Abstract: The invention concerns an important innovation for combustion engine research, whereby thermal shocks overlaid upon the pressure cycles are compensated. For this a diaphragm construction is proposed consisting of an annular plate and central plate, which is joined to an annular support in such a way that a bridge girder structure with double parallelogram support results. The position and thickness of the central plate are optimizable, and it serves as an actuator element for controlling the compensation process via the double parallelogram structure. At the same time, the central plate is raised to a significantly higher temperature level by controlled heat conduction paths. A novel thermal shock compensation is achieved by these two measures. Further improvement is possible by stepwise optimization of the central plate, by turning it on a lathe and comparing it in the test engine for example.

Abstract: The invention relates to an acoustic emission transducer and a coupling method. The acoustic emission transducer (1) forms an assembly unit and is intended specially for measuring high-frequency acoustic emissions (up to about 2 MHz). It consists of a piezoelectric measuring element (9), an acoustic transmission base (8) with a circumferential coupling diaphragm (7), and an encapsulant (10) which partially encloses the measuring element (9). A mounting screw (3) serves to fix the transducer to a measuring object. The coupling diaphragm (7) lies in a recess (14) of the housing (2), whose bottom surface (5) is at a distance from the measuring object (15) corresponding to the prestressing distance s when the diaphragm (7) is unstressed.

Abstract: The invention concerns a sensor arrangement which is installed in the surface of carriageways or runways and serves to detect the wheel loads of vehicles or aircraft and/or their shear components on the surface during travel. The construction of the flanged tube sensor with piezoelectric crystal plates makes possible modular assembly, in that either piezo-plates sensitive to pressure P only, or to shear S, or to combinations of both are installed, since all piezo-plates have the same dimensions. The force introduction flange makes possible a concentration of the force lines onto the measuring arrangement with a substantial mechanical amplifying effect. The packing of the flanged tube sensor ready to install ensures proper fitting and positioning in the installation groove. Here the two rolling force insulation compounds and the foam insulator of the tubular part are important. The application of the invention lies in traffic management for weight detection.

Abstract: A device which is capable of measuring both the viscous injection/casting operation and the shrinkage during the solidification phase, using a suitable measuring device. For this a sensor is fitted in the mould at the critical point expected, with a measuring surface that is flush with the inner wall and is able to measure shear and compressive stresses, so that for the first time the shrinkage phenomenon becomes measurable. With this, a new dimension of quality monitoring becomes possible.

Abstract: A multicomponent force and moment measuring arrangement wherein shear forces are converted into moments and transmitted via tensile-compressive forces onto piezoelectric rod elements, while axial compressive-tensile forces are transmitted directly onto the same piezoelectric rod elements. With appropriate arrangement of the piezoelectric rods and their signal evaluation, transducers and dynamometers of entirely new type can be constructed, in which the necessary electronics package can be located between the piezoelectric rod elements for certain applications.

Abstract: A foot-strike measuring system and method using a pair of tandem plates each having at least two sensors along the direction of travel for measuring force. By monitoring the signals on the sensors at the adjacent edges and comparing with those on the nonadjacent sensors, the system determines whether one foot is on both plates or one foot is on each plate. This allows collecting and tracking sensor signals for each foot separately. Center of pressure is also calculated using the speed of the treadmill.