Abstract: A security system for a vehicle having an engine compartment covered by a hood, and an ignition switch for operating the engine, includes a common housing for protecting a hood lock and an ignition lock switch. An electric circuit is provided for shorting an ignition coil during periods of non-use of the vehicle to prevent theft of the vehicle, the circuit being disarmed by the lock switch for a sufficient interval of time to permit use of the ignition switch for starting the engine. A lock-up feature within the circuit maintains the circuit in the disarmed state during operation of the vehicle, and automatically rearms the circuit upon retrieval of the ignition key.

Abstract: A fully automatic penetration hardness tester which includes a penetrator and clamp driven by respective serially-connected pneumatic cylinders for engaging test specimens. Pressure regulators are coupled to the respective cylinders for first applying clamping pressure against the test specimen and then applying a plurality of loads in a predetermined sequence to the clamped specimen through the penetrator, with the total clamping and penetrator pressure against the test specimen remaining constant through the test cycle. A control circuit monitors penetrator position and automatically initiates application of the next load in the test sequence when motion of the penetrator following application of the preceding load has settled such that a predetermined number of sequential position readings fall within a preselected position range. Specimen hardness is determined as a linear function of penetration depth under the various loads.