Based in Ventura, CA, Coordinated Wire Rope (http://www.coordinatedcompanies.com) approached us for a project that required highly accurate measurement of line tension and payout on an underground cable pulling application for their customer, CD Lyon. CD Lyon had been tasked with pigging (looking for obstacles) and slip-lining (inserting a new pipe into an old pipe) an old 8 mile natural gas pipe, and they were looking for solutions that would make the project run smoothly and efficiently.
CD Lyon planned to use a 5/8” wire rope to pull the pipe pig and new pipe slipline. They needed to measure up to 14,000lbs of tension, which is load at which the pipe lining may be damaged.
This wire rope size and tension range was a perfect fit for our compact HRT-3MM tensiometer (dynamometer). We paired this tensiometer with our LCI-90 display, which was housed in a portable and rugged Pelican case.
In the photo below you can see that Coordinated Wire Rope and NTT Fabrication built a custom winch skid, on which they mounted the Pelican case and LCI-90 display. You can see the LCI-90 and case immediately to the left of the controls for the winch.
The photo below shows how the HRT-3MM tensiometer rides the cable it is monitoring. NTT Fabrication built an articulated arm which allows for lateral movement of the tensiometer (tracking line as the winch spools) and also supports the device in the case of a slack line situation.
MTNW’s solution provided an inexpensive and portable line monitoring system without the need for winch modifications. We pre-calibrated the system before it was sent it out, and Coordinated Wire Rope found that their new LCI-90 + HRT-3MM cable monitoring system was not only easy and intuitive to work with, it worked from the moment they pulled it out of the box.
Tags: cable tension, cable tension monitoring, HRT-3MM, Line Tension, mooring line tensiometer, NTT Fabrication
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