Abstract: A ceramic thermocouple (10) in which the hot junction is defined by the junction between a first element (3) of molybdenum disilicide and a second element (2) of silicon carbide. The molybdenum disilicide element is formed by a layer of molybdenum disilicide on a molybdenum support.

Abstract: A probe (10) for sensing movement of a body of magnetic material comprises a magnetically energisable pole piece (30), a closed loop electrical circuit (20) having a first end (25) which is wound around the pole piece (30) and forms a pole piece coil (25) inductively coupled to the pole piece, the arrangement being such that movement of a body of magnetic material (70) relative to the pole piece (30)induces a current in the closed loop circuit (20), and a second end (45), remote from the pole piece (30), which forms a transformer primary coil. A transformer secondary coil (65) is inductively coupled to the primary coil (45), and terminated by a load resistance and means for measuring an output signal from the secondary coil. The primary (45) and secondary (65) coils form a transformer such that a current in the primary coil induces a voltage across the secondary coil. One or more shorting turns (60) of a conductor are inductively coupled to the primary (45) and secondary (65) coils.

Abstract: A non-contact rotation speed and torque sensing device which uses the natural inhomogeneities in the magnetic properties of a rotating element (4) to measure movement, displacement and deformation of the rotating element. An alternating magnetic field is applied in the region of a rotating element (4) and a signal representing the change in magnetic flux caused by the inhomogeneities of the magnetic structure of the object is received at a sensor (1). By processing the sensed signal using the auto-correlation function, the speed of rotation of the element (4) may be determined through inspection of the periodicity of the signal.

Abstract: A method for generating a series of output signals represented by a series of measurement signals which is particularly useful in the compensation for jatter, missing spurious pulses or plates when applied to the processing of signals from a speed probe monitoring the speed of a rotating bladed shaft. The method includes the steps of predicting a value for a first measurement signal from a historical measurement signal value, generating a first output signal from the predicted value of the first measurement signal; comparing the measurement signal to its predicted value, and: if the measurement signal is within a pre-determined range of acceptable values, using the first measurement signal to predict a value for a second measurement signal; if the measurement signal is outside the pre-determined range of acceptable values, using the first predicted value to predict a second measurement signal, and generating a second output signal from the predicted value of the second measurement signal.

Abstract: A pressure measuring device (2) comprises a vibrating ferromagnetic cylinder (4) and mechanically located within a casing (6). A diaphragm (24) is directly connected to the cylinder and forms a pressure measurement surface. Pressure on the diaphragm (24) results in a force and stresses in the cylinder (4) which change the resonant frequency of the vibrating cylinder.

Abstract: An inductive eddy current sensor, for use for example for measuring the speed of a turbine by detecting the passage of turbine blades (21) past a probe incorporating the sensor, includes a magnet (23) positioned so that the blades (21) pass through the flux pattern generated by the magnet (23). At least one pick-up coil (28) devoid of a core of soft magnetic is positioned alongside the magnet to pick up signals generated by eddy currents generated in the turbine blades as they cut through the flux pattern, without thereby altering the flux pattern. In a modified arrangement, the pick-up coil surrounds the magnet, again without affecting the flux pattern.

Abstract: A transformer probe (1) for sensing movement of a body (13) of magnetic material, comprising a probe piece (3), a primary coil (2) inductively coupled to the pole piece (3), and a transformer secondary coil (7) inductively coupled to the primary coil (2). The transformer secondary coil (7) is a conductor (5) wound around a core 96) with the wound conductor (5) and core (6) forming a combined secondary transformer coil and transformer core wound around the primary coil (2).