Abstract: Centrifugal gyroscopic devices are described herein. A representative device can include a shaft, an arm coupled to the shaft, a rotor coupled to the arm, and a control system operably coupled to the shaft, the arm, and/or the rotor. The shaft is rotatable about a first axis and the arm is configured to rotate with the shaft. The arm is pivotable about a second axis and the rotor is configured to pivot with the arm about the second axis. The rotor is further pivotable about a third axis. The control system is configured to bring the shaft, the arm, and the rotor into a resonant mode in which the shaft rotates at a rotational rate, the arm oscillates about the second axis at a first frequency substantially equal to the rotational rate, and the rotor oscillates about the third axis at a second frequency substantially equal to the first frequency.

Abstract: A laser marking system in one aspect of the present disclosure includes a laser marker, a beam receiving device, and a notifier. The laser marker includes a laser beam emitter. The beam receiving device includes a beam receiver and a transmitter. The beam receiver receives a laser beam emitted by the laser beam emitter. The transmitter transmits a first positional signal. The first positional signal indicates a receiving position of the laser beam in the beam receiver. The notifier notifies of the receiving position of the laser beam based on the first positional signal.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a device and a system for testing flatness. The device for testing flatness includes a base, a testing platform, and a ranging sensor. The testing platform is assembled on the base. The testing platform includes a supporting structure. The supporting structure is disposed on the side of the testing platform away from the base and is used to support a to-be-tested board. The structure matches the structure of the to-be-tested board. The ranging sensor is disposed on the side of the testing platform away from the base. After the to-be-tested board is placed on the testing platform, the ranging sensor is used to test distances between a number N of to-be-tested positions on the to-be-tested board and the ranging sensor, to obtain N pieces of distance information, and the N pieces of distance information are used to determine the flatness of the to-be-tested board, where N is an integer greater than 2.

Abstract: Various aspects of tape measures with one or more of a sensor, a motor, and a clutch, are shown. The sensors described herein detect, through various mechanisms, the position of the retraction system of a tape measure. The measurements by the sensors may be used to control a motor to adjust an amount of tension in the spiral spring of a tape measure. In various embodiments a motor interacts with the retraction system of the tape measure via a clutch, which moderates an amount of force that the motor can communicate to the retraction system.

Abstract: A device for assisting a user to manipulate an instrument to interact with an object resting on a surface is described herein. The device includes a framework for resting on the surface and a hand and wrist support. The hand and wrist support is coupled to the framework, coupled to the instrument and vertically spaced above the surface. The hand and wrist support is configured to slide horizontally and longitudinally along the framework and rotate about the framework to provide for the user to move the hand and wrist support to manipulate the instrument to interact with the object.

Abstract: A technique enables a surveying device to acquire a direction of a target by using as little extra hardware as possible. A method aims a laser scanner, as a surveying device, at a reflective prism that is a target. The method includes obtaining a photographic image of the laser scanner that is captured by a smartphone from the reflective prism side and determining a direction of the reflective prism as seen from the laser scanner on the basis of the photographic image. The method also includes rotating the laser scanner to make the laser scanner face the reflective prism straight on, on the basis of the direction of the reflective prism as seen from the laser scanner.

Abstract: A depth guide to be used with a road paving machine having a movable screed, said depth guide allowing the operator of the road paving machine a simple means for visually assessing whether the pavement layer being deposited by the road paving machine and formed by the screed is of the proper thickness.

Abstract: A marking utensil comprises an elongated body having opposite ends, with the body defining a plurality of outwardly-directed surfaces between the ends. A scale is displayed on at least one surface of the plurality, with at least one surface of the plurality configured for placement along an exteriority of the article to facilitate a measurement thereof. The scale may display U.S. Customary (i.e., inches) and/or Metric International System (i.e., centimeters) Units of measure. A marking tip is located at one end of the body while a reference guide is located at the body's other end.

Abstract: A shingle testing tool includes a base member and an inclined shingle support plate. The inclined shingle support plate intersects a first end of the base member at a leading convex edge. The inclined shingle support plate defines one or more shingle structural reliability measurement graduations. The shingle testing tool can be used to determine if a damaged shingle can be replaced without damage to another shingle overlapping the damage shingle.

Abstract: A coordinate measurement machine (CMM) may include a manually-positionable articulated arm including a plurality of arm segments and a plurality of rotary joints. At least one of the rotary joints includes first and second bearings and a shaft that engages the first bearing and the second bearing. The shaft may have two ends, each end configured to engage a respective one of two projections of a yoke of an adjacent another one of the rotary joints such that the two projections of the yoke straddle the first and second bearings therebetween. At least one transducer is disposed adjacent one of the two ends of the shaft, outside of the yoke, not between the first and second bearings.

Abstract: A rail infrastructure monitoring system enables integrated continuous monitoring and analysis of above and below rail assets, providing passenger and freight operators an end-to-end solution. Embodiments of the system comprise monitoring, coordinator control and display, communications, and business integration. Modern rail and transport techniques of providing integrated logistics are supported, offering improved safety, reduced total cost of ownership and the ability to increase capacity. Also, identification of links between different sets of data in ‘real time’ across all monitored infrastructure is enabled. Field hardware includes three modules: control; wagon master; and sensor, the latter communicating wirelessly with a wagon master module, and each sensor module is associated with a respective wagon or portion of below rail infrastructure.

Abstract: A skate blade alignment system used to align a skate blade sharpening system. The skate alignment system can align a grinding wheel for sharpening a skate blade secured within the skate blade sharpening system. A controller can enable alignment operations and control an alignment process.

Abstract: The invention is a method and measuring device configured for measurement by comparing the an area of interest or object with an object of comparable size and/or shape. This invention may be most useful when recording and classifying evidence. The measuring device should be portable and comprised of a flat, straight elongated member with measuring indicia along one or both the measuring edges, wherein the measuring indicia corresponds with values with labels of the standard sizes of comparable objects. The measuring indicia extends along the length of the measuring edge and the labels indicate the closest sized object. Other measuring indicia along the length of the measuring edge may also correspond to standard measurement units. The method should directly correlate a measurement with a comparable object for the purpose of recording evidence.

Abstract: A framing tool supports one end of beam member while the other end of the beam is secured to another beam or structure. The framing tool includes a support portion, a receiving portion and a strap. The strap wraps around a beam member to secure the beam member within the receiving portion. The support portion holds one end of the beam member in place so that an installer may secure the other end of the beam member without the aid of another installer.

Abstract: The disclosure presents templates that can be useful in construction. Embodiments of the templates include a face, and two or more indicators. The indicators are located at one or more predetermined intervals on the face, and each indicator defines a window. Each window is of a predetermined length, and each indicator is coded to indicate that each indicator is located at one of the one or more predetermined intervals.

Abstract: A device 1 mountable to an upright ST. The device comprises a body 3 and an arm 5. The body is reversible relative to the upright, about an upright axis, from a first orientation to a second orientation. The body comprises first contacting portions 3a (arranged to contact a front of the upright when the body is in the first orientation) and second contacting portions 3b (arranged to contact a front of the upright when the body is in the second orientation). The arm is movable relative to the body from a first position (in which the arm extends rearwardly beyond the first contacting portions to pass one side of the upright and engage a rear of the upright) to a second position (in which the arm extends rearwardly beyond the second contacting portions to pass another side of the upright and engage the rear of the upright).

Abstract: A measurement device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is a measurement device that measures a position of an annual part to be measured that is arranged at an opening edge of a hole formed in a member to be measured, and the measurement device includes: a probe that is displaceable in an axial direction; a holder that holds the probe; and a measurement instrument that measures displacement of the probe in the axial direction. The probe includes an inclined portion at an tip end of the probe, the inclined portion being inclined relative to a central axis of the probe at an angle equal to an angle defined between a central axis of the hole in the member to be measured and a horizontal plane in a state in which the member to be measured is mounted on the horizontal plane.

Abstract: A high-precision intelligent centering device, consisting of a symmetrical synchronous centering mechanism. The invention can meet the needs of wheel centering in use with the ideal effect and high efficiency. Work is safe and reliable, degree of automation is high, and it is especially suitable for mass production on the production line.

Abstract: An article of manufacture for providing a magnetic laser stud finder according to the present invention is a magnetic laser stud finder including a device body having a first end, a second end, a top surface and a bottom surface, a cross beam laser device projecting from the first end, a pair of magnets coupled within the bottom surface of the device body, and a pair of float level devices coupled within the top surface of the device body. The pair of float level devices are configured to provide orthogonally positioned devices providing a horizontal level and a vertical level.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a tilting controller that measures foot-related human biomechanical data. The tilting controller for measuring foot-related human biomechanical data includes a mechanism having a foot hold on which a rear foot portion is placed, and a control module that tilts the foot hold by controlling the mechanism portion.