Abstract: The invention relates to a measuring sensor (1) for measuring positive and negative elongations on cylindrical or profiled bodies (6). The measuring sensor (1) consists of more than two parts and is essentially annular and has at least one tensioning element (7, 15). Two segments (2, 3) that can be tensioned are provided with a recess on the longitudinal center on the internal contour (22), the recess being disposed opposite the direction of tensioning (S) and accommodating a protruding elastic element (8) with a measuring element (10). The recesses can be pressed non-positively onto the surface of the body (6). The segments (2, 3) of the multi-part measuring sensor (1) that are diagonally opposite can be tensioned with their both ends by means of exchangeable and/or adjustable lateral guide members (4, 5, 26, 38) for the body to be measured (6).

Abstract: A member of an earthquake-proof reinforcement structure is selected with reference to the allowable stress intensity ratio of the member, a ductility factor ratio allowable as a deformation magnification by earthquake-proof reinforcement of the selected member is set, an increase in load in a plasticity range, which acts on the selected member, is calculated on the basis of the set ductility factor ratio, and a corresponding allowable stress intensity ratio is obtained. When the obtained allowable stress intensity ratio is defined as a maximum value of 1.0, the corresponding increase in load in the plasticity range is specified as an ultimate load at which the selected member collapses.

Abstract: A optical system and method of measuring a strain on a surface of a band of a sheet of a material. A single line, or an area having a boundary line, is marked on the band before deformation. The line traverses a width of the band at angle. The band is deformed and an equivalent two-dimensional image of the line after deformation is obtained. The line before deformation is compared with the two-dimensional equivalent image of the line after deformation, and the strain on the surface of the band after deformation is determined.

Abstract: A method for obtaining an accurate ambient air pressure load on each outer wall of a building places a plurality of pressure sensors on each outside external wall of the building. The pressure reading from each pressure sensor on a given wall is obtained and averaged with the result being the approximate average ambient air pressure load on that wall. The method can be further refined to obtain the average maximum, the maximum, the average minimum and/or the minimum, pressure load for each wall, and/or for each floor and/or for each wall of each floor and/or for the building as a whole.

Abstract: The present invention provides a temperature compensator for a torque sensor, including a pair of coils, which are connected to an AC power supply circuit via transistors and in which inductances change in opposite directions depending on torque, and a torque detecting means which obtains a voltage difference between a first voltage and a second voltage output via smoothing circuits based on changes in inductance of each pair of coils, and outputs as a torque detection voltage, the temperature compensator having a correcting voltage extracting means for extracting a voltage between terminals of a transistor in the AC power supply circuit as a temperature correcting voltage, and a correcting means for correcting the torque detection voltage based on a temperature correcting voltage Vs extracted by the correcting voltage extracting means.

Abstract: An instrument pin member is provided that is capable of measuring bending moments and optionally of measuring bending and axial strain in real or near real time. The instrumented pin member includes a pin member body disposed about a pin member axis, wherein the pin member body includes a bending portion. A sensing device is positioned at the pin member body within the bending portion for sensing a bending strain in the bending portion exclusive of a net axial strain, and for outputting a sensor measurement signal representative of the bending strain. A sensor measurement signal output device is provided for outputting the sensor measurement signal from the sensing device. A related system includes a plurality of pin members, among other things. Related methods also are disclosed.

Abstract: A seismometer having a hydrodynamically efficient shaped body containing a seismic sensor or source, having a propulsion unit located and a control unit for directional control of the propulsion unit for guiding the seismometer to and from an ocean floor. The seismometer can be deployed from a surface ship, helicopter or airplane. The seismometer or surface support vessel contains a navigation unit for directing the control unit to a desired location on the ocean bottom. The apparatus provides a storage device for storing seismic data sensed by the seismic sensor. The navigation system sends a responsive directional command to the apparatus based on the current location and the desired location. Upon arrival at the desired ocean bottom location, the propulsion system acts to couple the apparatus to the ocean floor. A flight control system manages a plurality of the seismometers during navigation to and from the a ocean bottom.

Abstract: A non-contact sensor assembly measures an in-line driving thrust force that is applied to a rotating shaft. The sensor assembly includes a hollow torque-shaft with a magnetoelastic element and a thrust shaft that is inserted within the hollow torque-shaft. Keys are formed on thrust shaft and keyways are formed on the hollow torque-shaft. The keys are received within the keyways to lock the thrust shaft and hollow torque-shaft together but still permit a small amount of axial movement between the shafts. Helical spline recesses are formed on the thrust shaft and corresponding spline projections are formed on the hollow torque-shaft. The projections are received within the recesses to translate the thrust force into a twisting force. A magnetometer cooperates with the magnetoelastic element to measure the amount of twisting force and determine the amount of thrust force.

Abstract: For simpler manufacture of a rotation angle sensor and to utilize as much of its angle expansion as possible, the partial stator elements are in the shape of a partial ring split into a large partial stator element (22.1) and a small partial stator element (22.2) with tangentially arranged spacing openings (4, 5) located between them. The large partial stator element (22.1) covers a range of greater than 180° and the small partial stator element a range of less than 180° of a circular arc. The large and small stator elements (22.1, 22.2) are at least partially molded into one of the parts made of a magnetically non-conducting material. A magnet element consists of two magnetically bipolar partial magnet segment elements that are essentially of the same length and cover 90° or more of a circular arc.

Abstract: A device for measuring an angle and/or the torque acting on a rotatable body is proposed according to the invention, whereby the rotational angle is detected by means of magnetic or optical sensors. In particular, in a preferred exemplary embodiment, two devices (7, 8) are proposed, each of which comprises two optically readable code tracks. The two code tracks (1a, 1b or 2a, 2b) on one device (7 or 8) are similar in design and are offset in relation to each other, so that associated sensors (4) output a digital signal. The rotational angle is calculated based on the lag between the two digital signals. In a further embodiment it is provided that a torsion element (5) having a known torsional stiffness is situated between the two devices (7, 8). Torque transferred by the rotatable body (3) can also be calculated therefore from the angular difference of the two devices 7, 8. The device is used preferably in the steering axle of a motor vehicle.

Abstract: A measurement device (10; 110; 210) and associated seating arrangement, in particular for measuring a weight acting on a vehicle seat, that includes: a force transmission element (12; 112; 212), which is connectable to a first unit, preferably a vehicle seat, and a measurement assembly (14; 50; 114; 214), which is rigidly connectable to a second unit (80), preferably a vehicle body part. The force transmission element (12; 112; 212) is pivotable about at least one axis around the measurement assembly (14; 50; 114; 214).

Abstract: A rotation sensor includes a first rotor constituted by a magnetic material and having an outer face that has first conductive layers disposed in two levels as viewed in the direction of a rotation axis and second conductive layers disposed outwardly of and between the first conductive layers, a second rotor having metal members corresponding to the first conductive layers of the first rotor, and a stationary core having a stationary core body that accommodates therein two exciting coils that are spaced from each other in the direction of the rotation axis. The second rotor is disposed between the first rotor mounted to a first shaft and the stationary core fixed to a stationary member, and is mounted to a second shaft which is rotatable relative to the first shaft.

Abstract: An adjustable loading apparatus for supporting a long span beam in a flexure test by a load application device is disclosed. The apparatus includes an upper support structure including an elongated support beam, at least one support bracket adjustably mountable along a longitudinal span thereof, and a saddle member selectively pivotally mounted in the at least one upper support bracket for engaging with a specimen under test. The upper support structure is positioned normal to the load application device and a lower support structure is positioned parallel and co-planar to the upper support structure. The lower support structure includes an elongated support beam, at least one spacing member adjustably mounted along a longitudinal span thereof, a lower support bracket adjustably mounted along a longitudinal span of the spacing member, and a saddle member selectively pivotally mounted in the lower support bracket for engaging with a specimen under test.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for measuring the stress forces in refining disks are disclosed. The method includes providing a measuring surface comprising at least a portion of a plurality of refiner bars on the refining surface of a refining disk, resiliently mounting the measuring surface in the refiner surface, and measuring the stress forces across the measuring surface.

Abstract: Device for determining a torque exercised on a shaft, wherein the shaft comprises a first shaft section and a second shaft section, wherein the two shaft sections can be rotated relative to another, with a multi-pole magnetic ring which surrounds the first shaft section and is connected thereto, and a stator holder which is mounted to the second shaft section, wherein two stator elements are mounted to a stator holder and each stator element comprises fingers projecting in an axial or radial direction which are distributed uniformly at least over part of the periphery with gaps between them, wherein the fingers of each stator element are interconnected via a magnetic flux ring, wherein the magnetic flux rings have a mutual separation and a magnetic field sensor is disposed between the magnetic flux rings, wherein at least one magnetic flux concentrator is associated with the magnetic field sensor, wherein the magnetic flux concentrator surrounds the magnetic flux rings.

Abstract: A seat frame-based occupant weight estimation load cell transfers the seat force to a floor bracket through a spherical ball and a ball actuator. The ball is in contact with the force sensor and has minimal contact area with either the ball actuator or the force sensor so that the transfer of forces not functionally related to occupant weight is minimized. The ball actuator is coupled to the seat frame, and a sensor bracket aligns the ball actuator with respect to the sensor. The sensor bracket is domed to securely anchor the seat to the floor bracket in the event of an inverse overload. A spring disposed between the ball actuator and the dome of the sensor bracket biases the ball against the force sensor to preload the force sensor for enabling off-loading detection.

Abstract: A method for calculating a fatigue usage factor of a component in a nuclear reactor includes determining a flow scaling factor for each stress component of a stress cycle, applying the flow scaling factor to rapid cycling stress conditions, and performing a fatique evaluation by calculating a fatigue usage factor using the flow scaling factor. The flow scaling factor is a ratio of a temperature fluctuation ratio at a first reactor operating condition divided by a temperature fluctuation ratio at a second reactor operating condition. The temperature fluctuation ratio is defined as a ratio of the metal temperature range over the fluid temperature range.

Abstract: A method for monitoring torque in an electric motor is provided. First, the motor current is measured and the AC torque is determined based on the measured current. The speed of the motor and the DC motor power are then determined. The DC torque is calculated as a function of the DC motor power and the motor speed. The DC torque is then compared to the AC torque. After the AC torque is verified, it is compared to a reference torque to determine if the difference between the torques is within a torque deviation tolerance.

Abstract: This need is met by the present invention wherein structural stress in a fatigue-prone region of a structure is determined by using the nodal forces and displacement values in the fatigue-prone region, or equilibrium-equivalent simple stress states consistent with elementary structural mechanics in the fatigue-prone region. The determination is substantially independent of mesh size and is particularly well-suited for applications where S-N curves are used in weld fatigue design and evaluation, where S represents nominal stress or stress range and N represents the number of cycles to failure. The present invention is directed to structural stress analysis through various combinations of modeling, calculation, and direct measurement schemes.

Abstract: A load cell comprising a load carrying structural framework is arranged with at least one measuring zone (15, 16) arranged with a measuring means. A load F applied in the x-direction parallel to two outer beams (1, 4) of the framework is transferred to two inner beams (2, 3) by two side beams (5, 6). The load on the measuring zones (15, 16) is greater than the load applied parallel to outer beams (1, 4) in a ratio of the distance h between the joints of the two outer beams divided by the distance d between the joints of the two inner beams. When a load is applied in the y-direction parallel to the two side beams (5, 6), the load on the measuring zones is also greater than the load applied at the side beams, in this case by a ratio of the distance l between the joints (7 and 11), (10 and 14) divided by distance d.