Abstract: An alignment extensiometer is shown which attaches to a material testing sample by means of a hinged split cross head and a movable split insert. The extensiometer is used to reduce sample damage and set up time.

Abstract: A mechanical sensor is provided, which includes: a magnetic layer having permeability which is changed in accordance with stress generated therein; a coil having at least two terminals, allowing an electric current to flow therebetween to generate a magnetic flux, thereby magnetizing the magnetic layer; and a substrate integrally supporting the magnetic layer and the coil, wherein the coil is a planar coil including at least one winding, each winding having a U-shaped portion formed of a first conductive line portion, a second conductive line portion, and a connecting portion connecting the first and second conductive line portions, the first and second conductive line portions extending in a first direction, and impedance between the terminals is changed in accordance with a change of inductance caused by a change of the permeability of the magnetic layer.

Abstract: A strain-gauge transducer (5) comprising a substrate (10) provided with strain gauges and pressure members (11, 12) which deform the substrate (10) via transfer elements (1a, 4a) which transmit an applied force (F). The transfer elements comprise bars (1a, 1b, 4a, 4b) molded from an elastomer in a common molding operation. A material (2a, 3a) having a higher compressibility than the bars may be interposed between the bars. This material may form elastic stops (54a) provided to preclude breakage of the substrate. This results in a transducer whose sensitivity is linear for small loads and which is very insusceptible to overloading. The transducer can be used for the construction of scales or touch tablets.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of detecting faults for a fuel evaporative emission treatment system, in which the fuel evaporative emission which is admitted from a fuel tank and absorbed once by a canister is separated from the canister by purge air and sucked in a suction pipe of an engine. Under the control of an electronic control unit, a vent port of the canister is closed by closing a vent solenoid valve, and a purge control valve installed in a pipe connecting an outlet port of the canister to the suction pipe is opened. Thereby, a negative pressure of suction air is applied to the fuel tank via another pipe connecting the above-mentioned pipe and the inlet port of canister to the fuel tank to reduce the internal pressure of the fuel tank. Then, the reduction of the internal pressure of the fuel tank is completed by closing the control valve. Afterward, the pressure rise generated in the fuel tank from the time when the exhaust is completed is detected on the basis of the output of a pressure sensor.

Abstract: A method and system for a torque converter clutch solenoid functional test which discriminates between electronic component failures from other subsystem failures, such as mechanical or hydraulic failures utilizing a plurality of counters for monitoring the state of the solenoid (34) and other subsystem components.

Abstract: A torque sensor is presented for use in a power assist steering system for sensing the applied steering torque between an input shaft and an output shaft and wherein the shafts are coaxially aligned and rotatable relative to each other about a common axis. The sensor includes a rotary input transformer having a stationary primary winding and a rotary secondary winding. A rotary transmitter is driven by the input shaft for rotation therewith about the common axis. The transmitter carries a coil set including a plurality of series connected coils arranged in an annular array about the axis on an axially directed face of the transmitter. All of the coils are wound in the same direction and are electrically connected to the secondary winding for receiving an input signal therefrom. A rotary receiver is axially spaced from the transmitter and is driven by the output shaft for rotation therewith about the common axis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the arrangement of measuring devices on a semitrailer motor vehicle having a tractive unit, a semitrailer unit and a fifth wheel fastened to the tractive unit. The measuring devices(s) in each arrangement are disposed between the fifth wheel and the semitrailer. In one embodiment, a force sensor for measuring tractive and acceleration forces is disposed on a coupling claw forming part of a locking mechanism associated with the fifth wheel. In the same embodiment, a measuring device for measuring impact and pressure forces arising during braking is operationally connected to a movably mounted contact part forming part of the locking mechanism. Alternative embodiments of the present invention showing different measuring arrangements are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method and apparatus for determining the stretching characteristics of thermoplastic articles such as bottles on a consistently accurate basis by making an initial measurement such as dimension or volume, stretching the article to the onset of strain hardening, and correlating the measurements to a physical property such as inherent viscosity, intrinsic viscosity or molecular weight of the thermoplastic article.

Abstract: The invention is a mechanical sensor produced from a polymer film whose upper part (A) is made conductive, the lower part (B) remaining an insulator. When a strain is applied, the mechanical sensor according to the invention distorts, varying the resistance of part (A) and thus allowing the strain to be measured. Preferably, the polymer used is a thermostable polymer.

Abstract: A test frame has an upper end traverse, a lower end traverse below the upper end traverse, a pair of parallel upright tie rods having upper ends fixed in the upper traverse and lower ends fixed in the lower traverse, and a middle traverse between the upper and lower end traverses. Respective cylinders fixed on the middle traverse surrounding the tie rods are vertically slidable on the tie rods and each define with the respective tie rod a substantially closed chamber. A piston provided on each tie rod inside the respective cylinder subdivides the respective chamber into an upper compartment and a lower compartment. A source of fluid having a high-pressure side and a low-pressure side is connectable by a pair of respective valves to either of the respective compartments. A mechanical controller connected to both valves synchronously operates same to synchronize the position and movements of both cylinders.

Abstract: A slump tester for concrete includes a testing unit and a measuring unit. The testing unit includes a tube with a perforated lower section that is lowered into the concrete to be tested up to the level of a disc carried on the tube. A timer button on the measuring unit is pushed to initiate a timer. After a preset time, an alarm sounds and the rod-like measuring unit is lowered into the tube until contact is made with the concrete that has entered the testing unit. This is indicated by a dot appearing in a digital display on the upper end of the measuring unit. The depth to which the rod has been lowered into the tube is monitored using an induction coil wound on the upper part of the rod and a metal cylinder in the upper end of the testing unit. The inductance of the coil varies linearly with the degree of insertion and this is used to generate a signal representing the slump of the concrete, which is displayed on the measuring unit display.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an arrangement of measuring devices on a semitrailer motor vehicle having a tractive unit, a semitrailer unit and a fifth wheel fastened to the tractive unit. The fifth wheel has a coupling plate which is pivotally disposed on a support structure such as a support block. The measuring arrangement includes measuring devices for measuring acceleration, tractive or braking forces which arise in the fifth wheel of the tractive unit. In the various embodiments disclosed herein, the measuring devices are incorporated into the support structure. If desired, the measuring devices may also include devices for effecting measurement of the weight of the semitrailer. The measured values are converted in an evaluation device into appropriate control commands for influencing the driving behavior of the semitrailer motor vehicle.

Abstract: The prevailing tension in an elongate strand, such as a textile yarn, is instantaneously measured, even at very low levels of tension and at fine incremental changes in tension, by a tension measuring apparatus utilizing a pair of fixed contact arms spaced from one another to define a strand contact line therebetween and an intermediate cantilevered sensing arm disposed at an equal spacing from each fixed contact arm and at a lateral spacing from the stand contact line. The fixed contact arms and the sensing arm are contacted with the strand simultaneously at the same common lateral side of the strand to cause the strand to deflect from the strand contact line at equivalent strand break angles between the respective strand contact points on the fixed contact arms and on the sensing arm.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine has an injection valve. A device for recording an instant at which injection starts in the injection valve includes a differentiating device connected to the injection valve for receiving current through the injection valve and emitting an output signal corresponding to a second derivative of a variation in current with respect to time. A threshold value stage is connected to the differentiating device for receiving the output signal and generating a threshold signal whenever the output signal exceeds a threshold value. A logic device is connected to the threshold value stage for recognizing the instant at which injection starts when the threshold signal occurs for a second time after a triggering instant of the injection valve.

Abstract: An apparatus is invented that accurately determines the failure or fracture stress of materials that behave in a brittle manner while under static or dynamic loadings that applies a stress to a test specimen in tension, compression, shear, or combination thereof, or in the case of cyclic loading stressing a fatigue sample. The bending and twisting of the test specimen due to the inherent misalignments in conventional test systems are drastically reduced by this device, which utilizes a hollow cylinder, termed a bending moment absorber whose ends are fitted and fixed to the ends of a dumbbell or flat specimen. This assembly, in turn, is clamped at each end by commercially available hydraulically-operated grips within the load train. This device causes the combined cross-sections of the hollow cylinder and the specimen to act in concert so as to markedly increase the moment of inertia of the system and thus reduce both the imposed bending stress and the error during testing.

Abstract: Internal combustion engine emissions information is generated by monitoring engine events that significantly impact engine emissions and by applying the monitored events to a model of the emissions impact of such events. The monitored events and the emissions impact derived from the model are made visible to the engine operator in a real-time format, and further may be made available to a third party for analysis.

Abstract: A method for testing the catalyst activity of a catalytic converter installed in the exhaust system of an internal combustion engine involves running the engine to heat the converter to a normal operating temperature. Once the converter has reached a desired temperature the engine is shut off and the fuel and ignition systems of the engine are disabled and a source of hydrocarbon is introduced at a location upstream of the converter such as the air induction system. Upon introduction of the hydrocarbons, the engine is cranked to thereby pump the hydrocarbon through the system where it is mixed with air and to the converter where the mixture is subject to conversion. The exhausted constituents are analyzed and the activity of the converter is determined based on the levels thereof.

Abstract: A material test system capable of applying multiple force load components simultaneously includes a first actuator connected in parallel with a spring element. The first actuator and the spring element in turn are connected in series with the test specimen and a second actuator. The spring element is substantially rigid in order to transfer the force load from the second actuator to the test specimen yet substantially compliant in order to allow transfer of the force load from the first actuator to the test specimen.

Abstract: A clamp-on structural strain-gage sensor that is mounted to dynamic load-bearing structures, such as sucker-rod type oil well pumps, to produce an electrical output proportional to the deflection of such structures. The apparatus uniquely includes an active electronic temperature correcting circuit to provide compensation for the erratic effects caused by uneven thermal heating of the load-bearing structure.

Abstract: An alignment coupling is shown which is of chain like construction where one pair of set screws passes through the upper link and engages the top of the lower link so as to adjust its alignment and a second pair of set screws passes through the lower link and engages the bottom of the upper link to adjust its alignment. This coupling is used in a free swiveling mode or a fixed alignment mode.