Abstract: Probe for the nondestructive testing of cylindrical cavities, including a rotatable testing head, an outwardly cylindrical housing supporting the testing head, a motor disposed in the housing for driving the testing head, a shell body being surrounded by the housing and being in the form of a semi-cylindrical part with a relatively smaller diameter in vicinity of the motor, a tube sealing the shell body in vicinity of the motor, and means disposed on the shell body for securing the motor in a definite position.

Abstract: A dark-field magneto-elastic non-destructive testing technique for detection of defects in a conductive material by inducing eddy currents or applying an electric current to the material along a path in such manner that the current will be diverted from the path in the vicinity of any material defect, causing the generation of acoustic waves locally from the interaction of the diverted current with a local magnetic field. The resulting acoustic waves are detected as an indication of the presence and location of a material defect. In typical application, a current is induced in the conductive material by the generation of eddy currents in the material along a substantially linear path by coupling from a current excited wire insulated from and applied near the surface of the material. The eddy current will tend to follow substantially the direction opposite of the current excited wire.

Abstract: A miniature, solid state, cantilever beam accelerometer is constructed with an arrangement of strain sensing elements which provides for simpler temperature compensation, dual-axis acceleration measurement, and the capability of correcting for nonlinearity in a strain sensing element. Temperature compensation is facilitated by locating two strain sensing elements on the cantilever beam and two on the main body of the accelerometer and connecting the four elements in a Wheatstone bridge. Instead of a single bridge, two half bridges may be formed to allow for independent adjustment of each side of the Wheatstone bridge. Independent adjustment is also possible by using two full bridges with all strain sensing elements oriented in the same direction. If the elements of one bridge are oriented in an orthogonal direction, the accelerometer is capable of measuring both on-axis and off-axis accelerations.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for generating short ultrasonic echo pulses by means of an ultrasonic transducer (2) utilizes a shift register (6) for storing a signal for excitation of said ultrasonic transducer. The stored signal is a weighted least squares filter signal to the transducer proper and is supplied to said transducer via a digital-to-analogue converter (7). Repeated adjustment of the stored signal can be effected by supplying, via an analogue-to-digital converter (11), the echo pulse signals from the ultrasonic transducer to a logic unit (12) for analysis.

Abstract: Inspection device, including a probe having a thrust hose for moving the probe, the thrust hose having mutually equidistant holes formed therein along a generatrix line thereof, a feed device having drive wheels for engaging the thrust hose to move the probe, and plugs disposed on at least one of the drive wheels for insertion in the holes.

Abstract: The invention concerns a measuring apparatus for checking and determining the flow shear stress of certain suspensions, principally blood, by a static or dynamic method and to thereby plot the viscosity of the suspension. The apparatus employs an internal measuring chamber comprised of a passage arrangement to simulate the natural microcirculation area wherein a network of capillary passages diverge from a main passage, with at least two of the capillary passages of different lengths, with a length ratio that can range from 3:1 to 15:1, with those capillaries connected to a source of variable pressure and extending past a detector unit.

Abstract: An apparatus and method suitable for simultaneously testing the integrity of the joints and walls of a plurality of interconnected pipe sections is disclosed. Further, the present invention includes a method and apparatus for sequentially setting at different pressures the packers of such a device. A further feature of the present invention is the actuation of the pressurizing of an annular pipe section testing chamber by the setting of a packer adjacent to the chamber.

Abstract: For the detection of defects such as tears or fold lines in banknotes, for example, continuous wave ultrasonic energy is directed by a transmitter to a flow path for the notes and ultrasonic energy reflected from the notes or transmitted through tears or holes in the notes is converted by a receiver into an electric signal. A signal analyzing circuit is responsive to changes in the output of the receiver during the passage of the banknote. In the ultrasonic inspection area, the note may be passed over rollers with flared ends to cause a tear to open and allow the passage of ultrasonic energy. In a reflective system the note may be passed over a roller to cause one or both of the adjacent edges of a tear to leave the roller surface. The electric signal is analyzed for components indicative of a defect; for tear detection, a spike filter and a circuit for distinguishing tear signals from end-of-note signals may be used.

Abstract: A fire alarm system and method utilizes a heat-shrinkable material, such as a sheet of polyethylene plastic film, to break a thin foil conductor attached thereto and thereby activate an alarm.

Abstract: Material and component testing machine for providing random length bending and/or torsion loads in preferably bar-shaped test samples, where(a) the test sample 11 is fixed at both ends 12,13 in respective clamping means 14,15;(b) the one clamping means 14 is situated at the front end 16 of a shaft 17 which is resistant to bending and torsion and rotatable about its longitudinal axis, said shaft being mounted in two preferably hydrostatic bearings attached to the machine frame 19;(c) a radially projecting lever arm 21 is connected to the rear end 20 of the shaft 17, to which a force Z is applied;(d) the other clamping means 15 is situated in the center of a yoke 23 which is resistant to bending and torsion, at the back end of which forces X,Y, are applied respectively, each force being at right angles to the other;(e) the yoke 23 is supported on the machine frame through its two arms 24 via a cardan joint 24-28.

Abstract: A machine is disclosed for applying lengthwise tension to a length of pipe, such as a joint of pipe used in an oil well drill string, for example, for the purpose of testing the pipe for tensile strength. The machine includes gripping assemblies for holding opposite ends of the pipe in respective parts of the machine which are urged apart to apply tension to the pipe. Each gripping assembly includes a rotary mandrel which is threaded onto a sub secured to the respective pipe end, and a header rotatably mounting the mandrel. The header includes a plate providing restraint for the mandrel precluding its expulsion from the machine in the event of a pipe failure during the application of tension thereto. A rotary drive is provided for each mandrel for threading the mandrel onto and off the respective sub.

Abstract: A method and device for ensuring correct assembly of screwed pipejoints having at least one stop. During assembly the screwing torque is measured continuously, the value of the second differential of the screwing torque is determined uninterruptedly, and the maximum of this second differential is checked to exceed a predetermined value.The device includes in combination: a means of converting into electric voltage the value of the tightening torque applied at every instant during the assembly of the joint, an electronic device for carrying out the calculation of the second differential of the curve of electric voltage so measured, and a device enabling the value of this second differential to be compared with a reference value for giving a signal when the maximum of the second differential exceeds or does not exceed the reference value.

Abstract: A signal processor is arranged to process polarized light signals obtained from a stress sensor of the type having a photoelastic element that responds to stress by causing a phase difference between components of the polarized light propagating through that element. The stress sensor provides two output beams, each of which has a different polarized component of the transmitted light. The signal processor employs a pair of photodetectors which respond to the intensities of the two polarized light beams by converting the polarized light into electrical signals. Those two electrical signals provide the inputs to a difference differentiator that provides an output proportional to the difference between the derivatives of the inputs. The two electrical output signals of the photodetectors are also applied as inputs to a multiplier whose output is related to the product of its inputs.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for indicating on a pressure differential gauge whether air leakage in a compressed air line is within a predetermined acceptable level, the gauge has pressure-responsive and manually shiftable pointers and is connectable in the air line across a first restriction in the line for indicating by the pressure-responsive pointer pressure differentials across the first restriction, and a second restriction temporarily insertable in the line downstream of the first restriction for passing air at a rate equal to the permissible air leakage from the line, and discharging air through the second restriction and indicating by the manually shiftable pointer the position of the pressure-responsive pointer during such discharge, the manually shiftable pointer after removal of the temporary restriction indicating by the relative position of the pressure-responsive pointer on charging of the line whether leakage therefrom is within acceptable limits.

Abstract: In a method of controlling or measuring layer thicknesses, wherein a continuous frequency-modulated ultrasonic signal that periodically scans a frequency band is transmitted and wherein the resultant signal is evaluated. The frequency bandwidth is selected large enough that a multiple of the interference interval is covered. The spectral maxima or minima which periodically recur in the frequency spectrum of the received signal are evaluated. At a fixed modulation rate of the transmitted signal, an unambiguous interrelation exists between the repetition frequency of the maxima or minima in the spectrum and the thickness of the layer under examination. The repetition frequency increases with increasing layer thickness. According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, a ratio of harmonic amplitudes corresponding to the layer thickness is evaluated. The harmonics are produced by selecting a narrow frequency band, so that only part of the interference interval is covered.

Abstract: A snap-in LVDT force sensor includes a housing having separate chambers for enclosing an LVDT and an assembly of circuit components. One end of the housing is coupled for movement with one link of a two-link frame which is subject to the forces to be measured. A plunger is coupled for movement with the other link and includes a shaft which extends into one of the chambers to support an LVDT core for reciprocal movement within the LVDT coil assembly. A bellows is sealingly and flexibly coupled between the plunger and housing to provide protection from the environment. An optional spring may provide additional stiffness between the plunger and housing.

Abstract: A process for monitoring the wear of a refractory lining of a metallurgical furnace wall during use of the furnace, it is sought to improve the reliability and accuracy of the measurement comprising the following steps:(1) arranging a bar of ceramic material in the wall so that the bar has an inner end at the inner face of the lining and extends to the exterior of the wall, the bar thus being subjected to wear at its inner end as the lining wears and determining(2) the position of the worn inner end of the bar ultrasonically by generating ultrasonic pulses in the bar and detecting the reflection of the pulses from the worn inner end of the bar.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for ultrasound tomography for use in clinical diagnostics, the apparatus comprising paired couples of transmission transducers (3) and reflection transducers (5,6), the paired couples of transducer means being independently operable within a container (1) of ultrasound transmission medium to provide data capable of processing by computational methods for mathematical reconstruction of the distribution of specific values of acoustic data to permit separate comparative and synergistic examinations of the data thus obtained to classify the internal structure of a body.

Abstract: A digital barometric altimeter has an electrical pressure transducer juxtaposed with a pitostatic port, and has a processor located remotely from the port, interconnected with the transducer by an analog-to-digital converter. The processor filters the pressure-responsive data, linearizes it, and converts it to altitude-representative data, using a "jump-and-converge" procedure. The altitude-representative output may be supplied to a display or other utilization device.

Abstract: An ultrasound visualization system, and certain aspects of the electronics that are incorporated therein. A scan conversion system which includes means for converting the ultrasound scan signal into a stream of single bit digital data in which each bit is indicative of the relative amplitude of the ultrasound scan signal as compared to the amplitude indicated by previously converted digital data. The single bit digital data is inputted and stored alternately into two full screen buffers. As the data is read into one of the two full screen buffers, the stored data in the other buffer is being simultaneously converted into an analog television video signal. The digital to analog conversion is accomplished by varying an analog television video signal in response to the relative amplitude indicated by each bit in comparison with the amplitude indicated by previously converted digital data.