Abstract: A device which simulates a running bird, similar to a Road Runner. The device is an assembly of body, tail, neck and head. The tail and neck are pivotally coupled to the body and linked together so as to move together in a complementary fashion. The head is pivotally coupled to the end of the neck and is constrained to rotate about the end of the neck as the neck rotates about its pivotal coupling point with the body. Because neck and tail are linked together to move in complementary fashion, the assembly first simulates a bird with tail, neck and head in an erect, alert position. However, when subjected to a motive force, such as the wind, the tail and neck depress, the head extends forward and the assembly appears to be that of a bird rapidly advancing over the ground. Bird leg simulations add to the effect. Wind driven representations of legs further heighten the effect.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for capturing the torque produced by a torsional drive system for testing the rigidity and strength of the components of the torsional drive. A lock bar is connected by a coupling to the torsional output shaft of the torsional drive system such that torque from the output shaft is transferred to the lock bar in such a manner as to transmit no harmful thrust, bending or other random forces to the drive coupling or reducer. The lock bar is rigidly connected to the base of the torsional drive system but a flexible coupling can be used which permits parallel offset and/or angular misalignment between the output shaft and the lock bar. The lock bar transfers the torque to the base of the torsional drive system thereby capturing the torque within the drive system.

Abstract: A measuring device for contact-free measuring of a rotation angle and/or torque of shaft comprises two coaxial bodies fastened on shaft stubs and rotatable relative to one another. The bodies have on their adjacent outer surfaces an equal number of areas having high and low electrical conductivity alternating in the circumferential direction. The bodies are enclosed by coils connected in a Wheatstone bridge circuit. A high-frequency alternating current flows through the coils and produces a magnetic alternating field which generates eddy currents in the outer surface areas of the two bodies in proportion to the magnitude of the surfaces of the two bodies penetrated by the magnetic alternating field.

Abstract: A multibeam structure measures displacement of one or more response elements to detect multiple components of applied force. The flexible beams are each coupled to a response element which may be displaced by a force arising from linear acceleration, angular acceleration, fluid flow, electric/magnetic/gravitational fields, and others sources. The displacement of the response element is detected with a variety of sensing methods including capacitive and piezoresistive sensing.

Abstract: A system is provided for determining the center of gravity of a body by providing a balance arm supported from a single pivot point, then positioning the body on the balance arm and measuring the rotation of the balance arm in two orthogonal planes. A disturbance weight is then added to the system at a known position, and the angle of rotation in the two planes is again measured. Using the known weights of the body and the disturbance weight, and the known distance of the disturbance weight from the pivot, and the measured angles, the precise location of the center of gravity of the body is determined by basic statics and standard trigonometry.

Abstract: A sensor comprises a tiny cantilever of a thin film having a detection region at its free end portion, a detector for detecting a displacement of the cantilever caused by material acting on the detecting region, and calculation unit for calculating an amount of the material acting on the detection region, based on the displacement of the cantilever which has been detected by the detector, thereby to measure the intensity of a particle-stream applied to the detection region or the thickness of a film formed on the detection region.

Abstract: A magnetic flowmeter generates an alternating potential representing flow. A controlled current excites the flowmeter with first and second amplitudes of current. A correction output represents the first and second amplitudes. A circuit connected to the correction output and the alternating potential oscillates at a frequency representing the alternating potential corrected for variation of the first and second amplitudes. Frequencies of the oscillations at first and second amplitudes are measured. An output is calculated as a function of a subtraction of the first and second measured frequencies such that the effect of offset is reduced.

Abstract: A pivot pin including a hollow tubular sleeve having open ends for encircling a removable load cell having strain gauges attached thereto for measuring loads on a pivot joint. When loads are placed on a pivot joint the load cell will deflect and its deflections are detected by a strain gauge which measures the axial deflection of the load cell.

Abstract: An elastic force reducing balance and dynamometer comprising a primary spring and a secondary spring which are stressed by bending when an input force is exerted. In at least one of the primary and secondary springs, at least one bar is formed which is stressed, at least partially, by torsion. In this manner, the overall creep of the balance and dynamometer is substantially reduced or eliminated.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring the normal force (F.sub.n) exerted on a pin by a receptacle contact. The normal force measuring transducer (20) has a support beam (34) and a sensing beam (50). Sensing beam (50) has a monocrystalline silicon element (30) and may include beam element (40). Piezoresistive elements (E.sub.1, E.sub.2, E.sub.3 and E.sub.4) are atomically bonded to element (30) using techniques of solid state diffusion. Fine lines (76) of conductive material interconnect the piezoresistive elements to connection pads (GP.sub.1, GP.sub.2, GP.sub.3 and GP.sub.4). The support beam (34) and sensing beam (50) have a deflecting space (70) therebetween and two supports (56,58) therealong. Normal force applied to the beams causes a change in the resistance of the piezoresistive elements indicative of the magnitude of the normal force.

Abstract: Calibration of a thread tensioning force meter on a texturing unit for a false twist machine was previously performed differently depending upon the direction of withdrawal, that is forwardly or rearwardly, of the thread from the texturing unit. The thread passes the tensioning force meter by passing over a spring biased support abutment connected with a meter. In the invention, the outlet past the tensioning force meter includes a withdrawal point and slightly upstream of that point a calibration point, which points are separated by a thread eye through which the thread passes. The location of the calibration point is selected with respect to the withdrawal point and with respect to the position of the abutment engaged by the thread that regardless of whether the thread is withdrawn forwardly or rearwardly of the meter, the thread continuously contacts the calibration point. In one direction of withdrawal, the thread only contacts the calibration point.

Abstract: A force transducer which uses current pulses in a conductor to generate acoustic pulses in a magnetostrictive delay line. The pulses are sensed by a coil around the line. The magnitude of the pulses is modified by force applied to the transducer by changing the shielding effect of a magnetoelastic ribbon (between the conductor and the delay line) by applying a force to be sensed thereto. The transducers are economic and easily assembled into arrays for sensing stress distribution in two dimensions because the common conductors can be used for the columns of the array and common delay lines can be used for the array rows. Each column then has a common current-pulse generator and each row has a common detector coil. A similar technique may be used for sensing the spatial distribution of other parameters such as temperature, magnetic field or displacement.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the power output of a gas turbine engine utilizes a speed sensor coupled to the engine shaft and a signal developed by a pyrometer coupled to the engine turbine for determining engine temperature. The speed sensor is normally provided in the engine for determining shaft speed and is part of the control system for the engine. The pyrometer is provided also as part of the control system to monitor gas turbine temperatures. A signal from the speed sensor derived from a toothed wheel passing adjacent the sensor is processed to obtain a train of pulse signals representative of angular rotation of the engine shaft. The pyrometer is mounted adjacent at least one of the turbine disks of the engine for detecting instantaneous temperature of each blade of the turbine disk as it passes by the pyrometer. The signal developed by the pyrometer is therefore a signal having peaks corresponding to passage of each blade at the pyrometer.

Abstract: Phase differences generated between respective pairs of rotating members and stationary members mounted on the drive side and load side of a torque transmission shaft are converted into relative opening amounts produced by slits formed in the above pairs of rotating members and stationary members, respectively, and the opening amounts are detected by two opening amount transducers and converted into electric signals. The torque transmitted to the torque transmission shaft is measured by detecting relative phase differences between both rotating members from periodic changes in the outputs from these two opening amount transducers.

Abstract: A visually enhanced weather vane apparatus (10) for producing a pair of different and sequential pictorial representations (26) on opposite sides of the apparatus (10) by virtue of a plurality of interconnected visual segment units (12) being rotatably suspended within a framework member (16) wherein the visual segment units (12) are operatively and rotatably connected to the drive gear of a drive axle (31) powered by a wind driven propeller (30).

Abstract: An apparatus for the measurement of the drive torque exerted on a drivable wheel and/or parameters associated therewith in which the measurement parameters are determined in dependence on the relative rotation of two parts disposed in the drive and the relative rotation is mechanically multiplied and increased prior to forming electrical measurement values.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor for measuring three components of force and three components of moment. This sensor is comprised of one unitary mechanical piece comprising two end faces (1, 2) able to be secured respectively to a body generating forces and moments and to a reference body, and a central portion (7) comprising six beams (8) provided with means (12) for measuring deformations, arranged according to a closed triangular architecture between the two end faces (1, 2).

Abstract: A torque detecting apparatus comprises an annular bobbinless sensor coil disposed on a rotatable shaft, and a position adjustable, non-ferromagnetic metal core member disposed adjacent the sensor coil. When the shaft is twisted, the core member moves in a hollow space defined by the sensor coil to thereby change inductance thereof in accordance with angular displacement between the sensor coil and the core member. A detecting part is disposed in opposition to a solenoid coil wound on the shaft with a gap therebetween for detecting the angular displacement in terms of a change in an oscillation frequency. A sensor set is constituted by the sensor coil and the metal core. A pair of sensor sets may be disposed, wherein one sensor set is so connected that inductance of the associated sensor coil is decreased while the other sensor set is so connected that inductance of the associated sensor coil is increased. Difference or ratio between the two oscillation frequencies may be inputted to a resonance circuit.

Abstract: A strain detector wherein external and internal magnetic fields are magnetically separated from each other to eliminate an influence of such disturbance magnetic field to assure accurate and stabilized detection of strain in a drive shaft. The detector comprises a magnetic layer made of a soft magnetic material having a high permeability and suitable magnetostriction fixedly mounted on an outer periphery of a driven shaft, a pair of bearings or bearing stands made of a soft magnetic material having a high permeability for supporting the driven shaft for rotation thereon, a detecting coil disposed around the magnetic layer for detecting a variation of the permeability of the magnetic layer arising from strain of the magnetic layer caused by an external force applied to the driven shaft, and a shield disposed on an outer periphery of the detecting coil and magnetically connected at the axial opposite end portions thereof to the bearings or bearing stands.

Abstract: The measuring tube is for an electromagnetic flow meter and has a tube member made of a non-magnetic material that is provided with opposite through passages that have electrodes extended therethrough. An insulating lining of an enamel priming layer coats the inner surface of the tube member and fills the gaps between the electrodes and the tube member surfaces defining the through passages, the lining also including an covering enamel layer covering the priming layer surface that is within the tube member interior. The end faces of the electrodes that are in the tube member interior have the enamel material cleared therefrom. The priming layer may be formed by filling the tube member with a priming enamel slip, pouring out the slip material, cleaning the electrode end surfaces that are within the tube member interior and then heating to melt the slip material and then cooling. The covering layer may be formed by the same steps.