Abstract: A force sensor having a substrate for measuring forces is provided, on which substrate a first path and a second path for travel of acoustic surface waves are arranged. The two paths are arranged essentially parallel to one another and their lengths are different. An effect of a force on the substrate is detectable by measuring a time needed for an acoustic surface wave to travel at least one of the first and second paths.

Abstract: A circuit board, which includes one or more sensors, is integrated in a fluid control device, such as a valve manifold and a base plate. The fluid control device selectively directs a fluid used to control pneumatic or hydraulic equipment. The sensors are used to measure physical characteristics of the fluid, such as flow rate, pressure, and temperature.

Abstract: The invention is an apparatus and method for testing the residual seal force of the closure of a container, particularly a container for parenteral pharmaceutical products. An automated and instrumented press collects stress and strain data for a closure of a container for parenteral pharmaceutical products. An algorithm is automatically applied to the resulting data set, determining candidate residual seal forces for several data smoothing spans. Confidence levels are determined for each of the candidate residual seal forces. The candidate residual seal force corresponding to the highest confidence level is selected. The process is repeated and the results averaged to determine a final residual seal force.

Abstract: A moisture sensing device for detecting moisture on a moisture collecting surface including an air pump for accelerating the formation of moisture on the moisture collecting surface. The moisture sensing device includes a moisture sensor that is operably positionable relative to a moisture collecting surface. The device also includes an air pump for accelerating the formation of moisture on the moisture collecting surface. A small pump can direct a flow of air over the moisture collecting surface to accelerate the formation of moisture through condensation.

Abstract: A vortex flow meter has a vortex shedder that spans a diameter or other chord of a fluid-guiding pipe, and protrudes partially externally through two opposed openings in the pipe wall. The vortex shedder includes two spaced-apart mounting pads and an elongate portion spanning therebetween. At least one mounting pad includes a cavity for seating a sensor. One preferred practice of the invention inserts the shedder through the openings into the fluid-guiding pipe such that the elongate section resides within the flowing fluid and produces a stream of space-apart vortices, and the mounting pads protrude at least partially through the openings. The sensor produces electrical signals in response to the induced vortices, and an electronic module receives the electrical signals and calculates the flow velocity of the fluid based on the frequency of the electrical signals.

Abstract: A method for determining crack nucleation for a part subject to fretting fatigue. Fretting fatigue tests are performed on at least one test specimen having a material composition similar to the part. The results of the test are analyzed to determine a variation of stress intensity factor as a function of time which may be referred to as (Q{N}) for the test specimen. A relationship is then determined between (Q{N}) and crack nucleation (Ni) for the test specimen. A variation of stress intensity factor as a function of time (Q{N}) for the part is determined based on the operating conditions and loads of the part. The (Q{N}) for the part is then corresponded to the (Q{N}) for the test specimen to determine a crack nucleation value (Ni) for the part. In a preferred embodiment, a computer is programmed to conduct the analysis.

Abstract: A capacitive pressure transducer including a heater shell, a capacitive pressure sensor, an electronics assembly and a thermal barrier is presented. The sensor and the electronics assembly are disposed in the heater shell. The thermal barrier is also disposed in the heater shell and is disposed between the sensor and electronics assembly.

Abstract: A low profile transducer (11, 12) is provided for use in flow meter for pipes of small diameter. The transducer (11, 12) has a transducer (18) or other form of transducer which transmits and receives electrical signals of three volts and 1 MHz and converts between these electrical signals and acoustic waves. In one embodiment, the transducer (18) produces surface acoustic waves (SAW), while in another embodiment the transducer (32) produces plate waves known as Lamb waves. These waves are converted to bulk acoustic waves (BAW) transmitted between the pair of transducers (11, 12).

Abstract: A high strain rate tester for elastomeric materials used in sports balls includes a base on which a sample of the material is mounted and a striker which delivers an impact to the sample, preferably in the vertical direction. A load cell adjacent to the sample measures the reaction force of the impact from the sample and an optical detector measures the displacement of the sample in the vertical direction. The force and displacement measurements are processed to determine the time dependent strain of the material.

Abstract: An ultrasonic fluid flow meter (50) measures the flow speed of a fluid by measuring the time, in each direction, for a sequence of ultrasonic pulses (55) to pass between two transducers (54A,54B) positioned in a measuring tube (52) in the fluid flow path. The second and subsequent transmit pulses of each sequence are caused to start by the arrival of its predecessor at the detector end of the measuring tube. A first transmit pulse calculates a delay (110) to a zero crossing which is used to identify a particular zero crossing at which the arrival of each pulse in the sequence is determined.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device for measuring both the magnitude of rotation of a rotating magnetic field as well as the direction of rotation of a rotating magnetic field. The present invention may be used to measure the magnitude and direction of fluid flow by converting the kinetic energy of a moving fluid into a rotating magnetic field. At least two stationary sensors are placed in the magnetic field to detect the resulting changes in magnetic flux polarity occurring and provide therefrom a determination of the magnitude and direction of fluid flow.

Abstract: A strainer integrated flowmeter 210 is constituted by a strainer section 203 provided with a housing 202 having a flow passage 207 formed therein, a filter member 209 and a filter member insertion cylinder 210; and a flowmeter section 204 provided with a housing 202 having a flow passage 208 formed therein and a flow rate sensor 226. The housings 202 of both the strainer section 203 and flowmeter section 204 are integrated, and the flowmeter section 204 is disposed at downstream side. A vent hole 215 is formed in the housing 202 so as to be in communication with the flow passage 207.

Abstract: A flowmeter based on the pressure difference across a flow resistance element which is an array of surfaces generally parallel to the flow direction, which is operated such that over at least part of its range the Reynolds number is larger than the traditional limiting Reynolds number for laminar flow of approximately 2000. Also, the L/D ratio is shorter than in a traditional laminar flow element, so that for at least part of its range its operation is determined by the behavior of boundary layers forming on those surfaces. Such a flow resistance element provides a pressure drop vs. flowrate relationship which over a wide range of flow conditions is less steep than quadratic. This allows a larger flowrate turndown ratio for a given range of differential pressure measurement. The flowmeter may additionally comprise other sensors and a microprocessor.

Abstract: A tire pressure gauge apparatus for securing to a vehicle tire valve stem mounted to a tire valve stem port in a vehicle tire includes an apparatus housing containing a received air chamber for placement in fluid communication with received air from within a vehicle tire and containing a biasing air chamber containing a fixed quantity of biasing air, the chambers being sealingly separated from each other by a pressure equilibration structure which includes a pressure indicator element, the pressure equilibration structure moving within the housing to alter the relative volumes of the two chambers and thus to equalize the pressures of the two chambers, and the pressure indicator element moving relative to the apparatus housing as the equilibration structure moves to equalize chamber pressures to display a tire pressure reading.

Abstract: A thermal mass flow sensor having superior sensitivity and response time includes a flow sensor tube defining an interior channel for fluid flow between input and output ends, a heating element in thermal communication with a portion of the flow sensor tube for heating a fluid flowing through the tube, a pair of spatially compact thermal sensors located at the upstream and downstream ends of the heating element for sensing the temperature of the fluid flowing through the tube at their respective locations and providing a signal representative of the fluid temperature at those locations, and a pair of thermal grounding members on the flow sensor tube, yet positioned at specified locations substantially beyond the heated portion of the tube, for establishing reference temperatures for the fluid flowing therethrough at those locations.

Abstract: A condition sensor of pneumatic tire is configured to be attached on a pneumatic tire of a vehicle, and the pneumatic tire has a rim with a rim bed. The condition sensor comprises a sensor circuit for detecting the condition of the tire, a power source for supplying the sensor circuit with electric power; and a housing having a cover portion and a base portion, in which the base portion is used to receive the sensor circuit and the power source. The cover portion is provided with an arc-concave surface having a convexity, in which the arc-concave surface is in arc-line contact with the rim bed and the convexity can be used to adjust the relationship position between the housing and the rim bed.

Abstract: A Coriolis mass flowmeter of a type in which a fluid to be measured is caused to flow in series by forming two parallel flow tubes 1 and 2, which are obtained by bending one conduit. The inlet portion of conduit between an external connecting portion 35 connected to inlet piping and the inlet of one flow tube 2 is bent in the shape of the letter L and bent in another direction in combination, and the outlet portion of conduit between an external connecting portion 36 connected to outlet piping and the outlet of the other flow tube 1 is bent in the shape of the letter L symmetrically with respect to the above inlet portion of conduit and bent in another direction in combination. The external connecting portions 35 and 36 are arranged on the same axis. The present invention simplifies the construction of connection to external piping, simplifies the assembling of the Coriolis mass flowmeter itself, and permits a high-accuracy measurement of mass flow rate by reducing the vibrations of external piping, etc.

Abstract: A flow rate sensor for performing a flow rate detection of fluid with high accuracy without suffering adverse effect of the environmental temperature condition even when the fluid is viscous fluid having relatively high viscosity or the flow rate is relatively small is provided. The flow rate sensor includes a flow rate detector having a heating function and a temperature sensing function, and a pipe line for fluid to be detected which is formed so that heat from the flow rate detector is transferred to and absorbed by the fluid. The temperature sensing which is affected by a heat absorption effect of the fluid due to the heat is executed in the flow rate detector, and the flow rate of the fluid in the pipe line is detected on the basis of the temperature sensing result. Unit retaining portions formed on a casing in which the pipe line is formed, the unit retaining portions being disposed adjacent to the pipe line.

Abstract: A method of determining a degree of oil degradation in the diesel engine depending on an injection end point in such an injection way as to cause the injection 0end point to be earlier that a specific point (TB) and depending on the injection amount after the specific point and the injection end point in such an injection way as to cause the injection end point to be later than the specific point. In every fuel injection, it is judged whether the injection end point is set before or after the specific point, and a current injection degradation value is obtained by using a corresponding map. A cumulative added value is obtained to judge the oil degradation.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for measuring mass of hydrocarbons from point source contributions to overall hydrocarbon emissions from an automotive vehicle at rest.