Abstract: The present invention details several embodiments of a vessel speed measuring and indicating system, having a pressure intake port within a leading edge of a lower outboard portion of a vessel propulsion arrangement, which is structured to prevent debris, such as driftwood or the like, from entering and becoming lodged within the pressure intake port during operation of the vessel, so that the vessel speed can be accurately measured and displayed. The constructions detailed herein include a projection which is formed in the vicinity of the pressure intake port. The projection may be slightly above the pressure intake port, below the pressure intake port, or both above as well as below the pressure intake port.

Abstract: An elongate vessel containing a fluid is equipped with at least one and preferably a plurality of pressure transducers spaced apart longitudinally along the vessel that can sense disturbances in the fluid. A projectile launcher, which is typically a gun, is positioned such that the projectile launcher can be discharged to launch a projectile into the fluid. The pressure transducer(s) will sense the disturbance created in the fluid as the projectile passes through. A computer connected to the pressure transducers will process the output of the pressure transducers creating a response curve which is related to the energy dissipation of the projectile.

Abstract: This invention relates to a shock and impact testing apparatus for subjecting items under test, such as a motor vehicle crash sensor, to an acceleration pulse of a prescribed amplitude and shape, such as a half sine or haversine. The apparatus includes a stationary support providing a pivot point, a swivel arm mounted for rotational movement about the pivot point and an electric motor, arranged on the stationary support and mechanically coupled to the swivel arm, for rotating the swivel arm at a desired, prescribed speed. The arm has a free end for the attachment of the test object so that the test object is moved at the prescribed speed along a given path. A mechanical spring is arranged in this path for reversing the direction of motion of the test object, thereby imparting an acceleration pulse to the test object of a prescribed shape.

Abstract: A torque sensor comprises a magnetoelastically active element, and a magnetic sensor, such as a Hall effect sensor, responsive to the field of the magnetoelastically active portion. In the preferred embodiment, the magnetoelastically active portion comprises a ring of material endowed with an effective uniaxial magnetic anisotropy such that the circumferential direction is the easy axis, and magnetically polarized in a substantially circumferential direction. The ring is attached to the torqued member, such as a rotating shaft, so that application of a torque to the shaft is transmitted to the ring. The torque on the ring reorients the circumferential magnetic orientation of the ring, producing a helical magnetic orientation having both circumferential and axial components. A magnetic field vector sensor is mounted on a flux collector in a fixed position relative to the ring and oriented so that it responds to the field arising from the axial component of the magnetization within the ring.

Abstract: A pressure transducer is provided with a housing member that attaches to a rigid and generally planar member, such as a ceramic circuit board. The legs of the housing member can pass through holes in the circuit board or, alternatively, can attach to edges thereof. The legs of the housing are provided with bails which have steps shaped to seize the circuit board after the legs are flexed to permit insertion of the board between them. The housing is provided with an opening that is shaped to receive a media seal, a pressure sensor die and a conductive seal between a surface of the opening and a surface of the ceramic circuit board. When the circuit board is attached to the housing, the seals and the pressure sensor die are compressed therebetween to provide good fluid sealing association between the components and to also provide electrical communication between components on the pressure sensor die and components on the circuit board.

Abstract: A semiconductor sensor (10) is built into a cable connector to provide rapid and reliable attachment of the semiconductor sensor (10) into a monitoring or control system. The sensor (10) is mounted in a package (11) having cable connector leads (12, 13, 14) extending through the package (11). The semiconductor sensor (10) is electrically attached to the cable connector leads (12, 13, 14). A housing (20,30) surrounds the package (11) and provides a protective shroud for the cable connector leads (12, 13, 14).

Abstract: Methods and compositions for measuring the pressure of an oxygen-containing gas on an aerodynamic surface, by oxygen-quenching of luminescence of molecular sensors is disclosed. Objects are coated with luminescent films containing a first sensor and at least one of two additional sensors, each of the sensors having luminescences that have different dependencies on temperature and oxygen pressure. Methods and compositions are also provided for improving pressure measurements (qualitative or quantitive) on surfaces coated with a film having one or more types of sensor.

Abstract: A micromachined capacitor structure having a first anchor (12) attached to the substrate (24), a tether (13) coupled to the anchor (12) and having a portion free to move in a lateral direction over the substrate (24) in response to acceleration. A tie-bar (14) is coupled to the movable portion of the tether (13), and at least one movable capacitor plate (16) is coupled to the tie bar (13). A first fixed capacitor plate (16) is attached to the substrate (24) laterally overlapping and vertically spaced from the at least one movable capacitor plate (16).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring a physical quantity, property or condition and for transmitting a code representing the measured physical quantity, property or condition. The method includes the steps of developing a first signal in response to a physical quantity, property or condition, sampling the first signal to produce an instantaneous first signal value, assigning a first code to the instantaneous first signal value, and transmitting the first code for reception by a receiver. The method and apparatus are explained in connection with a vehicle tire monitoring apparatus wherein plurality of tire units measure tire pressures and temperatures and transmit values representing pressure and temperature to a central receiver located in a cab portion of the vehicle.

Abstract: A pressure indication device comprises a housing including a bore in which is received a slidable piston. The piston has two end faces, one of which is for connection to a source of fluid at higher pressure and the other of which is for connection to a source of fluid at lower pressure. The device produces an indication when the pressure differential reaches a predetermined value. In an inoperative position of the piston, a portion of the upstream face co-operates with the bore to provide a face seal which reduces leakage between the bore and the piston and which also reduces the effective area of the upstream face. In addition, a labyrinth seal is provided between the bore and the piston. When the predetermined pressure is reached, the piston moves, and as it does so, the effective area of the upstream face is increased.

Abstract: An improved dead weight piston pressure measurement/calibration device includes a cylinder and a dead weight piston assembly that includes a piston rotatable and vertically in the cylinder, bell housing supported by the piston and carrying a number of calibration weights. The weight of the dead weight piston assembly initially is supported by an elastic stop device. Gas from an external source is rapidly forced into the cylinder until the dead weight piston assembly rises in an "elastic" zone defined by the elastic stop device. Such movement is sensed to "proportionally" reduce the rate of flow of gas and stabilize the position of the piston in the second element in a free-floating equilibrium condition, and actuate a drive mechanism that rotates the dead weight piston assembly and maintains the rotation rate in a defined range without producing any sustained vertical or radial displacement forces on the dead weight piston assembly, and thereby avoiding pressure overshoot.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a air data sensing probe that has a cylindrical barrel joined to a contoured strut section. The strut has leading and trailing edges formed along curved paths, and supports the cylindrical barrel at a position spaced from a mounting surface and facing upstream of relative air movement. The strut has a rounded leading edge, and is generally ogival-shaped in cross-section. There is a blended, relatively quickly-changing transition section to blend the trailing end of the cylindrical barrel into the ogival-shaped strut section so that the probe has reduced weight of the strut and drag, and through reduction of the cross-sectional area and rounding the strut leading edge, has enhanced anti-icing performance.

Abstract: In a vortex chamber flow meter, a bearingless annular rotor rotates about an axis in a cylindrical operating chamber. The chamber is enclosed in a jet ring within a meter housing. Liquid enters the housing and flows to a plurality of circumferentially spaced ports in the jet ring, directing flow through conduits into the vortex operating chamber tangentially. Liquid flow exits the vortex chamber axially through a central aperture. Optical sensing means respond to markings on the surface of a rotor moving past a selected position. The meter is constructed to effectively offset the entry of the liquid into the vortex chamber. The centerlines of the ports define a plane which is positioned to be off center from a plane bisecting the vortex chamber in the axial degree of freedom. The offset is in an axial direction away from the exit.

Abstract: In a tire uniformity machine of the type wherein a loadwheel is received on a carriage slidably mounted on the machine frame for movement toward and away from the tire, the frame and the carriage are interconnected by mounting plates, one attached to the frame and one attached to the carriage, and interconnected by precision anti-friction flatway linear motion bearings of the type characterized by cross rollers or balls mounted in anti-friction ways so as to facilitate movement of the carriage and stability thereof in two axes to insure precise positioning of the loadwheel relatively of the tire.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing an integratable capacitative pressure sensor includes the following steps, starting from a semiconductor substrate (1): application of a guard film (2), precipitation of a polycrystalline semiconductor film (4), doping the polycrystalline semiconductor film (4) and removal of the guard film (2) by etching; then insulating the semiconductor zone (7) from the semiconductor substrate (1), and applying an insulator film (8) on the insulated semiconductor zone (7). The pressure sensor product, which is compatible with CMOS circuits and has increased sensor accuracy, includes a semiconductor zone (7) insulated from the semiconductor substrate (1) and an insulator film (8) applied on the insulated semiconductor zone (7), the polycrystalline semiconductor film (4) being located on the insulator film (8) above the insulated semiconductor zone (7).

Abstract: A three axis attitude orientation system for a spacecraft in orbit which employs a single UV sensor. The single sensor provides roll and pitch information by locating the centroid of the earth and using this as a reference point. The system determines yaw by tracking the position of stars which appear in the field of view around the earth. Three axis attitude is determined through ultraviolet imaging of the earth's limb and adjacent stars. A non-conventional wide angle optics assembly and intensified CCD array are utilized for this purpose.

Abstract: An optical pressure transducer includes a body for supporting therein both an input optical fiber and an output optical fiber. A light source generates input light to the input optical fiber. A force responsive diaphragm is secured to the body and deflects in response to sensed pressure. A fixed reflector and a moveable reflector, which is attached to and moves with the diaphragm, are disposed in the optical path between the input and output optical fibers and reflect at least a portion of the input light from the input optical fiber to the output optical fiber. The amount of light reflected depends upon the deflection of the diaphragm. A system for monitoring and controlling the light source, including an optical detector in a feedback arrangement, is provided such that the amount of light generated by the light source remains constant and maximized.

Abstract: An optical frequency division multiplexing network includes first optical communication paths connected to terminals, respectively, a second optical communication path connected to the outside and a node composed of a selection unit for selecting signals having optical frequencies to be sent to the plurality of terminals, respectively, from signals transmitted through the second optical communication path in optical frequency division multiplexing, a conversion unit for converting the selected signals into signals having a single optical frequency and an output unit for producing the converted signals to the terminals through the first optical communication paths, respectively.

Abstract: An air data sensor (10) for mounting on an air vehicle (14), the outer end (11) is spaced outwardly from a surface of the air vehicle (14), a mounting base (12) and an outer end (11) which is provided with sensing ports (21, 22) for sensing air data parameters, the body (32) of the sensor (10) is made so that when viewed in the bisecting plane of the body (32), the inner and outer edges (34, 36) of the body curve continuously from the outer end (11) to the base (12). These edges (34, 36) diverge from adjacent to the outer end (11) to the base (12) to provide a very smooth streamlined probe (10) which tends to reduce drag.

Abstract: A three axis attitude orientation system for a spacecraft in orbit which employs a single UV sensor. The single sensor provides roll and pitch information by locating the centroid of the earth and using this as a reference point. The system determines yaw by tracking the position of stars which appear in the field of view around the earth. three axis attitude is determined through ultraviolet imaging of the earth's limb and adjacent stars. A non-conventional wide angle optics assembly and intensified CCD array are utilized for this purpose.