Abstract: A system and method is provided for making ice, transporting the ice to a remote location for subsequent use and for periodically sanitizing the transportation portion of the system without disabling or shutting down the system.

Abstract: A method for controlling a refrigerator having a direction control valve drives a refrigerating fan for a predetermined time when a refrigerant passage is converted to make a refrigerant from a condenser firstly pass a refrigerating evaporator, and enhances a cooling efficiency by applying a residual cool air of the refrigerating evaporator to a refrigerating compartment, after the refrigerating compartment reaches a steady state in a refrigerator having a refrigerating evaporator embodied as an intercooler evaporator.

Abstract: Efficient two-phase refrigerant mixture distribution is accomplished in a falling film evaporator by use of a refrigerant distributor disposed internal of the evaporator shell which overlies the evaporator tube bundle and which internally causes said two-phase refrigerant mixture to be made available along essentially the entire length and across essentially the entire width of the tube bundle prior to the delivery of the refrigerant out of the distributor.

Abstract: A portable heating and cooling unit intended to be used within a room or area of a building includes a cabinet supported on a plurality of wheels and a refrigeration circuit at least partially carried within said cabinet. The refrigeration circuit includes a first coil, a compressor, a second coil and a refrigerant reversing valve. In a cooling mode of operation, the first coil acts as an evaporator coil and room air is circulated by a first fan across the evaporator coil and delivered into the room. A second fan circulates room air through the second coil acting as a condenser coil and discharges the thus warmed air away from the room area to be cooled. In a heating mode of operation, the refrigerant reversing valve is activated to change the flow direction of the refrigerant through the circuit such that the first coil now acts as a condenser and the second coil now acts as the evaporator.

Abstract: First, a system for providing liquid refrigerant subcooling, subsequent to that subcooling accomplished by the primary condenser, by means of direct geothermal heat exchange and if required, secondary (or more) fluid(s) supplementary cooling of the liquid refrigerant contiguous with the direct geothermal subcooling. This system could be utilized with standard condensers for higher efficiency air conditioning, heat pump in the cooling mode, or refrigeration operation of any kind. No modifications to the actual condenser would be required, but a larger evaporator surface could be required. Secondly, a system for providing supplemental heat to the primary evaporator of a heat pump operating in the heating mode, by means of a direct geothermal heat exchange, coupled with heat reclaim of the liquid refrigerant, and if necessary with secondary (or more) fluid(s).

Abstract: Condensate evaporator apparatus for a refrigeration unit generally includes a collection pan and a dissipator disposed directly over the collection pan for evaporating water introduced thereinto and for directing unevaporated water in the collection pan. A heater is disposed for selectively heating the dissipator means in order to enhance evaporation of water therefrom.

Abstract: An air-conditioning condensate drainage system for mounting to the roof membrane of the roof structure of buildings or for constructing directly onto the roof membrane of a building structure. The air-conditioning condensate drainage system has an isolation membrane having a bottom surface for assembly to a roof membrane. A pair of ridge structures are disposed in fixed relation with the isolation membrane and are disposed in spaced relation with one another and cooperate with the isolation membrane to define an air-conditioning condensate drainage channel between the spaced ridge structures. Each of the ridge structures has one or more ridge defining elements which is fixed to the isolation membrane and projects above the isolation membrane sufficiently to define a condensate drain channel therebetween.

Abstract: There is disclosed a self-cooling self-carbonating beverage container including a beverage container housing containing a liquid beverage, a coolant gas bottle inside said beverage container storing pressurized carbon dioxide, a tab located on an external portion of said beverage container housing and apparatus actuated by movement of said tab for opening said bottle to release said carbon dioxide into said liquid beverage.

Abstract: In a compressor of a refrigeration cycle using an HC-based refrigerant and a lubricant having specific gravity greater than that of the HC-based refrigerant and having no or no or less mutual solubility with the HC-based refrigerant, an oil reservoir is formed on a bottom of the compressor, the oil reservoir is provided at its portion with a recess, a suction port of a lubricant suction pipe for supplying the lubricant to a compressor mechanism is provided in the recess. With this feature, it is possible to sufficiently supply the lubricant to the compressor even when the lubricant has no or less mutual solubility, so that even if the amount of the lubricant is reduced, the lubricant can be sufficiently sucked from an inlet port of a lubricant pumping pipe and supplied to the compressor mechanism.

Abstract: A dome-shaped baffle for an accumulator molded from desiccant material, which baffle separates and dries liquid and vapor components of an incoming flow of refrigerant while preventing the liquid refrigerant from entering an outlet tube. The dome-shaped baffle forces all of the refrigerant to contact the desiccant and has a barrier layer attached underneath that prevents liquid refrigerant from flowing through the baffle and directly into an inlet end of the outlet tube.

Abstract: An electrochemical heat exchanger which includes a housing, hydrogen producing/consuming portions separated by a proton exchange membrane and a gas space designed to contact an object in need of cooling. The gas space includes either hydrogen or a liquid gas which is placed in thermal contact with an item to be cooled. The hydrogen gas or liquid coolant exchanges heat with the element to be cooled and is constantly replenished by hydrogen or liquid coolant forced through the heat exchanger by a pressure differential created between the respective hydrogen electrodes.

Abstract: A refrigeration unit using HFC group coolant, having an enhanced cooling capacity so that the performance and the performance coefficient thereof can be enhanced, and the operation thereof can be stably made, the refrigeration unit having a refrigerating cycle in which a compressor 1, a condenser, a expansion valve and an evaporator, the expansion valve are connected in series in the mentioned order, d comprises HFC group coolant, and a subcooler located between the condenser and the evaporator, wherein the HFC group coolant is turned into liquid coolant in the subcooler, and is then branched into a main liquid stream and a substream which super-cools the main liquid stream through a super-cooling expansion valve, and is led into the intermediate stage part of the compressor.

Abstract: In this installation (1) for the distillation of air in a double column, the low pressure column and the medium pressure column are disposed side by side and the base of the low pressure column (3) is above the base of the medium pressure column (2). The low pressure column is disposed above an element for confining a cryogenic fluid which can be a mixing column (5), an argon column, a column operating at a pressure intermediate the medium pressure and the low pressure, a storage (32) or an exchanger.

Abstract: A cryogenic rotary pump for pressurizing a flow of a cryogenic liquid and for dividing the flow into a first lower pressure and a second higher pressure stream has a series of pumping chambers. A single rotary drive shaft carries a rotary inducer located in the chamber, a first impeller in the chamber, and a second impeller in the chamber. A liquid receiving chamber is located intermediate the pumping chambers. A first outlet from the pump for the first lower pressure stream is contiguous to the chamber and a second outlet is provided for the second higher pressure stream. The pump may serve to pressurize a flow of unboiled liquid oxygen from a sump of a lower pressure column of a double column also having a higher pressure column.

Abstract: A jewelry connection system utilizing an elastic bent stem having a narrow center section is inserted into a hollow tube such that binding of the stem ends in the tube creates an elastic releasable friction bond (binding) between the stem and tube pieces. A controlled amount of binding can be introduced by controlling the degree of non-colinearity between mating surfaces such that when using a high modulus material, such as Titanium, the use of this system for body piercing openings such as ear and nose rings is successful without reduced risk of loss of jewelry pieces due to vibration, because threaded connections in this arrangement are avoided. Configurations according to the invention can be used in a variety of tiny jewelry pieces as long as a stem can be inserted into a stem receiving member.

Abstract: A ring is provided with one or more rotatable beads projecting less than halfway out of the outer surface of the ring. There is a hole extending through each ring and an axle extending through the hole and anchored to the ring body. Where there is a plurality of beads, the axes of rotation of the beads lie parallel to each other.

Abstract: A process for producing a polarizing glass containing shape-anisotropic metallic particles dispersed in an oriented state therein, which comprises drawing a glass preform containing metallic halide particles dispersed therein while its viscosity being held above 2×106, but below 7×107 poises; and subjecting the drawn glass to a reducing treatment so that a part or all of the metallic halide particles are reduced to metallic particles, which process enables it to produce a polarizing glass with a high yield from a starting material of a glass containing metallic halide particles, while avoiding glass breakage or fracture during elongation as well as preventing the elongated metallic halide particles from returning to a spherical shape.

Abstract: A supplemental controller for a fiber glass bushing actively performs heating and cooling of a connected segment of the bushing which is otherwise controlled by a primary controller. In one embodiment, the supplemental controller performs heating by means of current injection into a connected bushing segment and cooling by means of current diversion from or around the connected bushing segment. Initial start-up and balancing operations can be performed without activation of the supplemental controller. In another embodiment of the invention, the supplemental controller heats a bushing segment by injecting current in-phase with current from the primary bushing controller and cools the bushing segment by injecting current out-of-phase with current from the primary bushing controller.

Abstract: A spinner is adapted to be fixed at one end of a rotatable shaft in a fiberizer, the spinner including a radial wall extending radially out from the shaft and having an upper surface, a dam separating the upper surface into an inner portion and an outer portion, a lower surface, at least one first flow hole connecting the upper surface to the lower surface, and at least one second flow hole connecting the inner portion and the outer portion of said upper surface, and an outer peripheral wall connected to the radial wall and having a plurality of orifices therethrough.

Abstract: A sinker (1) for a circular knitting machine contains a shaft (2) with a recess (11) in which a selection element (12) provided with a controllable raising butt (20) is mounted swivellably and can be swivelled to and fro between a position in which the raising butt (20) is retracted into the recess (11) and a position in which the raising butt (20) projects upwards over the upper side of the shaft (2). A spring (21), which can be attached to the selection element (12) or the shaft (2), serves to pre-tension the selection element (12) into one of these two positions (FIG. 1). In addition, a selection device is provided for selecting the sinker (1) in accordance with a pattern.

Abstract: A novel method of fabricating surgical gowns basically comprises the steps of fabricating main body robe portions for the gowns, each having a pair of arm sleeves terminating at respective wrist openings, knitting on a circular knitting machine a plurality of discreet individual annular cuff blanks for the gowns, and affixing, e.g., by sewing, one cuff blank to each sleeve of each robe portion in surrounding relation to the sleeve's wrist: openings. According to the invention, each cuff blank is knitted to have an annular main cuff body portion entirely of a single ply knitted construction, with an annular turned welt integrally knitted with one end of the cuff body. The material and fabrication costs associated with disposable surgical gowns and like medical garments may thereby be significantly reduced.

Abstract: For a selected collar stay, i.e., 0.375 inches in width, for a shirt knitted with selectively sized wales, i.e., 0.10 inches in width, a pocket for the stay also knitted but with selectively narrower wales, i.e., 0.025 inches in width, so that predictably a number of wales, i.e., 14 in number, produces a width of the pocket approximately equal to the width of the stay to minimize movement of the stay within the pocket.

Abstract: A drum type washing machine having a pump integrally formed with a filter. The drum type washing machine has a body, an outer tub disposed in the body for receiving a washing liquid therein, a drum formed at a side wall thereof with a plurality of discharging holes and disposed in the outer tub for receiving articles to be washed, a pump assembly which sprays the washing liquid onto the articles by circulating the washing liquid discharged from a lower portion of the outer tub to an upper portion of the outer tub, removes impurities from the washing liquid while a washing cycle is being carried out and drains the washing liquid out of the washing machine after the washing cycle is finished. The pump assembly has a pump, a filter installed at one side of the pump and a spraying nozzle assembly disposed above the drum.

Abstract: A coupler device for securing an additional wire rope cable without a lock to a wire rope cable with a lock on one end. The coupler includes an internal planar cavity and cavity openings that are sized and arranged to allow a first cable without a locked end to pass through the cavity and allow a second cable having a loop end and a distal locked end to pass its loop end through the device in a direction orthogonal to the plane of the cavity, resulting in the second cable crossing above and adjacent to the first cable, preventing its removal from the coupler. The coupler devices present a simple method of coupling and securing to each other a variety of cable configurations, including securing a cable to a shaft or padlock.

Abstract: A bicycle carrier fastening bracket has a main body, a base, and a leg extending from the base to support a tube defining a hole for receiving a threaded rod having threaded end engaged with a fast releasing nut. The threaded rod also has a head end and associated head end washer, the head end being engaged with a handle capable of eccentric motion. The tube has a slot for receiving an arresting washer, and there is a round hole in the leg. The handle has a grip with a locking hole corresponding in diameter to the round hole. The eccentric body fastening the handle regulates a distance between each of the threaded rod head end washer and the nut and its respective opposite end of the main body. The distance can be shortened to clamp a bicycle front fork when the handle is rotated to rest the grip against the leg, with the locking hole of the grip rested against the leg, so as to facilitate installation of a lock and confine displacement of the grip.

Abstract: A system for controlling front and tail end gauge of a continuous hot rolled product in a rolling mill includes first and second individually driven roll stands arranged successively along said pass line in advance of a group of roll stands. A controller adjusts the operating speed relationship between the first and second individually driven roll stands to achieve an increased level of tension in the front and tail end segments of the product passing between the first and second individually driven roll stands. The increased level of tension results in the decrease in product cross sectional area sufficient to compensate for the lack of cross sectional area reduction resulting from the absence of interstand tension experienced by said front and tail end segments while being rolled in the group of roll stands.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a forming device adapted to impart a precise arcuate curvature to a sheet metal blank. The device includes a forming drum and a compression roller in proximate space relation to the surface of the drum. A characterizing feature of the device resides in a resilient deformable metal sheet having a lead surface fixed to the drum, the metal blank to be formed being captured between the drum surface and the flexible metallic sheet. Both the blank and the sheet are caused by the compression roller to conform to the curvature of the surface of the drum.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for replacing rollers of rolling mills of different sizes involves rollers having lift trunnions mounted on a roller stand in a rolling mill by a roller mounting comprising a plurality of mounting pieces on both ends of the rollers and connected to each other by connecting elements. The roller mounting and the rollers are removed from the roller stand of the roller mill using a conveyor means and passed in a rolling line to an apparatus for replacing the rollers arranged exteriorly of the rolling line. The roller mounting is removed in an upright position and subsequently swung into a horizontal position wherein the mounting pieces are removed from the lift trunnions on both ends of the rollers and brought into a park position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a filter and a method for manufacturing a filter. The filter comprises a shell construction with a wall construction and a bottom portion, which form at least one section in the shell construction. The filter further comprises at least one resonator within a section of the shell construction. At least the bottom portion of the shell construction and one or more resonators, or at least the part thereof close to the bottom portion of the shell construction, are an integral unit extruded from the same basic block in one piece.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to bending a workpiece to form a desired configuration and, in particular, to a method and apparatus for forming bends “out of sequence,” i.e., in a time sequence different from the spatial sequence of the bends on the workpiece. The apparatus of the present invention include a bending system for bending a workpiece and a positioning system for positioning the workpiece relative to a bending region so that bends can be formed in various locations across the bending region. By virtue of the disclosed structures, a series of bends can be formed on a workpiece at various locations within the bending region. Bends can be formed out sequence and without advancing the workpiece relative to the bending region.

Abstract: A noise-reducing structure of a processing machine reduces the noise generated when a movable member of the processing machine abuts against a workpiece located on a workpiece holder of the processing machine. The processing machine may be a drawing die including a punch, a blank holder fitted around the punch and vertically movably supported by a cushion pin, and a vertically movable die disposed to face the punch. The workpiece may be a thin plate which is placed on the blank holder. As the die is lowered, the thin plate is sandwiched between the blank holder and the die for drawing the thin plate by the punch. A lower die base plate is provided with a pivotable lever member for pushing the blank holder so that the blank holder begins movement before the die collides against the thin plate. An operation cam for driving the lever member is disposed at a position on the die facing the lever member, and the die collides against the thin plate on the blank holder after the blank holder is in motion.

Abstract: A drawing and coining die for metal containers, comprising: a matrix, which is connected to a base associated with a moving slider of a press and comprises a sliding plate provided with elastic means in contrast with the base; a male element, which is connected to a base associated with a footing of the press and is shaped so as to make contact with an edge of the container; a blank holder, which is slidable in contact with the male element, is provided with movement means and comprises means for resting and centering a disk that constitutes the material to be processed.

Abstract: A container necker has a necking die moved into contact with a container workpiece by a cam and a pilot urged toward the container by compressed air on a floating piston on which the pilot is mounted. The pilot is held in contact with the necking die by the air pressure acting on the floating piston and follows the necking die in unison into contact with the container. Compressed air flows through the pilot to inflate the container to increase its rigidity during necking. A radial surface on the pilot is engaged by the end of the container to stop the pilot while the necking die continues to the end of its travel to complete the necking function. In a second embodiment the necking die is fixedly positioned and the workpiece is axially moved relative to the die to effect the necking function.

Abstract: A drive circuit supplies a FB (feedback) signal having a predetermined frequency to drive electrodes to vibrate a vibrator. An angular velocity detecting circuit detects a vibratory movement caused in a direction normal to an oscillating direction of the vibrator based on a sensing signal of angular velocity sensing electrodes, thereby generating an angular velocity signal. A signal input circuit supplies a diagnostic signal having a frequency different from that of the FB signal, which is entered into the vibrator via diagnosing electrodes. A diagnosis circuit generates a breakdown signal based on a signal responsive to the diagnostic signal which is obtained from at least one of the drive electrodes and the angular velocity sensing electrodes.

Abstract: Traction and/or friction testing apparatus is described having inter-engaging, rotating, traction surfaces, the surfaces being independently driven to generate traction or friction forces therebetween. A force measuring means is provided to measure the resulting traction or friction force. The apparatus is characterised in that all forces applying in the traction measurement loop are directly readable, or elastic, thus eliminating internal friction and allowing an accurate indication of the traction or friction force. The apparatus is particularly useful for measuring rolling/sliding traction and friction.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining the concentration of alcohol present in a gaseous mixture wherein an electronic device employing a fuel cell determines the concentration of alcohol present in the gaseous mixture is disclosed. In particular, the device may be used to determine a person's sobriety by determining the alcohol concentration in a breath sample. To determine the alcohol concentration, the device must be able to accurately determine the volume of breath in the breath sample. The device controls the volume of the breath sample by measuring the pressure of the breath flow through the device and, in response to the pressure, electronically controlling a valve diverting a portion of the breath flow into the fuel cell. One application of the invention is a sobriety interlock for a machine where the machine remains disabled unless the operator is first determined to have an alcohol concentration below a predetermined level.

Abstract: A vapor recovery system is disclosed that utilizes a crystal oscillator for sensing the presence of hydrocarbon in the vapor emissions emanating from a fuel tank during refueling. The crystal oscillator is coated with a layer of material having a sensitivity for hydrocarbon. In response to any interaction between the coating layer and hydrocarbon, the crystal oscillator experiences a shift in its oscillation frequency relative to the fundamental resonance frequency. The frequency shift is representative of the hydrocarbon concentration in the vapor emissions. A control signal based on the frequency shift is generated and then used to adjust the operating speed of the vapor pump.

Abstract: An improved multi-element apparatus for detecting the presence of at least one chemical, biological or physical component in a monitored area comprising an array or single set of the following elements: a capacitive transducer having at least one cantilever spring element secured thereto, the cantilever element having an area thereof coated with a chemical having an affinity for the component to be detected; a pick-up plate positioned adjacent to the cantilever element at a distance such that a capacitance between the cantilever element and the pick-up plate changes as the distance between the cantilever element and the pick-up plate varies, the change in capacitance being a measurable variation; a detection means for measuring the measurable variation in the capacitance between the cantilever element and the pick-up plate that forms a measurement channel signal; and at least one feedback cantilever spring element positioned apart from the coated cantilever element, the cantilever element substantially unaffe

Abstract: A method of the present invention automatically detects gas leak from a valve on a gas-containing vessel, or the like, based on detected absolute pressure and pressure fluctuation. The method can detect both fine leak and gross leak. The method comprises a method for automatically detecting gas leak from a target object provided on gas piping comprising the steps of: issuing command for forming an airtight room communicating with said target object; issuing command for pressurizing said airtight room until a predetermined pressure; detecting absolute pressure and pressure fluctuation of said airtight room, measured with a gauge; and discriminating whether gas leaks from said target object or not based on the detected absolute pressure and pressure fluctuation.

Abstract: For tightness testers with a plurality of test stations (1) it is proposed to supply the tightness-relevant measurement signals from the chambers through multiplexers (5) to a central evaluation (9).

Abstract: A container with a flexible membrane sealed to a container end may be tested for leaks as the container moves along a conveyor. The conveyor carries the container through a first region in which a negative pressure differential is established between the first region and the interior of the container. The pressure differential can be established, for example, by cooling the first region with cold air. The conveyor also carries the container from the first region to a second region, in which a positive pressure differential is established between the second region and the interior of the container. The pressure differential in the second region can be established, for example, by heating the second region with hot air. In the second region, a sensor detects a transition of the membrane of the container between convex and concave orientations and produces a signal corresponding to the occurrence of the transition.

Abstract: A rotary viscometer has a measuring motor which drives a measuring shaft that carries a disc mounted in an air bearing of a stator. The viscometer has a normal force measuring drive defined by at least one position sensor for determinal movements of the measuring shaft on the basis of viscoelastic properties of the substance to be investigated, such as a liquid. To measure the normal force in the region of the air bearing, the position sensors are disposed in the region of the air bearing on the stator, and in particular they are embedded in the stator and absorb the movements of the disc in the axial direction of the measuring shaft with resect to the stator.

Abstract: A scanning probe microscope operates in the manner of an atomic force microscope during intermittent periods of scanning motion, in which a sample surface is driven so that a scan line on the surface is moved past a probe tip being vibrated in engagement with the surface. Between these intermittent periods of scanning motion, the vibrating probe tip is moved out of engagement with the sample surface, so that the amplitude and phase shift of probe tip vibrations are determined by the gradient of a force field extending outward from the sample surface. Such a force field is established when the probe tip is attracted by, or repelled from, a magnetic or electric field at or near the sample surface. For each sample point, the system stores data representing the height of the sample surface and the force field.

Abstract: In a method of checking for a transposition of lambda sensors of a multicylinder internal combustion engine having at least two separate exhaust pipes connected to different cylinders, a catalytic converter arranged in each exhaust pipe, a lambda sensor arranged in each exhaust pipe upstream of the respective catalytic converter, a lambda sensor control circuit for each lambda sensor, and an air inlet connection associated with at least one exhaust pipe upstream of the respective lambda sensor, air is supplied to one of the exhaust pipes, and the signal provided by the respective Lambda sensor is compared with a stored threshold signal value to determine whether the lambda sensor installed is operative and is connected to the proper lambda sensor control circuit.

Abstract: The device for determining load in internal combustion engines includes a pressure sensor connected with a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine which produces an output signal depending on a combustion chamber pressure, a crankshaft angle sensor for detection of a crankshaft angle of the internal combustion engine and a processor for determining a load of the engine from relative values of the output signal of the pressure sensor at predetermined crankshaft angles. The processor includes a device for determining the load from a pressure difference between combustion chamber pressures measured at two different predetermined crankshaft angles (x1, x2) or from two integrated pressure values. The integrated relative pressure values are obtained by integration of a pressure-proportional output signal of the pressure sensor between two different predetermined crankshaft angles.

Abstract: A float for a liquid level detection apparatus including a tube extendable through liquid in a tank. The float is a buoyant body slidably mounted about the tube and having a diameter passable through an aperture in the tank. The float is preferably formed of two separate bodies joined by spacers positioned to allow the body to pivot from a first position substantially axially in line with the tube for insertion and removal of the float with respect to the tank to a second position substantially perpendicular to the tube in operative floating engagement with the liquid surface in the tank. The spacers, in one embodiment, are in the form of pins arranged in pairs along opposite side edges of the two bodies and spaced apart along the length of the two bodies such that the innermost pins of the two pairs of pins define an aperture for mounting the bodies transversely about the tube in the second, floating position.

Abstract: A high sensitivity, Z-axis, capacitive microaccelerometer having stiff sense/feedback electrodes and a method of its manufacture on a single-side of a semiconductor wafer are provided. The microaccelerometer is manufactured out of a single silicon wafer and has a silicon-wafer-thick proof mass, small and controllable damping, large capacitance variation and can be operated in a force-rebalanced control loop. One of the electrodes moves with the proof mass relative to the other electrode which is fixed. The multiple, stiffened electrodes have embedded therein damping holes to facilitate force-rebalanced operation of the device and to control the damping factor. Using the whole silicon wafer to form the thick large proof mass and using thin sacrificial layers to form narrow uniform capacitor air gaps over large areas provide large capacitance sensitivity. The manufacturing process is simple and thus results in low cost and high yield manufacturing.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for generating ultrasonic pulses of a specified waveform shape w(t) using an ultrasonic transducer (2) includes a power amplifier (6), a memory (9) for storing a signal for excitation of the ultrasonic transducer (2) and a control logic (4). The stored excitation signal is supplied to the transducer (2) via a digital-to-analog converter (5). Repeated adjustment of the stored excitation signal can be effected by supplying, via an analog-to-digital converter (8), the echo pulse signals from the ultrasonic transducer (2) or the output voltage of the power amplifier (6) to the control logic (4) for analysis. The stored excitation signal is substantially an optimal lag filter fL(t) proper to the transducer and the desired output waveform w(t).

Abstract: An ultrasonic system for grading meat transmits an ultrasonic signal into the meat and detects the resulting back-scattered signal. The envelope of the back-scattered signal is determined. A decaying exponential curve having the form y=exp(−Dt) is fitted to the envelope, where D is the attenuation factor for the curve and t is time. A grade of the meat is then determined as a function of the attenuation factor. It may be possible to improve the accuracy of this approach by measuring the total back-scattered energy from the back-signal and generating a grade for the meat based on a polynomial function of both the attenuation factor and the total back-scattered energy. Optionally, accuracy may be further enhanced by removing any anomalies in the back-scattered signal resulting from fat deposits in the meat before calculating the attenuation factor.

Abstract: An ultrasonic one pass inspection system for determining the presence, location, and size of flaws in laminated structure such as an “I” stiffener in a single inspection cycle. The exemplary system includes an immersion tank, six (6) single probes, 184 transducers, four (4) motor assemblies, two (2) encoder assemblies, a collection tank, and a recirculation assembly. The probes are designed to match the shape of the stiffener. Two (2) motors fore and two (2) motors aft of the immersion tank, produce information related to the position of the stiffener with respect to the position of the transducer. The position encoder is spring-loaded against the stiffener.