Abstract: An apparatus and method including a load cell mounting apparatus movably mounted on a load cell which applies either of two types of loads to the load cell as one type of load. The apparatus and method for applying either a tensile load or a compressive load to a load cell as a tensile load; and a tong assembly with such apparatus or in another aspect, for applying either a tensile load or a compressive load to a load cell as a compressive load; and, a tong assembly with such apparatus.

Abstract: A measurement system includes a housing 10 with a duct 11 having an inlet 13 and outlet 14. Fluid passes though a number of apertures 47 in a chamber 21 and then through a measuring tube 40 which incorporates extensions 41. Fluid exits via chamber 22 and its apertures 47 to outlet 14. Transducers 36,37 are provided in chambers 53,50 and have an acoustic path through the measuring tube. Control electronics cause the transducers to send a burst of signals in alternate directions through the tube to determine fluid speed.

Abstract: A device for measuring an angle of rotation or a torque of a rotating machine part includes a radially extending bending rod secured to the machine part for joint rotation therewith, first and second sleeve-shaped bodies secured at an end of the bending rod remote from an axis of the rotating machine part, in spaced relationship to each other, each of the first and second sleeve-shaped bodies having a plurality of slots equidistantly spaced from one another and offset circumferentially relative to the slots of another of the first and second sleeve-shaped bodies, and a third sleeve-shaped body having a plurality of equidistantly spaced slots and arranged between the first and second sleeve-shaped bodies. At least one coil is assigned to each of the first and second sleeve-shaped bodies.

Abstract: A strain gauge joystick with an enabling push-button comprises a support part (1). A thin-wall cylindric tube (5) is rigidly fixed, at a first extremity (4), to the supporting part (1). Strain gauges (8a-8d) are fixed on the tube near its first extremity (4). A hand lever (6) connected to the other extremity (7) of the tube transmits to the tube the radial force (9) exerted by a user, and also constitutes a push-button movable along the longitudinal axis (10) of the tube when activated by the user. A control device (13) accommodated inside the tube can be activated by the longitudinal displacement of the hand lever.

Abstract: An external electrode seal assembly (10) for magnetic flow meter tubes (12) is disclosed. The assembly includes a polymeric gasket (36) compressed between a head portion of an electrode (17) and an external seal area (18) of a ceramic tube (12). A stem portion (30) of the electrode extends from the head portion (28) to the interior wall (26) of the tube and is in contact with process fluid flowing through the tube. A clamp assembly (42) compresses the polymeric gasket (36) between the head portion (28) of the electrode (17) and the ceramic tube (12) to form the seal.

Abstract: A force and torque converter provides command signals representative of a translational applied force and an applied torque extending about an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis along which the translational force is applied. The apparatus comprises a body to which the force and torque are applied, first and second connecting means attached to the body, means for biasing the connecting means to a central position and sensor means comprising two sensor devices arranged to detect a displacement force in each of the first and second connecting means respectively and which respond to the applied translation force and also respond to the torque to resolve the torque into a force comprising two components. A very important embodiment of the invention is arranged to operate in three dimensions and to resolve any applied torque into a respective components related to three mutually perpendicular axes.

Abstract: A load cell having a loading flexure defining mounting slots for receiving the ends of a strain sensing beam. The strain sensing beam is an I-shaped member having a tapered width along its length and bearing pairs of strain gauges on the top and bottom sides. The strain sensing beam is mounted in the slots of the loading flexure with an amalgam. The thermal coefficients of expansion of the strain sensing beam, the strain gauges, and the amalgam are all matched to within a factor of 2 to provide an inherently thermally compensated load cell that is easily manufactured and free from hysteresis.

Abstract: An electromagnetic fluid flow transducer formed from an electromagnetic assembly having two electromagnet units and a tubular flow contact assembly to measure fluid flow velocity and fluid volume in ionic solutions. Each electromagnet unit includes a core and a winding on the core, and a housing maintains the electromagnet units and their cores and windings in a predetermined relationship with each other. A plurality of electrode receptacles are formed in the housing proximate the flux field created by the electromagnetic assembly. The tubular flow contact assembly includes a tubular member, and four conductive electrodes positioned in and extending from the internal surface of the tubular member where fluid flow occurs.

Abstract: A method for measuring the mass flow rate of liquid flow exiting a two phase (gas/liquid) feed nozzle. The method includes determining the Power Spectral Density from the output of a vibrational sensor (accelerometer or dynamic pressure sensor) in close proximity to the nozzle or in contact with the fluid within the nozzle in a frequency band that includes resonant peaks whose magnitude or area is strongly dependent on the mass flow rate of the liquid and which increases as the flow increases. Measurement of the area of the resonant peaks or of a band of frequencies that includes them can be correlated with the liquid flow and is insensitive to the gas flow.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring force applied to a blank resting on a tool supported by a tool holder includes a tubular piezoelectric body having a central aperture extending between a first end and a second end of the body, a plurality of legs attached to an outer surface of the body and each having a free end extending beyond the first end of the body, and an elongated tube extending through the central aperture of the body, a first end of the tube terminating between the first end of the body and the free ends of the legs. Indica are provided on an outer surface of the tube for indicating the position of the body in a cavity formed in a tool holder. An electrical cable has a pair of conductors electrically connected to the body for generating a sensor output signal. Potting compound is forced through an interior of the tube to encapsulate the legs, the body, the first end of the tube and the cable to retain the apparatus in the cavity.

Abstract: In a method for measuring the mass flow M of a fluid flowing through a pipe having a cross-sectional area A, the sound velocity c.sub.2 in the fluid is determined as well as the flow velocity v of the fluid by sing-around technique. Further, reflection technique is used which comprises measuring the amplitude both of an ultrasonic pulse which has been reflected in a boundary between a first and a second material having different acoustic impedances, and of an ultrasonic pulse which has been reflected in the boundary between the second material and the fluid, it being possible to determine the density of the fluid on the basis of the measured amplitudes, the sound velocity c.sub.2 in the fluid and the acoustic impedances of the first and the second material. The mass flow M is then obtainable as M=v.times.A.times..rho..sub.2.

Abstract: A force sensor and related method for determining force components. The force sensor includes a deformable medium having a contact surface against which a force can be applied, a signal generator for generating signals that travel through the deformable medium to the contact surface, a signal receptor for receiving the signal reflected from the contact surface, a generation controller, a reception controller, and a force determination apparatus. The signal generator has one or more signal generation regions for generating the signals. The generation controller selects and activates the signal generation regions. The signal receptor has one or more signal reception regions for receiving signals and for generating detections signals in response thereto. The reception controller selects signal reception regions and detects the detection signals.

Abstract: An expendable oceanographic sensor apparatus is deployed from an airplane or a ship to make oceanographic observations in a profile of the surface-to-ocean floor, while deployed on the floor, and then a second profile when returning to the ocean surface. The device then records surface conditions until on-board batteries fail. All data collected is stored and then transmitted from the surface to either a satellite or other receiving station. The apparatus is provided with an anchor that causes descent to the ocean floor and then permits ascent when the anchor is released. Anchor release is predetermined by the occurrence of a pre-programmed event.

Abstract: An apparatus in which a magnetic field is generated by an excitation coil provided in the outside of a conduit and electromotive force generated in electrodes attached on the conduit is detected to thereby measure a flow rate of a fluid flowing in the conduit, in which the conduit is made thinner in a manner so that a ratio of the axial length of the conduit to the inside diameter of the conduit is set to a value within a range of from 0.2 to 1.0, and in which correction data previously analyzed in accordance with magnetic permeability and inside surface conductivity of a mate piping to which the conduit is to be connected are stored so that a detection signal from the electrodes is corrected on the basis of the correction data to thereby measure the flow rate of the fluid flowing in the conduit.

Abstract: A method for measuring the mass flow rate of liquid flow exiting a two phase (gas/liquid) feed nozzle. The method includes determining the Power Spectral Density from the output of an accelerometer in close proximity to the restriction orifice controlling the gas flow, or determining the Power Spectral Density from the output of a pressure transducer in contact with the gas flow on the down stream side of the restriction orifice. The liquid flow can then be obtained from a predetermined correlation between the RMS Vibrational Signal and the mass or liquid flow rate.

Abstract: A transducer (30) for sensing tension loading of a conveyor chain (12) of the type including single and dual links (14,16) pivotally connected in an alternating relationship includes a transducer link (40) having opposite ends (42,44) for connection along the chain and also includes a transducer member (46) mounted by the transducer link (40) between its ends. The transducer member (46) includes an opening (48) and at least one strain gauge (50) mounted thereon. A clamp (52) of the transducer compresses the transducer member (46) as tension loading is applied between the opposite ends of the transducer link to provide a strain gauge indication of the extent of the tension loading. The clamp (52) includes a clamp member (54) that opposes a clamping seat (56) on the transducer link (40) with the transducer member (46) clamped therebetween by a connector (58) that extends to one end (42) of the transducer link.

Abstract: A raindrop sensor attached to a plate such as a windshield of a car. A first piezoelectric element as an ultrasonic generator is fitted to the plate via a first coupler. The coupler fixes the first element in an inclined state by a predetermined angle relative to the plate. Thereby, elastic waves or ultrasonic waves from the first element are transmitted while being repeatedly reflected in the plate. A second piezoelectric element as an electro-acoustic transducer is fitted to the plate via a second coupler. The second element detects amplitude of the ultrasonic waves transmitted in the plate.

Abstract: A system for determining torque generated by a motor actuated operator driving a partial turn valve including a torque ring replacing the cover of the operator housing, a frictional shaft coupling member coupling the inner circumferential surface of the drive sleeve within the operator housing to the central shaft of a torque plug projecting from the operator through the torque ring. Two or more stops are provided projecting from the torque ring on either side of the central shaft. A cross member is provided extending radially outwardly from the central shaft of the torque plug to contact each of the stops when the operator is driven. A sensor, preferably an array of strain gauges mounted to the central shaft, generates a signal proportional to the torque applied by the operator to the operator housing through the frictional shaft coupling and the torque plug.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a device and method for checking the torque of a journal cross and bearings combination. The device comprises means for clamping a universal joint, means connectable to the clamping means and through which torque is applied to the universal joint, the connecting means having means for sensing the amount of torque required to rotate the cross-member and for measuring the amount of torque sensed. The method includes the steps of positioning and clamping the device to the universal joint in relation to the cross-member of the universal joint, applying torque to the device until the cross-member rotates with the universal joint, and measuring the torque required to initiate rotation.

Abstract: A steering torque is transmitted from a steering wheel side rotary member to a steering shaft side rotary member through a plurality of elastic bodies, when a steering wheel is turned. The elastic bodies are provided around a rotational center of a steering shaft which bending parts. A relative rotation produced between the steering wheel side rotary member and the steering shaft side rotary member is detected by detecting coils, because the detecting coils detect the change of the reluctance of the magnetic circuit of the rotary members and the detecting coil.