Abstract: A torque detecting device includes a first rotary member connected to an input shaft and a second rotary member connected to an output shaft and arranged coaxially with the first rotary member. An elastic member is sandwiched between the first rotary member and the second rotary member and deforms according to the torque acting thereon. A sensor is arranged confronting the first and second rotary members to detect their rotational phases and a torque computer computes the torque by determining the rotational phase difference between the first and second rotary members from the rotational phases as detected by the sensor.

Abstract: A torque sensor is provided for measuring the amount of torque being applied to a rotatable shaft fitted with a torsion bar between two separate shaft segments. The sensor includes first rotor attached to a first shaft segment such that angular rotation of the first segment is translated to the rotor. A second rotor is attached to the second shaft segment such that angular rotation the second shaft segment is translated to the second rotor. The first rotor supplies two pairs of signal voltage references circumferentially spaced around a surface of the first rotor. At least one resistive track having a uniform linear resistance extends between the voltage signal references of each pair. A pair of contact carriers are positioned between the first and second rotors. Surface features formed in the contact carriers and the first rotor couple the contact carriers to the first rotor such that the contact carriers are constrained to move anullarly around the central axis of rotation of the first rotor.

Abstract: Generally, the invention can be used to strike an object with an implement. Two applications for which the invention is particularly useful are hitting a golf ball with a golf club, and hitting a baseball or softball with a baseball bat. The invention can be used to, for instance, test an implement (e.g., golf club or baseball bat) used to strike an object (e.g., golf ball or baseball), either to verify acceptable performance of the implement, or to provide information regarding the performance of the implement to assist in the further design of the implement. The invention can also be used to test the object (e.g., golf ball or baseball) being struck. Additionally, when the invention is used to hit a baseball or softball, the invention can be used to hit balls to enable one or more players to engage in fielding practice.

Abstract: A force sensor is provided with a two piece actuation system. A first actuator is disposed in contact with the pressure sensitive component and a second actuator is disposed in contact with the first actuator. When an external force is exerted against a distal end of the second actuator, for force is transmitted through the second actuator to the first actuator. The force is then transmitted through the first actuator to the pressure sensitive component. By using a two piece actuation system, the first actuator can be maintained at a constant location in contact with a position on the pressure sensitive component. This position will not vary even when the second actuator is moved or tilted. An elastomeric plate can be used to retain the first actuator in a constant position relative to the pressure sensitive component.

Abstract: A gas pressure regulator includes a pressure regulator for connection to a source of high pressure gas, and flow meter or flow regulator that selectively varies the flow rate of delivered gas. The flow meter includes a ring with orifices of varying sizes radially spaced about a ring, with each orifice corresponding to a predetermined flow rate. A manually rotatable cap has a central axial bore and a spool extends through the aperture in both the ring and the central bore of the cap to secure them to the base of the flow meter. The spool has a shoulder which engages the ring to limit longitudinal displacement thereof. The spool also includes at least one bore extending through the shoulder. The bore communicates on one side with the delivered gas of the flow meter and on the other side with a nozzle extending along the axis from the end of the flow meter. Gas is delivered at the selected flow rate directly from the end of the flow meter, rather than from a transverse side.

Abstract: A motor vehicle body is adapted for use on railroad tracks by being elevated by "high rail" unit steel wheels, but with the motive force being supplied by the vehicle's road wheels, a loaded gage axle assembly having vertical loads imposed by hydraulic rams, and horizontal loads being supplied by horizontal rams through split axles and steel wheels to the railroad tracks is calibrated to measure track strength and adapted to be operatively connected to electronic data recording and comparing apparatus.

Abstract: An accurate real-time volume measurement of the blood content of a soft-shell venous reservoir is obtained by computing the volume from the weight of the blood in the reservoir modified by the hematocrit of the blood.

Abstract: An ultrasonic flowmeter for bidirectionally measuring the rate of flow of a fluid. Two spatially separated ultrasonic transducers alternately transmit and receive bursts of ultrasonic drive pulses through a fluid to be measured. A reference signal generator generates, for said bursts of drive pulses, reference transitions which occur controllable times after the beginnings of the bursts. A sampling signal generator generates sampling signals that define a plurality of sampling windows for use in timing the transitions of the received signal. The timing of the reference transition is dynamically adjusted so that the transitions of the received signal remain within respective sampling windows.

Abstract: The maximum full level is determined in a fuel tank of undetermined size using a fuel level sender referenced to the tank bottom. A minimum full value is selected for a given type of tank and when the sender signal goes below a percentage of that value and subsequently goes above the minimum full value, a fueling event is recognized and the current fuel sender value is adopted as the maximum full value. Where a heavily filtered signal is used to minimize the effects of fuel slosh, the maximum full value is subject to increasing to higher values occurring during a short period after fueling to allow recovery of the filtered signal. An empty value is calibrated before the vehicle is initially fueled. A maximum empty level is initially set and if a lower level is measured when the ignition is turned on, the lower level is set as the empty value. This calibration is terminated when the tank is fueled above the minimum full value.

Abstract: A method for passivating diamond films to substantially prevent them from oxidizing at temperatures up to 800.degree. C. in an oxygen atmosphere. The method involves depositing one or more passivating layers over the diamond film wherein one of the layers is nitride and the other layer is quartz. The passivation technique is directly applicable to diamond sensor pressure transducers and enable them to operate at temperatures above 800.degree. C. in oxygen environments. The passivation technique also provides an economical and simple method for patterning diamond films.

Abstract: A measurement optical fiber is placed into contact with a geological structure, and a reference optical fiber of about the same length is not contacted to the geological structure. An input beam of light is transmitted down the lengths of the measurement and reference optical fibers, and the interference fringes formed between the reflected beams in the two optical fibers are counted to determine the geological displacement, and thence the geologic strain, experienced by the measurement optical fiber. Preferably, multiple pairs of the measurement and reference optical fibers are used, the optical fibers of the various pairs being of different lengths. The difference in displacement measured by any two pairs is a measure of the geological strain in the region between the ends of the two pairs. The multiple pairs are conveniently provided in two optical fiber cables, a measurement cable which contacts the geological structure and a reference cable which extends parallel and adjacent to the measurement cable.

Abstract: A magnetoinductive flow meter with a measuring tube, an electromagnet device with at least one electric conductor loop arrangement for generating a magnetic field penetrating the measuring tube at right angles to the longitudinal axis thereof, and at least two measuring electrodes, which are arranged opposite one another at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the measuring tube in such a way that they can be used to tap a measuring voltage induced owing to the flow, proceeding at right angles to the magnetic field, of a liquid flowing through the measuring tube. The electric conductor loop arrangement has an electrically conductive sheet-metal part which is fitted on the inner side or on the outer side of the body of the measuring tube and is provided with at least one cutout as inner boundary of the conductor loop current path running around the cutout in the sheet-metal material.

Abstract: An in-ground receptacle for a fluid meter and/or a valve, comprising a continuous wall defining a chamber for the meter and/or valve. The wall is molded in three layers comprising smooth inner and outer layers of plastic with an intermediate plastic layer having high insulative characteristics. The receptacle is provided at its upper end with an appropriate openable closure, substantially at ground level, and permitting inspection of and access to the meter and/or valve. The receptacle has an annular interior rim near its upper end. The rim supports an insulative pad at the top of the receptacle beneath the openable closure therefor. The pad has a removable center portion enabling inspection and access to the fluid meter and/or valve. The construction of the receptacle is such as to prevent freezing of the fluid meter and/or valve.

Abstract: A dynamometer for determining a force applied by a human has a pulling element adapted to be pulled by a user, an indicating device indicating a force applied by a user to the pulling element, a transmission element for connecting the pulling element with the indicating means so that the indicating device indicate the force in response to the application of force by a user to the pulling element, and a recorder for recording a course of changes of the force over time and connected with the transmission element.

Abstract: A strain gage device that includes a split collar having a pair of hinged half sections arranged to close in pressure contact against a structural member bearing a strain inducing load. Each half section further contains a flexible ligament that is held in pressure contact against the member when the collar is closed. Strain gages are mounted on the back side of each ligament for sensing the amount of strain experienced by the structural member.

Abstract: Refining apparatus is disclosed including a pair of relatively rotatable refining disks including radial refining bars extending along at least part of the refining gap between those disks, and at least one of the refining bars comprising a sensor bar including strain gauges for sensing the load exerted thereon during refining at a number of points along the sensor bar.

Abstract: The integrated micromechanical sensor device contains a body with a substrate (1) on which an insulating layer (2) and thereon a monocrystalline silicon layer (3), are arranged, in which the silicon layer has trenches as far as the surface of the insulating layer, and the side walls of the trenches as well as the side of the silicon layer adjacent to the insulating layer have a first doping type (n.sup.+) and the silicon layer has a second doping type (n.sup.-) at least in a partial region of its remaining surface, in which the silicon layer has a transistor arrangement in a first region (TB) and a sensor arrangement in a second region (SB), for which the insulating layer (2) is partly removed under the second region. Such a sensor device has considerable advantages over known devices with regard to its properties and its production process.

Abstract: A method for controlling a tension of a metal strip in a heat treatment furnace, comprising (a) travelling the metal strip through a plurality of tapered rolls; (b) measuring a tension (.sigma.) working on the metal strip through at least one of the tapered rolls; (c) computing a critical tension (.sigma..sub.cr) which generates heat buckle based on a thickness of the metal strip, a width of the metal strip, an elastic modulus of the metal strip, a length of a flat roll portion and a roll taper under a hot state; and (d) controlling the tension measured by the step (b) to be over a tension (.sigma..sub.min) sufficient to prevent transverse displacement but less than the critical tension (.sigma..sub.cr) which generates heat buckle. The critical tension (.sigma..sub.cr) which generates heat buckle is calculated by the equation: .sigma..sub.cr =K.multidot.t.sup.A .multidot.(W-FL).sup.B .multidot..theta..sub.h.sup.c .multidot.

Abstract: In a moisture sensor in which electrodes are applied to a non-conductive support, preferably the windshield of a motor vehicle, and in which the resistance between the electrodes is a function of the quantity of moisture present on the support and on the electrodes, the electrodes consist of conductive paths of high electrical conductivity which are covered by a resistance layer of low electrical conductivity.

Abstract: Accelerated impact testing apparatus which simulates the dynamic strain in golf clubs, shafts and other specimens by rapidly transferring kinetic energy to the specimen from an instrumented tup that is free to rebound. The specimen is held in place by two holding fixtures uniquely designed to provide the appropriate boundary and support conditions for the transient strain to propagate in a manner similar to that of the actual application e.g. a golf club striking a ball. Force applied to the tup is generated by compressing a spring to a predetermined length and releasing its energy through a rapidly actuated latch. Actual force applied as a function of time is measured by a load cell located in the tup and the tup velocity just prior to impact is computed from a velocity sensor signal. Acceleration of the impact event is also recorded as well as strain levels in the shaft.