Abstract: A general purpose pneumatic-digital converter system and method for process control or the like. A chassis includes a plurality of pneumatic connectors interconnected to pressure lines to be monitored and a pc motherboard carrying a plurality of electrical connectors. At least one pressure-digital module assembly has pneumatic and electrical connectors disposed thereon whereby simultaneous connection is made to corresponding connectors on the chassis when the module is plugged in. Each module may contain a pressure transducer, analog-digital converter, and E.sup.2 PROM wherein data is stored to compensate for non-linearities, offsets, gains, etc. of the transducer and converter. An additional electrical connector is provided on the motherboard proximal to each of the electrical connectors which are intended for a corresponding module assembly connector, whereby additional pc boards for signal processing, communication, memory, or the like may be plugged into the motherboard.

Abstract: In an externally ignited internal combustion engine with a knocking sensor which comprises a membrane to absorb the vibrations of the engine housing during knocking of the internal combustion engine, cooperating with a vibration absorber, whereby the membrane is formed by a thin walled location of the engine housing or by an opening in the wall of the engine housing which is closed by a membrane plate. The knocking sensor can be mounted at an easily accessible location and it is also assured that the resonance characteristic of all internal combustion engines of a series are the same at the location scanned by the knocking sensor.

Abstract: A device for measurement of vibrations comprises a microwave generator whose energy is transmitted through an antenna system to an object being investigated, reflected therefrom and fed to a detector through an antenna system, said detector also receiving energy of high-frequency reference oscillations. The antenna system comprises an elliptical mirror, in the first focal point of which, near the mirror, there is mounted a radiator irradiating the entire surface of said mirror, while the object being investigated is located in the immediate vicinity of the second focal point, which is remote from the mirror.

Abstract: A dynamic electric wheel balancer for measuring the imbalance condition in a vehicle wheel and indicating the position and correction weights required for balancing the wheel in one or two planes. The wheel balancer contains a rotating shaft in order to make the dynamic measurements. The shaft is free wheeling during measurement and is brought up to a predetermined minimum r.p.m. value through a motor and clutch arrangement. After measurements have been made, a solenoid actuated brake, which takes advantage of the force factors associated with a flywheel forming part of the main shaft, brings the rotating shaft to a halt. Prior to taking the measurements, the wheel balancer is calibrated by employing a known weight located at a known position on a face plate forming part of the main shaft. In order to take the measurements, piezoelectric sensors are used to measure the vertical force components exhibited by the imbalance condition of the vehicle wheel secured to the rotating main shaft.

Abstract: The ultrasonic weld inspection method comprises transmitting an ultrasonic wave through the molten metal portion of the weld while the weld is being formed and determining if a weld defect is present in the molten metal. If no defect is detected in the molten metal, the welding process continues. However, if a defect is detected in the molten metal, the welding electrodes remain at that position until the defect has dissipated. In this manner, defects are removed from the weld before the weld metal solidifies.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for marking the amount and location of unbalance on a rotatable body, such as a vehicle wheel. The apparatus uses a conventional system for determining the amount and location of unbalance in the body. A marking device is actuated to mark one or both sides of the body with a mark or marks representative of the amount and location of determined unbalance. The beginning and ending points of the mark can be representative of the beginning and end points of the correction mass to be applied to the body. The marks also can be representative of the predetermined weights of correcting masses to be applied to the body. Application of marks representative of the amount and location of unbalance to the bodies provides a visual indicator that facilitates subsequent check of the correct application of unbalance correction masses to the body.

Abstract: This invention provides a vibration sensor for detecting vibrations having preselected frequencies. The sensor has a plurality of tuning mechanisms each being mechanically resonant with a different preselected vibrational frequency. The resonating vibrational movements of these tuning mechanisms apply varying stresses to a plurality of glassy magnetostrictive elements associated therewith. Each of the magnetostrictive elements is responsive to a different one of the tuning mechanisms. A magnetic biasing element imparts a magnetization to the magnetostrictive elements and a detecting mechanism associated with the magnetostrictive elements detects changes in the magnetization thereof caused by the varying stresses applied thereto.

Abstract: A digital quartz accelerometer includes a pair of spaced double-ended tuning forks fastened at one end to a base and at the other end through a spacer mass. Transverse movement of the resonator members stresses one and compresses the other, providing a differential frequency output which is indicative of acceleration.

Abstract: A fixture for mounting an ultrasonic transducer against the end of a threaded bolt or stud to test the same for flaws. A base means threadedly secured to the side of the bolt has a rotating ring thereon. A post rising up from the ring (parallel to the axis of the workpiece) pivotally mounts a variable length cross arm, on the inner end of which is mounted the transducer. A spring means acts between the cross arm and the base to apply the testing transducer against the workpiece at a constant pressure. The device maintains constant for successive tests the radial and circumferential positions of the testing transducer and its contact pressure against the end of the workpiece.

Abstract: The magnitude of a variable property of a tire such as the dynamic imbalance may be predicted by measuring lateral runout at positions close to the end of the thread pattern on both sides of the tire and determining the first harmonic runout values. The first harmonic runout values relative to the centerplane of the tire at different circumferential positions around the tire are arithmetically added. The largest sum at any point on the circumference of the tire gives an indication of the maximum dynamic imbalance of the tire. Tires can be screened by the system comparing this sum with predetermined amounts corresponding to the maximum acceptable dynamic imbalance or other standards and providing visual signals identifying those tires with the largest sum exceeding this predetermined amount or the other standards.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting the occurrence of rubbing in a rotary machine, in which at least one acoustic sensor is mounted on at least the rotor part or the stator part of the rotary machine, and the output signal from the acoustic sensor is detected and then filtered to extract a frequency component having a frequency substantially equal to the rotational frequency of the rotary machine, so as to detect the occurrence of rubbing in the rotary machine as early as possible and also to locate the source of the rubbing. Even when the occurrence of abnormal metal-to-metal contact at a bearing of the rotary machine is detected, it is discriminated from rubbing so that the occurrence of the rubbing can be reliably detected.

Abstract: Adapters are provided for mounting automobile wheel assemblies of different sizes and types to the mandrel of a wheel balancing or tire truing machine. The adapters have few parts and precisely align the wheel assembly with the mandrel.

Abstract: To recognize knocking conditions in signals derived from a knock sensor, which signals representative of knocking may be masked by background or noise signals, and to clearly distinguish the knocking signal from background or noise signals, the knocking signals are integrated with respect to measuring or strobing intervals during a predetermined angle of crankshaft rotation, digitized in an A/D converter (7) and then compared in a comparator (9) with the same signals which have been passed through a low-pass digital filter (8) to compare the integrated, digitized signal of a then occurring combustion process or event with similar signals of prior combustion processes or events to thereby recognize and distinguish knocking signal conditions from noise signal conditions; digital filtering and comparison as well as sequence timing can be carried out in a single microprocessor (FIGS.

Abstract: A density sensor includes a stationary housing (12) and a reciprocating body (22) with a float (26) attached thereto to provide a buoyant force. The reciprocating body (22) is connected to a piston (32) by a reciprocating rod (34). The piston (32) is operable to move within a bore (30). A second piston (52) is also disposed in the bore (30) and is coupled to the piston (32) by a spring (54). A transducer (44) is disposed at the other end of the bore and is connected to the piston (52) through hydraulic fluid disposed in a hydraulic chamber (56). The spring (54) is functional to remove low frequency components of acceleration from the buoyant force and the hydraulic fluid disposed in the hydraulic chamber (56) is operable to remove high frequency acceleration components from the buoyant force. In this manner, the transducer (44) can be isolated from both high and low frequency acceleration components.

Abstract: In order to evaluate competing explosive trains at explosive interfaces, at least one penalty barrier is inserted in the gap between a donor explosive component and an acceptor explosive component. Each of the barriers, if more than one, has a first layer and a second layer. The first layer is selected to have a shock impedance greater than the second layer so that a shock pulse is attenuated to a desired degree. Additional barriers can be added to increase the attenuation. A use of this device allows the shock intensities to be varied without varying wave shape or duration and further allows use of established shock equation of states of materials.

Abstract: Multi-purpose measuring device with a tilting display which includes a display assembly with a housing for visually indicating a measured value of a variable to be analyzed, an auxiliary assembly with another housing separate from the display assembly housing for performing measurements, a hinge interconnecting the housings permitting relative tilting of the housings in two directions into different planes at an angle relative to each other and into a common plane, and a carrying strap fastened in vicinity of the hinge, the auxiliary assembly having dimensions and weight in proportion to the display assembly causing the center of gravity of the measuring device to lie in vicinity of the auxiliary assembly and causing the auxiliary assembly to hang downward from the carrying strap with the display assembly disposed above the auxiliary assembly.

Abstract: The attenuation of RF pulses passing through a mineral slurry is determined by measuring the amplitude of the envelope produced by a series of successively occurring attenuated electrical pulses. The pulses are applied to the input of a variable gain amplifier, the gain of which is under control of a digital processor. The peak amplitude of each pulse is compared with a fixed reference voltage. The contents of a storage register associated with the processor is modified dependent upon whether the pulse amplitude is geater or less than the reference voltage. The contents of the register is used to control the gain of the variable gain amplifier in such a way that the amplitude of the next successive pulse will approach the value of the reference voltage. After the last pulse has been measured, the gain of the amplifier is inversely proportional to the amplitude of the pulse envelope, and the contents of the successive approximation register will also be proportional to the amplitude of the pulse envelope.

Abstract: A workpiece to be balanced, which during a measuring run is driven or rotating in the coupling-free mode and is provided with a mark for contact-free pick-off to generate a reference signal, is to be positioned subsequently, that the unbalance is at a predetermined location below a marking or correcting device. To this end pulse sequences synchronous with the supporting rollers carrying the workpiece are generated. The pulses are counted in a counter between the reference signal and an unbalance position signal derived from the unbalance signal. For the positioning the counter is counted down to zero by these pulses starting from the reference pulse. When the counter passes through zero the unbalance is in the plane of the pick-off device for detecting the mark.

Abstract: A probe for testing ultrasound transducers is described. The probe is made of a body of material which absorbs ultrasound. There is a conical opening in the body, and a spherical transducer is mounted in the wider opening at the base of the conical opening. When the probe is used as a surface probe, a transducer undergoing tests is placed at the opening at the apex of the cone. Typically the conical opening is filled with a fluid which simulates the absorption qualities of the material with which the tested transducer will ultimately be used. For example, the transducer undergoing the test will be used with human body tissue, so a fluid such as water or light mineral oil would typically fill the cone-shaped opening. The present invention can also be used as a hydrophone, because of the manner in which it generates, or senses, pressure waves at a point in space.

Abstract: The volume of gases in a container or the volume of liquid in the container is determined by creating cyclic pressure waves in the gases and detecting the waves by a second transducer. The signals produced by the second transducer are a function of the volume of gas in the container, and the volume of any liquid can be obtained by simple calculation. The signals can also provide detection of an open container and, when coupled to signals relating to the velocity of a vehicle, can provide other data such as a miles-per-gallon reading.