Abstract: A magnetic gauge for determining vehicle body damage including a circular housing having a front face, a rear face and a hollow interior. The circular housing has a stem portion extending downwardly therefrom. The stem portion has a channel formed therein. The front face has a measuring gauge disposed therein. The measuring gauge includes a needle portion. The needle portion has an inner end. The inner end extends within the hollow interior. A magnet is slidably disposed within the channel of the stem portion of the circular housing. A shaft member is slidably disposed within the hollow interior of the circular housing. The shaft member includes a lower segment slidably disposed within the channel of the stem portion of the circular housing. The lower segment has a lower end secured to the magnet. The shaft member with the inner end of the needle portion whereby upward movement of the shaft member will advance the needle with respect to the measuring gauge.

Abstract: An arrangement is provided for determining the position of an object of measurement without contacting the object. The arrangement includes a sensor element that reacts to magnetic forces, and along which the object can be displaced. The sensor element is provided with at least one release element, which has two magnets that are fixed relative to one anther, are spaced from one anther, and are disposed in a vicinity adjacent to the sensor element. One of the magnets, in order to produce a unilaterally enlarged virtual air gap, is rotated by a given angle relative to the other magnet.

Abstract: A flux gate inductor responsive to an external magnetic field produced by a rotating magnetoelastic sleeve and oscillating voltage applied to the flux gate inductor induces a field in the flux gate inductor, for inducing current flow through the flux gate inductor, which flows through a shunting resistor, creating a voltage which is triangular as a result of the inductance of the flux gate. The sum of the induced and external fields exceeds the saturation flux density of the flux gate, causing the flux gate inductance to zero. This results in a rise in the current through the flux gate inductor and a voltage spike across the shunt resistor. The spike is detected for causing a change in an inverter for producing the oscillation voltage. Meanwhile, the external magnetic field causes an asymmetry between positive, negative currents required to saturate the flux gate inductor. This asymmetry results in a departure of the oscillation voltage from a 50% duty cycle.