Abstract: A method of evaluating fire hazards of materials in standard tests is provided which comprises measuring heat flux distribution in test fires at the moment when sprinklers would have sensed the fire and be activated, and determining the rate of sprinkler water delivery rate that will absorb the heat flux, thus controlling spread of the fire.

Abstract: Digital pressure transducers employing force-sensitive resonators are designed according to a method that eliminates spurious mode resonances. The dimensional and geometrical relationships of the force-producing pressure elements and structures are chosen such that spurious modes of oscillation are not excited by the resonant modes of the force-sensitive resonators.

Abstract: A method for measuring fluid flow are disclosed. The invention combines isolating flow conditioner technology with ultrasonic technology to determine flow velocity. The method and apparatus of the invention does not require the use of integration techniques or the prior determination of flow swirl or asymmetry to achieve accuracy. The performance of this novel flowmeter exceeds the performance of current ultrasonic flowmeters by an order of four to twelve times and offers significant savings in manufacturing and maintenance costs. The disclosed flowmeter also has self-diagnostic capabilities.

Abstract: A load creation apparatus is adapted to create a specified mass intended to be suspended such that a load bearing structure is able to bear the mass. The apparatus includes a liquid impervious container. The container is suspended from he load bearing apparatus by suspension means. The container is able to be filled with liquid to create the test mass. The mass of the container is obtained by means for determining the mass of liquid in the container from the density and volume of the liquid. A method is also provided for testing the ability of a load bearing structure to bear a specified test mass, created by such a load creation apparatus.

Abstract: An air-mass sensor having an air mass sensor module provided with two temperature sensors (6, 7) and two heat sensors (4, 5) which are incorporated into two separately acting bridges (I, II) whose bridge output signals (Umv, Umh, Umq) are supplied to a microprocessor (16) incorporated on a common support with the air-mass sensor module. The microprocessor (16) is calibrated such that crude bridge signals (Usv, Ush, Usq) measured in a base mode are inscribed in support places (x1, x2, x3) of support place tables (St2, St3). A customer characteristic curve is filed in the form of measurement points (m1, m2, m3) in the support place tables (St2, St3) and are utilized to adjust the crude bridge signals.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device (1) designed to be fixed at the outlet of a tube (2) or pipe delivering a fluid, characterized in that it comprises means for displaying the flow rate and means for displaying the outlet temperature of said fluid.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a Coriolis-type flowmeter having a dynamic counterbalance system which comprises a flowtube through which a fluid to be measured is permitted to flow; the flowtube comprising first and second ends; a counterbalance which is vibrationally coupled to the flowtube proximate the first and second ends; an electromagnet device for vibrating the flowtube and the counterbalance in opposition to one another; the flowtube having a first frequency response to the vibrating means and the counterbalance having a second frequency response to the vibrating means; at least one inertial mass; and means for selectively coupling the inertial mass to the counterbalance to thereby alter the second frequency response by a desired amount; wherein in the event the second frequency response is different from the first frequency response, the inertial mass may be coupled to the counterbalance to alter the second frequency response by the desired amount to thereby make the second frequency response

Abstract: A tapered roller bearing has at least one groove in its fixed race, with that groove being located behind and presented away from the raceway for the race. The groove, which creates an unsupported beam within the race, contains a strain sensor which is oriented to detect strains in the circumferential direction. The presence of a loaded roller over the beam deflects the beam and causes the sensor to produce a signal, with the magnitude of the signal reflecting the magnitude of the load transmitted by the roller. By locating one sensor where the greatest radial load is transmitted and two sensors 30° to 70° symmetrically on each side of that one sensor, one can measure both radial and axial loads in the bearing. By locating two sensors in a single groove, axially aligned, but also axially offset, one can detect misalignment of the raceways along which the rollers roll and also skewing of the rollers.

Abstract: A diagnostic system for a combustion chamber is provided which comprises a diagnostic element which can be inserted into a wall of the combustion chamber. A plurality of light guides penetrates the diagnostic element for detecting electromagnetic radiation occurring in the combustion chamber. A plurality of detection units is also provided, each detection unit being associated with a corresponding light guide. Each light guide guides the electromagnetic radiation from a spatial segment of the combustion chamber associated with that light guide. The spatial segments are different respective segments of the combustion chamber which are arranged so as not to overlap. Each detection unit detects the electromagnetic radiation from a corresponding light guide for combustion analysis.

Abstract: A fluid pressure sensor (10) has a generally polyhedron configured capacitive transducer (18) electrically connected to a flexible circuit using interference fit U-shaped edge connectors (20). The flexible circuit (16) is received in an electronics chamber formed in a top end of a base member (12) with the corners of the transducer disposed on the face surface (12f) of the top. A cover (24) is formed with a circular fluid pressure opening (24a) through which a sealing gasket (22) extends, the gasket having tabs (22a) received in a seat (24c) formed in the bottom surface of the top wall (24b) of the cover. A transducer receiving seat (24d) is also formed in the bottom surface of the cover for placement of transducer (18).

Abstract: A system for determining the density, flow velocity, and mass flow of a fluid comprising at least one sing-around circuit that determines the velocity of a signal in the fluid and that is correlatable to a database for the fluid. A system for determining flow velocity uses two of the inventive circuits with directional transmitters and receivers, one of which is set at an angle to the direction of flow that is different from the others.

Abstract: A mass flow sensor is disclosed comprising: a heated probe having a predetermined length for disposition in the path of mass flow; at least two first temperature measuring devices disposed at different points along the probe length for measuring temperatures of the heated probe at such points in the presence of the mass flow; a second temperature measuring device for disposition in the path of mass flow for measuring the temperature of the mass flow; and a processing unit for determining mass flow as a function of the temperature measurements of the first and second temperature measuring devices.

Abstract: A Coriolis flowmeter that uses a balance bar to allow stress in the active and inactive portions of the flow tube to be as low as possible for any thermal condition. The balance bar has a middle segment that is compliant in the axial direction so that changes in length of the balance bar ends do not impose a significant axial force on the flow lube. This ensures that the thermal stresses on the active and inactive portions of the flow tube are always equal. This state of stress equality is the lowest possible stress state for the flow lube. As a result of the axially compliant balance bar, the remaining stress in the flow tube is only a function of the differential expansion between the flow tube and the case. Balance bar expansion and contraction is eliminated and has no impact on the flow tube stress.

Abstract: A method for measuring fluid flow includes generating vortices in a fluid and relating the fluid flow to a first set of fluid parameters to obtain a first relationship, and relating the fluid flow to a second set of fluid parameters to obtain a second relationship. The first and second sets of fluid parameters are monitored. A first flow value is calculated from the first set of monitor fluid parameters and the first relationship. The second relationship is adjusted based on the first flow value. The output value is calculated from the second set of monitored fluid parameters and the adjusted second relationship.

Abstract: A pressure monitoring assembly includes an isolation valve assembly and a differential pressure sensor assembly. The rigid manifold has two pressure inlet ports which each communicate with respective pressure outlet ports through isolation valves. An equalization passage and valve connect the two pressure lines. The pressure sensor assembly is sized to mate directly with the monolithic manifold by having sensor inlet ports that line up with the pressure outlet ports. Pressure tight attachments releasably secure the pressure sensor assembly to the manifold, but are rigid to support the weight of the pressure sensor assembly. No bleeding valves are necessary. Orientation and the positioning and construction of the manifold effectively reduce the amount of heat transfer between the pressure lines and the pressure sensor(s).

Abstract: A flowmeter includes a conduit having an elbow portion and a straight section downstream of the elbow. A turbine is mounted inside the conduit in the straight section adjacent the elbow portion. The turbine occupies less than the entire cross section of the conduit and is disposed adjacent the side of the conduit which receives the laminar flow exiting from the elbow portion. A permanent magnet is mounted on the turbine, the rotation of which is picked up by a Hall-effect sensor mounted in a cavity in a wall of the conduit.

Abstract: Micromachine fluidic apparatus incorporates a free-standing tube section and electrodes to actuate or control the movement of the tube section, or to sense the movement of the tube section, or both. Electronic circuitry, which may be disposed on the same substrate as the fluidic portion of the apparatus, is used in conjunction with the tube and electrodes in conjunction with a variety of different applications, including fluid flow measurement, fluid density measurement, fluid viscosity measurement, fluid transport, separation and/or mixing. According to a particular embodiment, the free-standing section of the tube is resonated for fluid flow and density measurements according to the Coriolis effect. Capacitive/electrostatic actuation techniques are used to control or resonate the free-standing section of the tube, and to detect variations in tube movement.

Abstract: Flow indicator with the purpose to indicate direction of the air flow between two rooms separated by a wall. The indicator comprises a tube (12) that is mounted in an opening of the wall (10). Inside the tube is a smooth-running body (16) mounted that easily moves towards the end of the tube by pressure difference arised air flow. Both ends of the tube are provided with end-stops (18) that are constructed to prevent the body (16) to leave the tube and are provided with one or more openings (20) that admits air to pass into the interior of the tube.

Abstract: An electrode layer is formed on the upper surface of a first substrate, and a processing for partially removing the substrate is carried out in order to allow the substrate to have flexibility. To the lower surface of the first substrate, a second substrate is connected. Then, by cutting the second substrate, a working body and a pedestal are formed. On the other hand, a groove is formed on a third substrate. An electrode layer is formed on the bottom surface of the groove. The third substrate is connected to the first substrate so that both the electrodes face to each other with a predetermined spacing therebetween. Finally, the first, second and third substrates are cut off every respective unit regions to form independent sensors, respectively. When an acceleration is exerted on the working body, the first substrate bends. As a result, the distance between both the electrodes changes. Thus, an acceleration exerted is detected by changes in an electrostatic capacitance between both the electrodes.

Abstract: A fluidic gas metering system interposed in a line running from a gas source to a user site to meter the gas stream being supplied to the user in a broad flowrate range defined by a low flowrate band at the lower end of the range, a medium band at the middle of the range and a high band at the upper end thereof. The system includes an input chamber which receives a stream of pressurized gas from the source and an output chamber from which the gas is supplied to the user. Intercoupling the chambers are three gas flow channels. The first channel is defined by a first fluidic generator operative only when the flowrate of the gas lies in the low band to yield periodic pulses whose frequency is proportional thereto. The second channel is defined by a second fluidic generator operative only when the flowrate of the gas lies in the medium band to yield periodic pulses whose frequency is proportional thereto.