Abstract: The invention concerns a Karman's vortex flow meter including dampening members for absorbing vibrations. A stopper is provided to permit limited movement between an amplifier casing and a supporting stand containing a flow detector. The stopper is coupled to one of the supporting stand and the casing and extends into a hole in the other of the supporting stand and the casing. The flow meter includes an elastic member positioned in the hole between the stopper and the other of the supporting stand and the casing so that the stopper and the other of the supporting stand and the casing are out of direct contact. The elastic member absorbs vibrations and prevents direct contact of the components to ensure accurate flow measurement.

Abstract: A digital filter system is used in an internal combustion engine misfire detection system. The digital filter system includes a signal input for inputting a digital signal generated in response to sensed crankshaft angular velocity. A plurality of digital filters is connected to the signal input, with each of the filters being activated over a predetermined range of engine speeds. Each of the plurality of digital filters, upon being activated, operates as a bandpass filter to filter the digital signal at an engine spatial firing frequency and at a predetermined number of multiples of the engine spatial firing frequency. A signal output is also connected to the plurality of digital filters for outputting the filtered digital signal for engine misfire detection purposes.

Abstract: The present invention is aimed to propose a method for minimizing erroneous shift to a water depth measurement mode by judging whether shift to a water depth measurement mode is caused by normal operation or erroneous detection and for automatically getting out of the water depth measurement mode even in the case of erroneous shift to the water depth measurement mode. Instantaneous shift to a water depth measurement mode is prevented when the water depth judging circuit 5 judges that a water depth value Ddpt from the measurement arithmetic processing circuit exceeds a predetermined value and that the water detection switch 6 detects no water contact, and a time information display mode is automatically returned even in the case of erroneous shift to a water depth measurement mode.

Abstract: Existing beverage dispensing taps may be retrofitted with a mechanism that provides an electrical signal which indicates when the tap is open. That mechanism includes a housing with an open bottom for placement over the tap with a lever of the tap projecting upward through an aperture in the housing. The housing is held in place over the tap by a compression bonnet the holds the operating lever on a conventional beverage tap. A switch assembly within the housing is engaged and operated by a component of the beverage tap to provide the electrical signal. The switch assembly has a unique double action actuator that tolerates different amounts of movement of the tap component. The actuator has a ring that is engaged by the tap component to operate the switch assembly and an annular flange secured to the housing. A first flexible web connects the ring to the annular flange and a button with a surface with a conductive surface is coupled to the ring by a second flexible web.

Abstract: Both of voltage range and supplied power range of a heater can be enlarged, one-sided power source for a driving circuit can be realized easily, power source voltage can be lowered, and flowing velocity can be measured with high accuracy.First reference resistor is connected in series to fluid temperature measuring body, and second reference resistor is connected in series to heater temperature sensor. Temperature setting resistor for determining set temperature difference between the heater temperature sensor and the fluid temperature sensor is connected in series to the fluid temperature sensor. Bridge circuit is constructed in such way. The voltage of heater temperature sensor is inputted to non-inverted input terminal of differential amplifier, while the voltage of fluid temperature measuring body and temperature setting resistor is inputted to inverted input terminal of the same.The output terminal of the differential amplifier is connected to a buffer circuit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting faults in a fuel evaporative emission control system, in which the fuel evaporative emission which is admitted from a fuel tank and adsorbed once by a canister is separated from the canister by purge air and sucked into a suction passage of an engine. The fault diagnostic apparatus fluid-tightly closes the fuel tank such that a vacuum is held in the fuel tank, and then detect the presence of a leak in a fuel evaporative emission flow path on the basis of a rate of increase of the pressure in the fuel tank. At the same time, the average value of the pressure in the fuel tank is calculated at regular intervals, and the calculated average value is compared with levels of the pressure in the tank detected within a predetermined period of time, so that the detection of the leak is interrupted depending upon the result of the comparison.

Abstract: A method for analyzing automotive vehicle emissions detects and logs significant engine events over a test period, and applies the logged events to a model defining the emissions impact of such events to yield a vehicle emissions estimate for the test period. The method includes a diagnostic for diagnosing a deviation in performance of emissions control systems away from an expected performance and for correcting the vehicle emissions estimated to reflect the operating condition of the emissions control systems.

Abstract: In a device for and a method of calibrating the measurement of a product stream in agricultural machines, a calibrating unit is arranged after a measuring unit, a definite quantity of a product stream is weighed in the calibrating unit and the weight value is determined in an evaluating electronic unit which compares the weight value with a value determined by the measuring unit and determines a correction factor from the comparison of both values.

Abstract: A method for determining a remaining life of engine oil in an engine is provided. The method includes the steps of measuring a plurality of engine parameters, determining an estimate of the characteristics of the engine oil as a function of the engine parameters, and trending the estimate and responsively determining the remaining life of the engine oil.

Abstract: A laminar flow element for use in flow metering devices has a laminar flow element plug with an upstream end and a downstream end and a linear extent between the upstream end and the downstream end, the laminar flow element plug configured to be positioned within a base cavity with the upstream end oriented toward the direction of flow, and sensor taps through walls of the base cavity positioned inboard of the laminar flow element plug so that entrance effect is eliminated, error due to flow cross-sectional area differential is eliminated, and orifice effect is minimized, to produce a laminar flow with linear pressure drop across the sensor taps as a function of flow rate. Coaxial laminar flow guides are fixed coaxially about at least a portion of the length of the laminar flow element plug to increase the number of flow passages to enable linear measurements of higher flow rates.

Abstract: The force or extension sensor has a measuring capacitor (Mk) whose electrode structures (Es1, Es2), of comb-like design and interengaging, can be moved parallel to one another via two securing points (Bp1, Bp2) as a function of the force (F) to be measured or of the extension (.di-elect cons.) to be measured. The total capacitance of the measuring capacitor (Mk) is determined by parallel connection of individual electrode pairs. The variation in the total capacitance of the measuring capacitor (Mk) due to variation of the electrode separations (d1) gives information regarding the force (F) to be measured or the extension (.di-elect cons.) to be measured.

Abstract: An air flow rate measuring apparatus for measuring an intake air amount of an internal combustion engine by use of a thermal air flow meter comprises means inputted with the output of the thermal air flow meter for correcting a response delay of the output and outputting the corrected output, and means inputted with the output of the correcting means for transforming it to a value corresponding to an air flow rate on the basis of the characteristic of the thermal air flow meter stored beforehand.

Abstract: A method and a device for determining the surface contour of an elastic seat cushion deformable under load are provided. Through the use of a measuring mat placed on the seat cushion, after the load is relieved, the resultant deformed state corresponding to the deformed surface of the cushion is preserved by applying a vacuum to the measuring mat. The three-dimensional surface contour of the measuring mat fixed in its deformed state is measured with a multicoordinate measuring device in known fashion. The measuring mat consists of two vacuum-tight material webs, especially plastic films, connected vacuum-tight with one another to form a pocket having a vacuum connection, with the pocket being filled with a granulate, preferably a foam granulate.

Abstract: A flow meter for use in scuba diving is disclosed. The device has a coil or, alternatively, two coils separated by a predetermined distance and sensors for measuring induced electromotive force. The device is provided with a switch to enable it to be activated. The switch also acts to disable the device and allow compass operation. An embodiment of the device including a compass and a processor allows for navigation functions to be performed.

Abstract: Opening and closing times of a fuel injector are accurately determined in accordance with the energy content of an accelerometer trace. The energy content of an accelerometer trace is determined in accordance with a predetermined relation. A line is defined between known points prior to and after the opening or closing time. The normal distance between the line connecting known points and the accelerometer trace energy content is maximum at the inflection point, which corresponds to the opening or closing time. With this data, an ECU can be properly programmed to more accurately control an injector stroke, thereby improving engine performance.

Abstract: An axial-flow particle sensor has a sensor element and a housing. The outlet of fluid is placed at the opposite side of the inlet of the fluid, throughholes are formed at the circumference of the vibrating portion of the sensor element, and the vibrating portion of the sensor element is placed on the extension of the flow of the fluid so that the fluid entering from the inlet flows through the throughholes and flows out from the outlet. Two or more throughholes may be formed symmetrically with the axis. The throughhole may be formed on a ceramic substrate, or may be a gap between the ceramic substrate and the housing.

Abstract: A point-of-care analyzer unit characterized by a disposable sensor module, a capability of cooperation with multiple fluid sources for providing multi-point calibration, which sources are detachably connectable with the sensor module, and a waste reservoir integral with the sensor module operable to receive and house multiple sets of complete test sequences comprising multiple calibration fluids sets and an analyte sample.

Abstract: A vehicle state estimating apparatus includes a slip-angle determining unit which determines a slip angle of a wheel of a vehicle. A friction-coefficient determining unit determines a friction coefficient between a tire of the wheel and a road. A tire characteristics unit generates a lateral force of the wheel from the slip angle and the friction coefficient based on predetermined tire characteristics. A vehicle-state estimating unit determines an estimated quantity of a state of motion of the vehicle based on the lateral force output by the tire characteristics unit. A vehicle-state observing unit detects an observed quantity for the estimated quantity determined by the vehicle-state estimating unit.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for detecting misfires in the combustion of a z-cylinder four stroke internal combustion engine wherein the engine includes a transducer wheel coupled to the crankshaft of the engine and rotating in phase synchronism with the crankshaft. The transducer wheel has typically z/2 segments and the segments are scanned with a sensor device to supply a segment-time signal reflecting the nonuniformity of the rotational movement of the crankshaft with respect to individual ones of the cylinders of the engine. Rough-running values are formed for each cylinder on the basis of the segment times with each of the rough-running values including a component occurring at the frequency of the crankshaft. The component is filtered out and then the filtered rough-running value is compared to a threshold value. A misfire is determined to be present when the filtered rough-running value exceeds the threshold value.

Abstract: A method for drive stability enhancement of multi-unit vehicle combinations which is based on an autonomous unilateral operation and pressure coordination (during braking) of the towing vehicle unit's brake system, producing a stabilizing yaw torque on the towing vehicle unit, whose calculation is based on an adaptive reference model of the vehicle combination, running in real-time on the vehicle's onboard computer and gathering information only from the towing vehicle unit, such as pneumatic pressures at the brake cylinders, pressure differences in the rear axle air bags, steering angle, yaw rate and lateral acceleration and the wheel speeds on the towing vehicle. Based on this information and the adaptive model, the hitch ange and its derivative is estimated.