Abstract: Provided is a high power ignition system for internal combustion engines with a detection circuit for sensing and measuring ionization in a spark plug gap. The detection circuit utilizes a dual-purpose second energy source to apply the voltage necessary to generate a high current arc and then an ionization current. A signal processor analyzes an ionization signal created by the detection circuit to derive useful ignition system data such as engine misfire, combustion duration, engine knocking, approximate air/fuel ratio, indications of spark plug fouling, and preignition.

Abstract: A method of automating the calibration of lookup tables containing correction values to be used in an on-board vehicle system is disclosed. The method includes training a neural network to model engine behavior by outputting cylinder specific crankshaft acceleration correction values in response to any engine speed and load input conditions. The correction values generated are stored in a memory device. The training takes place off-board the vehicle, using a data set previously obtained from operating a representative engine under normal operating conditions.

Abstract: A magnetic flowmeter has a tube for carrying fluid along a longitudinal axis. The tube has faces transverse to the longitudinal axis and disposed at opposite ends of the tube. A liner on the inner surface of the tube extends out from an end of the tube and into a recess on one face to anchor the liner in place.

Abstract: The diagnostic method includes the steps of: generating a pressure signal related to the fuel pressure of an injection system of an engine; comparing the pressure signal with a reference pressure value; determining a fuel leakage condition of the injection system when the pressure signal is less than the reference pressure value; reducing the quantity of fuel injected into the cylinders of the engine in the presence of the leakage condition; calculating a share value contributed by each cylinder to the work torque value generated by the engine; comparing each share value with a respective reference share value; determining a jammed-open injector condition when at least one of the share values is greater than the respective reference share value; and determining a supply circuit failure condition when the share values are all less than the respective reference share values.

Abstract: Device for measuring liquid volume in the manner of a cylindrical piston meter with a cylindrical measuring chamber with connecting channels running perpendicularly to the cylinder axis of the measuring chamber and with a cylindrical piston inserted eccentrically into the measuring chamber and performing a wobbling movement, said piston having an H-shaped cross section and a through opening for engagement into a separating wall projecting into the measuring chamber, with the characterizing feature that the cylindrical piston is hydraulically tensioned by the inflowing liquid in the measuring chamber and the pressure differential on the outer and inner jacket surfaces of the cylindrical piston tends toward zero.

Abstract: For measuring and controlling the temperature of a splice portion between two optical fiber (1, 1') ends, during the splicing process when the material of the ends is heated to be fusioned, the time-dependency of the surface tension effect for viscous liquids is utilized. Then the fiber (1, 1') ends are placed for splicing with a relatively large lateral offset in the retainers (39) of a fiber splicer and are spliced by the heat of an electric arc generated between the welding electrodes (43). The heating of the fiber ends is continued, whereby the offset of the fiber ends will gradually decrease due to the surface tension. The offset is then measured at different times during the continued heating and from these determined values and the times when they were measured the temperature of the heated fiber end portions is determined. This temperature value may then be compared to a predetermined set value for control of the heating of the splice region.

Abstract: A thermal conductivity detector includes a cavity wall defining a cavity for receiving a quantity of a sample fluid, the cavity wall being subject to a cavity wall temperature that is temporally and spatially variable, and a sensor located in the cavity and connected preferably in a bridge circuit configuration for providing a temperature sense signal. The sensor exhibits a resistance which is dependent on a temperature of the sensor. A first signal providing means includes reference means preferably in the form of first and second reference resistors located within first and second reference resistor cavities. The first and second reference resistors are connected to a reference voltage in a voltage divider network such that a node of the voltage divider network provides a temperature compensation signal that is representative of the average temperature of the cavity wall.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining lateral tire tread stiffness includes a holding fixture that is coupled to a loading fixture. The holding fixture includes a frame on which is mounted a rotary table that carries the tire tread specimen to be tested. The loading fixture includes a loading plate that can apply a normal loading force and a lateral loading force to the tire tread specimen. A processor receives data from a monitoring device which provides an indication of the deformation of the tire tread specimen as a lateral load is applied thereto. The processor also receives data from a load cell which monitors the amount of force applied to the tread specimen and correlates this data with the displacement data to determine stiffness properties of the tread specimen. The processor also controls the angular position of the rotary table to further analyze the tread stiffness of particular tire tread geometry.

Abstract: A field emission cathode device consisting of an electrically conducting material and with a narrow, rod-shaped geometry or a knife edge, to achieve a high amplification of the electric field strength is characterized in that the electron-emitting part of the field emission cathode at least partly has preferred cylindrical host molecules and/or compounds with host compounds and/or cylindrical atomic networks, possibly with end caps with diameters measuring in the nanometer range.

Abstract: A torque actuated tensile tester for proof loading anchors includes: an actuator, a left hand square nut, a right hand jam nut, an anchor head carrier, a housing, a slip gauge, and a keeper clip. The actuator has a cross-threaded portion and a portion engageable by a torque applying member. The housing has first and second ends, with the first end positionable circumjacent the anchor to be proof loaded and that is engageable with the structure to which the anchor is affixed. The left hand square nut is internally threaded with a single left hand thread that is engageable with the threaded portion of the actuator. The right hand jam nut is internally threaded with a single right hand thread that is engageable with the threaded portion of the actuator. The anchor head carrier is internally threaded with a single right hand thread that is engageable with the threaded portion of the actuator. The anchor head carrier has a flanged slot for receiving the head of an anchor for engagement.

Abstract: In a product quality determining method for dies cast machines, injection and casting conditions such as injection speeds, speed change-over positions, high speed interval, pressure raising time, casting pressure, and die clamping force by means of measuring means for each shot in actual casting process of the dies cast machine automatically measured. A measured value relating to the injection and casting condition of a shot as a reference value for determining a product quality when a good product button is operated by operators is set. A product quality determining range by determining upper limit value and a lower limit value of a predetermined allowable width with respect to the reference value is set. Whether or not the measured value of the injection and casting condition is within the product quality determining range by means of an arithmetic operation means is determined.

Abstract: An acoustic ranging system monitors the level of material inside one or more vessels. The system includes an ultrasound transducer mounted in each vessel that is connected to a transmitter and a receiver through a transmit/receive isolation switch and a multiplexer. The transmitter applies a transmit signal to the transducer responsive to a trigger signal generated by a processor thereby causing the transducer to generate an ultrasound signal. An electronic receiver coupled to the transducer generates a receive signal responsive to the reflections of the ultrasound signal from the material. The receive signal is coupled to the processor which determines the elapsed time interval between generating the trigger signal an receipt of each receive signal. The processor then converts one of the elapsed time intervals into a distance indication corresponding to the level of the surface of the material.

Abstract: This device diagnoses whether or not a fuel pump which supplies fuel to an engine has failed. The pump includes a plurality of pressure chambers which in turn discharge fuel according to the rotation of an input shaft which turns together with the engine. The supply capacity of the fuel pump when one of the pressure chambers has failed so as not to be able to discharge fuel is set to a value lower than the maximum value of the fuel supply amount which is required by the engine. A mechanism is provided which decides whether or not the fuel supply requirement of the engine is being satisfied, and failure of the fuel pump is diagnosed based upon the result of this decision. Further, accurate diagnosis can be performed by detecting the power output of the engine for each cylinder individually, and by deciding upon fuel supply insufficiency for each cylinder individually according to variation of the output power for each cylinder individually.

Abstract: This method includes detecting the passage before a sensor of each of the teeth of the inertial flywheel of an engine; measuring the time of passage d.sub.i of each of these teeth; constituting a measurement horizon extending on both sides of the angular range of the explosions; dividing this measurement horizon into eight sets of teeth of equal length of which six are for the angular range of the explosions; measuring the passage times of these eight sets and in assigning them a rank in the measurement horizon du.sub.+1, du.sub.0, . . . , du.sub.5, du.sub.+1 ; calculating the period of the explosions T=du.sub.0 +du.sub.+1 +du.sub.2 +du.sub.3 +du.sub.4 +du.sub.5 ; calculating a term Q.sub.c =2du.sub.0 -du.sub.-1 -du.sub.3 -du.sub.+1 +2du.sub.5 ; calculating a term D.sub.c =p.multidot.Q.sub.c where p=.pi./2.sqroot.3, a constant stored in a memory; and calculating the desired torque using the relation Cg.sub.c =A.multidot.D.sub.c /T.sup.3 +B/T.sup.2 in which A and B are constants stored in a memory.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for the accurate determination of impact fracture behavior of materials. Test specimens are thermally preconditioned in-situ by flowing a thermally conditioned gas over the surfaces of the specimen which contain the volume of material near the notch and/or precrack which influences the fracture properties. Upper shelf energy is determined using miniature specimens which is quantitatively equivalent to the upper shelf energy which would have been obtained using conventional ASTM E 23 specimens. Percent shear fracture area and lateral expansion are measured using a computerized image capture system to reproduce a digitized image of the fracture surface on a computer which is then quantitatively analyzed. A high frequency response load cell, consisting in part of two active strain gages installed near the center of percussion on the tapered portion of an impact striker, well within one stress wavelength of the striking surface, is used to measure the force-time curve.

Abstract: A tire identifying method comprising measuring each rotation speed of four tires fitted to wheels of a vehicle; calculating a ratio of front wheel rotation speed to rear wheel rotation speed from the measured value; and identifying the kind of tire fitted by comparing the calculated front-rear wheel ratio with a function of speed and front-rear wheel ratio prepared on the basis of data from a tire whose kind is previously known. Utilization might be made of the means for measuring the rotation of tire such as ABS which is provided on the vehicle control device, thus requiring small initial cost.

Abstract: A tire monitoring system is disclosed for a single or dual wheel tire assembly having a pair of analog/digital readout pressure gauges and associated valve stems for individually monitoring and pressurizing the tire or tires of the wheel assembly. The monitoring assembly may be located on a full wheel streamlined hub cap which can be mounted to the outside wheel of the dual wheel assembly by a U-shaped bracket connected to the wheel through the wheel bolts with the hub cap connected thereto by quarter turn fastener assemblies to insure a strong mounting to the wheel.

Abstract: A general-purpose discharge lamp of the present invention has a reciprocal correlated color temperature Mr and an index for feeling of contrast M, wherein the index for feeling of contrast M and the reciprocal correlated color temperature Mr satisfy the relationships:M.gtoreq.7.5.times.10.sup.-2 Mr+101.5,M.ltoreq.7.5.times.10.sup.-2 Mr+129.5, and100(MK.sup.-1).ltoreq.Mr.ltoreq.385(MK.sup.-1).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for testing and filling hydraulic assemblies such as a hydraulic clutch control assembly for a motor vehicle.

Abstract: A flow conditioning system includes a flow randomizing section for receiving an input fluid stream and for increasing the uniformity of the streamwise velocity components of the input fluid stream while randomizing the non-streamwise velocity components, so as to provide a randomized fluid stream; a flow expansion section for receiving the randomized fluid stream and damping the non-streamwise velocity components therein, so as to provide a damped fluid stream; and a flow straightening section for receiving the damped fluid stream and for dividing the damped fluid stream into multiple, parallel output substreams so as to provide a laminar flow profile in an output fluid stream.