Abstract: A device to measure the tension of the stringing of rackets used for playing tennis, squash, etc. which entails an end area to strike the said stringing and another adjacent area which includes a multiple diapason or tuning device. On striking the stringing, and depending on the tension of the strings, one tooth of the multiple diapason vibrates, thus providing a signal which can later be measured or digitalized to provide a measurement of the tension of the stringing.

Abstract: A joint including an elastic connecting device includes a rigid element and a rigid outer element receiving the rigid inner element such that the rigid inner element is movable with respect to the rigid outer element. The rigid inner element and the rigid outer element have respective outer and inner facing surfaces. A bore is disposed in one of the rigid inner element and the rigid outer element, and the bore opens to one of the respective outer and inner facing surfaces. A force/pressure sensing arrangement is disposed in the bore, and a substantially incompressible fluid is sealed in the bore. Elastomeric material is disposed between the rigid outer element and the rigid inner element in force/pressure transmission contact with the force/pressure sensing arrangement.

Abstract: The invention relates to a torque measuring instrument including first and second parts that rotate relative to one another upon torque transmission, the relative rotation of which is transformed by forklike levers into an axial displacement of an adjusting ring. The forklike lever is combined with the first and second parts into a single cast part.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer socket assembly for simultaneously tightening a bolt and measuring bolt load. A pole adaptor rigidly attached to a driving socket for engaging and driving a bolt has a stationary cylinder mounted therein. A second cylinder rotatably and slidably received in the stationary cylinder has an ultrasonic transducer pivotally mounted at one end that contacts the bolt to be tightened when the socket is engaged with the bolt. The rotating cylinder and transducer are rotated approximately 180 degrees during engagement of the socket and bolt to smear an even couplant layer between the bolt and transducer to assure consistent measurements of bolt load during tightening.

Abstract: A load measuring apparatus is, in preferred embodiments, pre-assembled in a ready-to-use, portable assembly and comprises a load bearing body providing a deformable link between a shaft housing (such as a valve operator) and a shaft which moves relative to the housing, and which deformable, load bearing body functions as the support for a shaft engaging element of the invented device; and also comprises strain gauges measuring the deformation of the load bearing body, which deformation is related to the thrust of the shaft; load measuring apparatus operating in association with a signal conditioning device and display/recording device by which measurements are conveyed and interpreted; in the preferred embodiment, the load measuring apparatus includes an overload shear washer incorporated to prevent damage to the shaft housing by shearing away and allowing continued, unblocked movement of the shaft.

Abstract: For flow rate measurement by means of ultrasonic waves, on a measuring tube two ultrasonic transducers are arranged spaced apart from each other, one operating as transmitting transducer and the other as receiving transducer. For determining the flow rate the phase shift between the transmission signal and the reception signal is measured digitally in that the measuring time intervals corresponding to the phase shift the periods of a signal are counted with a counting frequency which is substantially greater than the frequency of the transmission signal. The start phase which the counting frequency signal has at the beginning of each counting operation with respect to the measuring time interval is varied from measuring time interval to measuring time interval in a measuring cycle including a plurality of successive measuring time intervals and the counts obtained in the course of the measuring cycle are evaluated to form a measured value with increased measurement resolution.

Abstract: A magnetoelastic torque transducer for providing an electrical signal indicative of the torque applied to a member, the member including ferromagnetic, magnetostrictive means affixed to, associated with or forming a part of the surface of the torqued member for altering in magnetic permeability in response to the application of torque to the member. The ferromagnetic, magnetostrictive means is advantageously formed of a thermally hardened or iron-nickel martensite hardenable steel alloy characterized by a substantially isotropic magnetostriction having an absolute value of at least 5 ppm and including from 0.05 to 0.75 percent by weight carbon and sufficient of one or more elements selected from Ni, Cr, Co, Ti, Al, Mn, Mo, Cu and B to raise the alloy magnetostriction to at least 5 ppm absolute. Preferably, the ferromagnetic, magnetostrictive means is formed of nickel maraging steel.

Abstract: A continuous rainwater monitoring device for effecting automatic chemical analysis of the rainwater. The device comprises, in addition to a funnel-shaped receiver-container, a rain gauge, a measurement and analysis means, and an automatic recorder, the following: a showering ring disposed above the receiver-container and supplied with a cleaning water from a cleaning water source; a cleaning evaluation means including an electrical resistivity meter; and a rainfall sensor for detecting the commencements and ends of rainfalls. During the time when there is no rainfall, the receiver-container and the rain gauge are filled with cleaning water supplied from the cleaning water source via the showering ring.

Abstract: A method of inspection of structures in which a hammer capable of imparting a non-destructive impact to an object to be inspected and provided with a pressure sensor or an acceleration sensor is hit against the object and, from a signal then put out, a processed signal of the time during which the hammer is in contact with the object or of the waveform signal during such time is displayed, apparatus provided with a signal processing device for the measurement of the above time, and apparatus provided with a device for removing an impact driving force responsive to a signal put out when the hammer contacts the object, for the measurement.

Abstract: A measuring device for measuring the degree of tension of stringing in a racquet for tennis, squash etc. where string deflecting force and string deflection in response to the force are measured. The useful or real efficiency of a specific racquet can then be determined independently of the degree of elasticity of the material used for stringing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring torques developed along a rotating mechanical assembly comprising a rotating inner portion and a stationary outer portion. The rotating portion has an electrically-conductive flexing section fitted between two coaxial shafts in a configuration which varies radially in accordance with applied torque. The stationary portion comprises a plurality of conductive plates forming a surface concentric with and having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the rotating portion. The capacitance between the outer, nonrotating and inner, rotating portion varies with changes in the radial configuration of the rotating portion. Signal output varies approximately linearly with torque for small torques, nonlinearly for larger torques. The sensor is preferably surrounded by a conductive shell to minimize electrical interference from external sources.

Abstract: A torque sensor which includes two cylinders fixed to two shafts connected with each other through a torsion bar. The magnetic coupling state of the two cylinders is made variable corresponding to relative rotations of the two shafts. The magnetic coupling state thereof is detected by a coil impedance, which is indicative of a torque acting on the shafts. The two cylinders form at the opposite end edges thereof teeth provided with cutouts disposed circumferentially of the cylinders and are opposite to each other at portions of about half a width of each tooth. The two shafts are regulated by rotation so as to not put the teeth of the cylinders completely opposite or non-opposite to each other.

Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus and method for sensing a thrust load applied to a spindle of a machine tool. The object of the invention is to generate a signal representing the thrust load alone, exclusive of other forces such as frictional resistance within the spindlehead feeder, etc. so as to accurately measure the thrust load. According, to one disclosed embodiment, a first pressure sensor is arranged between a thrust bearing supporting the spindle and a surface on the spindle support and a second pressure sensor is arranged between a second surface on the spindle support and the machine tool frame. Each of the pressure sensors may be, for example, a piezo-electric film pressure sensor.

Abstract: A measuring apparatus for determining the mass-related characteristics of a body has a base which supports a receiving table for the body mounted so as to oscillate about an approximately vertical axis on either side of an angular equilibrium position to which the table is returned elastically. The base and the table are provided with an angular position detector and blocking elements. The base is supported by a movable structure which rests on a stand and is mounted so as to oscillate about an adjustable horizontal axis which intersects said vertical axis at an adjustable height on either side of a stable angular equilibrium position. The base and the movable structure are provided with a system for detecting angular position and with means for adjusting the height of the instantaneous horizontal axis of oscillation. The apparatus also has means for positioning and blocking the body with respect to the movable structure.

Abstract: A wind speed and wind direction signal generator includes first and second pulse signal generators each with a respective stator and rotor. The stator for each pulse generator has at least two stator coils mounted at a radial angle relative to each other in the direction of rotation of a rotor so that pulse signals excited on the stationary output lines of the two stator coils are phase shifted relative to each other at a phase detectable angle. The rotor has at least one permanent magnet with two poles spaced from each other for rotation relative to the respective stator coils and for exciting the pulse signals on the stator coil stationary output lines. First and second wind propellers are secured to the respective rotors and are oriented to compass directions at approximately 90.degree. defining a quadrant of a compass coordinate system. The wind propellers cause rotation of the respective rotors at respective frequencies proportional to first and second wind speed components.

Abstract: A strain gage assembly is secured between two initially longitudinal locations on the exterior of a flexible elongated member, such as a steel structural cable, or an electrical transmission cable, or a glass fiber optic communication cable, to thereafter upon the subsequent pre-stressing and/or the possible excessive straining of the cable, create an observable or transmittable reading of the excess tensile and torsional strain being sustained by the flexible elongated member. This assembly, in one embodiment, has an in line arrangement of a vibrating wire strain gage, the vibrating wire thereof secured to a calibrated coiled spring, in turn secured to an inner tube shaft, in turn telescopically fitted within an outer tube shaft, secured to the vibrating wire strain gage. Using two spaced securement means, this strain gage assembly is secured to the exterior of a flexible elongated member.

Abstract: A force sensing assembly and particularly one which is especially suitable for use as a pressure transducer is disclosed herein. This assembly includes at least one and preferably a stacked pair of resonating type force sensing devices supported from one end in a cantilvered fashion.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for recording the axial force exerted by a coupling device. This apparatus measures the pressure which the axial force exerts on an elastomer-type spring-like element and for this purpose a pressure sensor is mounted at a predetermined transfer shoulder between the elastomer-type spring-like element and the housing or the pull rod of the coupling device. As an alternative, the pressure sensor can be mounted in the elastomer-type spring-like element.

Abstract: A strain detector wherein the efficiency of a detecting coil is improved to improve the sensitivity of the strain detector. The strain detector comprises a magnetic layer made of a soft magnetic material having a high permeability and fixedly mounted on an outer periphery of a driven shaft strain of which is to be detected, and a detecting coil disposed around the magnetic layer with a gap left therebetween for detecting a variation of the permeability arising from strain of the magnetic layer caused by an external force applied to the driven shaft. The strain detector further comprises a metal layer made of a non-magnetic material having a high electric conductivity and disposed in the gap between the magnetic layer and the detecting coil. Or else, the detecting coil has a pair of coil portions connected to each other by way of an intermediate portion thereof, and an electric current flows in the same direction through the coil portions.

Abstract: A force detector for detecting forces exerted in axial directions or moments exerted about respective axes uses an origin as a working point in an XYZ three-axis coordinate system. Four bridge circuit portions on the upper surface of a substrate have resistance elements along positive and negative directions of the X and Y axes. The resistance elements have a property such that their electric resistances vary due to a mechanical deformation, and detection of a force is made by voltage variations so produced in the bridge circuits of the bridge circuit portions. A strain generative body is used in order to transmit an external force to the substrate. The strain generative body has a first flexible portion having a sufficient flexibility with respect to the Z axis direction and a second flexible portion having sufficient flexibility with respect to the directions perpendicular to the Z axis, thus permitting detection sensitivities with respect to each axis to be made uniform.