Abstract: An apparatus and corresponding method for detecting misfires of a motor vehicle internal combustion engine. The apparatus includes a speed sensor for generating a signal. Also, the apparatus includes a filter means for filtering noise-related events from said signal corresponding to sensed engine speed to thereby produce a filtered output signal. In addition, a pressure sensor for measuring average manifold absolute pressure over a cylinder firing event to set a misfire threshold change in engine speed value is shown. A comparison means for comparing said filtered output signal with said threshold change in engine speed value to detect an engine misfire condition for said cylinder firing event is also included.

Abstract: A flow level measuring device for measuring quantities from a moving source of material is disclosed. The flow level measuring device includes an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) (28), and the following ancillary components: a programmable display (32), a Motion Detector Assembly Group (MDAG) (25), and a Level Detector Assembly Group (LDAG) (23). These assembly groups detect horizontal and vertical displacement of a material stream, respectively, and encode the displacement data. The encoded data is sent to ECU (28), whereby the encoded data is processed according to an algorithm. The manipulated data is then transformed into a suitable data stream that can be displayed on a viewing screen or other suitable display device, providing real time volumetric measurements not available in the prior art.

Abstract: A portable combined gyratory compactor and extruder for compacting a specimen of material in a mold held in a mold gyration assembly and gyrated about a longitudinal axis as a compaction ram is driven into the mold, and for extruding compacted material from the mold without removing the mold from the mold gyration assembly. The mold gyration assembly is suspended from a spherical bearing pivot positioned lateral to the longitudinal axes of the mold and the compaction ram. The compaction ram is drivingly insertable up into the mold through the bottom of the mold to compact material in the mold as the mold is gyrated by the mold gyration assembly. When the gyratory compaction is completed, a top cap assembly over the top of the mold is removed to allow the compaction ram to be driven farther upward into the mold to extrude compacted material through the open top of the mold while the mold is held in the mold gyration assembly.

Abstract: An oil deterioration and contamination sensor includes a housing, a substrate with a first capacitive plate mounted within the housing, a second capacitive plate mounted to the housing close to the first capacitive plate, and a total reference capacitor which includes an external fixed reference capacitor. The second capacitive plate is mounted to the housing such that at least one fluid including oil freely circulates within a gap between the first and second capacitive plates thereby defining an oil deterioration and contamination sensor capacitor. The respective capacitances of the oil deterioration and contamination capacitor and the total reference capacitor provide an indication of a dielectric constant of the at least one fluid including oil within the gap.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed wherein a linear array of electromagnetic radiation emitting devices are arranged in association with a moving workpiece. Electromagnetic radiation emitted by the array is received by two or more receivers. Several non-contact measurements may be obtained on a workpiece using the present apparatus and methods.

Abstract: A rolling bearing unit has an outer ring member and a rotating speed sensor which is embedded in a synthetic resin block in a cover having a cylindrical portion such that a plurality of protrudents 33 are formed on the outer peripheral face of the synthetic resin block 21 to have its axially inner half portion fitted into the cylindrical portion 19 of the cover 18 in an interference relationship and to have its axially outer half portion fitted into the cylindrical portion 31 of the outer ring member 8 in an interference relationship, thereby preventing the synthetic resin block 21 from being subjected to a large moment load.

Abstract: A sealed observation element for viewing the flow of molten liquid during the operation of a sulfur recovery unit comprises at least one sight glass that is heated and which may be swept with a purge gas supplied through one or more bleed rings to prevent condensation or deposition of materials on the side of the sight glass exposed to the process stream.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for detecting combustion misfires in a multicylinder internal combustion engine. The method includes the steps of: forming a criterion for the rough running of the engine for each cylinder individually on the basis of time intervals during which the crankshaft passes through predetermined angular ranges; and, forming corrective values from rough-running values for each cylinder individually during misfire-free operation so that the rough-running values for each individual cylinder coupled to said corrective values become equal with respect to each other.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for detecting combustion misfires on the basis of a first complex input feature signal wherein the nonuniformity of the rotational movement (on the basis of rpm or segment times) of the internal combustion engine is mapped within a first order defined by a rotation of the crankshaft through an angle of 720.degree./k wherein k=1. The input feature signal serves as a feature signal to detect recurring misfires and functions as a feature signal to detect sporadic misfires. The complex input signal is defined by a magnitude and a phase angle which vary as a function of time. The presence of a misfire is detected from the magnitude and the affected cylinder is determined from the phase angle.

Abstract: A system and a method are disclosed for measuring the grip performance of a vehicle by interposing a load carrier member intermediate an upright and an axle. The load carrier member is configured as having a geometry for measurement of a magnitude and relative direction of the instantaneous load forces acting between the axle and the upright and includes a planetary bearing carrier received coaxially over the axle for linear movement therewith. The bearing carrier extends from an outboard first end to an inboard second end configured to define a force transmitting portion. A rotational bearing assembly is interposed between the bearing carrier and the axle providing for the rotation of the axle within the bearing carrier. A first linear bearing assembly is interposed between the upright and the bearing carrier providing for the linear movement of the bearing carrier relative to the upright.

Abstract: A gas sensor includes a one-piece housing sleeve having a length dimension; an exhaust gas-side end and an opposite, exhaust gas-remote end, an inner space, an external thread, a terminal length portion which includes the exhaust gas-side end and which is exposable to an exhaust gas and a shoulder extending along an entire inner circumference of the housing sleeve at the terminal length portion thereof. A protecting sleeve which is disposed in the terminal length portion has a sealing collar seated on the shoulder of the housing sleeve. A ceramic supporting member is disposed in the inner space and has a throughgoing aperture parallel to the length dimension of the housing sleeve. The ceramic supporting member separates the inner space into a reference gas chamber and an exhaust gas chamber. The exhaust gas chamber is surrounded by the terminal length portion of the housing sleeve. A sensor element passes through and is fixedly held in the throughgoing aperture of the ceramic supporting member.

Abstract: An intake air flow measuring apparatus for internal combustion engine apparatus has a thermal type air flow meter, a unit for correcting the response delay of the thermal type air flow meter, and a unit for detecting the direction of the flow of intake air so that an amount of reverse air flow is detected by the response delay correcting unit and air flow direction unit, and that a true amount of sucked air flow is calculated from the output of the thermal type air flow meter and the amount of reverse air flow.

Abstract: A method of misfire detection for an internal combustion engine in a motor vehicle includes the step of sampling a misfire indicator and filtering the misfire indicator to provide a filtered misfire indicator. The method also includes the step of selecting one misfire indicator point from the filtered misfire indicator. The method further includes the steps of comparing the one misfire indicator point to a misfire threshold to detect a misfire event and identifying a misfire if a misfire event is detected.

Abstract: A film sensor element is used to determine the mass of a flowing fluid, in particular an air mass flow in the intake tube of an internal combustion engine. Such a sensor is part of a measurement bridge and operates on the hot-wire anemometer principle, designed as a constant-resistance regulator connected to an operational amplifier. To reduce the response time, two separate resistance tracks of a film sensor element are structured in such a way that they are situated perpendicular to the direction of flow (S) with one track (6) along the leading edge and the other track (7) along the trailing edge. The tracks (6, 7) are electrically connected in parallel, such that the current can be divided according to the two resistance values as a current divider.

Abstract: The present invention contemplates a gyratory compaction apparatus for creating compression and shear forces in a sample material, the apparatus using a single roller to accomplish the gyration comprising a hollow cylinder mold including first and second end plates in slidable engagement with the mold at respective first and second open ends, with a chamber inside the mold for receiving the sample material, a support frame having an interior suitable for receiving the mold therein, a compression mechanism for compressing the sample material, and a gyratory assembly comprising a rotational drive motor having a drive shaft aligned along the longitudinal axis of the support frame interior, a cam mounted at the end of the drive shaft, a gyratory plate having an inner housing for encompassing and operably engaging the cam including a spring biased plunger operably engaging the cam and a first outer angular contact bearing for operably engaging the mold inner surface and a driven plate operably mounted to the suppo

Abstract: A system for monitoring combustion and pollutants developed in a combustion chamber comprising at least one longitudinal single mode laser diode emitting a beam of electromagnetic radiation with a frequency modulated around the resonance frequency of a specific spectral absorption line of a component of the combustion gases, means for directing the beam into the combustion chamber along a path through the combustion gases to a radiation sensor and processing means connected to the sensor in order to identify the temperature of the combustion gases and the concentration of the component with the specific absorption line by the measurement of the intensity of radiation transmitted at various frequencies in a region surrounding the resonance frequency.

Abstract: A method of measuring temperature of a catalytic converter in a motor vehicle includes the step of determining a first oxygen sensing mechanism output, determining if it is time to determine a second oxygen sensing mechanism output, and determining the second oxygen sensing mechanism output if it is time to determine the second oxygen sensing mechanism output. The method also includes the step of determining a change in oxygen sensing mechanism output by taking a difference between the first oxygen sensing mechanism output and the second oxygen sensing mechanism output. The method further includes the step of finding a catalytic converter temperature in a look-up table using the change in oxygen sensing mechanism output, and using the catalytic converter temperature as needed by an electronic control mechanism to operate an engine of the motor vehicle.

Abstract: A timing light adapter includes first and second light transmissive channels. The first light transmissive channel injects light into an engine case and illuminates a timing mark therein. The second light transmissive channel carries light reflected from the timing mark out of the engine case. The timing light adapter thereby isolates a body of oil within the engine case while allowing visibility of the timing mark without light energy interference from a timing light source.

Abstract: The present invention includes a water leakage testing device for a thermostat of a water-cooled internal combustion engine including a water cooling supply portion that supplies stored cooling water through a supply line at a predertimined pressure, a hydraulic flow measuring portion that measures hydraulic flow of the cooling water supplied from the supply portion, and a supporting portion that supports and seals the lower part of the thermostat.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for testing the electrical connection of electrically controlled, electromagnetically operated injection valves of an internal-combustion engine which are equipped with solenoid coils. The cabling of such injection valves is tested in a non-contact manner by positioning a respective magnetic field sensor close to a respective injection valve within a magnetic stray field vicinity of the injection valves. A voltage is applied to the electric connection intended for the respective injection valve, and it is determined whether a magnetic stray field in the vicinity of the corresponding injection valve resulting from this voltage is detected by the assigned magnetic field sensor. The method and apparatus can be used to test whether the injection valves are correctly connected with the connection individually intended for them. The method and apparatus may be used in a bench test for an internal combustion engine.