Abstract: The present invention relates to industrial systems, and more particularly to a flexible industrial system with quick change part holding means which can be used to perform many different operations on a wide variety of parts. The embodiment disclosed shows such a flexible industrial system adapted to test many different types of parts using a single piece of test equipment by virtue of having a series of identical pallets for each type of part to be tested which can be quickly on-loaded and offloaded from a means of providing movement between a plurality of stations, such as a rotary index table. By providing that each in a series of part holding means has means to connect the part holding means to the means of providing movement between stations, means to perform desired operations on parts on the part holding means, and means to quickly connect to said means to perform desired operations, a tremendously flexible test system is provided.

Abstract: The specification discloses an electronic dynamic balance leak testing system utilizing a "live zero", wherein a source of test medium at a predetermined desired pressure or vacuum is connected to a part to be tested, and after the part is filled with the test medium, and an interval is provided for the system to stabilize the affects due to wave front oscillations, the test part is momentarily isolated from said test media and a microcomputer system is utilized, both to cause said isolation, and to measure the differential pressure existing at two points during the test. In a modification of our system which can dynamically project leak and accept or reject parts much sooner because of this projection feature, the rate of change of the differential pressure transducer is examined and is compared to a curve which is characteristic of the rate of change of a volume which is experiencing a predominately leak based change of pressure.

Abstract: The specification discloses a method and apparatus for calibrating liquid flow meters of all types. The system includes a scale for dynamically determining the weight of a liquid flowing through a flow meter, together with means for measuring the flow through the flow meter being tested. In the case of a glass tube flow meter, a float detection system is used, whereby the operator will set the flow through the flow meter to a desired point, use the float detection system to make certain the float stays in a fixed position during the test, as well as to locate the float from a reference point, and use the system to measure the flow through the flow meter during a fixed period of time, thereby obtaining a reading, in engineering units, for each predetermined position of the float.

Abstract: The specification discloses a method and apparatus for detecting the position of the float in a glass tube flow meter, and determining the distance of said float from a reference line on the glass tube flow meter which is being calibrated. The blockage of an infrared light beam being sent from a transmitter to dual photo receivers, coupled to an optical conditioner circuit, provides an indication of whether float is high, low or in-band in relationship to the desired position, while a float follower, which is movable along the length of the flow tube by a stepper motor which is connected to a pulse encoder, provides through an optical conditioner circuit, an indication of the float position with regard to the reference line on the glass tube. The circuitry also provides for the automatic tracking of the float as its position is changed by the operator.

Abstract: The specification discloses an improved weigh scale of the dual beam type having large and small flow buckets adapted to receive a flow of fluid therein, and an encoder connected to a ball screw having a poise weigh driven by a drive motor for keeping the scale continually balanced while a fluid is being introduced into one of said flow buckets, and having a power supply circuit, a pulse encoder circuit, and a poise control circuit for operation thereof, the improvement including an improved poise control circuit having low gain with high integration for use during the run mode, but being switchable to a circuit having high gain and derivative action during the calibration mode.

Abstract: The specification discloses a two-directional switched driver for use either independently or in a method of controlling production processes and apparatus therefor. The driver, whether used independently or in a process controller, utilizes polarity signals and a retriggerable timer to produce separate forward and reverse output signals which may be used to drive reversible motors or two-directional actuators by way of standard switching techniques. Examples of such uses are the use of most any reversible motor, or two-directional actuators to control mechanical, pneumatic or hydraulic circuits, such actuators operated by the driver may be rotational or non-rotational in nature.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling production processes utilizing a three-state, four-mode process controller which operates on the basis of counteracting any process change by utilizing the difference between a feedback signal related to a current condition of the process and a desired value related to the desired condition of the process, and a signal related to the rate of change between said feedback signal and said desired value signal, to produce a correction signal which is utilized to operate said three-state, four-mode process controller in its three states depending on certain relationships between the value of the desired value and feedback signals, as well as the summation of those values.

Abstract: The specification discloses a novel method for controlling production processes of a pneumatic, electrical or hydraulic nature and apparatus therefor. The method, and therefore the apparatus for performing said method, counteracts any process change by utilizing the error difference and the rate of change of the error difference between a feedback signal related to a current condition of the process and a desired value related to the desired condition of the process.The error difference and rate of change and then utilized to produce a correction signal which is adapted to remain unchanged as long as the process being controlled, and the desired value signal, both remain in static condition, but which also has a unique look ahead feature such that said correction signal attempts to become saturated as soon as a new desired value is supplied, or a process change occurs.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for reproducing operating conditions in induced flow devices, such as carburetors and the like, and more particularly to a system for reproducing such operating conditions which may be used in testing systems designed to test induced flow devices.In operation in such a test system, the apparatus of the present invention would cause a given air flow to flow through an induced flow device such as a carburetor, and then would cause the throttle plate of the carburetor to be rotated until the desired manifold vacuum in the carburetor is obtained, at which time the test of the carburetor could take place.

Abstract: The specification discloses a method and apparatus forlaboratory testing of carburetors to determine the mass air flow rate and mass fuel flow rate through the carburetor at any desired test point by providing, in addition to the normally required systems, an improved manifold vacuum control system for producing a predetermined air flow at a given manifold vacuum, and an improved hood pressure control system which enables carburetor testing to take place at test points which correspond to different altitudes in which the carburetor may be used. In addition, by providing that these systems be computer controlled, the three-mode controllers normally associated with producing air flow and controlling hood pressure are replaced by a computer which provides output control signals corresponding to that which would be provided by three-mode controllers where the values of rate, reset and proportion are continuously and automatically changed to the optimum value for each test point.

Abstract: The specification discloses an improved method and apparatus for determining the time angle of a diesel engine which, in contrast to the present day method, is one which is fast, accurate, and can be readily used on a production line basis. There is disclosed a method and apparatus which, by the utilization of pulses of fixed angular frequency produced by an encoder, and counted between the moment the pressure in the injector line of the cylinder, whose timing angle you are measuring, reaches a predetermined pressure and the moment the piston in the same cylinder reaches top dead center, a number of pulses representing the timing angle of the engine is obtained, which can easily be converted into a reading of the timing angle.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for reproducing operating conditions in induced flow devices, such as carburetors and the like, and more particularly to a system for reproducing such operating conditions which may be used in testing systems designed to test induced flow devices.In operation in such a test system, the apparatus of the present invention would cause a given air flow to flow through an induced flow device such as a carburetor, and then would cause the throttle plate of the carburetor to be rotated until the desired manifold vacuum in the carburetor is obtained, at which time the test of the carburetor could take place.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for hot testing on a production basis, automobile engines as they come off the assembly line for performing a final check on such engines before they are installed in the automobile. The engines are tested for exhaust emissions at three points or KEY MODES of operation at which emission related engine malfunctions are most likely to appear. These points of operation are high cruise, low cruise, and idle. The engine, after it comes off the assembly line is placed in a production test stand wherein the connections for water, oil and exhaust are made, the engine is started, accelarated to the high cruise speed, and allowed to warm up for a predetermined time, after which time, measurements of hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide are taken and an appropriate indicator light lit to indicate that the engine either is within limits at this speed, or does not pass for some reason. The same procedure is followed in the low cruise and idle speeds.

Abstract: This application discloses a method and apparatus for measuring and/or adjusting the timing angle of internal combustion engines. The method of measuring the timing angle comprises the steps of running the engine and producing voltage pulsations of uniform time frequency against which are simultaneously taken measurements of two values: first, the measurements of engine speed by counting the number of pulsations for one full and precise revolution of the engine from top dead center to top dead center of one selected cylinder, and simultaneously counting the number of pulsations from the moment the spark plug of the selected cylinder fires to the top dead center (for advanced firing), or from the top dead center to the moment of firing of the spark plug (for retarded firing). Counting two of such values enables the testing personnel to express the timing angle in degrees and to have the RPM of the engine at the time of testing, neither of which would be available if only one of such two values was measured.

Abstract: This application discloses a method and apparatus for measuring and/or adjusting the timing angle of internal combustion engines. The method of measuring the timing angle comprises the steps of running the engine and producing voltage pulsations of uniform time frequency against which are simultaneously taken measurements of two values: first, the measurements of engine speed by counting the number of pulsations for one full and precise revolution of the engine from top dead center to top dead center of one selected cylinder, and simultaneously counting the number of pulsations from the moment the spark plug of the selected cylinder fires to the top dead center (for the advance firing) or from the top dead center to the moment of firing of the spark plug (for retarded firing). Counting two of such values enables the testing personnel to express the timing angle in degrees and to have the RPM of the engine at the time of testing, neither of which would be available if only one of such two values were measured.