Abstract: The invention relates to a weight monitoring system for a motor vehicle (1) which can, if appropriate, be connected to a trailer (2). The system uses weight sensors to determine the weights (F1, F2) acting on the axles of the motor vehicle, in order to calculate from them the overall weight of the vehicle, and the axle loads. In addition, a tractive force sensor may be provided in the trailer hitch so that the mass of the trailer (2) can be determined by means of the tractive force (F3) and the acceleration of the vehicle. The weight monitoring system calculates various weight variables from the measured values and monitors to determine whether they remain within defined limits. In this context, it is possible, in particular, to take into account a planned route in such a way that the limiting values of the charge are adapted with respect to the maximum altitude (Hmax) above sea level and/or the maximum gradient (smax) of the route.

Abstract: A capacitive sensor includes a fixed board provided with a fixed electrode unit consisting of one or more electrodes, a movable member provided with a movable electrode unit consisting of one or more electrodes which faces the fixed electrode unit with a gap therebetween, the movable member being rotatable with respect to the fixed board, a weight provided on the movable member, and a retaining element which is disposed between the fixed plate and the weight and retains the movable member in a rotatable manner. At least one of the movable electrode unit and the fixed electrode unit includes a plurality of electrodes.

Abstract: A sensor device for registering strain of a component, which comprises a sensor chip and a supporting substrate, which are connected to each other by a connecting layer such that they form a prefabricated sensor module. The sensor module is attached to the component by a durable creep-free connection such that the strain of the component is transferred to the sensor chip.

Abstract: A tag flow measurement system wherein a first and a second measurement path are provided across a flowing fluid, and a receiver in each path receives signals modulated by scatters in the fluid. The direction of signal propagation in one path faces in an opposite sense to, e.g., is anti-parallel to, the direction of propagation in the other path, and the two receiver outputs are correlated to determine a time interval representative of flow velocity. In one embodiment each path is defined by a transmitter on one side of the conduit and a receiver on the other side of the conduit, and the positions or orientations of transmitter and receiver are reversed in the second pair. Thus, the first transmitter may lie on the same side of the conduit as the second receiver, and the second transmitter may lie on the same side of the conduit as the first receiver. Diametral or chordal paths may be used.

Abstract: A device for detecting the pressure exerted at different points of a flexible and/or pliable object that may assume different shapes, includes a plurality of capacitive pressure sensors and at least a system for biasing and reading the capacitance of the sensors. The requirements of flexibility or pliability are satisfied by capacitive pressure sensors formed by two orthogonal sets of parallel or substantially parallel electrodes spaced, at least at each crossing between an electrode of one set and an electrode of the other set, by an elastically compressible dielectric, forming an array of pressure sensing pixel capacitors. The system for biasing and reading the capacitance includes column plate electrode selection circuits and row plate electrode selection circuits and a logic circuit for sequentially scanning the pixel capacitors and outputting pixel values of the pressure for reconstructing a distribution map of the pressure over the area of the array.

Abstract: A flow sensor package with a housing, a pressure sensing element, a restriction, and an elastomeric seal. The housing has a base, a cover, an inlet port, an outlet port, and first and second channels. The first and second channels are in parallel between the inlet port and the outlet port. The pressure sensing element is in the first channel and the restriction is the second channel. The elastomeric seal engages the pressure sensing element to prevent flow of a fluid, which may be a liquid, through the first channel. The elastomeric seal has a conductive path from the pressure sensing element to a lead, which extends outside the housing.

Abstract: A capacitive sensor includes a retaining member, an intermediate member retained by the retaining member such that the intermediate member can rotate around a first axis, a movable member retained by the intermediate member such that the movable member can rotate around a second axis which is perpendicular to the first axis, a weight provided on the movable member, a movable electrode unit consisting of one or more electrodes which is provided on the movable member, and a board on which a fixed electrode unit consisting of one or more electrodes is provided such that the fixed electrode unit faces the movable electrode unit. At least one of the movable electrode unit and the fixed electrode unit includes a plurality of electrodes, and capacitances between the one or more electrodes of the movable electrode unit and the one or more electrodes of the fixed electrode unit are detected.

Abstract: A process for determining the tension in a moving web is provided. The process includes the step of providing a web that is moving at a determined speed. The speed has a determined basis weight. A wave is created in the moving web. The speed of the propagation of the wave is determined. Also, the tension on the moving web is determined through a mathematical relationship between the wave speed, the basis weight of the web, and the speed of the web. The instability index of the web is greater than or equal to 0.5.

Abstract: A column assembly for use in conjunction with a test machine, for inducing high-cycle fatigue (at kilohertz vibration rates) in a specimen of a material under test. The column assembly has isolation masses, a specimen grip, and two actuators, the latter for imparting dynamic forces to the test specimen. The actuators are arranged on the column assembly asymmetrically relative to the test specimen.

Abstract: A displacement transducer capable of measuring very small displacements (on the order of 100 &mgr;m or less) comprises a strain gage mounted to the curved arc of a substrate. The transducer has a resolution of at least 10 &mgr;m, preferably at least 1 &mgr;m or better. The transducer can measure positive or negative displacement in a specimen and can also be used as an extremely sensitive load cell for very high resolution weight, load or mass determinations.

Abstract: A rotary shaft axial elongation measuring method and device enable accurate measuring of rotary shaft axial elongation regardless of the amount of the elongation. Grooves (10, 12), arranged opposite to each other in a turned V shape along the axial direction, are provided in a rotational surface of the rotary shaft (1) whose axial elongation is to be measured. A sensor (14) is arranged opposite the rotational surface of the rotary shaft (1). The sensor (14) generates pulses upon passing of the groves (10, 12) following rotation of the rotary shaft (1). As a circumferential interval between the grooves (10, 12) differs according to the axial directional position of the rotary shaft (1), if the positions of the grooves (10, 12) at the position of the sensor (14) change due to the axial elongation, the interval of the pulses generated by the sensor (14) changes. Thus, by the change in the pulse generation interval, the axial elongation is measured.

Abstract: Two flow tubes 1 and 2 of a Coriolis mass flow meter are formed into an arch shape, with the tubes bent in only one direction. Entry-side and exit-side manifolds 25 are smoothly bent from the inlet of the entry-side manifold and the outlet of the exit-side manifold to joints connecting the two flow tubes to the manifolds, and connected to the flow tubes 1 and 2 at the joints at a predetermined angle in the same direction. By making the flow tubes into a parallel arched tube structure having good stress distribution and shock resistance, effects on the flow meter of external oscillations, installation conditions, piping stresses and thermal stresses can be reduced.

Abstract: Method for layered structure breaking strength estimation in which an edge of a cutting blade is inserted into an upper layer of the structure and the cutting blade is moved substantially in parallel with an interface between the upper layer and a lower layer of the structure while automatically controlling a depth of the cutting blade to a depth slightly higher than the interface. A force exerted on the cutting blade substantially in parallel with the interface is measured. An apparatus for performing the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A Coriolis flowmeter sensor capable of handling large mass flow rates and having a reduced flag dimension. In order to have a reduced flag dimension, each of the flow tubes forms a semicircle between an inlet and an outlet. Brace bars, connected to the flow tubes proximate the inlet and outlet, separate the frequencies of vibration in the flow tubes. Pick-offs are positioned on the flow tubes at a position that allows the pickoffs to maximize detection of low amplitude, high frequency vibrations of the flow tubes required to have a reduced flag dimension.

Abstract: A magnetoelastic torque sensor assembly is provided for sensing torsion load of a shaft, such as an automotive steering column. The assembly includes a molded plastic body that defines an axial channel and includes an axial opening. The assembly also includes a U-shaped lead frame that is embedded within the molded plastic body and includes side portions that extend within side sections of the molded plastic body about the channel. Magnetic flux sensors are embedded in the side sections of the molded plastic body and connected to the lead frame. For use, the shaft is radially received through the axial opening in the molded plastic body and coaxially positioned within the channel. The magnetic flux sensors are positioned about the shaft in a predetermined and fixed arrangement. The sensor array preferably includes sensors that are disposed in a plane through the axis, either diametrically opposed or axially spaced.

Abstract: A load cell having overload protection wherein a central cantilever beam is provided between the sensing beams in the load cell structure and is bounded by slots of narrow gap width. When an excess load is applied, the load cell structure is deformed and contacts the cantilever beam to transfer the load thereto. The gap width determines the amount of applied load which initiates the protection.

Abstract: A Coriolis mass flow sensor includes a flow tube, a light source positioned adjacent a first side of the flow tube and a light detector positioned adjacent a second side of the flow tube. A drive device is operatively situated relative to the flow tube for vibrating the flow tube, such that the flow tube moves through a path defined between the light source and the light detector. In other aspects of the invention, a Coriolis mass flow sensor includes a flow tube and a frame having the flow tube mounted thereon. A drive device is operatively situated relative to the frame for vibrating the frame and at least one pick off sensor is situated relative to the flow tube so as to measure the twist in the flow tube due to Coriolis force. Other aspects of the invention concern a straight-tube Coriolis mass flow sensor. A flexible flow tube defines a generally linear flow path.

Abstract: A device for measuring torque and the direction of rotation in a drive assembly, has a torsion element (9) which can be torque-loaded and rotatingly driven for the purpose of transmitting torque around an axis of rotation (8). A first transmitter element (16) attached in a rotationally fast way to the torsion element (9). The first transmitter element (16) is moved on a first rotational circle. A second transmitter element (34) is positioned at a reference distance from the first transmitter element 16. The second transmitter element (34) is connected in a rotationally fast way to the torsion element (9) and is moved on a second rotational circle. A sensor unit 35 is fixed and arranged at a distance from the axis of rotation (8). The sensor unit (35) senses the passage of the transmitter elements 16, 34 or of a reference edge or a reference surface and generates a corresponding sequence of signals.

Abstract: A method of non-destructively testing the adhesion of electrical leads joined to a package comprising the steps of holding the package and a portion of a lead in respective stationary positions, applying a force to the lead proximate an area where it's joined to the package, and measuring the resistance of the lead to the force. An apparatus for holding the package and leads during such testing comprising first and second holding members, each having three arms connected by a transverse member.

Abstract: A method of testing athletic shoes is provided. The testing subjects athletic shoes to different temperature conditions in one test or different kinetic forces in another test. After undergoing the stressor (temperature, kinetic forces, other) the axial resistance exhibited by the shoe is measured by placing the shoe in the shoe testing device. The device ascertains the amount of torque required to rotate or twist each shoe to a standard amount. These results permits the different models and brands of athletic shoe to be independently categorized and grouped based on their performance with relation to the different stressor placed on the shoe. This would then permit the consumer, health professional and/or consultant to choose an athletic shoe which would assist in correcting pain caused by various degrees of motion in the foot or lower leg. By utilizing the categorizations, along with the needs of the individual, one may select an athletic shoe which can treat the effects of pronation and improper gait.