Abstract: A viscometer (10) includes a chamber-defining cylinder (22) within which a bob (26), including a ferromagnetic collar (30), is shuttled back and forth by alternate driving of two coils (32 and 34). Measurement circuitry (FIG. 2) determines the viscosity of fluid inside the chamber (24) by measuring the time required for the bob (26) to make a round trip consisting of one stroke in each direction. By employing round-trip time rather than single-stroke time, the viscometer (10) reduces the sensitivity of the viscosity measurement to orientation with respect to gravity.

Abstract: Counter Rotating Current (CRC) pairs of loop-gap resonators are combined with planar pairs of loop-gap resonators to form networks of NMR local coils. A first embodiment is a quadrature probe in which a planar pair is sandwiched between the loop-gap resonators of the CRC pair. In a plurality of other embodiments, CRC pairs, planar pairs, and other types of local coils are arranged adjacent to one another to form networks of NMR local coils with an enlarged net region of sensitivity. In a further embodiment of the invention, an excitation coil operated in an excite/receive mode is combined with intrinsically isolated local detectors to form an NMR detection network.

Abstract: An immersion based ultrasonic inspection system is disclosed which is used to interrogate the bore and near bore material of turbine and generator rotors by passing ultrasonic search units through the rotor bore. This system utilizes variable focus array inspection transducers in a shear mode inspection of the near bore material. The flaw location method includes recording calibration transit times and transducer locations for calibration holes from which refraction angles, and material velocities are determined. When a flaw is detected the surface time for a bore surface reflection, the flaw reflection time and transducer position are used to determine the position of the flaw.

Abstract: Among the many challenges in the manufacture of oil seal rings of elastomeric material is to create a seal whose sealing surface is within certain critical dimensions, usually in terms of a nominal diameter plus or minus a tolerance. There have been several methods available to test oil seals to determine the actual diamter of the sealing surface. These require considerable experience and training. Repeatability can be adversely affected by a number of factors. The subject invention includes an apparatus which combines a light box with a controllably expansible gauge band. The expansion of the band is monitored by an electronic position indicator. In operation, the seal to be tested is placed over the properly selected gauge band on the light box. The user adjusts the vernier to expand the band until a "light seal" is obtained, i.e., when any space between the smooth outer diameter of the band and the lip of the the seal is just closed. At that point, a reading of the position detector is taken.

Abstract: A wheel attached to a vehicle body via a suspension mechanism including an unsprung member is placed on and rotated by a rotating drum. A phase detector detects the rotational phase of the rotating wheel. A support table positioned adjacent the rotating drum is movable on three mutually perpendicular axes. A spring plate mounted on the support table is placed in resilient contact with a measuring surface of the unsprung member. The spring plate vibrates in response to vibration of the unsprung member in the longitudinal direction which in turn vibrates in response to wheel unbalance. A displacement detector on the support table includes a light source and light receiving elements which detect vibration of the spring plate caused by movement of the unsprung member in the longitudinal direction and thus detect wheel unbalance.

Abstract: An ultrasonic scanning system utilizing a selectively rotatable reflector permitting selective use of multiple transducers mounted around the periphery of a water jet for flaw detection in composite materials.

Abstract: A magnet system (1) for a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging apparatus comprising a magnetic core arrangement (7, 13, 15) shaped to provide two or more discrete gaps (3, 5) of different sizes in which objects to be imaged may be placed, the magnetic field across each gap being produced by a single drive coil arrangement (9) associated with the core arrangement. A system providing gaps of different sizes, for different types of NMR examination is thus provided at relatively low cost compared with using a separate magnet system for each type of examination.

Abstract: A vehicle restraint system for testing vehicles has vehicle restraint linkages which couple to a vehicle mounted on a simulated roadway to provide restraint in selected axes and to permit freedom of movement in other axes in a manner that permits the automobile to react as it would when being driven over an actual roadway. The restraint system is made to combine and limit lateral, longitudinal and yaw motions with a minimum effect on the handling properties in other axes of movement. The restraint system includes selective, active servo positioning in the restrained axes so that the position of the vehicle can be maintained so that the vehicle tires are kept within a load support area of the simulated roadway without substantially affecting the vehicle handling properties. The linkages used are operated through actuators that can also be used as passive restraints, that is, providing a spring force to maintain the vehicle in a desired location.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for detecting leaks in a liquid-containing tank. The method and apparatus employ an internal reference cell immersed in the liquid in the tank which contains a volume of the liquid isolated from flow communication with the liquid in the tank while having a surface which is exposed to the ambient conditions above the surface of the liquid in the tank. The level of the fluid in the tank and in the reference cell are monitored over a period of time. Level changes in the tank which do not correspond to level changes due to the temperature and evaporative effects observed in the reference cell are indicative of a leak in the tank.

Abstract: A method is described for determining the degree of moisture vapor transmission of certain materials which comprises taking a weighed test cup containing a saturated salt solution sealed inside the cup with a waterproof, moisture vapor permeable membrane, and inserting it over a sample that is supported on a waterproof, moisture vapor permeable membrane over a controlled temperature waterbath. After a set time, the cup is reweighed and the water pick up recorded.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for determining the viscosity of fluids and for termining the point of gelation during the curing of a material. Attached to one end of an oscillating lever, a disposable probe is immersed in a small fluid specimen, while a strain gauge and a displacement transducer are attached to the lever for monitoring its movement. The viscosity of fluids is correlated with the strain measurement, while the gelation point of a material during its curing cycle is determined by monitoring the phase angle between the strain gauge output and the lever displacement transducer output.

Abstract: Through a method for transferring forces and/or moments between a rotatingly powered test stand and a test specimen and through an apparatus for carrying out the method, data is obtained which is identical to actual service data of a vehicle as it is driven on the road. This is accomplished without need to resort to additional empirical factors. The data is obtained by suspension of the mass of the driven test specimen with the test machine and through a torsion elastic connection of the test specimen with the test machine.

Abstract: A shaft torsional vibration monitor for a poly phase turbine generator and its prime mover turbine connected thereto comprises an electrical torque detector detecting electromagnetic torque applied to the turbine generator rotor, a memory unit capable of storing plurality sets of torque variation data due to system disturbances each having an initial torque variation rate more than a predetermined amount, a first processor fetching the sets of torque variation data one by one from the memory unit and determining the corresponding shaft torsional vibration and a second processor determining fatigue and life expectancy of the rotary shaft system for the turbine generator and its turbine by accumulating torsional stresses caused by respective shaft torsional vibrations.

Abstract: The leaky or non-leaky condition of a flexible, closed container is tested by increasing the pressure within the container (by causing motion of a wall of the container), and monitoring the resulting rate of change of a predetermined parameter (wall position or force exerted by the wall); the monitored rate of change indicates the leaky or non-leaky condition. In another aspect the time-varying net force on a container is the basis for determining the leaky or non-leaky condition.

Abstract: Magnetic coils (12) create a generally uniform magnetic field through an examination region (10). A radio frequency transmitter applied RF pulses to an RF antenna (26). A gradient field controller (30) generates gradient excitation current pulse profiles which pass through an eddy current calibration circuit (50) to gradient coils (38). A radio frequency receiver (92) receives magnetic resonance signals from the examination region, which signals are Fourier transformed (94) into an image representation (96). The eddy current calibration circuit (50) modifies the current pulse profiles in order to compensate for eddy currents, i.e. to remove the effect of eddy currents such that the resultant gradient magnetic field has a selected profile. An automatic calibration circuit (60) adjusts the decay constant or center frequency of a band pass filter (56) and the gain of an amplifier (58).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the automatic correction of the variations of efficiency of an electroacoustic transducer as a function of the frequency for improving the accuracy of a device measuring the thickness of layers of materials by ultrasonic interferometry.

Abstract: A substrate for an apparatus for quantitative detection of a component present in a gas or liquid, in which substrate elastic vibrations can be generated, said substrate being provided with a surface layer adapted to bond said component, so that the vibration behavior of said layer is changed. At least the surface portion of said substrate consists of a substance with active sites (A) for covalent bonding situated at its free surface, to which sites (A) molecules of a substance (X) are covalently bonded which, on the other hand, possess active sites (B) for selectively and reversibly bonding by means of a coordinative bond of the molecules of the component (G) to be detected.

Abstract: The three degree of freedom micro-gravity simulator is a machine system that enables close duplication of three of the six weightless degrees of freedom of a space environment in the gravity field on earth's surface. The three degrees of freedom are two translational degrees of freedom orthogonal to the gravity vector and one rotational degree of freedom parallel to the gravity vector. The mechanism concept that duplicates the weightless environment eliminates all but air bearing forces acting on the object being tested in the plane orthogonal to the gravity vector without adding significant mass to the test object or confining the test object translational or rotational movements in the plane orthogonal to the gravity vector. The machine consists of at least three test object support platforms which permit small test object movements relative to the support platform without applying forces to the test object.

Abstract: A method for sensing and reacting to conditions indicative of leakage in a tire (16 or 18), the pressurization of which is measured and controlled by a CTIS (10).

Abstract: Apparatus for testing heads of internal combustion engines of various sizes for fluid tightness of the internal cavities in the head. The apparatus includes a generally rectangular retaining frame which is pivotally supported on two vertical end members of a base for pivotal motion about a longitudinal axis. A head support frame is supported by the retainer frame for movement towards and away from the retainer frame. Spaced pneumatic cylinders move the support frame towards and away from the retainer frame. Each of the frames have a plurality of transverse members whose spacing is adjustable to provide support and retention for engine heads of various sizes. The testing apparatus includes a test plate having internal cavities to match those of the engine head being tested. The plate and engine head are clamped together and sealed by means of a gasket between the head and the test plate while they are clamped between the support frame and the retainer frame.