Abstract: A web tension transducer for mounting between a stationary fixture and a pillow block rotationally supporting a web roller shaft is provided. The transducer includes a body mounted to said fixture for pivotal movement about a single horizontal axis at one longitudinal end, and having a strain gage mounted in a transverse horizontal slot at the opposite end of said body, thus providing maximum deflection of the strain gage in response to downward force applied to the shaft for measurement of the web tension.

Abstract: A position/movement sensitive effect-emitting strain gauge device includes a responsive portion, such as an electrically conductive fabric, that can be stretched or relaxed and that changes an electrical property, such as resistance, when stretched or relaxed. The changeable electrical property of the responsive portion is detected by a regulating circuit, which sends a signal that depends on the detected electrical property to an effect-emitting component. The effect may be sound or light emission or the like. The shape of the responsive portion can be such as to allow it to fit over a body part, e.g., a tube shape would allow it to fit over an elbow. When worn, the electrical property of the responsive portion, and therefore the emitted effect, depends on the user's positions/movements.

Abstract: A monitoring assembly for a pneumatic tire includes an electronic monitoring device having at least one sensor disposed in a protective body. The monitoring assembly is configured to float on a variety of liquids that are typically disposed within a tire. The protective body is liquid-tight and includes an encapsulation layer that encapsulates the substrate and sensors, a cushion, and a skin on the outside of the cushion. The protective body is substantially spherical allowing the assembly to roll about the inside of a tire without being permanently connected to the tire. The monitoring assembly is simply placed in a tire before the tire is mounted on a vehicle rim and allowed to move about loosely in the tire chamber when the tire is in use.

Abstract: Vibrations generated by the wheel units of a vehicle are reduced by a low pulsating operation that optimally simulates actual vehicle operating conditions. For this purpose the mass moment of inertia of the wheel unit and of rotating components such as the hub and the brake disc are taken into account. The wheel unit is rotatably mounted on a balancing spindle (2) in a measuring apparatus to determine the mass and angular location of balancing weights (31). The vibrations are measured at a speed that corresponds to a typical travel speed of a vehicle. A loading mechanism including a roller shoe (20) applies a force to the tire tread surface through a spring damping (14, 15) to optimally simulate the conditions of a roadway. The roller shoe (20) has rollers (13) with sections of larger and smaller diameters so that neighboring rollers intermesh. The combined masses of the rollers, as reduced to the roller radius dw, corresponds to the rotational mass of the vehicle wheel as reduced to the tread radius (dR).

Abstract: A gas sensor deterioration monitor, particularly suited for use in an exhaust stream from an internal combustion engine. Under certain engine operating conditions, the output signal from the sensor is transformed through a Fourier Transformation into a frequency domain signal. Ratios of the magnitudes of certain odd and even harmonics are compared to corresponding reference values for a new sensor. Deviations beyond certain limits indicate a sensor that has deteriorated substantially.

Abstract: An electrostatic ink jet recording head of a drop-on-demand type has a head body defining an ink chamber for receiving liquid ink containing charged toner particles, a set of electrodes for migrating the liquid ink by electrophoresis and ejecting the liquid ink from an ejecting slit of the ink chamber, and an ink reservoir, disposed above the ink chamber, for circulating the liquid ink by gravity between the ink reservoir and the ink chamber. A flow resistance against the liquid ink in the flow path from the outlet port of the ink chamber to the ink reservoir is smaller than a meniscus force generated by meniscuses formed at the ejecting slit to effectively eject the liquid ink without a pump and without an ink leakage.

Abstract: This invention utilizes geometrically positioned strain gages attached to load cells (pylons) where each cell measures all force and moment components (Fx, Fy, Fz, Mx, My, Mz), thereby measuring all six degrees of freedom. The independent measurements eliminate the need for one cell's dependency on another, therefore reducing assumption, calculation, and cross-sensitivity errors. At least two load cells are attached to a top plate, to which the load is applied, and an optional bottom plate and an optional mounting plate. These force plates can be connected together to form an array of plates to measure multiple instances of load application over a greater area. The signals produced can be transmitted via wiring or wireless means either directly to a data collection device, or to a connector board, then through an optional pre-amplifier and a second stage amplifier for signal amplification and conditioning, then, finally, the data is received by a data collection device for interpretation and reading.

Abstract: A torque sensor has a first signal generator whose output signal changes as a function of a torque, a second signal generator whose output signal changes in the opposite direction as a function of the torque, and a circuit which has a difference-forming unit and a summing device. The output signal of each signal generator passes through an amplifier whose gain is controlled and identical for both output signals and the amplified output signals are present on the difference-forming unit and on the summing device the output of the summing device being connected to a controller which controls the gain.

Abstract: Method for determining the progression of the load torque in an internal-combustion engine, comprising, for each combustion cycle of the engine, the steps of detecting the progression of the instantaneous angular velocity of the crankshaft in at least one given time interval of the combustion cycle; determining the progression of the pressure inside the cylinders of the engine for the combustion cycle on the basis of the progression of the instantaneous angular velocity; and determining the progression of the load torque for the combustion cycle on the basis of the progression of the instantaneous angular velocity and the pressure inside the cylinders.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for measuring loads applied to a platform, wherein the accuracy of the measurements is not adversely affected by any moments or torques resulting from the application of the load to the platform. The present invention is particularly suitable to platforms used to measure large loads and braking capability of trucks at weigh stations located along interstate highways.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for calculating flow rate of a fluid using a pressure differential device, based on detected pressure and temperature upstream of and detected pressure adjacent a flow constriction of the pressure differential device, and calibration coefficients calculated from the results of a flow calibration performed on the pressure differential device. By incorporating the results of the flow calibration in the computation, a non-iterative method for obtaining mass flow rate is realized.

Abstract: The piezoelectric vortex sensing element (3, 3′, 3″, 3+) of this vortex flow sensor (1) can be assembled from individual components in a simple manner; if its piezoelectric element (34, 34′, 34″, 34*, 34+, 34++) should be faulty, it can be easily replaced. Also, the vortex sensing element can be made largely insensitive to vibrations acting from outside. The vortex flow sensor (1) serves to measure the flow velocity and/or the volumetric flow rate of a fluid flowing through a measuring tube (2). A bluff body (4) generating Kármán vortices is disposed along a diameter of the measuring tube and fixed to the measuring tube at at least one fixing point (41). The vortex sensing element responds to vortex-induced pressure fluctuations and either is installed in a wall (22) of the measuring tube down-stream of the bluff body in a tight manner or extends into a main bore (46) extending through the measuring tube into the bluff body.

Abstract: A six-axes force-moment measuring apparatus includes a mechanical structure having sensors installed at predetermined positions on the mechanical structure for measuring tensile and compressive forces applied to each axis. The output signal from the sensors is processed and analyzed to determine the forces and/or moments applied to the mechanical structure. The six-axes force-moment measuring apparatus is readily constructed and repaired, and is capable of supporting large loads.

Abstract: In order to reduce the second harmonic of tangential force variation (TFV) of tire constituting one of factors of vibration in high speed running of a vehicle, a tire is rotated at a vibration generating speed and phase and amplitude of the second harmonic of TFV are measured and mass members M are provided or eliminated at two locations opposed to each other in the diameter direction on a circumference of the tire such that the measured second harmonic of TFV is canceled by the second harmonic of TFV caused by providing or eliminating the masses.

Abstract: This assembly is a torque measuring device that measures the torque output a tool is producing. A hollow torsion tube connects the tool to a reaction arm through the assembly. A torque transducer is attached to the side of the torsion tube. The ends of the torque transducer are attached in a way that transfers the torque output of the tool to the torsion tube. The transducer produces an electrical signal directly proportional to the amount of twisting that occurs in the torsion tube and transducer. A handle also is attached to the torsion tube in a way that allows the handle to rotate 360° around the torsion tube. Since the operator holds the handle instead of the tool, the operators influence on the tool's torque output is removed, increasing the accuracy of the device.

Abstract: The location of weather activity from a moving platform such as an aircraft is enhanced using triangulation in time. More particularly, a first measurement of the weather activity is made relative to the aircraft at a first time. A second measurement of the location of the weather activity is made from the aircraft at a second period in time. The first measurement is modified or updated to correct for the change in position of the aircraft between the first and second measurements and then the modified data is compared with the data of the second measurement to enhance the location of the weather activity.

Abstract: A seat weight measuring apparatus capable of reducing the working cost and the assembly cost and improving its heat resistance and its corrosion resistance. A load sensor has a mechanism for receiving at least a part of the seat weight and converting the weight into an electrical signal. A strain gauge of the load sensor includes a lower insulating layer, a wiring layer, a resistor layer, and an upper insulating layer, which are sequentially formed on a sensor member.

Abstract: At the time of automatic gear changing without declutching in a mechanical stepped gearbox (6) in a motor vehicle, the speed of the gearbox output shaft (36) is detected and any speed change occurring immediately after disengagement of a gear to neutral position results in adjustment of a predetermined zero-torque level for the engine as a function of the speed change.

Abstract: A method of estimating the compressive strength of a foam cement sample from a parametric measurement (base cement compressive strength) obtainable from conventional equipment, wherein standard laboratory measurements are used to establish the relationship between the base cement compressive strength, the volume percent entrained gas and the compressive strength of the subject foam cement.

Abstract: A nondestructive test method determines fatigue of a test ferromagnetic construction material by quantifying a change in effective stress due to aging of the test material, in which the magnetic susceptibility (&khgr;c) of the test material is measured in its aged state under a magnetic field having a specified intensity (H) according to a relation as expressed by a first equation: c=&khgr;c H3. The magnetic susceptibility (&khgr;c) so measured and the magnetic field intensity (H) are put into the first equation, to obtain a susceptibility coefficient (c) of the test material. The susceptibility coefficient (c) so obtained is put into a second equation: &sgr;={log (c)−a}/b, where a and b are known constants determined by an internal structure of the test material, to obtain a current tensile stress (&sgr;) of the test material.