Abstract: A fastener tester for testing fasteners for securing a plurality of workpieces together with such fasteners including a pin member having an elongated shank with the fastener tester including a pair of relatively movable members adapted to have a fastener installed thereto and operatively associated with a load cell whereby installation loads and final clamp load or preload can be measured and subsequently the same fastener can be subjected to a tensile test and the resultant tensile loads measured.

Abstract: Certain ones of a total array of ultrasonic transducers constitute a small aperture and are so energized as to project acoustic energy onto predetermined parts of a scene. Reflections of the transmitted signals are received by certain ones of the array, are converted to electrical signals and are appropriately delayed to enable additive combination of the amplitude of the received signals emanating from the same points in the scene ("targets"). The phase (or time delay) as well as the amplitude information of the reflective signals are stored. Next, the same transmitting elements ("subarray") project acoustic energy upon the remaining parts of the scene in sequence and the reflected signals are similarly processed and stored. This continues until all the parts of the predetermined scene have been interrogated by insonification from that subarray and the reflected signals have been similarly processed.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus protected from multi-reflection of sound echoes. Multi-reflection is avoided by eliminating the reflection from the surface of an electro-sound transducer. This invention eliminates the surface reflection of the transducer by following three methods:(a) changing a direction of each surface of an array of transducer elements to direct the reflected sound wave away from the main direction of the sound beam;(b) applying an acoustic matching layer to a surface of a piezo-electric device of the transducer to cancel out phases of sound waves reflected by the surfaces of the layer and the device; and(c) providing an acoustic matching surface on a front or back face of the piezo-electric device to cancel out phases of sound waves reflected by the surface of the device.

Abstract: To induce fracture under test conditions for a tool bit configuration held in a laterally restrained condition, but with freedom to move up and down, a series of members (hardened steel ball bearings) are selected as to size, butted together, and constrained so that such members make tangential point contact with a constrained bit at locations close to the corners of one end surface supported on the members. When a centralized load is imposed on the opposite end surface of the bit, stress forces can be set up on the bit to result in a body bend fracture or an edge chip fracture, depending on how close the point contacts are to a curved sector. Each point contact is located along a radius bisecting a corner sector, the location being spaced from the sector a distance either (a) of at least one-half the sector radius, but within 0.01875-0.0312 inch, to induce edge chip fracture, or (b) of at least the sector radius, but no less than 0.0625 inch, to induce bend strength fracture.

Abstract: A device for focussing or collimating a beam of acoustic radiation comprises a body of acoustically transmissive material having first endface (12) coupled to a source of acoustic radiation (16, 18). The radiation is internally reflected by the side surface 20 of the body, this surface being of a shape such that it brings the radiation to a focus F after transmission through a second surface (14).

Abstract: The present-day devices for automatic determination of the tensile strength properties of a sheet of paper are complicated, inconvenient to operate and incapable of producing immediate test results. According to the invention, the apparatus comprises two operating elements (6, 7) between which a sheet of paper of desired length is adapted to be introduced, the former operating element (6) comprising a fixing block (1) and a pulling block (2) and the latter operating element (7) comprising a fixing head (3) and a pulling head (4), said fixing head being compressible against the fixing block and said pulling head being compressible against the pulling block for fastening a sheet of paper. The other operating element is further fitted with a cutter means (8) which is adapted cut off a sheet of paper a sample of standard width as the sheet is positioned against the fixing block.

Abstract: A sector scanner having an oscillating transducer element includes a motor and rotating shaft, a crank attached to an end of the shaft, and a linkage connecting the crank and the oscillating transducer element whereby rotation of the shaft is translated to oscillation of the transducer element. Vibration from the oscillating transducer element is minimized by reducing the mass of the oscillating element and employing harmonic motion of the transducer element.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for acoustic testing of multiple segment complex structures for detecting changes in the integrity of such structures to anticipate failure. The method of the present invention in its simplest form requires providing each segment of a complex multiple segment structure with at least one acoustic sensor, recording the intensity and frequency distribution of the acoustic waves sensed by such acoustic sensor; and finally comparing the acoustic waves that are sensed either against a standard, over time, and/or from one segment of the complex multiple segment structure to another segment of the complex multiple segment structure.

Abstract: A system for monitoring the security of one or more persons in a waterside environment and for providing a failure proof indication of when such person falls into the water. The system includes a portable transmitter worn about the body of the person whose security is being monitored in a location which insures its submergence when the person falls into the water. Transmissions from the portable unit, which may be either time shared or the result of an interrogation from a base station, are monitored at a base station. Continuous presence of the transmitted signal from each portable unit inhibits an alarm condition at the base station, but if the transmitted signal is not received, or is not received for a predetermined time period, the alarm condition is activated and the portable unit not transmitting is identified. The lack of a transmitted signal indicates a "man overboard" condition resulting from the transmitter being immersed in the water and transmissions thus blocked.

Abstract: A circuit for coupling a transducer having a reactive sensing element to equipment providing either AC or DC drive voltage and equipped with strain gauge amplifiers in which the sensing impedance varies the gain of the feedback loop of an oscillator, an AGC circuit is coupled to the loop so as to derive a control signal related to the amplitude of oscillations therein and a gain control means is included in the loop that responds to the control signal in such manner as to restore the loop gain to unity after it has been changed therefrom by changes in the value of the sensing impedance. If the gain control means is a voltage divider having a variable resistor as the operative element, a matched variable resistor is used as the unbalancing element of a resistive bridge, and the values of the circuit are chosen such that the output signal from the bridge which may be applied to strain gauge amplifiers is linearly or desirably nonlinearly related to changes in the value of the reactive sensing impedance.

Abstract: Structural failures, as in metal aircraft structures, are rapidly detected and measured by use of a new detection system comprising a thin film adhesively bonded to the metal structural surface to be monitored, said film containing a plurality of thin continuous strips which are adapted to be broken when a crack appears under the strips, said strips being substantially parallel but insulated from each other and the metal structural surface and arranged in a pattern such that there is frequent change in direction of the strips as in a zig-zag or rectangular pattern, each of said strips constituting a separate circuit joined to an electric power source and a sensing and recording means capable of detecting and recording any circuit failure caused by disruption of the metal strip, said disruption being caused by the formation of a crack under the said strip.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises a base and two movable opposite centers, one of which is fastened to a rotatable axle, while the other is fastened to a screw by means of a bearing, and mounted in two opposite parallel plates. Between the plates there is disposed a tank filled with an acoustic medium, and underneath it there is mounted a sensor which is connected to a measuring system. Two parallel guides are transversely fastened to the plates. The base is suspended on the parallel guides with a collar fastened to it. The base is provided with a driving screw and a handle. A spring, within the collar and attached to it, is fastened rigidly to a guiding sleeve. To this sleeve there is fastened the tank, on which there are seated parallel rotating rollers. A limiting sleeve of the sensor is mounted inside a guide by means of a locking nut, which is pressed against a second nut fastened to the guiding sleeve.

Abstract: The invention provides a sensing device and method to determine irregularities of a pipeline wall arising from corrosion, pitting, gouges, scale and deposits, and dents causing out of round conditions. This sensing device may be carried through a pipeline by a pipeline pig and comprises radial, movable spring-loaded sensing fingers adapted to continuously contact the pipeline inner surface, said sensing fingers preferably being secured to a fluid-tight drum. The sensing fingers are acoustically connected to one or more microphones, which may be confined within the interior chamber of the fluid-tight drum. The microphones, in turn, are electrically connected to a recording device for recording the audio signal the sensing fingers make as they move through the pipeline.

Abstract: A method for measuring metal coating adhesion to a substrate material comprising the steps of preparing a test coupon of substrate material having the metal coating applied to one surface thereof, applying a second metal coating of gold or silver to opposite surfaces of the test coupon by hot hollow cathode process, applying a coating to one end of each of two pulling rod members, joining the coated ends of the pulling rod members to said opposite coated surfaces of the test coupon by a solid state bonding technique and finally applying instrumented static tensile loading to the pulling rod members until fracture of the metal coating adhesion to the substrate material occurs.

Abstract: The surface acoustic waves are generated by laser beam that is focussed onto a surface to irradiate it in an arcuate pattern as a partial annulus or as a still or moving fringe pattern. The arcuate pattern may be formed by a transmitting or a reflecting axicon, while the fringe pattern may be formed by splitting the laser beam into two beams and directing the two beams to the surface. In addition, a lens or a frequency shifting device may be placed in the path of one of the split beams to form a circular fringe or a moving fringe, respectively.

Abstract: A method or system for measuring thickness of a coating layer on a substrate. It employs acoustic energy and involves transmitting a sweep of frequencies covering a predetermined range through the substrate and its coating. The energies reflected back by the substrate and coating are determined as a function of the frequencies in said range, and the transmission pattern provides a basis for determining the coating thickness.

Abstract: An ultrasonic corrosion monitor is provided which produces an in situ measurement of the amount of corrosion of a monitoring zone or zones of an elongate probe placed in the corrosive environment. A monitoring zone is preferably formed between the end of the probe and the junction of the zone with a lead-in portion of the probe. Ultrasonic pulses are applied to the probe and a determination made of the time interval between pulses reflected from the end of the probe and the junction referred to, both when the probe is uncorroded and while it is corroding. Corresponding electrical signals are produced and a value for the normalized transit time delay derived from these time interval measurements is used to calculate the amount of corrosion.

Abstract: The surface of a material is inspected for defects by visual examination of a television picture of the surface produced by at least one camera focused on the material and transmitting an image to a screen in the form of a video signal. The connection between screen and camera is made only when a defect is detected on the surface of the material. The video signal is delimited by an upper and a lower signal level which, if exceeded, results in a trigger signal being activated. In addition a trigger mechanism and an image storage facility are provided between the screen and the camera. Appearing on the screen are only pictures of surface areas showing defects; areas without defects are not displayed on the screen.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for axially aligning axially coupled shafts of a steam turbine includes means for changing the elevation of the outboard end of each shaft. The outboard end of each shaft is rotatably supported by a bearing above a turbine foundation. Means is included for measuring the supporting force at the bearing. A strain gauge is disposed on the surface of each shaft which provides an output signal indicative of the degree of bending of that shaft. The apparatus includes means for comparing and minimizing the output signals of the strain gauges by affecting the means for changing the elevation and comparing the resultant output signals at different levels of elevation.

Abstract: A method of detecting the presence of flaws in wire as it passes through a wire drawing die involves monitoring the output in the megacycle range of an acoustic sensor attached to the drawing die.