Abstract: Electrical connectors mountable on wheels are described. An electrical connector may include a sleeve sized for mounting on a barrel of a wheel. The sleeve defines one or more channels. The electrical connector may also include one or more hollow spokes mechanically coupled with the sleeve, and one or more electrical conductors. An electrical conductor extends from a portion of the sleeve corresponding to a bead seat region through the one or more channels and a hollow spoke for electrically coupling with an electrical module positioned on a tread region of a tire mounted on the wheel. Electrical devices including such electrical connectors and electrical devices including other electrical connectors are also described.

Abstract: According to some embodiments disclosed herein, a system is provided to measure a tread of a tire. The system includes a nonmagnetic layer providing a drive over surface, a magnet, and a magnetic sensor associated with the magnet. The drive over surface is adapted to receive the tire thereon including the tread to be measured. The magnet has opposing first and second magnetic poles, the nonmagnetic layer is between the drive over surface and the magnet, and the magnet is arranged so that the first magnetic pole is between the second magnetic pole and the nonmagnetic layer. The nonmagnetic layer is between the drive over surface and the magnetic sensor, and the magnetic sensor is configured to detect a magnetic field resulting from the magnet and the tire on the drive over surface.

Abstract: A shock testing machine including: a carriage for holding a component to be tested, the carriage being configured to be movable in a linear direction along one or more elongated rails; a drum rotatable on a shaft, the drum having a circumferential surface; a cable having one end connected to the carriage and an other end connected to the drum; a motor having an output connected to the shaft to rotate the drum under the motive power of the motor to wind the cable on the circumferential surface of the drum; and a clutch disposed in a power train operatively connecting the motor to the drum, the clutch having a disengaged state and an engaged state. Where the motor is controlled to disengage the clutch while the motor reaches a predetermined rotational speed or predetermined rotational torque and to engage the clutch when the motor reaches the predetermined rotational speed or predetermined rotational torque to accelerate the carriage and component to be tested in the linear direction.

Abstract: A positioning tool for an endoscopic inspection means for inspecting a manifold casing of an aircraft turbine engine includes an annular wall with through holes. The annular wall is surrounded by an annular manifold having at least one gas port emerging in an annular recess delimited between the manifold and the wall. The tool further includes a centering device configured to be engaged in the port and having a distal end configured to bear against the wall, and a proximal end configured to be held securely on an opening of the port. At least one mask is configured to be engaged in the port and to be positioned and secured on the centering device. The mask comprising includes an endoscopic inspection window for inspecting a zone to be inspected inside the port and/or the recess.

Abstract: A printer has first and second print sections 100, 200 joined along a line 12, and a controller 50. Each section contains a printhead 120; 220 travelling on a track 110; 210. A frame or frame part 104 supports the track and is driven on wheels by a motor, so that the printer can travel autonomously along a horizontally extending step edge, printing as it goes. It further includes a sensor for detecting the proximity of the vertical face 5v of the step. The printer can thus be set to print advertising, for instance, on the steps of a stadium.

Abstract: A microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) accelerometer comprises a compliant spring structure with a first beam, a second beam, and a rigid structure. One end of the first beam and one end of the second beam are coupled to the rigid structure and a proof mass is coupled to another end of the second beam. Further, a spring anchor is coupled to another end of the first beam. In response to the proof mass moving, an extension coupled to the rigid structure moves in an opposite direction to motion of the proof mass to contact the proof mass and stop the movement of the proof mass.

Abstract: A flow regulation tool including a ported landing nipple having a port therethrough, a retrievable choke assembly disposed within the housing, the choke assembly including a choke member and a pressure port, a fluid flow path within the housing that includes a first direction of flow in a first portion of the flow path and a second direction of flow in a second portion of the flow path, and a sensor gauge having first and second pressure sensing points disposed in the retrievable choke assembly, the first pressure sensing point exposed to pressure upstream or downstream of the choke member depending upon fluid flow direction and the second pressure sensing point exposed to pressure at the other of upstream or downstream of the choke member depending upon fluid flow direction, one of the first and second pressure sensing points exposed to the corresponding pressure through the pressure port.

Abstract: A vehicle surface simulation apparatus for mapping a nozzles spray pattern of a water leak tester configured to spray water onto an exterior of a vehicle. A jig of the apparatus can be configured to simulate a plurality of exterior surface portions of two different vehicles. The jig can include at least a first area configured to represent at least a portion of a side-view profile of the first vehicle and the second vehicle, and at least a second area configured to represent at least a portion of a front-view profile of the first vehicle and at least a portion of a rear-view profile of the second vehicle. The funnel can be supported in one of the areas such that a funnel inlet lies in a plane that represents a predetermined surface of the vehicle. The conduit can be in fluid communication with the funnel and the container.

Abstract: A dropsonde with a dandelion-like structure includes a support system, a rotor wing system, a rotor wing restraint system, a sensing main control system and an electrical damping system, the support system further comprising a hollow upper strut, a hollow lower strut, an upper disc fixedly connected to top of the upper strut and a lower disc fixedly connected to top of the lower strut, the upper strut is partially inserted into the lower strut, and the upper parts of the upper disc and the upper strut are exposed outside the lower strut; wherein the rotor wing system includes a plurality of upper rotor wings, a plurality of lower rotor wings, a plurality of upper springs, a plurality of lower springs, a plurality of upper connecting members and a plurality of lower connecting members.

Abstract: A structural arrangement for a tipping bucket rain gauge and related micro controlled electronic system, the features of which include remote monitoring and identification of possible operating faults or defects in the rain gauge such as jamming of the tipping bucket or clogging of the funnel by reading data from the sensor and the pulse generator and also possible measurement errors caused by defects in the sensor or in the pulse generator or caused by inclination or vibration of the rain gauge. Such monitoring is provided by a capacitive sensor arranged such as to detect the accumulation of water in the funnel and also water flow, and by a pulse generator arranged to measure the number of movements of the tipping bucket and includes a control module that communicates with the capacitive sensor and with the pulse generator of the tipping bucket and with an accelerometer provided in the control module itself.

Abstract: A method of testing an aircraft landing gear is disclosed including: a) generating a test signal with the first tachometer, wherein the first wheel is not rotating during the generation of the test signal; b) receiving the test signal via one of the tachometer output lines; c) issuing a braking command in response to the receipt of the test signal, wherein the braking command is issued via the braking command line which is associated with the one of the tachometer output lines; and d) monitoring a response of the first or second braking system to the braking command to test for a cross-connection between the first and second braking systems. The landing gear includes first and second wheels; a first braking system having a first tachometer mounted to the first wheel and configured to generate a first tachometer signal indicating rotation of the first wheel, and a first brake configured to brake the first wheel.

Abstract: This invention relates to tire tread wear monitoring. A sacrificial magnet portion is arranged in a tread of the tire so that it undergoes wear along with the tread and generates a useful magnetic field signal indicative of remaining tread thickness. With a magnetic field sensor arranged on or in the tire, an overall magnetic field signal is measured, which includes the useful magnetic field signal, and a superimposed interfering magnetic field signal generated by magnetizable material contained in the tire. A non-sacrificial magnet portion is used to saturate the magnetizable material at least locally so as to make the interfering magnetic field signal sensed by the magnetic field sensor substantially independent of the useful magnetic field signal sensed by the magnetic field sensor. Further aspects of the invention relate to tires, e.g., vehicle tires, featuring a tire tread wear monitoring system.

Abstract: A coating module for variable speed ribbon coating, the coating module including a ribbon including an inner face and an outer face; a conveyor system including a support element holding and transporting the ribbon on its inner face; a squeeze ink roller arranged in contact with the outer face of the ribbon; the squeeze ink roller including an outer layer made of elastic material; a reservoir assembly designed to hold ink thereon and to feed the squeeze ink roller with the ink, and a pressure controller including an active element for pressing the ribbon between the squeeze ink roller and the support roller along a coating zone.

Abstract: A distance sensor is used for automatically determining the size of a wheel on a mobile machine. The distance sensor is mounted to detect distance information relating to a distance between the sensor and an outer circumferential surface of the wheel. The distance information is received by a controller configured to determine the radius of the wheel based at least in part on the distance information. The controller may compare the measured radius with data for a range of standard wheel sizes and determine which standard wheel size is fitted. The measured wheel radius and/or the determined standard wheel size can used as an input for a control system on the machine which requires wheel size data, such as an axle height adjustment system.

Abstract: A diagnostic station for inspecting an article transport vehicle movable along a guideway has a diagnostic module associated with the guideway and configured to receive the article transport vehicle when the article transport vehicle is in an inspection position along the guideway. The diagnostic module has at least one of the following: a grip testing substation having at least one force sensor configured for measuring a force exerted by a closure mechanism of the article transport vehicle in a closed position, a pressure testing substation in communication with a source of pressurized air and configured for pressurizing and depressurizing the closure mechanism, and an optical inspection substation having at least one camera configured for capturing image data of the article transport vehicle.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a light beam scanner to scan an image bearer by a light beam according to data on a pattern for image positional deviation correction and a developing device to develop a latent image of the pattern. The pattern is formed on the image bearer by scanning performed by the light beam scanner. The image forming apparatus includes a transfer belt to transfer the pattern to a medium, a sensor to read the pattern to obtain an amount of image positional deviation, a skew correction device to adjust a tilt of an optical member of the light beam scanner according to a skew amount to correct a skew and perform the image positional deviation correction according to the amount of image positional deviation, and circuitry to drive the skew correction device before the image positional deviation correction.

Abstract: A frequency modulation MEMS triaxial gyroscope, having two mobile masses; a first and a second driving body coupled to the mobile masses through elastic elements rigid in a first direction and compliant in a second direction transverse to the first direction; and a third and a fourth driving body coupled to the mobile masses through elastic elements rigid in the second direction and compliant in the first direction. A first and a second driving element are coupled to the first and second driving bodies for causing the mobile masses to translate in the first direction in phase opposition. A third and a fourth driving element are coupled to the third and fourth driving bodies for causing the mobile masses to translate in the second direction and in phase opposition. An out-of-plane driving element is coupled to the first and second mobile masses for causing a translation in a third direction, in phase opposition.

Abstract: A gyroscope comprising a resonator, a plurality of transducers configured to drive a vibrational mode in the resonator and detect vibrations of the resonator, a base configured to support the resonator, the base including attachment points for attachment to an external system, and a vibration isolator for isolating the resonator from the external system, the vibration isolator being formed from resilient material and being located radially inward of the attachment points.

Abstract: A printing apparatus selectively executes a first print control in which an image is printed on a sheet for which a single-sided printing is instructed after an image has been printed on a first surface of a last sheet of sheets for which a double-sided printing is instructed and which correspond to pages before a page corresponding to the sheet for which the single-sided printing is instructed, and a second print control in which printing on a first surface of a number of sheets, within a predetermined number of pages after a page corresponding to a sheet for which the single-sided printing is instructed, for which the double-sided printing is instructed and which correspond to pages after the page corresponding to the sheet on which the single-sided printing is instructed, is performed prior to printing of the sheet on which the single-sided printing is instructed.

Abstract: The present teachings relate to various embodiments of a hermetically-sealed gas enclosure assembly and system that can be readily transportable and assemblable and provide for maintaining a minimum inert gas volume and maximal access to various devices and apparatuses enclosed therein. Various embodiments of a hermetically-sealed gas enclosure assembly and system of the present teachings can have a gas enclosure assembly constructed in a fashion that minimizes the internal volume of a gas enclosure assembly, and at the same time optimizes the working space to accommodate a variety of footprints of various OLED printing systems. Various embodiments of a gas enclosure assembly so constructed additionally provide ready access to the interior of a gas enclosure assembly from the exterior during processing and readily access to the interior for maintenance, while minimizing downtime.