Abstract: A torque measuring device for a rotating body comprises: a rotary section composed of first and second flanges to be joined respectively to a driving shaft and a driven shaft, and a hollow cylinder having the first and second flanges formed respectively on both edges thereof; light emitting elements provided at an outer circumference of the rotary section and adapted to emit light according to an output from torque detectors provided at an inner circumference of the cylinder thereby generating an optical signal; a light receiving fiber to receive the optical signal from the light emitting elements; optical-electrical signal converters provided so as to face both end surfaces of the light receiving fiber, and adapted to convert the optical signal into an electrical signal; and a malfunction detector to detect malfunction of the light receiving fiber according to the electrical signal from the optical-electrical signal converter.

Abstract: A capacitive encoder includes a signal-balanced shield electrode configuration that does not require electrical ground connection or active sensing and control in order to maintain the shield electrode(s) at a sufficiently constant voltage during capacitive position measurements. The shield electrode configuration is positioned in a capacitive coupling gap between transmitter electrodes and receiver electrodes during operation. The shield electrode configuration is patterned in a manner that complements the layout of the transmitter electrodes, such that the shield electrode configuration inherently floats at a nominally constant electrical potential when coupled to the signals present on the transmitter electrodes.

Abstract: A peak flow meter for measuring a peak flow or air exhaled by a patient. The preferred peak flow meter includes a substantially hollow housing having a top portion, a bottom portion, an air inlet and at two air outlets. A flow restriction is disposed within the housing and in fluid communication with the air inlet. A vane assembly is disposed within the housing and includes a vane, a post to which the vane is fixedly attached, and a hub attached to the bottom portion of the housing. A torsion spring is engaged at one end to the hub and at the other to the post A visual indictor is movably disposed within the slot for indicating a peak flow rate of air based upon a movement of the vane and a scale is disposed proximate to the slot such that the location of the visual indicator may be related to a corresponding flow rate.

Abstract: A pedal force sensing apparatus includes a pedal force input shaft, a force action sleeve, a torque output shaft, at least one elastomer, a micro optical pickup head module, a diversion sleeve, a linear sliding bush and a displacement sensor. The pedal force input shaft to which an input torque is applied drives the force action sleeve combined with it to simultaneously rotate. Sequentially, the force action sleeve applies forces to the elastomer to have reaction force acting on the torque output shaft. When a reverse torque from the loading of the electric bicycle is applied to the opposite end of the torque output shaft, the rotations of the torque output shaft and the force action sleeve occur, and relative angular displacement between them simultaneously exists.

Abstract: Excitation electrodes are respectively affixed to central portions of both surfaces of a long plate-shaped AT-cut crystal resonator, the central portion starts a thickness shear oscillation in the length direction of the crystal resonator when an electric signal is applied to the central portion of the crystal resonator through the excitation electrodes. And, channel-shaped, half-circular-shaped, or trapezoid grooves in cross-section are respectively formed in the plate width direction on middle portions between the center portion and end portions of the crystal resonator. These grooves are formed so as to be symmetrical with respect to a thicknesswise central position of the crystal resonator through a well-known etching technique such as photo-etching and the like.

Abstract: A device and method for testing the tension in a stressed cable of a concrete structure. The device includes a frame and a hydraulic jack mounted onto the frame. The hydraulic jack applies a force to the stressed cable and displaces the stressed cable laterally. A hook or clamp is connected to the hydraulic jack for grasping the stressed cable in order to apply the force thereto, and a dial gauge is mounted onto the frame for measuring the deflection of the stressed cable once the force has been applied. The amount of pre-stress within the stressed cable can be calculated by measuring the amount of deflection caused to the stressed cable by the force of the jack.

Abstract: A swing weight scale is presented that measures the swing weight of a golf club by measuring the torque exerted by the club about fixed balance point. The apparatus comprises an elongated torque arm pivotally mounted to a base. At one end of the torque arm a pair of rollers cradle the shaft of the golf club from underneath. At the other end of the torque arm a vertical stop provides a reference for locating the butt of the golf club shaft and provides the mounting surface for a second pair of rollers that cradle the upper surface of the shaft at the butt end. The rollers allow the golf club shaft to freely rotate about its longitudinal axis so that the golf club head will hang down freely. A torque sensor is mounted at the pivot point of the torque arm to measure the torque produced by the golf club as it is supported by the torque arm.

Abstract: A sensor package having a force sensing element and a housing. The force sensing element has an element surface, a well, a first and second shelves within the well. The housing has a housing surface. The first and second shelves of the housing are arranged to support the force sensing element so that the element surface and the housing surface are substantially coplanar and so that the element surface of the force sensing element directly senses a force without need of an actuator.

Abstract: A stress of a c-axis-oriented specimen of a tetragonal polycrystal is measured using X-ray diffraction under the assumption of a plane stress state. An X-ray optical system is set in the location of ?=0°, 45° or 90°. An X-ray diffracted at a crystal plane (the direction of the normal thereto is the direction of an angle of ?) with the Miller indices (hkl) is detected. A diffraction angle ? in a strain state is measured in the vicinity of a Bragg's angle ?0 in a non-strain state. Strains ? with respect to a plurality of ? are calculated from the difference between the measurement values ? and the Bragg's angle ?0. Specific stress calculation formulae are determined with respect to the tetragonal system having the Laue symmetry 4/mmm. The stress is calculated from the slope of the linear line of plotted measurement results.

Abstract: A torque sensor is provided which consists of a magnet, an assembly of magnetic rings, and a magnetic sensor. The magnetic rings have claws arrayed thereround at regular intervals. Each of the claws of one of the rings is interposed between adjacent two of the claws of the other ring. Upon input of torque, the magnet is rotated relative to the ring assembly, thereby causing the density of magnetic flux to change as a function of the torque which is sensed by the magnetic sensor. Each of the claws is geometrically shaped so as to increase the density of magnetic flux flowing through the ring assembly, thereby improving the sensitivity of the sensor.

Abstract: A method and a device for determining the torque magnitude transferred to a threaded fastener at each one of a series of torque impulses delivered to the fastener, includes application of repeated torque impulses on the fastener by a power tool having a motor with a rotor and a pulse unit which intermittently couples the motor to an output shaft. The pulse unit includes an inertia drive member which is accelerated by the motor and transfers its kinetic energy to the output shaft at each torque impulse. A rotation detecting device indicates the instantaneous rotation movement of the inertia drive member. At each impulse generation, the inertia drive member is retarded, and the retardation magnitude as a function of time is calculated. The product of the retardation magnitude and the total inertia moment of the drive member and other rotating parts of the tool forming a rigid unit with the inertia drive member reflects the torque magnitude transferred to the fastener at each impulse.

Abstract: A pressure sensor has a housing having a first block and a second block provided therein. A force to be measured applies upon a upper face of the first block. An upper face of the second block makes contact with a base face of the first block. Piezoresistive elements are formed within the base face of the first block. The resistance values of these piezoresistive elements change as contacting pressure between the first block and the second block changes. A first electrode is formed on an upper face of the first block. A second electrode is formed on a base face of the second block. Electrical characteristics between the first electrode and the second electrode change following change in the contacting pressure between the first block and the second block.

Abstract: The rotation sensor (10) has a cylindrical first rotor (11) made of an insulating magnetic material, having conductor layers (11a) arranged circumferentially, the first rotor being attached to a rotating first shaft (5a) at a predetermined axial position; a fixed core (12) having an exciting coil (12b), the core being fixed to a fixing member with a space secured in the axial direction with respect to the first shaft; a second rotor (13) having nonmagnetic metal bodies (13b) arranged circumferentially to oppose the conductor layers respectively, the second rotor being attached to a second shaft located adjacent to and rotating relative to the first shaft (5a) and being located between the first rotor (11) and the fixed core (12); and oscillating device connected to the exciting coil (12b), the oscillating device transmitting an oscillation signal of a specific frequency.

Abstract: The displacement of a shackle, which is coupled with a main rope hanging an elevator car, caused by loading of the car, is converted, through a wire, into the rotary motion of a pulley which has a substantially vertical rotating surface, and an acceleration sensor for detecting the angle of rotation of the pulley is fixedly secured to the pulley, so that the load of the car is detected from the angle of rotation of the pulley.

Abstract: In a method for determining whether a wheel is locked or not, it is determined whether an output value of a steering torque sensor for detecting steering torque is either equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold value; when the output value is either equal to or larger than the predetermined threshold value, it is determined whether the output value has continued to be either equal to or larger than the predetermined threshold value for more than a predetermined length of time and, when it is determined that the output value of the steering torque sensor has continued to be either equal to or larger than the predetermined threshold value for more than the predetermined length of time, then it is determined that the wheel is locked.

Abstract: A load cell is provided that includes first and second sensor support assemblies. Each sensor support assembly has a rigid central hub having an end plate and a support element extending transversely from the end plate and also includes a rigid annular ring concentric with the central hub. A first mount is joined to the end plate of the first sensor support assembly, the mount being spaced apart from and extending in the same direction as the support element of the first sensor support assembly. A first plurality of sensing devices are operably coupled between the support element of the first and second sensing support assemblies and the corresponding annular rings, respectively. The end plates of the first and second sensor support assemblies are joined together.

Abstract: A wave gear device torque detection method in which the gain of the output of each of a plurality of strain gauge sets affixed to the diaphragm of a flexible external gear is amplified and the outputs are then combined to form a detection signal. Adjusting the gain of each of the strain gauge outputs makes it possible to compensate for rotational ripple included in the output. Compensation of up to n order ripple components is possible by using at least (2n+1) strain gauges.

Abstract: Upon injection molding, a linear encoder detects a relative position between the movable platen and a fixed platen, and a strain sensor detects a mold clamping force. A mold clamping control unit has a target platen position value and a target mold clamping force value. The mold clamping control unit subtracts a platen position and a mold clamping force from the target platen position value and the target mold clamping force value, respectively, to obtain deviations. The mold clamping control unit then switches the target to be controlled between the platen position and the mold clamping force. The mold clamping control unit appropriately converts the deviation of either the platen position or the mold clamping force into a control command value for a motor. The converted value is supplied to a motor control unit. The motor control unit drivingly controls a mold clamping motor according to the control command.

Abstract: A method of using a magnetic fluid clutch for torque measurement comprises steps of modulating electric current through a coil of the magnetic fluid clutch to maintain a steady-state quasi-solid phase of a magnetic fluid medium contained within the magnetic fluid clutch when the magnetic fluid clutch is clutched to transmit torque from a torque input end of the clutch to a torque output end of the clutch, thereby ensuring that the torque output end rotates in response to the rotation of the torque input end without relative rotational slippage therebetween; and measuring a deflection value associated with the magnetic fluid clutch. The clutch is thereby used as a combined torque measurement and clutch apparatus.

Abstract: An unbonded capping system is provided for compression testing of grout samples in the form of rectangular prisms. The capping system comprises first and second retaining cups comprising metal blocks each having opposite parallel planar surfaces. A first of the planar surfaces is engagable by a test platen, in use. A second of the planar surfaces has a rectangular cavity for receiving one end of the grout sample. First and second rectangular compression pads each have a hardness in the range of about 50-70 durometer. The compression pads are of a size slightly smaller than a size of the rectangular cavities to be received therein to distribute a test load from the test platens to the grout sample.