Abstract: A passive force element on the basis of electrorheological liquids includes a piston with a piston rod guided in a cylindrical housing, and a force introduction element connected with the piston rod. The piston forms, in the cylindrical housing, two variable-volume working chambers, which are filled with electrorheological liquids, and which are connected by a fluid connection including a valve arrangement with an electrorheological liquid valve for controlling the throughflow characteristic. A regulated damping characteristic can be adjustedly set and force peaks are avoided, because the force introduction is achieved via the force introduction element, and the piston is coupled onto the force introduction element via an elastic element.

Abstract: The invention relates to a controllable adjustment and damping device comprising at least one pressure chamber (4) filled with hydraulic fluid, a fluid container (11), a pump (5) connecting the pressure chamber to the fluid container, a compensating volume (8) and a return line (13) with a passthrough valve (7). An electro-rheological fluid or magneto-rheological fluid is used as a hydraulic fluid (6) which exerts pressure upon a piston (3) that juts out into the pressure chamber or on a membrane (17), the intensity thereof being controlled by the passthrough valve.

Abstract: In a signal measuring method and apparatus, a digital signal processor (5) including a digital signal generator (5A) generates a digital signal, which is converted by a digital-to-analog converter (2) into a sinusoidal analog signal that is applied as a supply voltage to the transducers, such as load cell strain gages arranged in a bridge circuit (1). The analog supply voltage signal is modulated by the measurement voltage in the bridge circuit (1). The resulting modulated signal is amplified if necessary in an amplifier (3), and is then digitalized in an analog-to-digital converter (4) operating with a sampling frequency at least twice the carrier frequency and preferably corresponding to a whole number multiple thereof. The digital signal processor (5) carries out a Fourier transform of the digitalized signal to calculate the magnitude and phase of the measurement voltage, which may then be used for the complex calculation of zero point compensations and adjustment calibrations.

Abstract: This invention relates to a controllable clutch based on electrorheological or magnetorheological liquids, in which the transmission of force or the transmission of torque is achieved in that an electrorheological or magnetorheological liquid is pushed through an electrode gap or magnet gap of the clutch by means of a surface acting as a piston.

Abstract: In a process for monitoring a machine or installation, signals from sensors positioned on components of the machine or installation are transmitted to a signal-conditioning unit. Conditioned sensor signals from the signal-conditioning unit are further processed. The machine or installation components to be monitored are mapped in machine or installation objects, and the machine or installation objects are combined. Ultimately, rule-based monitoring statements are obtained utilizing the combined objects.

Abstract: A dosing mechanism is equipped with a bulk material container such as a silo which has at least one movable or flexible wall portion that is moved to help in the discharge of the bulk material through a discharge device. The motion of the discharge device is transmitted directly to the movable wall portion by rigidly connecting the discharge device directly to the movable wall or wall portion and by movably mounting the discharge device below the silo.

Abstract: The accuracy of the output feed rate or output feed quantity of a differential dosing scale is increased by eliminating from the respective feed rate signal or output quantity signal measuring disturbance that can adversely influence the output accuracy. For this purpose, the size of the output signal variations or of the feed rate variations are processed in a fuzzy logic circuit (9) which allocates the respective signals to fuzzy sets, e.g. "small", "medium", "large" in accordance with type and size of the disturbance or interference. The fuzzy logic circuit (9) forms a filter control signal that corresponds to a filtering degree or filter factor. The filtering control signal controls the time constant of a time variable filter (6) through which the differentiated signal coming from the dosing scale load cells is passed prior to processing in the fuzzy logic circuit (9).

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are particularly suitable for storing, unstoring, or relocating goods carriers of various dimensions, such as loaded or empty freight containers, in a multi-storied storage facility. The storage facility includes a storage rack having several storage levels with several storage locations or compartments on each storage level. A storage conveyor device is horizontally and vertically movable along the storage rack to carry a freight container to a selected storage compartment on a selected storage level. Depending on the dimensions of the freight container, and whether several containers are to be stored in a single storage compartment, each container can be deposited at a particular position within the storage compartment. The particular final position of each container within the storage compartment can be predetermined.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the early detection of a crack in a rotating shaft, particularly in a shaft of a turbo generator used in a power plant. Signals that represent flexural vibrations of the shaft are measured--as a function of the rotational angle, continuously or at time intervals by means of vibration sensors in at least two radial, preferably perpendicular, directions with respect to each other. These signals are transmitted to a signal processor which uses the signals to ascertain the harmonic vibration components with single and/or double and/or triple rotational frequencies and then the processor forms single and/or double and/or triple rotational-frequent vibration orbits by means of a vectorial combination of these vibration components.

Abstract: The ultimate tensile strength of a test sample is tested in a high speed testing machine having a frame (2), a force measuring device (9A), and a load application mechanism (3, 4) for applying a loading stroke to the test sample after a loading piston has passed through a lead stroke to attain the required testing velocity. A force locking, frictionally effective clamping mechanism clamps the test sample for coupling to the machine frame (2) and/or to the load application mechanism (3) when the loading piston has reached the testing velocity.

Abstract: A process steers vehicle wheels rolling on test stands in order to determine vehicle behavior under actual operating conditions. In order to reproducibly create anticipated riding comfort on the test stand which, in addition to the swaying and shaking motions of the vehicle itself also includes the avoidance of driving noises in the interior of the vehicle and also noises that arise when the trunk and hood make movements relative to the chassis when subjected to great vertical forces, the wheels are steered only as a function of the measurable lateral excursions of one point of a vehicle part from its resting position with respect to a stationary reference point present outside of the vehicle. These excursions occur as a result of lateral motions of the vehicle.

Abstract: A mass through-flow is continuously measured by measuring the Coriolis forces that are caused by the mass flow passing through a winged wheel. The mass flow is introduced centrally onto the winged wheel which rotates with a constant r.p.m. and diverts the mass flow radially outwardly. The Coriolis forces and thus the corresponding reaction torques which are proportional to the mass through-flow are measured with the aid of a torque joint interposed between a housing of the winged wheel and a drive motor for the shaft that drives the wheel. Force sensor elements, preferably in the form of bending beams, are incorporated into the torque joint and are deflected by the reaction torque moment applied to the motor housing. These bending beams provide an output signal that is proportional to the mass through-flow through the apparatus.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing gypsum board. The method includes the steps of mixing a predetermined amount of fibers, absorbent, and water to form a mixture of wetted, loose fibers, mixing the wetted fibers with predetermined amount of dry calcined gypsum, forming the mixture into a matt having a substantially uniform consistency and compressing the matt to form a board composed of bonded fibers and gypsum. The resulting board has a smooth exterior and can be a homogeneous or a multilayer board.

Abstract: A clamping or chucking tool for clamping a test sample in a testing machine has a clamping housing for applying a wedging action to the sample with the aid of one or two clamping jaws that are activated by an operating member that is inserted into the clamping housing and axially displaceable in the clamping housing. The clamping jaws are slidingly guided in a V-groove of the operating member but are stationary in the axial direction of the clamping housing, while the operating member is movable axially relative to the clamping housing for imparting to the clamping jaws a radial movement component perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the test sample. Lateral guide arms engage respective guide grooves in the clamping jaws to hold the clamping jaws against axial movement while permitting the radial movement. The clamping housing and the operating member are provided with at least one lateral opening for a rapid insertion of the test sample laterally into the clamping housing.

Abstract: A bulk material dosing or feeder device has at least one upright post mounted to a base and carrying a horizontal head section. A supply hopper is supported by the head section. Modular units such as a stirrer, a weigher or feeder or the like are vertically aligned, vertically below the hopper. At least one, preferably each modular unit is mounted on a respective swivel arm. The swivel arm is journalled to the upright post whereby the modular unit may be tilted into an operative position below the hopper or into an out position for easy access to and exchange of the modular units.

Abstract: A process and device providing automatic identification of increased resonance response during a balancing procedure on permanently calibrated, hard-bearing balancing machines. Unbalance values are determined for each bearing plane of a rotor being balanced for at least three measuring speeds. At least two difference values of speed-related adjacent unbalance values are determined in an evaluation device. Increased resonance response is determined if the difference values between adjacent higher measuring speeds are proportionally greater than those between adjacent lower rotational speeds.

Abstract: A load sensing device comprises a support mounted on a foundation, and a bridge connected to the support. The bridge is connected to a transducer. In order to ensure that the same transducer can be used for all sizes of supports in a particular series of supports, or for all loads to be measured, the transducer is flexibly connected to the support, and the stiffness of the connection between the bridge and the support and the stiffness of the flexible connection between the transducer and the support are both selected so that the load exerted upon the transducer always lies within a predetermined load range.

Abstract: A curve traveling steel plate conveyor comprises a plurality of conveyor plates with a series of interconnecting chain links flexibly interconnecting the conveyor plates. Structure is provided for guiding the conveyor plates over a path of travel that includes a curved segment. A drive for the conveyor plates includes a driven conveyor belt below the conveyor plates in frictional engagement with the conveyor plates at least over a selected portion of the path of travel of the steel plate conveyor.

Abstract: A clamping device for holding a sample to be tested in a testing machine is so constructed that an automatic alignment of the clamping device relative to a vertical load application axis is assured to avoid the introduction of undesirable bending moments into the test sample. Thus, tension and/or compression and/or torsion loads can be applied to the test sample without interfering bending moments. For this purpose a clamping shaft is journalled in a support member for journalling about a first axis (9) and the support member is journalled in a mounting buck for journalling about a second axis (13). The mounting buck is secured to the frame of the testing machine. The two journal axes (9, 13) extend perpendicularly to the load application axis (3) of the testing machine. Further, the two journal axes (9, 13) and the load application axis (3) have a common intersection (21).

Abstract: The precision of a closed loop control system, for example of a loss-in-weight feeder, having a controlled operating section and a closed loop controlling section, is improved by adjusting the closed loop controlling section with regard to at least two stochastic precision disturbing signals. One such signal may represent disturbances that affect a sensor for ascertaining the actual weight of the scale. The other value may represent estimated bulk material density variations or disturbances. A model generator (7) provides spectra representing these disturbing values. A noise parameter estimator (17) selects those spectra most closely resembling the spectra of the disturbing values for producing an adjusting signal that is used to adapt the closed loop controlling section (5) to an optimal control. The closed loop controlling section (5) has connected thereto an evaluating circuit (14) including the model generator (7) for performing the correction or adjustment.