Abstract: A method and system for calculating engine speed of a reciprocating internal combustion engine is based upon both the number of engine cylinder events which are either completed or initiated during a predetermined time period, as well as upon the actual time required to complete the recorded number of events. Engine acceleration is determined with reference to the difference in engine speed between successive periods of operation and upon an average of the measured times of successive periods of engine operation.

Abstract: A system, method, and display device for displaying an expected range of driving distances for a vehicle having a driving unit and an energy storage unit. A sensor senses an amount of remaining energy in the energy storage unit. An average minimum energy consumption rate and an average maximum energy consumption rate of the driving unit are determined based on at least one of (a) vehicle-specific energy consumption parameters; and (b) driver-specific energy consumption parameters. A minimum expected driving distance is calculated based on the sensed amount of remaining energy and the average maximum energy consumption rate. A maximum expected driving distance is calculated based on the sensed amount of remaining energy and the average minimum energy consumption rate. The expected range of driving distances defined by the minimum expected driving distance and the maximum expected driving distance are displayed on a display unit.

Abstract: A method for testing motor armature shafts is disclosed. The method includes simulating armature shaft loading conditions to test armature shaft reliability for failure. The shaft has a longitudinally extending axis, which during operation is the axis of rotation of the shaft. In the method the shaft is fixedly supported at two spaced locations a predetermined distance from one of the free ends. A normal force is rotated about the shaft's longitudinal axis. This force is exerted continuously about the circumference of the free end of the armature shaft, so that the armature shaft is continuously offset a predetermined distance from its longitudinal axis. This force is continuously applied for a predetermined number of rotations of the shaft. This simulates loading of the armature shaft in an assembled motor.

Abstract: A system for monitoring the sag of a transmission power line. A tension measuring device is provided to the power line and a distant signal processing unit connects to the measuring device by a cable. A cable shielding arrangement is provided to protect the system from electrical transients.

Abstract: A vehicle emission analysis interface system for supplying a sample of a test vehicle's exhaust gases to the inlet of an analyzer for providing a quantitative measurement of selected pollutants includes an exhaust sample inlet port for receiving a sample of the exhaust gases. A high pressure inlet port is adapted to be connected to a high pressure source at the test facility. A chiller for lowering the temperature of incoming gas sample stream has an inlet connected to the sample inlet port and an outlet. The system further includes a zero air generator having an inlet and an outlet for supplying purified air for analyzer calibration purposes.

Abstract: A system and method estimates tailpipe emissions by sensing (703) a catalyzed gas stream (506) and providing a total-combustible gas signal (511) dependent thereon. The total-combustible gas signal (511) has a magnitude comprised of a first portion, dependent on a concentration of the hydrocarbon gas in the catalyzed gas stream (506), and a second portion, dependent on a concentration of the other combustible gasses in the catalyzed gas stream (506). A magnitude relationship between the first portion and the second portion is variable when the catalyzed gas stream (506) transitions into a region on the rich side of stoichiometry. The variability the magnitude relationship of the first and second portions is filtered out so that the magnitude relationship is substantially constant when the catalyzed gas stream (506) transitions into the region on the rich side of stoichiometry.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for prediction or estimation of fuel or energy consumption by a vehicle over a chosen trip route, where the route includes a plurality of road segments. Fuel consumption over each road segment is estimated, using information on one or more of the following variables: representative altitude of the road segment; representative slope of the road segment; estimated vehicle average speed along the road segment; length of the road segment; condition of the road segment; condition of the vehicle tires; expected vehicle traffic density along the road segment; applicable constraints on vehicle operation along the road segment; expected ambient weather conditions along the road segment; vehicle accessories that will be used; and vehicle driver profile information. Weather conditions enroute, such as local wind speed and direction, can be measured and used to enhance accuracy of predicted fuel consumption.

Abstract: A flow meter having reference and active thermal sensing elements and a pressure transducer configured to be placed in a conduit of flowing fluid. Appropriate computation apparatus is employed to modify the flow velocity reading resulting from normal comparison of the thermal sensors in accordance with pressure differences reflected by the pressure transducer.

Abstract: The invention concerns a gear-change control systems (10) for an automatic transmission (3). Input variables, derived from a driver-vehicle system, are established. Output variables are established by fuzzy logic methods and used to determine a gear-change ratio. A fuzzy logic module, which imitates the operating method of a logical flip-flop and additionally permits continuous intermediate values, is used to consider driving states brought about by different situations.

Abstract: Measuring detector and system for the measurement of gas flow, especially for the measurement of the pressure and/or flow of a patient's respiratory gas. The surface of the wall (2) of a flow channel (1) and/or the surface of a restricting element (3), said surface being in direct contact with the gas flow to be measured, is provided with an agent for reducing the contact angle (.theta.) of a water drop or a drop containing water to said surface in relation to the contact angle formed between a corresponding water drop and a corresponding surface not treated with such agent.

Abstract: A vehicle/engine speed data collection and preprocessing method and apparatus comprises obtaining speed signal data, typically from a speed sensor; computing a linear equation of the speed signal data; adding artificial data to the speed signal data in accordance with the linear equation; filtering the speed signal data having the artificial data added thereto; and removing the filtered artificial data from the filtered data. The technique minimizes the transient effects of filtering, particularly at the data boundaries.

Abstract: New types of fiberoptic microbend sensors are in the form of flexible tapes wherein single or multiple layers of mechanically tough flexible tapes form two outside surfaces of the sensors including between them one or more continuous elongated optical fibers, a variety of monofilaments, wires, threads, meshes, ribbons and or like elements to act as deformers to the optical fiber and sufficient adhesive material to form a permanent flexible tape structure. Additional layers of film, optical fibers, and/or deformer elements may be included to augment or modify the intensity of light that issues from the output end of the optical fibers when they are illuminated at their input end while the surface films of the sensor are subjected to pressure, such as when the sensors are used to weight or detect passage of automobiles. Detection or measuring systems and methods using the flexible sensor tapes are disclosed.

Abstract: It is aimed to present a liquid level detector that can be assembled by simply stacking component parts one upon another, without using any soldering work at all. In the liquid level detector, a thermistor (7) is placed on an electrode (2a) of element holder (2) and is pressed by an electrode (3a) of a terminal (3), a coil spring (4) is inserted around the terminal (3) for the electrode (3a) to press the thermistor (7). An insulator (5), with which a terminal member (6) is calked together in advance, is placed to a fitting portion (2c) of the element holder (2), and then the entire assembly is inserted from the opening into a metal case (1), so that the opening is closed with the insulator (5) calked by a fitting portion (1a) of case (1) and the fitting portion (2c) of element holder (2) aligned to an indention (5c) of insulator (5).

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for measuring total surface area of a portion of catalytic metal particles carried on the surfaces of pores in a carrier of a catalyst, comprising a device for supplying the pores with a first gas under a predetermined pressure to mask the surfaces of the catalytic metal particles carried on a first portion of the surfaces of said pores, which first portion has a radius less than a radius determined by the predetermined pressure of said first gas and a device for supplying said pores with a second gas which is to be adsorbed on the surfaces of said catalytic metal particles carried on a second portion of the surfaces of said pores, which second portion has a radius equal to or greater than the radius determined by the predetermined pressure, and is not masked by said first gas.

Abstract: For the detection of undissolved gas in the brake system; hydraulic pressure is built up and at least one characteristic value for the pressure buildup such as the master cylinder pressure, the brake pedal distance, the drop in storage chamber pressure, etc., is checked to see if it exceeds a predetermined limit value. If this limit value is exceeded, it is assumed that there is an unacceptable amount of undissolved gas in the hydraulic component of the brake system.

Abstract: This invention provides an improvement to magnetostrictive torque sensors giving an output signal indicative of the torque applied about the axis of a shaft where the shaft includes a magnetostrictive ring, attached to or formed as a part of the shaft so that the torque applied to the shaft is applied proportionally to the ring, and the ring consists essentially of novel composites consisting of magnetically hard and highly magnetostrictive rare earth (iron).sub.2 binary compound particles embedded in Cu, Fe, or other suitable metals.

Abstract: A method and system of misfire determination includes establishing an acceleration misfire threshold and an acceleration sub-misfire threshold. Then incremental engine position is sensed and a series of acceleration data-points are derived (401). If a data-point of the series of acceleration data-points falls between the sub-misfire threshold and the misfire threshold, then a training process is aborted for a blanking period based on a delay time whose length is preferably based on engine operating conditions (415). If a data-point of the series of acceleration data-points does not fall below the sub-misfire threshold, then the series of acceleration data-points, are averaged and a synchronously corrected acceleration data-point is derived (417). Then, a misfire condition is indicated when the synchronously corrected acceleration data-point exceeds the established acceleration misfire threshold (421).

Abstract: A rotational fluctuation amount between consecutively ignited cylinders is sequentially calculated. When the rotational fluctuation amount exceeds a first predetermined value and an emergence interval of the rotational fluctuation assumes a predetermined value, or when the rotational fluctuation amount exceeds a second predetermined value larger than the first predetermined value, the rotational fluctuation is judged to result from misfire. A cylinder subjected to the rotational fluctuation is then specified. By comparing rotational fluctuation amounts in the specified cylinder, and the two cylinders firing immediately after the specified cylinder, a determination is made as to whether it is only the specified cylinder which has misfired, the specified cylinder and the cylinder immediately following the specified cylinder have consecutively misfired, or the specified cylinder and a cylinder other than the immediately following cylinder have intermittently misfired.

Abstract: A secondary seal assembly is used with a process instrument including a probe assembly and an electric housing assembly. The probe assembly includes an adaptor receivable in an opening of a process vessel, a probe extending through the adaptor into the process vessel, and a primary seal between the probe and the adaptor. A probe terminal provides an electrical connection between the probe and the electric housing assembly. The secondary seal comprises an elongate extension housing adapted to be mechanically connected at one end to the adaptor and at another end to the electric housing assembly. A shaft insert is received in the extension housing having a terminal at each of opposite ends, a first terminal for providing an electrical connection to the electric housing assembly and a second terminal for providing an electrical connection to the probe terminal. A seal between the shaft insert and the extension housing provides a secondary seal to the process vessel.

Abstract: A device for measuring the flow rate of a fluid with ultrasonic has a measuring tube (12) with ultrasound transducers (26), arranged in the area of its ends, as well as connecting pieces (16) for the inflow and discharge of the fluid which are arranged coaxially with respect to one another. The measuring tube (12) is arranged coaxially with respect to the connecting pieces (16) and the ultrasonic transducers (26) are positioned between the measuring tube and the connecting pieces. With this arrangement, the effective length (1) of the ultrasonic measuring section may be increased when the laid length (L) is predetermined.