Abstract: A capacitive extensometer has an extensometer frame formed of a pair of arms connected together about a hinge axis at first remote ends, and having second ends which include specimen contacting members for engaging the surfaces of a specimen to be tested. A capacitive type sensing arrangement is mounted on the arms, and is used with conventional circuitry for determining arm motion. The sensing is made so that it can be compensated for nonlinearities and minimizes undesirable extraneous effects by utilizing concave and convex shaped mating surfaces on the sensing elements. The ability to mount and protect the capacitor sensor approximately, while obtaining a relatively large output signal enhances the operability of the extensometer.

Abstract: Automatic crimping apparatus for crimping contacts of different sizes on electrical wires is positioned at the side of a conveyor that moves successive wires to and from alignment with a crimping station which includes a shaker bowl furnishing contacts to a sender station. The sender station sends the contacts one at a time via a pneumatic line through a hollow chuck and collet to seat the barrel end of the contact end upon a contact locating seat that is precisely positioned within a cam operated multi-pin crimper. The contact end receiving seat is apertured and recessed in one end of a funnel assembly and locating structure having a wire receiving and guiding funnel at the other end to define a wire guide path in alignment with the apertured contact end receiving seat. With a contact end positioned on the receiving seat, a portion of the wire receiving barrel of the contact is in the operative region of the crimper, with the other end being firmly grasped in the collet.

Abstract: A self-supporting extensometer for use with rectilinear specimens has one arm that contacts a specimen edge on two points that are spaced apart in a longitudinal direction of the specimen, and a second arm which engages an opposite edge of the specimen at a single substantially point contact under a spring load urging the arms together. The specimen contact arms are notched to receive edges of the rectilinear specimen. The second specimen contact arm has single point contact and has a curved surface which engages a side edge of the specimen so that contact with the specimen is at a point. The support assembly includes a releasable hold-down or clamp spring that bears on the surface of the specimen opposite from the extensometer to clamp the extensometer in place. The spring loading of the extensometer arms and the hold-down spring supports the weight of the extensometer directly on the specimen.

Abstract: A capacitive extensometer utilizes an extensometer frame having a pair of arms connected together about a hinge axis at first remote ends, and having second ends which include specimen contacting members for engaging the surfaces of a specimen to be tested. A capacitive type sensing arrangement is mounted on the arms, and is used with conventional circuitry for determining arm motion with respect to each other. The sensor is made so that it can be adjusted, and also can compensate for nonlinearities by utilizing differently shaped elements. The ability to mount and protect the capacitor sensor appropriately, while obtaining a relatively large output signal enhances the operability of the extensometer.

Abstract: A load transducer used for determining loads on a tire in a tire testing apparatus has very high stiffness and a high natural frequency. A tire support spindle has an end plate mounted on one end of the transducer on a center support sleeve which is supported relative to an outer housing at spaced locations in direction along the wheel rolling axis. The support sleeve is supported relative to the outer housing at each end by four arms or beams that operate as shear beams in reaction to the vertical and rolling loads on the tire, and the corresponding moments created by these two forces or loads. Forces on the tire at the tire rolling radius parallel to the rolling axis of the tire are also measured by bending the support beams.

Abstract: A clamp for use in testing machines to prestress a joint between a driving shaft and a driven shaft, both of which are externally threaded with each having a flat surface abutting the other in a plane substantially perpendicular to the driving axis. The clamp is internally threaded to cooperate with the external threads and has bolts which, when tightened, produce a force on the abutting surfaces to compressively preload the joint from forces on the flanks of the external threads.

Abstract: A tensile test controller has both load and stroke control circuits that are coupled together to permit tensile testing a specimen while controlling the load on the specimen, and when the specimen yields, for safely and smoothly switching to stroke control to complete the test and break the specimen. The controller has circuits which provide control over the velocity of the actuator as the specimen yields, and to prevent the specimen from being placed into compression, and also to sense the plastic specimen deformation a desired amount after it has yielded, but before the stroke control function is activated. Simplified supervisory gates are used to insure that the appropriate signal is controlling the test.

Abstract: A restraint and guidance system for testing vehicles has members on opposite sides of the vehicle which are secured to the vehicle, and a linkage member that permits the vehicle to move freely in the vertical, roll and pitch directions but which restrains movement in logitudinal direction of the vehicle. This permits the vehicle to move vertically freely, and to be rolled and pitched as guided by linkages that are completely decoupled from each other. The restraint system can be connected to actuators for controlling lateral loads. The kinematic paths of the linkage for reacting the loads are the same as if the vehicle body was inertially restrained, that is, acutaly moving in space during testing.

Abstract: An iterative spline function controlled positioning mechanism such as a machine tool. A movable element of the machine tool is driven about a plurality of axes under computer control along a path formed by a plurality of sections. Each of the path sections is represented in parametric form by spline functions. The element is driven through a plurality of intermediate positions approximating positions on the path sections. An iterative algorithm implemented by the computer permits efficient computation of the intermediate positions.

Abstract: A contact on the end of a wire is inserted into an aperture of a multi-pin connector by a traveling insertion head that moves in three dimensions to fetch the wire from a wire holder, pull it from the holder and drive it into a selected aperture of the connector. The head moves back toward a wire to insert the wire end contact between a pair of rotating wire drive rollers which grasp the contact and wire to position the contact wholly within a protective insertion quill. The insertion head is then driven into alignment with a selected connector aperture, slightly inserts the quill into the aperture while the contact is fully protected, and the wire drive rollers are rotated to drive the contact and wire through the quill into the connector. A pull test is provided by pivotally retracting the rollers which still grasp the wire. The rollers and quill are withdrawn and opened to enable the rollers and quill to move laterally off the now connected wire to prepare for fetching the next wire.

Abstract: A wire handling system removes a reel of wire from a conveyor, presents the reel to a terminal insertion head which grasps a wire on the reel, withdraws the wire from the reel while the reel is allowed to rotate, and inserts an end of the wire into a connector. After insertion of the wire end into the connector, the reel is moved by the handling system and stacked upon or within a group of previously stacked reels.

Abstract: A rod end has a split clamp housing which supports a bearing for transferring motion or loading forces from an actuator to another part to be loaded. An adjustable stop for the clamp is used to adjust the backlash of the bearing used with the rod end to a desired level without causing distortion. A spherical washer set is used for transferring loads between the two clamp portions. The housing for the bearing is clamped against the spherical washer set at a preselected loading so that the bearing is able to rotate and swivel as needed, but backlash is removed.

Abstract: Apparatus for reinforcing or attaching composite structural materials by chain-stitching. A reciprocating head is powered to alternate between outward and return motions. A needle is mounted for outward and return movement with the head, the needle having a material piercing end and a notch adjacent the material piercing end. A cast off has a first portion configured to overlie the notch, to maintain a thread within a notch, and a second portion configured to expand a loop in the thread on release of the thread from the notch. The needle pierces the material on outward motion of the head and withdraws through the material, with the thread in the needle notch, during the return motion of the head. The cast off first portion overlies the needle notch during a part of the needle return movement and moves in trailing relation to the needle during a part of the needle outward movement. A pressure foot may also be commonly driven, with the needle and cast off, by the head.

Abstract: A two part tool fits into the crankshaft bore of a partially manufactured connecting rod for an internal combustion engine and expands the bore to break the bore housing into two pieces, one of which comprises a bearing cap to permit installation of the rod onto a crankshaft journal. The tool is retracted to fit within the bore for the bearing and a high pressure acts on a piston to provide a high enough force to move two parts of the tool away from each other in direction perpendicular to a bisecting plane that lies along the central axis of the bore and to split the one piece bearing housing into two parts along a place defined by notches which weaken the bearing housing in selected areas. The piston is centered on the bisecting plane of the connecting rod so that the forces are balanced to ensure uniform, repeatable operation.

Abstract: A brake torque loading linkage for vehicle spindle test fixtures permits applying a brake torque load while other loads are being applied, particularly vertical loading, where substantial movement is encountered, without requiring substantial compensation. The brake torque loading actuator is mounted to move with the vertical loading linkage. The reference for the brake torque is thus on the linkage that moves for applying the vertical load and there is no need to compensate for vertical movements of the spindle being tested when applying the brake torque. The linkage utilized comprises a bell crank loading linkage that is used for applying the torque to a spindle and in particular is useful for testing spindles mounted on pivoting swing arm mountings.

Abstract: A measurement system for remotely measuring a parameter and relative distance having a parameter sensor providing signals to control the pulse repetition rate of a pulse generator, the pulses from the pulse generator in turn controlling a switch to alternately connect and disconnect an energy storage device to the input of a sonic waveguide device. The output signals at the outputs of the sonic waveguide device control a driving device which provides a representation of these output signals on a transmission line arrangement.

Abstract: A method of time domain noise rejection in a sonic transducer is disclosed in which all signal reception is prevented between application of a periodic electrical pulse and reception of the corresponding electrical signal. An inhibit signal, produced for a substantial portion of the time interval between application of an electrical pulse and reception of the corresponding electrical return signal, blocks all noise that may occur to provide a false indication of a return electrical signal during the time of the inhibit signal.

Abstract: A non-contact, displacement transducer (optical extensometer), which is relatively simple to make and operate, and therefore low cost, utilizes 35 mm camera optics for the lens system and will focus a beam of light along a linear path of light sensitive elements representing a gauge length of a specimen or member. Flags or similar indicators that change the pattern of the light beam are mounted or marked on the specimen at two spaced loations. As the specimen is loaded, the flags will change in spacing, and, as shown, the change in the location of shadow will cause changes in the affected light sensitive elements which provide outputs that indicate displacement in the specimen. The sensing circuitry providing the output is compact and easily mounted within a module carrying the lens. The module may be mounted directly to a test specimen frame.

Abstract: The present invention provides a circuit for obtaining higher accuracy and total system response for complex mechanical impedance loads, such as earthquake simulators, and in particular to compensate for limitations in controlling the actual valve spool displacement and adequately stabilizing and controlling it at high frequencies. The improvement circuit includes a state variable filter to extend the band width of servovalve actuation frequencies by adding a lead compensation signal compensating for servovalve hydraulic responses. The output of the first filter circuit then in turn feeds a summing junction where the spool displacement feedback is provided, and the output of the summing junction or circuit is provided with the output from an additional filter which cleans up the signal by filtering out noise and insures that the phase of stabilizing signals is proper.