Abstract: The pneumatic pressure in a tire on a wheel of a vehicle is introduced into a pressure chamber positioned at a central axis about which the tire is rotatable through a communication passage defined in the wheel. When the pneumatic pressure in the pressure chamber varies, a diaphragm or bellows attached over the pressure chamber is elastically displaced, axially moving a slide bar extending axially through a wheel shaft on which the wheel is supported. The movement of the slide bar displaces a ferromagnetic member in a coil, whose inductance then varies. The change in the coil inductance is detected by an electronic control unit, which transmits a signal to a display unit.

Abstract: In an integrated multisensor used in a differential and static pressure transmitter, a pair of static pressure gages are formed on a static pressure detecting diaphragm and another pair of static pressure gages are formed at positions on a fixed portion which are near to the center of a differential pressure detecting diaphragm. The second term generated by a differential pressure appearing in a static pressure sensor is a function of a distance. Therefore, equal influence is exerted on each static pressure gage. Accordingly, by constructing a static pressure sensor so as to form a bridge circuit, a static pressure value free of the influence of a differential pressure can be detected, thereby making it possible to determine an accurate differential and static pressure.

Abstract: A differential pressure gage apparatus is disclosed which utilizes two pistons movable within three bores to produce accurate differential pressures. An inner piston carried by an outer piston has sufficient length to extend into all bores at once.

Abstract: A sensor for measuring pressure and acceleration is proposed; it has a monocrystalline silicon substrate (10) with a succession of thin films applied to its first primary surface. A deflectable membrane (12) in a frame (11) is structured out of the silicon substrate (10), and the membrane (12) is formed in the first primary surface. The membrane (12) has a reinforcement zone. In the succession of thin films that is applied to the first primary surface, there is a structure (50) having at least one first substructure, which is disposed parallel to the first primary surface of the silicon substrate (10). There is a gap between the first substructure and the silicon substrate (10). The first substructure is joined to the membrane (12) in the region of the reinforcement zone. It protrudes past the membrane (12) and extends at least partway over the frame (11). This first substructure forms one electrode of a capacitor.

Abstract: An instrumentation system for measuring the instantaneous pedal force and power exerted by the rider of a cycle is described. Being small and lightweight, it is intended to be mounted on the cycle and to operate while the cycle is ridden. The pedal crank assembly is modified to provide an elastic support for the chainring assembly, allowing a small relative rotation between pedals and chainrings when force is applied to the pedals. This rotation is a function of the magnitude of the force and is detected by angle detectors, consisting of angle indicators rotating with the pedal crank assembly and stationary sensors mounted on the cycle frame. These angle detectors measure the relative rotation at 25 or more positions distributed around a revolution of the pedal crank assembly. Electrical signals from the sensors are coupled to a microprocessor. The processor compares the signals, computes the applied pedal force and power at each measurement position, and displays and/or stores the results.

Abstract: There is provided a pressure measuring sensor having a diaphragm including a peripheral fixing portion so formed as to be fixed to a pressure measuring sensor proper and be thick, a pressure receiving portion responsive to a pressure to be measured to move, and a strain causing portion responsive to the movement of the pressure receiving portion to cause strain, the pressure receiving portion having a shape so formed as to substantially perform the same function as a member having a high rigidity when moving in response to a change in the above described pressure to be measured, and the strain causing portion being substantially subject to bending stress in response to the movement of the pressure receiving portion moved according to the change in the above described pressure to be measured and thereby the strain causing portion providing a plurality of gauge resistors formed on the strain causing portion with tensile stress or compressive stress proportionate to the pressure to be measured.

Abstract: The probe comprises a wind vane (1) mounted for rotation on the aircraft in order to orient itself in the direction of the flow and provided with a detector (15) for detection of differential pressure representative of the aerodynamic angle of incidence of the wind vane, and a device for determining the orientation of the wind vane with respect to the aircraft. The probe comprises a control loop (14) adapted to cancel out the aerodynamic angle of incidence of the wind vane and controlled by the detector (15). The probe supplies the true angle of incidence of the aircraft directly.

Abstract: A sensor for a capacitance pressure gauge having a diaphragm and a base is formed with a series of thin metallic electrode sections formed on the inside of the diaphragm and base. Electrical connection is made to the base electrode sections through the base and one or two pairs of series connected capacitances are formed with the diaphragm electrodes. No direct electrical connection needs to be made to the diaphragm.

Abstract: A hollow body integrally formed of ceramic material and comprising a cavity formed therein and an integral connecting joint including a passage to said cavity at least one side of said cavity being confined by a diaphragm integral thereto. The ceramic hollow body may be produced by merging two green individual parts together followed by burning, the individual parts having large complementary contact surfaces with each other.

Abstract: A pressure transducer apparatus for use with low voltage supply source. A semiconductor piezoresistive strain gauge bridge provides an analog output of pressure variations which includes errors introduced by variations in the ambient temperature. A non-temperature-sensitive resistor across the bridge input is used to decrease the temperature dependent voltage change necessary for temperature compensation of the strain gauge bridge circuit output. Analog temperature adjustment means, provide as an output a current whose value changes concurrently and in direct proportion to the change occurring in the strain gauge bridge circuit current. An analog to digital converter has as its analog input the voltage output of the strain gauge bridge circuit, which is integrated over a first time period, and has as its reference input the temperature-adjusted output current from the analog temperature adjustment means which is integrated over a second time period.

Abstract: A method of detecting a deflated tire on a vehicle by comparing the rolling radii of the tires by comparing angular velocity signals from wheel speed sensors at each wheel comprising the steps of calculating the factors ##EQU1## where C1, C2, C3 and C4 are the signals for the speeds of the front left-hand, front right-hand, rear left-hand and rear right-hand wheels of the vehicle, monitoring these factors and if the value of one or more factor becomes greater than 1.0005 or less than 0.9995, producing a warning signal to indicate that a tire has become partially or completely deflated.

Abstract: A pressure detecting apparatus comprises a pressure sensor having a vibrating element forming a pressure sensing surface, which is secured to a housing at the periphery thereof; and a pressure transmission member including an abutment portion having an abutment surface which is in contact with a position to be detected and a transmission portion projecting from the substantial center of the rear side of the abutment portion. The transmission member has the tip end surface area which is smaller than that of the pressure sensing surface of said pressure sensor. The transmission portion is secured to the substantial center of the pressure sensing surface of the said pressure sensor at the tip end surface thereof.

Abstract: A pressure gauge is provided comprising a sensor housing (1) closed by a cover (7). The sensor housing (1) is connected to a tube (3) containing the pressure to be measured. The space defined by the sensor housing (1) and the cover (7) is hermetically divided by a sensor housing cover (9) in such a way that inside a front measurement volume (11) a pressure sensor means (15) is placed. This pressure sensor means has a substantially flat shape. It is connected to the interior walls of the front volume by means of tubes (23) which are slender or slim, that is have a small section in relation to the area of the pressure sensor means (15). The carrying means (23) are preferably realized as metal tubes and in their interior the electrical connections (31) for the pressure sensor means pass. By this construction the exterior surface of the whole of the pressure sensor means (15) will be subjected to the measuring pressure.

Abstract: A pressure sensor for detecting pressure in a combustion chamber of internal combustion engines has a housing, a sensor element arranged in the housing and composed of a piezoresistive material, a diaphragm, and a punch arranged between the diaphragm and the sensor element and introducing a pressure to be determined onto the sensor element. The punch has an end facing the sensor element, at least the end of the punch is composed of relatively soft material.

Abstract: An apparatus and technique for measuring and analyzing the tread wear of a pneumatic tire. The tire is indexed about its axis. Between the indexing steps, a laser scanner obtains data from the tread surface. This data is normalized to eliminate any out-of-roundness of the tire data. Noise spikes are removed and replaced with values attributable to valid data. From the data, a reference curve corresponding to a lateral sector of the tire is devised. The data from actual lateral sectors is then compared to the reference curve by a curve-fitting process and the deviation between the actual data and the reference curve establishes the degree of irregular wear of the tire at that lateral point.

Abstract: A force measuring apparatus comprises a steel base body and a bending element joined thereto. The bending element comprises a composite of at least first and second layers. The first layer is comprised of steel and is welded to the base body. The second layer is comprised of a hard material which is harder than the steel material of the first layer. The second layer includes a section of reduced thickness defining a bending region to which a deformation sensor is attached to sense deformations of said bending region in response to the application of the force being sensed.

Abstract: A torsion angle detection apparatus, wherein a pair of optical type of encoders are disposed on the coaxial center at a proper interval in the axial direction, and also, the measured shaft is inserted into the axial center position thereof and is secured to the rotary portion of each of the encoders, so that the torsion angle of the measured shaft may be detected with high accuracy and high speed response property from the difference in the detection position by each encoder by the use of an optical type of encoder of high resolution.high speed response property.

Abstract: A method of detecting a deflated tire on a vehicle by comparing the rolling radii of the tires by comparing angular velocity speed signals from wheel speed sensors. One wheel speed sensor being provided at each wheel. Before the comparison of the signals is carried out, corrected wheel speed signals for each of the second, third and fourth wheels are calculated giving corrections for a set of factors comprising vehicle speed, lateral acceleration and longitudinal (fore/aft) acceleration. The corrections each comprise a constant for the factor concerned times the respective factor. The set of constants for each wheel is derived by taking the vehicle through a range of speeds, lateral and fore/aft accelerations and using multiple regression techniques and the respective factors are calculated from the set of uncorrected wheel speed signals so that comparison of the wheel speeds can be made without false signals from tire deflections caused by speed, lateral or fore/aft acceleration induced tire deflections.

Abstract: A method for controlling the movement of a motor vehicle provided with tires which cooperate with the ground to define respective footprints includes monitoring the behavior of the footprints and generating at least one respective footprint signal indicative of the behavior of the footprints, using the footprint signal to control the movement of the motor vehicle and detecting at least one driving control signal generated by the driver and processing the driving control signal in dependence on the footprint signal for controlling the movement of the motor vehicle. A suitable system for carrying out the method is provided which includes extensometric transducers incorporated in the flexible structure of the tire which will deform as a result of the tire bearing on the ground so as to generate signals indicative of the behavior of the bearing region of the tread.

Abstract: In order to prevent tilting and torsional stresses from entering the actual sensor element of a pressure sensor comprising a supporting part and an integrated sensor part, the proposal is put forward that the corresponding surfaces of a shoulder of the supporting part and of a fastening element screwed into the measuring bore be configured as the lateral surfaces of cones whose generating lines intersect with the longitudinal axis of the supporting part, or as parts of the surface of a sphere whose center is situated on the longitudinal axis of the sensor part. The two corresponding faces transmitting the pressure from the fastening element onto the supporting part, and permitting a slight tilt of the longitudinal axis of the supporting part relative to the axis of the internal thread of the measuring bore.