Abstract: A dynamic combustion characteristic sensor suitable for the detection of the timing of peak combustion pressure or the occurrence of knock in an internal combustion engine comprises an engine headbolt having a piezoelectric disc affixed to the surface of the bolt head. An insulator holds an inner terminal electrically connected to the upper side of the piezoelectric disc and is held by its lower periphery, along with a surrounding electrically conducting outer terminal by a vertical annular wall rising from the surface of the bolt head. The annular wall and outer terminal provide electrostatic shielding and a ground reference for the inner terminal, which is connected electrically by a shielded connector to a charge amplifier with a double pole high pass filter with a half power frequency of 0.5-1.0 Hertz to block signals generated by thermal strains in the engine.

Abstract: The present invention describes an adjustable speedometer/odometer to accommodate various vehicle drive configurations such as a variety of vehicle tire size and rear axle ratios. The range adjustment is made at the factory or by service personnel, and is implemented by a plurality of switches, insuring a positive selection of the desired range value, thereby eliminating the need for calibration. The conventional mechanical speedometer/odometer and speedometer cable are replaced by a signal transducer mounted on the transmission, and an electronic speedometer unit. The transducer sends signal pulses to the electronic speedometer unit that displays the vehicle speed and distance travelled, by a moving-magnet meter and an incremental counter, respectively. In addition, the range of the speedometer/odometer is switched to accommodate a dual-axle ratio differential according to a signal from an axle mounted switch.

Abstract: A method of and a system for reducing an excessive amplitude of unbalance vibration occurring in a rotor by actually measuring and comparing the unbalance vibration amplitude of the rotor with a desired level for judgement as to whether the desired value is exceeded, selecting a certain correction plane combination in accordance with the measured unbalance vibration amplitude. A correction mass to be added to the rotor is calculated using an influence coefficient corresponding to the selected correction plane combination, assuming that the correction mass is added to the rotor, estimated residual vibration amplitudes and root mean squares thereof are calculated at respective correction plane position combinations each having at least any two of positions of a plurality of correction planes on the rotor.

Abstract: A cycle wheel mounting fixture for a dynamic balancing machine includes a first cone that is axially slidable on the spindle of the balancer, with its apex facing towards the distal end of the spindle, to engage the inner surface of a cycle wheel hub. This cone is biased away from the flange by a spring interposed between the flange and the cone. One or more resilient pressure rings surround the spring and cone and bear against the spokes and hub of the wheel. An outer cone engages the outside of the wheel hub and centers the wheel on the spindle along with the inner cone. The bias provided to the inner cone allows it to engage the wheel with adequate supporting pressure but without exerting any damaging forces thereon. The resilient support provided by the pressure rings assures a firm mounting of the wheel on the spindle so that the two rotate in unison without any oscillation that could adversely affect the balance measurement.

Abstract: A machine for balancing large rotatable parts such as marine propellers in the plane of rotation. A swing assembly hangs from a support assembly such as two spaced posts on a stand by means of two or more thin metal sheets which extend from the support assembly to the bottom of the swing assembly. The rotatable part is centered on the top end of a vertical arbor mounted for rotation about a vertical axis in a vertical column on said swing assembly. As the arbor and part are rotated, any imbalances causes a deflection of the swing in a plane perpendicular to the thin metal sheets which act as sensitive leaf springs. Deflection is measured by an indicator adjacent to the swing. Since the metal sheets are very strong in tension, very heavy parts can be tested. These sheets, due to their length and slight thickness, are easily deflected sideways by very small off-center loads. Thus, small imbalances can be detected, measured and corrected.

Abstract: A dynamic vehicle wheel and tire balancing system with manual rotation of the shaft to which the wheel and tire is attached. A computer within the system receives entered premeasured values of wheel dimensions and are in response to the output of a rotational speed sensor determines a proper rotational speed of the shaft at which point it automatically decouples the manually operated crank from the wheel shaft so that there can be no externally applied disturbances for the subsequent measurements of imbalance. Twin spaced transducers along the shaft determine the wheel runout attributable to imbalances in both inner and outerwheel rims and the computer provides output signals indicative of the correct balance weight and the mounting positions of the weights on the wheel rim.

Abstract: A gyroscopic device comprising a beam, column or other continuous unitary structure of consistent vibratory characteristics along its full length and including piezoelectric material. The piezoelectric effect is used both excite the structure into resonant vibrations along a first axis and then, when a rate of turn is applied along a second axis at right angles to the first, to detect that rate of turn by sensing vibrations set up in the beam in a direction parallel to a third, orthogonal axis due to Coriolis forces resulting from the applied rate of turn. The beam may be held at both ends, or may be supported at one end only with the other end free. The vibrations applied to and sensed within the beam by means of the piezoelectric effect may be parallel, transverse and radial relative to the beam axis, or may be in a rotary sense around that axis. A mode of vibration in which opposite faces of the beam oscillate in parallel directions but out-of-phase is also disclosed.

Abstract: Improved B-scan images are obtained in an ultrasonic scanner by means of a phase insensitive imaging system. Backscattered signals are detected by a phased array of detector elements. Signals from each detector element are full wave rectified, low pass filtered and are nonlinearly processed by power law compression. The compressed signals are summed and then expanded by an inverse power law function.

Abstract: A crash test dummy lower leg structure having a lower leg unit consisting of a tibia member provided with upper and lower tibia sensors. An ankle-foot assembly connected to the lower tibia sensor has a ball and socket connection between the ankle shell and foot member. Means are provided to restrict movement of the ball, to which the foot member is connected, to rotation about three mutually perpendicular axes which intersect at the center of the ball. A knee clevis sensor is connected to the upper tibia sensor and has a pair of spaced parallel members designed to sense and measure force along a line between the knee pivot and the ankle pivot.

Abstract: A personnel electronic dosimeter includes a neutron-proton and neutron-alpha converter for providing an electrical signal having a magnitude proportional to the energy of a detected proton or alpha particle produced from the converter, a pulse generator circuit for generating a pulse having a duration controlled by the weighed effect of the amplitude of the electrical signal, an oscillator enabled by the pulse for generating a train of clock pulses for a time dependent upon the pulse length, a counter for counting the clock pulses, and an indicator for providing a direct reading and aural alarm when the count indicates that the wearer has been exposed to a selected level of neutron dose equivalent.

Abstract: An accelerometer comprising a sheet of silicon configured as an inertia plate separate from a support plate except at a pair of flexure sites spaced along an axis, each flexure site including a pair of flexures mutually offset so that upon acceleration in a direction perpendicular to the inertia plate the flexures partake of compound bending, and stress responsive resistors at said flexures positioned so that upon compound bending the resistors change resistance in the opposite sense.

Abstract: A rotatably shaft is directly supported by at least three wheels, including drive wheel. The circumferential edge of each of the wheels frictionally engages the circumferential edge of the shaft. The shaft is in frictional contact with each of the wheels, and is driven by the drive wheel. Speed step up is achieved because the diameter of the drive wheel is larger than the diameter of the shaft.

Abstract: Rail testing apparatus, particularly useful at the point of manufacture, for detecting flaws in railroad rails. A number of transducers transmit ultrasonic sound waves into a rail under test and receive the associated echo signals. The apparatus advantageously divides the rail into a plurality of measured rail segments and the amount of amplification applied to the associated echo signals may be varied over each rail segment, thus providing the ability to selectively increase or decrease the sensitivity of the testing apparatus. The amplified echo signals are selectively applied to detection apparatus with a positive and negative gating scheme to increase system accuracy and reliability.

Abstract: A system for rotor diagnostic and trim balancing which includes vibration and rotational sensors coupled to a processor providing outputs thereto whereby the processor is capable of generating a diagnostic output listing the basis and origin of the vibration based upon pre-established standards and if possible effect trim balancing of the rotor.

Abstract: A device for determining the density of drilling mud by having one end of a float carried tube 8.34 inches below the surface of the mud. A constant flow of air is supplied to the other end of the tube. The pressure of the air entering the tube, when air bubbles appear at the surface of the mud, is indicative of the density. The tube is maintained vertical by passing the tube through the grooves of a group of pulley wheels.

Abstract: An unbalance measurement device is provided for a balancing machine for determining the unbalance of a rotor according to position and magnitude. The balancing machine has a drive motor, transducers, a spindle supporting the rotor to be balanced, and an increment disc fixed to the spindle. Filter circuitry for analog signals is provided for the purpose of reducing extraneous signals by means of a filter whose mid-frequency is controlled by a high control frequency. Due to this filtering, changes in the rotational frequency of the rotor to be balanced do not influence the determination of the position of the unbalance. In addition, in the case of correction in several planes, interference of the measurement in one plane caused by the preceding measurement in the other plane is prevented.

Abstract: A method and device for detection of knocking in an internal combustion engine which can not only detect knocking but also an abnormal condition of a cooling liquid in a liquid cooled engine. The device detects the vibration or pressure fluctuations of the cooling liquid generated by both knocking and the operating of the coolant pump.

Abstract: A combustion pressure peak detector comprised of a pair of flat annular piezo-electric elements separated by a flat metal electrode plate are located on a bolt for securing a cylinder head to a block of an internal combustion engine. The piezo-electric elements are engaged on opposite sides by two pressure plates adapted to engage the head of the bolt and the cylinder head respectively. At least one of the pressure plates may have a cup-shaped configuration for enclosing the piezo-electric unit and an inter-fitting projection and notch arrangement may be provided on the respective pressure plates to prevent relative rotation between the two pressure plates during tightening of the bolt.

Abstract: A device for detecting knocking in individual cylinders of a multicylinder engines comprises a movable vibration sensor, an ignition pulse detector, a control circuit and a control console. The ignition pulse detector is a clip for the ignition cable of the specified which can detect propagation of the high-voltage ignition signal therethrough without damage the insulation. The signal from the vibration sensor is checked for a threshold amplitude at a frequency indicative of knocking. If the threshold is exceeded and the ignition detector simultaneously detects an ignition pulse for the specified cylinder, the control circuit outputs a signal to operate an indicator on the console. The console also includes a selector for adjusting the knocking amplitude threshold.

Abstract: Integrated accelerometers comprising a flap (2) fixed to a carrier (1) by two attachment means (3) which are disposed symmetrically and in line with one side of the flap. An electrode (5) deposited on a plate (4) permits acceleration to be measured by measuring the corresponding variation in capacitance between the flap (2) and the electrode (5).