Abstract: Apparatus for applying an optimal tension exceeding alternating forces to a specimen being measured by automatically detecting saturation of a relaxation phenomenon that has occurred in the specimen when the dynamic viscoelasticity of the specimen is measured by a tension method. The apparatus includes a strain detector for detecting changes in length of the specimen, an electromagnetic force generator for applying a force to the specimen, a moving mechanism for moving the electromagnetic force generator, a movement control unit for controlling the amount of movement of the drive mechanism, a strain differentiation circuit for differentiating the output of the strain detector, and a comparator for comparing the output of the strain differentiation circuit with a target differential value and producing a tension control timing signal.

Abstract: A mass air flow meter having smaller overall external dimensions than prior devices to facilitate packaging within the engine compartment of a vehicle. Contributing to this smaller size is the use of an "inside-out" venturi in which the inside diameter of the device body is relatively straight and an airfoil shaped body located in the airflow causes the venturi effect. Advantages of this design include high signal to noise ratio, lower manufacturing costs and reduction of bulk.

Abstract: In sampling grain offered in bulk as shown at 40, a sampling device 10 is inserted vertically downwardly into the grain. The device 10 has an inner tube 12 having openings 18 in series along its length and a sleeve 14 which is open bottomed and axially slidable over the tube. During insertion, the sleeve 14 covers the openings 18. To obtain a sample, the sleeve 14 is slowly slid upwardly relative to the inner tube thus progressively to expose the openings 18 from the bottom upwardly. Grain flows laterally via the openings 18 into the tube, which fills from the bottom. Practically no vertical displacement of kernels takes place, thus ensuring that a representative sample is taken at all levels. Ultimately, the sleeve 14 is slid downwardly to close the openings 18. The device, containing the sample, is withdrawn.

Abstract: A system and method for non-intrusively obtaining the thrust value of combustion by-products of a jet engine is disclosed herein. The system includes laser elements for inducing absorption for use in determining the axial velocity and density of the jet flow stream and elements for calculating the thrust value therefrom.

Abstract: A test fixture apparatus for measuring the bending stiffness of specimens of flexible materials such as elastomers and like polymers. The preferred form includes two elements, an anvil member and a yoke member. The yoke includes a crosspiece and two pairs of depending legs forming parallel, spaced apart, inverted "V"s. Rollers extend between points on the lower parts of the legs to support the test specimens. The anvil member includes a crosspiece and a single pair of arms positioning a roller for applying a downward load to the center of the specimen held on the yoke rollers. The rollers allow the surface-soft specimens to slide over rather than dig into their supports, and this provides more accurate, repeatable readings of the bending forces applied to the specimens.

Abstract: There is provided a fluid sample bag for use in testing automotive exhaust samples and the like. The bag can be sealed and formed of a material which is flexible and impermeable to gases. A fitting is sealingly connected to the bag for filling and evacuating the bag. A spacing element is carried on the fitting and disposed in the interior of the bag, extending substantially throughout the interior of the bag and closely adjacent the perimeter of the bag when the bag is collapsed. The spacing element is a sheet of mesh material or other grid-like array that forms a plurality of passages which provide for fluid flow between the fitting and substantially everywhere within the bag when the bag collapses on the spacing element. The spacing element is polyester, stainless steel or the like, depending on the sample application, so as to be inert with the sample.

Abstract: An ignition apparatus for an internal combustion engine can prevent malfunctions due to noise induced by a high ignition voltage which is developed by an ignition coil upon ignition. Generation of a misfiring detection signal can also be prevented during fuel supply cut-off operations. To these ends, in one aspect, and ignition apparatus includes: a controller for controlling the ignition of a cylinder of the engine in synchronism with the rotation thereof; a detector connected to a spark plug and an ignition coil for detecting an ion current which is generated between the electrodes of the spark plug upon combustion of an air/fuel mixture in the cylinder; and mask a for masking the output signal of the detector in response to discharge of the spark plug.

Abstract: An object of this invention consists in exactly specifically identifying the position where abnormality arises in a speed changing system installed on a construction machine or similar vehicle. Specifically, a microprocessor (29) determines whether or not clutches H and L and clutch R, 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th are brought in an engaged state in conformity with clutch pressure commands (C.sub.1 l to C.sub.7). In addition, the microprocessor (29) determines whether or not the clutches are selected and then brought in an engaged state in conformity with the clutch pressure commands and shafts (2a, 7a and 8a) located before and behind the clutches are rotated in conformity with speed reduction ratios corresponding to the selected clutches. Thereafter, the microprocessor (29) exactly specifically identifies based on the results derived from the aforementioned determinations the position where a failure arises in the speed changing system.

Abstract: Linear displacement and strain measuring apparatus includes a linearly movable element, an emitter disposed on the movable element to move as the element is moved, for developing predetermined paterns of electric fields which vary linearly on the emitter in the direction of movement of the element, and a detector disposed in close proximity to the emitter adjacent the path in which the emitter moves to detect variations in the electric field patterns as the emitter is moved, for producing output signals representing variation in the electric field patterns and thus the linear displacement of the movable element relative to the detector. By attaching the movable element and the detector to spaced apart locations on a specimen, strain in the specimen can be measured.

Abstract: A robot driver for a motor vehicle, which has a central casing (4) to be mounted in the passenger compartment (1) and actuating elements (5) for pedals (6) and, if appropriate, gear lever, can be mounted in the passenger compartment in a stable and uncomplicated way and without the risk of damage in that the casing is supported on the seating surface and back rest surface (8,9) of the driver's seat (2) and is connected to a rod (17) which is held on a steering wheel frame (19) mounted on the steering wheel (3) and is flush with the center of the steering column (18).

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a device for detecting an occurrence of abnormal condition accurately in a load such as a plurality of fuel injectors for use in an internal combustion engine or the like with a single abnormality determining circuit.

Abstract: A balance for measuring the thrust of a turbojet engine comprises a movable frame suspended by flexible suspension strips from an interface structure fixed to the ceiling of a building housing the balance, an adaptor by which the turbojet engine is mounted to the movable frame, and a thrust measuring system fixed to the interface structure and connected to the movable frame to measure the longitudinal force exerted on the frame by the turbojet engine when the engine is in operation. The flexible suspension strips consist of two front suspension strips disposed in a transverse plane symmetrically one on each side of a longitudinal median plane through the balance, and one rear suspension strip disposed transversely in the longitudinal median plane of the balance, these three suspension strips providing an isostatic suspension of the movable frame from the fixed interface structure.

Abstract: A strain gauge and method of making same for use in certain medical applications, such as sensing the occurrence of an apnea event. The device is also applicable to monitoring mechanical motion associated with other medical conditions. The strain gauge actually measures the change in direct current resistance produced by stretching and compression of a number of carbon deposits coupled in series on a longitudinally extendible substrate. This extendibility is produced by suitably die cutting a flexible but inherently inelastic insulative substrate. The easily produced device may be used externally or encapsulated for implantation.

Abstract: This invention pertains to an automated method of testing the spring pack found in motor operated valves. It includes the steps of compressing the spring pack in a test stand while the compressive load applied and the vertical displacement occurring as a result of such loading is measured. This data is sent to a computer that records selected load measurements which correspond to pre-selected displacement values. Afterwards, this data is reported such as by a graph or other report that provides a comparison of the pre-selected displacement values with its respective compressive load.

Abstract: A strain gauge comprised of a magnetic multilayer assembly exhibiting spialve effect with individual ferromagnetic layers possessing magnetostrictive properties. A magnetic field source is used to bias the magnetic moments of the ferromagnetic layers in a given direction whereby stress applied causes previously antiferromagnetically coupled moments to be angularly realigned toward a ferromagnetic arrangement. Such realignment causes a corresponding resistance change of unexpectedly high magnitude thereby providing a highly sensitive strain gauge.

Abstract: Apparatus for testing the brake system of a motor vehicle has a housing which can be coupled to the rails for the driver's seat and supports a drive for a reciprocable depressing unit for the brake pedal. The depressing unit has a rear section which is movable by the drive and a front section which is movable with and relative to the rear section. When a cap at the front end of the front section engages and depresses the pedal, the cap is first moved against the opposition of a weak coil spring relative to a rear portion of the front section to thus close a switch in the circuit of two potentiometers, and the front section is thereupon moved relative to the rear section against the opposition of a helical compression coil spring. One of the potentiometers measures the distance which is covered by the rear section and the other potentiometer measures the distance which is covered by the front section relative to the rear section of the depressing unit.

Abstract: The frictional properties test mechanism (10) comprises a shaft dynamometer (12) connected with a wheel element (14) that is coupled with a braking mechanism (16) for the wheel element (14). The braking mechanism comprises a single rotor (25)/double stator (27) disc brake whose torque tube (29) is attached to a piston housing (40) and torque load cell (54). The piston housing (40), torque armature end plate (41), and torque load cell (54) are mounted by way of bearings (95) within a stationary framework (100), and connected with an oscillatory motion mechanism (18). Located adjacent the stationary framework (100) and connected by arms (24) to the end plate (41) and torque load cell (54) is a pair of spring mechanisms (20) and a pair of hydraulic cylinders (22), which are part of the oscillatory motion mechanism (18). A control and display console (121) operates the dynamometer (12) in order to effect rotary motion of the wheel element (14) and operation of the braking mechanism (16).

Abstract: An air-measuring device for measuring the air mass taken in by an internal combustion engine which has a main flow channel, having a venturi section, and a temperature-dependent measuring resistor arranged in a bypass channel, the bypass channel opening upstream and downstream of the smallest flow cross-section of the venturi section in the direction of flow, in order to reduce the noise component in the measurement signal of the measuring resistor a channel region with an inlet and outlet opening is formed in the bypass channel, which channel region accommodates the measuring resistor in a central portion. The channel region is designed in such a way that the ratio of the flow cross-section of the central portion to the smallest cross-section of the venturi section is from 1:8 to 1:25 and the ratio of the cross-section to the cross-section of the inlet and outlet opening is in each case from 1:1 to 1:2.

Abstract: A strain detector in which a pair of magnetic layer patterns (5, 6) made of a magnetically permeable soft magnetic material are attached to a driven shaft (1) and a pair of detection coils (8, 9) are disposed to surround the respective magnetic layers for detecting a change in magnetic permeability of the magnetic layers which is caused when an external force is applied to the driven shaft. A magnetic yoke (15 or 16) is disposed around each of the detection coils (8 or 9) for promoting the passage of the magnetic flux therethrough, thereby decreasing flux leakage. The magnetic yokes (15, 16) each comprises an axially extending tubular member (15a) and radially inward outer and inner flanges (15d, 15e) extending from axially outer and inner ends of the tubular member, respectively. The magnetic yokes each may be made of a compacted core material containing magnetic powder and binder or assembled from a plurality of parts.

Abstract: A single sensor apparatus and method for determining engine position and engine speed is disclosed. The apparatus includes a gear rotating in synchronism with the camshaft of an internal combustion engine. The gear includes a number of equiangularly spaced teeth, and an additional tooth mechanically synchronized with top dead center position of a particular cylinder of the engine. An algorithm is disclosed for detecting the added tooth with a high reliability and accuracy. In addition, engine speed is determined by measuring the time interval required for a predetermined quantity of gear teeth to pass the sensor by detecting the pulses corresponding to the gear teeth. The resulting time interval is converted into engine speed through a known relationship between the number of teeth on the gear and their angular spacing.