Abstract: A multilayer flexible circuit for sensing physical properties of a structural surface 12 capable of surviving exposure in harsh environments through the use of isolation materials 70 disposed within the flexible circuit 10.

Abstract: A sensor assembly 10 is adapted for use with a typical die 12 and is effective to determine the existence of parallelism and minimum shut height between upper movable die portion 14 and the stationary lower die portion 20.

Abstract: A crank angle detecting system for a two-cycle engine has a first detecting disk secured to a crankshaft and having a plurality of first projections, a second detecting disk secured to the crankshaft and having three projections, a first pickup for detecting the first projections and a second pickup for sensing the second projections. The second projections are disposed such that pulses produced by the second projections for a cylinder of the engine are generated at a timing different from the other cylinders of the engine.

Abstract: A device to investigate the flow movement in cylindrical components of reciprocating piston internal combustion engines, which flow movement is generated by a flow-guiding system located, as seen in the flow direction, upstream of the cylindrical component, has at least one rotatable measuring vane in the cylindrical component, the axis of rotation of which intersects the axis of the cylindrical component at an adjustable angle other than 0.degree.. A shaft supporting the measuring vane is connected to a device to evaluate the frequency of rotation and/or the position of the angle of the measuring vane in order to determine one or more parameters of the flow movement in the cylindrical component.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for compacting a material sample, such as soil or paving material, including a mold for receiving the material sample and a ram mounted for movement into a first open end of the mold to provide an axial compressire force thereto. The compacting apparatus also includes a base for supporting a second end of the mold. In operation, the mold is gyrated simultaneously with the application of the axial compressire force by the ram. Gyration is provided by tilting the mold from an initial neutral position in which the center longitudinal axis of the mold is collinear with the axis of compression to a tilted operative position in which the central longitudinal axis of the mold is angularly offset from the axis of compression. The base is thereinafter rotated relative to the mold so as to revolve the center of the second end of the mold about the axis of compression, thus, gyrating the axially compressed material sample.

Abstract: A device for detecting a change in internal pressure of a cylinder includes a cylinder head, an ignition plug threadingly fitted into a plug insertion hole of the cylinder head. An annular piezoelectric sensor is secured in the plug insertion hole by screwing the plug into the insertion hole. The sensor has such an outer periphery that, when the ignition plug is screwed into the plug hole, a part of the outer periphery of the sensor placed is brought into engagement with an inside periphery of the plug hole and is thereby prevented from being further rotated in the screwing direction. By using a gasket having the same relative shape to the periphery of the plug insertion hole as that of the above sensor, rotation of the sensor can be prevented even when the sensor does not have such a relative shape.

Abstract: Notching methods and machines are provided by this invention for preparing notches in mechanical testing specimens. The notching machines razor element for creating a notch in the specimen and mechanical actuation elements for substantially linearly contacting the razor element with the specimen in a direction which is either substantially normal to the surface of the specimen receiving the notch or substantially normal to a stress created in the specimen during testing. This actuation forms a notch without any significant residual stresses forming ahead of the notch.

Abstract: A method for predicting the temperature of automatic transmission fluid, in real time, in an automatic transmission. The method involves determining a constant for thermal inertia of the transmission, determining a torque converter heat flow, determining a transmission heat flow, determining a transmission cooler heat flow and determining an exterior-of-transmission heat flow. From each of the four above-mentioned heat flows and the above-mentioned constant, the transmission fluid temperature is predicted. The predicted temperature is used to modify operational parameters of the transmission such as its shift tables.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting an abnormality of a fuel transpiration prevention system which includes a canister with an absorbing device and a control valve provided in a passage between a fuel tank and an intake pipe of an internal combustion engine so that a fuel gas generated within the fuel tank is absorbed by the absorbing device of the canister and introduced into the intake pipe by opening and closing the control valve in accordance with an operating state of said internal combustion engine. The apparatus includes a pressure detecting device for detecting a pressure within the fuel tank and a deviation calculating unit responsive to the output of the pressure detecting device for calculating a deviation between the pressure detected when the control valve opens the passage and the pressure detected when the control valve closes the passage. The apparatus decides an abnormality of the fuel gas supply system on the basis of the deviation calculated by the deviation calculating unit.

Abstract: A turn angle indicator or angular displacement indicator and, more particularly, relates to a capacitive turn angle indicator, especially a positioning sensor for a flap or throttle valve, including a supporting plate fastened to the apparatus at a close narrow distance in front of a further supporting plate which is rotatable planar-parallel relative thereto and which is utilized for a mutually oppositely located narrow spoke or sector-shaped electrode pattern, and with a bearing structure for the rotatable supporting plate and which is fastened to the apparatus. The supporting plates are guided relative to each other through the intermediary of compressively-loaded distance spacers which are arranged in the region of the outer edges of the plates which extend in parallel with the axis of rotation of the rotatable plate.

Abstract: The field of the invention is that of manufacturing non-destructive measurement equipment suitable for fitting to devices for handling and conveying objects on a continuous basis, e.g. for the purpose of monitoring the ripeness and/or the dimensions of fruit and vegetables. The invention provides apparatus for non-destructive measurement in real time of fragile objects moving continuously on a conveyor system of the type including object-receiving cells in which said objects are placed and conveyed one by one along a given directional plane. The apparatus includes at least one support arm hinged at one end and carrying a shoe at its other end, with the bottom surface of the shoe being cylindrical in shape having generator lines that are perpendicular to said plane. Each of said objects rolls beneath and against said surface with relative rotary motion, and at least one sensor performs a non-destructive measurement of a parameter of each of said objects.

Abstract: A sparking voltage detecting device for an internal combustion engine having an ignition system having at least one secondary side high-tension cord, is mounted on the secondary side high-tension cord, for detecting sparking voltage generated in the engine. A main body formed of an insulating material has at least one through hole formed therein. The high-tension cord is fitted through the through hole in a liquidtight manner. At least one conductive member is embedded in the main body at a location radially outward of the through hole and spaced from the high-tension cord by a predetermined distance.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for comparing torsional stress/strain states of a power transmitting member of an internal combustion engine to detect an abnormal combustion condition, including misfire, knock or roughness. Statistical processing steps may be used to detect an abnormal combustion event including: calculating a mean and standard deviation for a set of signals related to the torsional stress induced in the power transmitting member, calculating a difference between a later signal and the mean, calculating a ratio of the difference to the standard deviation, and comparing the ratio to a threshold. The ratio so obtained from a given cylinder may further be compared with one or more other such ratios from other cylinders. In other words, the autocorrelation and/or cross-correlation techniques may be used. A magnetostrictive sensor may preferably be used to obtain the signals relating to the torsional stress in the power transmitting member, such as the engine crankshaft.

Abstract: A connector assembly for connecting to a chip and a substrate for testing the bond between a chip and a substrate in a testing apparatus, the connector assembly comprises a pair of connector blocks, each block having a generally square planar connecting face for bonding to oppositely directed faces of a chip and substrate, and a coupling end for mounting in a tensile testing machine, and a swivel connector assembly for connecting to the coupling and mounting in a tensile testing machine for the application of aligned tension to the chip and substrate.

Abstract: Engine speed variations following combustion events within the cylinders of a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine are compared with a threshold during a predetermined number of combustion events. A distribution of speed variations exceeding the threshold with respect to the cylinders is formed. The distribution is analyzed to determine whether misfire is occurring, as indicated by speed variation following combustion occurring in half or less than half of the cylinders, or whether the vehicle is driving over a rough surface, as indicated by speed variation following combustion occurring in more than half of the cylinders.

Abstract: A frictionless bearing chassis dynamometer including a pair of laterally spaced-apart rolls adapted to be engaged and driven by a pair of wheels of a vehicle. A power exchange unit is disposed between the rolls and includes an input shaft fixedly coupled to each of the rolls. The input shaft is supported at its opposite ends by bearing assemblies which each include inner and outer annular bearings and an inner/outer race member disposed therebetween, which forms an outer race for the inner annular bearing and an inner race for the outer annular bearing. Independent bearing motor drive assemblies are coupled to each of the inner/outer race members by independently drivable bearing drive hubs, pulleys and drive belts.

Abstract: A method for testing rolling contact bearings, where each bearing has an inner race and an outer race. The method comprises: coupling the outer race of the bearing to a strain gauge; rotating the inner race of the bearing in a first direction and measuring the torque exerted on the outer race; and rotating the inner race of the bearing in a second direction and measuring the torque exerted on the outer race. In another aspect, the invention comprises an apparatus for testing bearings. The apparatus includes elements for rotating the inner race of the bearing; a strain gauge; elements for coupling the outer race of the bearing to a strain gauge; and elements, coupled to the strain gauge, for measuring the force applied to the strain gauge when the inner race is rotated.

Abstract: A stator of a steering angle sensor is fixed to a steering column through a combination switch case and a stationary bracket, and a rotor of the sensor is rotatably fitted over a steering shaft. A locking collar is slidably but nonrotatably connected to the rotor. The locking collar and the stator are respectively provided with a locking groove and a locking tooth which engage each other to lock the rotor in a predetermined rotational alignment. When the steering angle sensor is not mounted to a vehicle, the locking groove and the locking tooth are brought into engagement with each other by a locking spring to lock the rotor. When a steering wheel is mounted to the steering shaft in a predetermined rotational neutral position of the steering shaft, a clamping pressure caused by the mounting causes the locking collar to be moved to a lockreleasing position or disengage position and the rotor is connected to the steering shaft.

Abstract: A device for determining a malfunction of an engine cylinder of an internal combustion engine, comprising a first detection unit for detecting a first engine speed at a predetermined first crank angle, and a detecting second engine speed at a predetermined second crank angle, during a power stroke of two engine cylinders under a continuous combustion cycle, a difference calculating unit for calculating a difference between the first and second engine speeds, a misfire determining unit for determining that a misfire has occurred in a corresponding engine cylinder when the difference is outside a predetermined limit, a malfunction determining unit for determining that a malfunction has occurred in the corresponding engine cylinders when a frequency at which the misfire determining unit determines that a misfire has occurred is larger than a predetermined frequency, a second detection unit for detecting a current engine load, and a first changing unit for changing at least one of the predetermined limit and the

Abstract: A method of operating an instrument for testing the physical properties of materials in which each of a series of samples of the material to be tested is placed in a test position located between dies, the dies are closed to mould the material to a test shape, a test is carried out on the sample in the mould and after completion of the test the dies are opened and the sample is removed from the test position is characterised in that a film of material which is substantially non-adhesive to the dies under the conditions of the test is provided to cover those surfaces of the sample which, in the absence of the film, would be in contact with the dies, each sample in turn is conveyed to the test position, and mechanical elements are provided for removing each sample from the test position after the completion of the test. Apparatus suitable for use in the method of the invention is also provided.