Abstract: A device for testing fasteners such as nuts and bolts is described which consists of a fixed base plate having a number of threaded and unthreaded holes of varying size for receiving the fasteners to be tested, a torque marking paper taped on top the fixed base plate for marking torque-angle indicia, a torque wrench for applying torque to the fasteners being tested, and an indicator for showing the torque applied to the fastener. These elements provide a low-cost, non-destructive device for verifying the strength of bolts and nuts.

Abstract: A mounting bracket for securing telemetry and other equipment on the railway car coupler of the end train includes a split strap secured about the rectangular coupler shrank and tightened by a screw bolt. The bracket has one or more stabilizing flanges in bearing engagement with surfaces of the coupler knuckle, and the equipment is mounted to one of such flanges.

Abstract: An actuator has a driven shaft for an armature, a final torque switch and at least one electric lead. A process for verifying the cutoff torque of an actuator of an armature includes lifting the actuator away from the armature while keeping at least one electric lead connected to the actuator, connecting a torque measuring shaft and a brake connected to the torque measuring shaft to the driven shaft of the actuator, operating the actuator in the immediate vicinity of the armature and then braking the actuator until response of the final torque switch to ascertain a cutoff torque, and comparing the cutoff torque with a set-point cutoff torque. An apparatus for verifying the turnoff torque of an actuator of an armature includes a torque measuring shaft and a brake being connected to each other.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for measuring operating parameters of a rotating shaft, which apparatus includes an encoder module attached to a first end of the shaft, an elongate member having a first end attached to a second end of the shaft and extending along the shaft, and an encoder disk attached to a second end of the elongate member and operatively disposed in proximity to the encoder module, such that twisting of the shaft caused by torque applied thereto will cause relative angular displacement between the encoder module and the encoder disk.

Abstract: An apparatus, and corresponding method, for directly measuring air-fuel ratio of a combustion process, in an internal combustion engine is described. The apparatus includes a first electromagnetic wave sensor (105) that provides a first signal (107), representative of light intensity emitted at a first wavelength, and a second electromagnetic wave sensor (115) that provides a second signal (117), representative of light intensity emitted at a second wavelength. A ratio circuit (111, 121, 125) combines an integral of the first signal (107), and an integral of the second signal (117), and provides an air-fuel ratio signal, (127) indicative of the air-fuel ratio during the combustion process.

Abstract: The process described enables in situ testing of securing elements, for example bolted assemblies, to verify that their tightness is adequate and to detect any material defects. To this end, it is sufficient that a coil (19) subjects at least one part of the screwed assembly to an alternating magnetic field. This field, whose frequency can be varied, provides a spectrum containing information about the tightness of the assembly.

Abstract: A transducer health and offset calibration processing arrangement for a multiple axle railway vehicle including a brake cylinder transducer correction function circuit coupled to a stuck/dragging brake signal terminal, a brake command signal terminal, and a power/brake trainline signal terminal. A zero speed latch circuit and a transducer circuit interface health check circuit connected to a zero speed signal terminal. A first three-input AND gate connected to the zero speed signal terminal, a snowbrake trainline signal terminal, and a Servotrol output signal terminal. A second three-input AND gate coupled to the output of the first three-input AND gate and a highest axle speed signal terminal. A minimum axle rate discriminator circuit connected to each of plurality of axle rate signal terminals of the multiple axles of the railway vehicle. A brake cylinder pressure circuit check and a brake cylinder pressure signal generator coupled to a truck brake cylinder pressure signal terminal.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method and a device to measure wind-related stresses in a rotating system. It is based on the studies made by the Applicant which have shown that the power given by the motors driving the system rotationally are a function of these stresses. A measurement of the power, or of any quantity characteristic of this power (such as current, cos.phi. pressure, etc.) therefore enables a simple measurement of the wind-related stresses. If we set a limit value of power (or of a characteristic quantity) related to the limit velocity of the wind beyond which the forces to which the system is subjected are excessive, it becomes easy, by way of a comparison, to obtain a condition for the operation of the motors. The disclosure can also be used, in systems carrying out an angle measurement, to make a correction of this measurement.

Abstract: An self-aligning biaxial loading apparatus for use in testing the strength of specimens while maintaining a constant specimen centroid during the loading operation. The self-aligning biaxial loading apparatus consists of a load frame and two load assemblies for imparting two independent perpendicular forces upon a test specimen. The constant test specimen centroid is maintained by providing elements for linear motion of the load frame relative to a fixed crosshead, and by alignment and linear motion elements of one load assembly relative to the load frame.

Abstract: A device for low temperature bend-testing of a test piece is disclosed. The device of the present invention comprises fixed and movable units. The fixed unit includes a base which includes at least one substantially vertical stanchion. A tank for holding a volume of low temperature liquid, such as liquid nitrogen, is secured to the base. The movable unit includes a support and a pin. The support structure includes an arch portion and at least one projection. The test piece under test is supported by supports included in the arch portion. The pin is slidably mounted in the structure so as to be displaceable in a direction perpendicular to the test piece when supported by the supports. The device also includes means making the fixed and movable units operable together to permit the test piece to be bend-tested in the tank.

Abstract: A resonant strain gauge includes a silicon substrate, a polysilicon flexure beam attached at both ends to the substrate, and a polysilicon rigid cover cooperating with the substrate to enclose the flexure beam within a sealed vacuum chamber. An upper bias electrode is formed on the cover, and a lower bias electrode is formed on the substrate directly beneath and spaced apart from the flexure beam. A drive electrode is formed in or on the beam, centered between the upper and lower bias electrodes transversely with respect to the direction of beam elongation. The upper and lower electrodes are biased at constant voltage levels, of equal magnitude and opposite polarity. The drive electrode, ordinarily biased at ground, is selectively charged by applying an oscillating drive voltage, to cause mechanical oscillation of the beam. A piezoresistor element, formed on the beam, senses beam oscillation and provides a position indicating input to the oscillator circuit that drives the beam.

Abstract: Provided is a method and apparatus for electrically detecting the location of bond failure and wire breakage occurring during tensile strength testing of a wire sample having first and second bond foots affixed to respective first and second support pads. The method and apparatus monitors the voltage levels of first and second electrically conductive probes. The first probe has a primary lead in electrical contact with the first support pad and a secondary lead in electrical contact with the first bond foot. Similarly, the second electrically conductive probe has a primary lead in electrical contact with the second support pad and a secondary lead in electrical contact with the second bond foot. Voltage detection circuitry is provided in electrical contact with the first and second probes for detecting the voltage level at each of the respective primary and secondary leads to generate the respective corresponding output signals.

Abstract: An attachment for placement between a test specimen and a remote clip gage extensometer providing improved fracture toughness tests of materials at elevated temperature. Using a cylindrical tube and axial rod in new relationship, the device transfers the displacement signal of the fracture toughness test specimen directly to a clip gage extensometer located outside the high temperature furnace. Virtually frictionless operation is assured by having the test specimen center one end of the rod in one end of the tube, while the clip gage extensometer arms center the other end of the rod in the other end of the tube. By providing positive control over both ends of both rod and tube, the attachment may be operated in orientations other than vertical.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the respective elongations of several sample strips (13), comprises: a vertical frame (51) provided with a fixed upper gripping jaw (27) and a mobile lower gripping jaw (15) to maintain each of the strips (13), the lower gripping jaw (15) stretches the strip by gravity effect; and an electronic displacement sensor (33, 35) associated to each lower gripping jaw (15). Each gripping jaw comprises a sole and a plate articulated on the sole. A magnet (11) is mounted in the sole, flush with a contact surface of the sole, for urging the plate against the contact surface by magnetic attraction.

Abstract: A rotary position transducer for generating electrical rotary angle signals as a function of the pivoted position of a rotary device, in particular a throttle valve in the fuel supply system of an internal combustion engine, has a first carrier with concentrically disposed electric contact tracks and a second carrier with fixedly disposed wipers, which rest with axial pressure on the contact tracks. One of the two carriers is rotatable relative to the other, and the rotatable carrier has a securing element for coupling of the rotary device in a manner fixed against relative rotation. To suppress a transmission of radial and axial play of the rotary device to the arrangement of wipers and contact tracks, the securing element is joined to the carrier via a spring coupling that is torsionally rigid in the rotational direction but highly elastic in the axial and radial direction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor with two electrodes and a non-conducting iaphragm arranged between them. The electrodes have an insulating coating, which preferably comprises a metal oxide, mixed metal oxide, metal nitride, inorganic insulating material or fluorocarbon and the non-conducting diaphragm a metal oxide, mixed metal oxide, inorganic or organic insulating materials. As a function of the intended use, the diaphragm and electrode coating are porous (for measurements in non-aqueous liquids) or non-porous (for measurements of aqueous liquids). It is also directed at a process for measuring the characteristics of a liquid with the sensor according to the invention, as well as to the use of the sensor for the continuous or discontinuous investigation of liquids.

Abstract: A universal measuring apparatus for the determination of rheological properties of viscous, viscoelastic and purely elastic materials measures said properties solely by axial movement of the mechanical measuring components of the apparatus ("axial rheometer"). the apparatus comprises a stiff metal frame (1, 2, 3) of which one horizontal part (3) is used as a mount for a force transducer (9) with little or practically no deflection at full scale load and on which an exchangeable piston-shaped holder (10) is mounted axially while the opposing part of the frame (1) forms a mount for a displacement transducer (4) of the micropositioner type which acts directly upon an axially moveable piston-shaped holder (6, 8), the micropositioner being able to cause an axial displacement and to continuously determine the axial position of the moveable piston-shaped holder (6, 8) with an accuracy of approximately 0.1 .mu.m, thereby producing a deformation in a sample (11) positioned between the sample holders (8, 10).

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a vehicle testing apparatus comprising a pair of brake clipers operable in response to the application of pressure fluid for applying torque in opposition to driving torque delivered by the driving wheels of a vehicle operating at a given speed, a force sensor for sensing differential in the driving and applied torque, a control for generating a signal representative of the torque differential, and a pressure regulator for maintaining the applied torque at a constant magnitude by regulating the pressure of the fluid applied to the brake calipers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining the performance loss of a catalyzer receiving the exhaust gas of a lambda-controlled internal combustion engine and includes the steps of: measuring lambda values forward and rearward of the catalyzer to obtain forward and rearward lambda values, respectively; when a control oscillation of the forward lambda value makes a transition from rich to lean or from lean to rich, determining if the rearward lambda value makes a transition corresponding to the transition of the forward lambda value, and if this correspondence takes place, then carrying out the following additional steps: determining the gas mass flow flowing through the catalyzer; computing the time integral of the product of the gas mass flow and the forward lambda value; computing the time integral of the product of the gas mass flow and the rearward lambda value; and, as a measure of the performance loss of the catalyzer, utilizing either the difference between the integrals or the quotient of the i

Abstract: An apparatus for failure identification suitable for determining between existence and nonexistence of failure of the squib in occupant protecting system. The first terminal voltage generated between both the terminals of the squib when the first monitor current is passed through the squib, and the second terminal voltage generated between both the terminals of the squib when the second monitor current is passed through the squib. The first and second terminal voltages are amplified by the differential amplifier circuit into the first and second differentially amplified voltage. Thereafter, the difference between the first differentially amplified voltage and the second differentially amplified voltage is calculated to obtain the monitor voltage difference and it is compared with the reference voltage, and thereupon, decision between existence and nonexistence of a short-circuit in the squib is made.