Abstract: To prevent occurrence of a slip between a tire and a drum and a flat spot on the tire and to reduce cycle time at a time of testing the tire, this tire testing method includes causing a control mechanism to control a motor to drive the tire to rotate at a predetermined rotational speed lower than a specified rotational speed if a linear sensor detects that the tire transported onto a center conveyor is sandwiched between an upper spindle and a lower spindle, and to control a moving mechanism to move a drum until the drum contacts the tire that rotates at the predetermined rotational speed. If a load cell detects the contact between the tire and the drum, then the control mechanism accelerates the rotation of the tire from the predetermined rotational speed to the specified rotational speed and increases a load applied to the tire by the drum, and the tire is tested.

Abstract: A stitched sensor including a plurality of threads stitched to a textile in a stitch geometry is described. The plurality of threads includes a conductive thread, and the stitch geometry is configured such that an electrical property of the stitched sensor changes based on at least one of stretching, relaxation, or bending of the textile. Methods for forming a stitched sensor are also described.

Abstract: A level measuring device for a wall mounted drum type washing machine and a level measuring method thereof, in which water levels of the left side and the right side of a tub of the wall mounted drum type washing machine are measured by first and second level measuring units, a control unit determines whether the washing machine is level from the measured water levels of the left and right sides of the tub, and a display unit displays a result of determining whether the washing machine is level, thereby reducing the installation time to install and level the washing machine, and allow a consumer to easily identify and maintain the level washing machine during use, thereby reducing vibrations and noise that occur during operation of the wall mounted drum type washing machine.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an ultrasonic probe having an increased number (e.g., twelve) of ultrasonic sensors for measuring the level of liquid within a sealed container. The ultrasonic probe includes a neck tube that enables the ultrasonic probe to be used with existing, standardized container fittings despite having an enlarged barrel to accommodate the increased number of ultrasonic sensors. Embodiments of the present invention also provide a system and method in which ultrasonic sensors within an ultrasonic probe are activated one at a time to reduce crosstalk between the ultrasonic sensors and their wiring.

Abstract: A temperature measuring device for an electric appliance such as a fryer includes at least one temperature sensor in the form of an electric resistor, to which at least two different measuring voltages can be applied with cyclic switching between the measuring voltages. The temperature sensor is connected to a control, which includes a microcontroller and which is configured for applying at least two different measuring voltages to the temperature sensor.

Abstract: Devices for enabling navigation of a crawler vehicle along an airfoil-shaped body, such as a helicopter blade, in a low-cost fashion with high reliability, especially for swept configuration blades. Using the natural tendency of vacuum adherence devices to adhere to changing surface contours, the crawler vehicle can adhere itself to airfoil-shaped structures in a way that allows the crawler vehicle to easily translate along an airfoil-shaped body while accommodating extreme variations along the surface of the airfoil-shaped body. The crawler vehicle can be designed to eliminate any trailing edge follower wheel, which simplifies the crawler's ability to accommodate trailing edge protrusions, such as trim tabs.

Abstract: A gauging installation for a tank with a long narrow nozzle providing access to an interior of the tank. The gauging system includes a GWR level gauge with a probe, and a first rigid extension member providing an interior probe mounting position at the end of the nozzle. The probe is configured to guide an electromagnetic transmit signal from a transceiver towards the product inside the tank, and to return the electromagnetic echo signal resulting from a reflection of the electromagnetic transmit signal by a surface of the product. A microwave transmission line connects the transceiver and the probe. With this design the beginning of the probe of the GWR level gauge will be located at the lower end of the nozzle, i.e. at the upper interior of the tank.

Abstract: A method of repairing an air data probe sense port includes inserting a plug into a sense port in an air data probe, mounting the plug to the air data probe, dressing the welded plug to be substantially flush with adjacent air data probe surface, and forming a new sense port in the air data probe. The method can include enlarging the sense port prior to inserting the plug therein.

Abstract: An antenna combination includes a feed-through having an input side including a connector for coupling to a transmission line connector and an output side including an inner cavity attaching to an aperture in a top surface or a nozzle of a tank. A foam filled dielectric rod antenna is coupled to the output side of the feed-through having a nose portion including a sub-portion within the inner cavity and a rod-shaped portion from beyond the inner cavity to an antenna launch end. The rod-shaped portion includes an outer solid dielectric material including a thickness transition region, wherein a thickness of the solid dielectric material decreases toward the antenna launch end to a constant minimum thickness shell region that extends to the antenna launch end. The outer solid dielectric material defines an inner hollow region. A dielectric foam fill material fills the inner hollow region.

Abstract: It is presented a method for detecting a gas (G). Acoustic waves (Wt) are generated and transmitted via a wave generating and sensing means (2) towards a reflecting wall (3) and thereafter reflected acoustic waves (Wt) are detected by the wave generating and sensing means (2) wherein a presence of the gas (G) is detected by determining a change in an output signal of the wave generating and sensing means (2). A gas detector (1) is also presented.

Abstract: An apparatus for changing rim sets at a testing station of a tire uniformity testing system that includes a storage unit for storing a plurality of rim set assemblies. A transfer arm is reciprocally movable and includes a gripper mechanism for gripping a rim set assembly and moving it from a storage position to a position at which rims forming part of the rim set assembly are aligned with opposed spindles at the testing station. The rim set assembly includes a bracket having structure engageable by the transfer arm and at least one of the rims forming part of the assembly includes a locking member rotatable between a first position and a second position. The bracket includes a structure for immobilizing the rim to inhibit relative rotation between the rim and the bracket and further includes a lever mechanism for moving the locking member from its first position to its second position in order to engage retaining members forming part of the bracket.

Abstract: Embodiments related to pressure sensitive structures are described and depicted.

Abstract: A pneumatic multiport selector valve and analytic instrument employing said valve are provided. The valve includes a base having a mounting surface configured to mount to the analytic instrument. The mounting surface has a plurality of apertures therein for coupling to flow conduits of the analytic instrument. At least one piston plate has a number of apertures therethrough. The apertures are configured to slidably receive respective pistons. Pistons are disposed in respective apertures of the at least one piston plate. A cushion layer is disposed between the at least one piston plate and the base. The cushion layer has a plurality of apertures to allow actuation gas therethrough. A plate clamps the at least one piston plate to the base.

Abstract: Methods of volume measurement of a liquid are described. During extraction or feed of the liquid, at least two time points of the altered volume of the liquid is measured. Respective hydrostatic pressures are measured at these time points. The pressure difference is determined and the current volume of the liquid present in the container is determined.

Abstract: The utility model provides a tire pressure monitor cap utilizing colors to indicate tire pressure. The tire pressure monitor cap comprises a transparent cover, an alarm bolt, a spring, a floating seat, a rubber pad, a ventilating plate, a metal housing and a gasket; the rubber pad includes a circular protruding seat having a wall higher than that of the outside wall, and a circumferential depression therein, wherein the center is provided with the conical portion, an circular groove arranged outside the protruding seat to receive a hard O-ring inserted thereinto and facilitate inner wall of the O-ring integrated with outer wall of the protruding seat; the O-ring not only increases intensity of the outer wall of the rubber pad by its hard plastic material, but also decreases pressure from the flange of the transparent cover.

Abstract: A sensor for pressure measurement may include a fabric support, an electrically conductive structure including tracks on the fabric support having resistance variations in response to deformations thereof, and a processor coupled to the electrically conductive structure and configured to sense resistance values of respective tracks of the electrically conductive structure and to provide a signal representative of a pressure difference across opposite faces of the fabric support.

Abstract: A vane for dynamic flow angle measurements may have improved performance for time lag responsiveness over a prior art delta-shaped vane. In various embodiments, a gust sensing vane may have a cropped-delta shape and configured to align to a fluid flow direction, where the gust sensing vane comprises a forward portion having a leading edge and an aft portion having a first trailing edge and a second trailing edge. A cross-sectional area of the forward portion may have a triangular shape. Furthermore, a cross-sectional area of the aft portion has two substantially parallel sides to form the cropped-delta shape of the gust sensing vane. The gust sensing vane may be coupled to, and extend away from, a rotary hub.

Abstract: A method of testing a hydroelectric turbine before the turbine is installed and secured on the seabed, in order to ensure that the turbine is operating as expected, the method involving securing the turbine to a vessel and displacing the vessel through water in order to effect rotation while monitoring one or more operating parameters of the turbine.

Abstract: A fluid container for a medical fluid dispensing device, comprises a rigid body (3) for delimiting with the inside part of its wall a volume of the medical fluid, and a membrane (5) that covers at least an opening of the rigid body thereby creating a fluid tight lid, the opening corresponding to a measurement area, and the membrane further covers a portion of an outside part of the rigid body's wall. The membrane comprises a flexible measurement part (11) corresponding to the opening of the rigid body, an attachment part (13) that is fixed to the rigid body, and a second part (12) that connects the flexible measurement part to the attachment part, and which comprises a rigid part (14), an upper part of which is connected to the flexible measurement part, and the rigid part further comprising a sealing surface (18), and a deformable part (15) which connects the rigid part to the attachment part.

Abstract: A tire defect tester and a method of operation are disclosed. In one aspect, the tire defect tester includes a first electrode arranged to direct energy toward a tire, and a second electrode arranged on an opposite side of the tire from the first electrode to receive energy passing through the tire from the first electrode. The tire defect tester further includes an energy sensor electrically connected to the second electrode and a fault indicator circuit responsive to the energy sensor and configured to indicate the presence of a flaw upon energy above a threshold level being sensed at the second electrode.