Abstract: Disclosed is a device for determining the diametral changes in a substantially cylindrical member produced by axial loads imposed on the cylindrical member, such as the valve stem in a motor operated valve assembly. The device is a clamp assembly comprised of a first jaw member and a second jaw member rigidly connected to each other and to the portions of the periphery of the cylindrical member by a pair of studs. The second jaw member has a flexure with a contact surface contacting a peripheral portion of the cylindrical member and a projection extending away from the contact surface to transmit compressive forces representative of diametral changes in the cylindrical member against a compression load cell housed in the second jaw member. The device is useful in the field of valve diagnostics.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining liquid flow through a system including a container from which liquid is pumped out by one or more pumps, the pumping rate for all combinations of pumps being known and stored in a memory. When pumping is off, the liquid surface rises from a lower to an upper limit level. When the surface reaches the upper limit level, the pumping phase begins. When the surface reaches the lower level, the pumping is stopped and the cycle is repeated. If only one pump is required, the inflow rates prior to and just after the pump cycle are averaged. This average flow rate is multiplied by the pump time and added to the totalizer. Then the container volume is also added, following which the outflow rate (pump rate) is calculated by using the previously established average inflow rate (total volume divided by pumptime plus the average inflow rate). This value can be stored in the addressable memory.

Abstract: An increased sensitivity Coriolis flowmeter having one or more drivers oscillates a flow tube, or tubes, at pre-determined frequencies thereby producing active and/or static nodes at points along the flowtube(s). The increased sensitivity of the present flowmeter is provided by controllably locating sensors in close proximity to the static nodes and/or active nodes. In a first embodiment, the flowtubes are oscillated in a manner generating a single active node with sensors positioned in close proximity to, and on opposing sides of, the active node. In a second embodiment, the flowtubes are oscillated in a manner generating multiple active nodes where the sensors are located on opposing sides of each active node, or on opposing flowtubes where one sensor is above an active node on one leg and a second sensor below the active node on the opposing leg. In another embodiment, sensors are positioned in close proximity to static nodes in addition to the sensor positions for active nodes as previously stated.

Abstract: An environmental wind tunnel for producing air flow over an automotive vehicle includes a source of air under pressure and an elongated housing for receiving an automotive vehicle. The environmental wind tunnel has an upstream end coupled to the downstream end of the source of air under pressure, so that air is blown axially through the housing from its upstream end to its downstream end. The environmental wind tunnel also includes a large area ratio contraction with large area corner sections, large area duct work with a low angle diffuser, a large area fan, and acoustic treatments on the turning vanes, test chamber walls, and corner duct interior surfaces. In addition, in-flow acoustic absorption panels, and one or more flow conditioning screens may also be included in the environmental wind tunnel.

Abstract: A device for measuring the flow of a fluid flowing through a measuring pipe includes coils arranged above and below the measuring pipe and a pair of electrodes facing each other on the sides of the measuring pipe. The coils are excitable for producing aiding and opposing magnetic fields. A correction circuit corrects the voltage between the electrodes, which is only approximately proportionate to the flow of the fluid in the presence of aiding magnetic fields, to an output signal S which is proportionate to the flow of the fluid, by means of a correction function Ug/Ur which depends on the voltages Ur,Ug between the electrodes in the presence of aiding and opposing magnetic fields. Separate correction signals are determined depending on whether the Froude number of the flow in the measuring pipe is greater than or less than one. One of the correction signals is applied to the voltage Ur which corresponds to the aiding magnetic field, for producing an output signal S.

Abstract: A selectively configurable penetrometer device for impact testing the physical characteristics of the sea floor includes a hollow cylindrical housing which is formed with a recess. A hemispherical nose is engageable with one end of the housing and a removable fin assembly is selectively engageable with the opposite end of the housing. A transponder is engageable in a fluid tight seal with the end of the housing opposite the hemispherical nose to hold the electronic components in the recess of the housing. In the operation of the penetrometer, the transmitter emits a signal of precisely controlled constant frequency, and a remote receiver detects variations in signal receptions during impact of the penetrometer with the sea floor to determine the physical characteristics of the surface of the sea floor. The device can also include weighted spacers which can be selectively inserted into the device between the housing and the hemispherical nose.

Abstract: A meter is retrofitted for remote operation by replacing the lens with a replacement lens having a pickup transducer seated only in the replacement lens free of the meter casing.

Abstract: A combustion state-detecting system for internal combustion engines has a crank angle sensor which generates a crank angle signal with a predetermined period shorter than a firing period of the engine whenever the crankshaft rotates through a predetermined angle. A value of the rotational speed of the engine is detected whenever the crank angle signal is generated. A first average value of the detected engine rotational speed is calculated over every period of one rotation of the crankshaft, followed by calculating a second average value of the first average value over every firing period, to thereby calculate a rate of variation in the second average value over every firing period. Values of the rate of variation are averaged over a predetermined number of ignition cycles of the engine, to obtain a third average value. A cumulative value of the absolute value of a difference between the third average value and the rate of variation is calculated over the above predetermined number of ignition cycles.

Abstract: A torsional vortex sensor comprises an extended member disposed across a flow passage extending through a flowmeter body and experiencing a fluctuating fluid dynamic force associated with vortex shedding occurring in a stream of fluid moving through the flow passage wherein the extended member is supported by the flowmeter body in a relationship allowing at least a minute amount of pivotal movement of the extended member about a pivot axis perpendicular to the center line of the flow passage and offset from the geometrical center line of the extended member defined by a line connecting the geometrical center of every cross section of the extended member taken parallel to a plane including the center line of the flow passage, and at least one lateral extension member disposed exteriorly to the flow passage and extending from the extended member wherein the lateral extension member is connected to two force transmitting members respectively extending from two piezo electric transducers disposed respectively on

Abstract: Measurement of a mass flow rate is accomplished by equalizing the output amplitude values of upstream and downstream sensors without causing a lowering of the mechanical Q of a vibration system. One of the upstream and downstream sensors includes a permanent magnet disposed on a side of a tube and an induction coil disposed on a side of a base, the output voltage amplitude of which is fixed. Another sensor includes a ferromagnetic member disposed on the side of the tube and an excitation coil and an induction coil disposed on the side of the base. The output voltage amplitude of the induction coil is controlled to be coincident with the output voltage amplitude of the induction coil by adjusting a DC current flowing through the excitation coil.

Abstract: An electromagnetic flowmeter of this invention includes a measurement tube for passing a fluid to be measured, alternating magnetic field application means for applying alternating magnetic field and periodically switching magnetic fields applied in a first direction on a plane perpendicular to a direction in which the fluid flows and in a second direction opposite to the first direction, sampling means for sampling electromotive force caused in the fluid by the magnetic fields in the first and second directions by plural times in the same direction in one period, and arithmetic means for deriving the flow rate by the arithmetic process by excluding a sampling value which is contained in the sampling values obtained by the plurality of sampling operations and which exceeds a preset range or replacing the same by a simulated value.

Abstract: An active integrated circuit transponder with on-board power supply is mounted in or on a vehicle tire. A pressure sensor, a temperature sensor and a tire rotation sensor are mounted on a substrate along with the integrated circuit transponder chip, the power supply and an antenna. Upon receiving an interrogation signal from a remote source, the transponder activates the sensors to sense tire pressure and temperature and transmits an encoded radio frequency signal to the remote source containing serial, encoded tire identification, tire position on the vehicle, current tire pressure, current tire temperature and accumulated tire revolutions, as well as maximum and/or minimum tire and temperature pressure values encountered over a predetermined time period and other information specific to the tire.

Abstract: An oil pressure sender unit is disclosed which employs a two-part housing with a reinforced rubber diaphragm disposed between the two housing parts in order to isolate a pressurized oil cavity from a dry circuit cavity which contains the electrical components of the sender unit. In the preferred embodiment the reinforced diaphragm includes a peripheral lip which mates with a corresponding groove located within one part of the housing which is a metal base. The base has an axially extending inlet passage with a damper plug inserted therein which together defines a plurality of volume chambers that receive high pressurized pulsating oil at the inlet side and, because of its design, delivers a smooth flow of high pressurized oil to the underside of the diaphragm. This causes less wear on the electrical contacts that engage a two-sided circuit card which has a resistor circuit on one side and an on/off circuit on the opposing side.

Abstract: A system for measuring a flow parameter of a fluid, comprising a conduit defining a flow passage for said fluid, said flow passage having a central axis means located in said flow passage for measuring a differential between a first resultant drag exerted by said fluid at a first distance from said central axis and a second resultant drag exerted by said fluid at a second distance from said central axis different from said first distance and means for determining said flow parameter from said differential, whereby said flow parameter is accurately measured regardless of viscosity changes in said fluid.

Abstract: The ultrasonic transmitter (E) is subjected to two different excitation modes, and is mounted on the support (2) which at the same constitutes a waveguide.Excitation of the transmitter at its axial-resonance frequency transmits ultrasonic waves through the liquid to provide a detection signal. Its excitation at its radial-resonance frequency creates ultrasonic waves propagated along the support (2) to provide an operation-control signal.The invention is applicable to the detection of various liquids in a broad range of conditions and is suitable for industrial applications, notably in safety and control systems.

Abstract: An airflow sensor is designed with features which enhance the accuracy of measurement. The central hub of the airflow sensor is made in an air foil shape to reduce noise and turbulence at that region. The airflow sensing tubes extend radially outwardly from the central hub and are made extremely thin in profile to minimize turbulence. Each airflow sensing tube has a plurality of spaced airflow receiving openings therethrough which are spaced from one another in a manner permitting each opening to receive air from a volume of air equal to the volumes of air from which other holes receive air flow. The downstream air collection tubes are circumferentially spaced between the first-mentioned airflow sensing tubes and have open ends to receive air from the open areas between the first-mentioned airflow sensing tubes.

Abstract: A transducer converting an oscillation in fluid pressure into an alternating electrical signal comprises a transducer body including a first pressure compartment disposed intermediate a second and third pressure compartment, and separated by from the second and third pressure compartments respectively by two thin partitioning walls, and a relative vibratory motion sensor detecting the relative vibratory deflection between the two thin partitioning walls, wherein the relative vibratory motion sensor generates an alternating electrical signal representing the oscillation in fluid pressure existing in at least one of two pressures respectively introduced into the first pressure compartment and into the combination of the second and third pressure compartments.

Abstract: A system for testing a power train assembly such as a transaxle of a vehicle has first and second gear units each having separate input members for receiving input torque from the power train assembly to be tested, a mounting member for supporting the power train assembly between the first and second gear units, a drive motor for supplying input torque to the power train assembly, and a dynamometer connected with the second gear unit. The drive motor is connected with the input member of the power train assembly by a driving shaft passing through the first gear unit. Preferably, the first and second gear units are connected by at least one interconnecting shaft extending under the power train assembly. With this arrangement, the test system is smaller in required space, smaller in inertia, capable of high speed testing, and readily applicable to different types of power train assemblies.

Abstract: A pyroelectric swirl indicator for measurement of swirl in flowing fluid comprising at least one pyroelectric substrate having at least one surface to which is applied a fluctuating heat input, the fluctuating heat input causing a fluctuating surface charge distribution in response to temperature fluctuations of the substrate. Spaced apart conductor elements for sensing the fluctuating surface charge on the surface of the substrate in the vicinity of the spaced apart conductor elements are provided, the differences in the charge fluctuations between the spaced apart conductor elements comprising an indication of swirl flow in the fluid, said spaced apart conductor elements disposed in a manner which enables measurement of orthogonal components of fluid flow.

Abstract: The flowrate of powder in an air-powder mixture circuit comprising a mixture drive area defined by a powder drive device comprising air injector means adapted to inject air in the direction in which the mixture is to be driven is measured by measuring the pressure difference across the drive area and the injected air flowrate and computing the powder flowrate as a function of these two variables.