Abstract: Single ended tuning fork inertial sensor having a housing and a single ended tuning fork of a quartz-like material of a predetermined thickness, the tuning fork has first and second tines lying in a plane and having an axis of symmetry and has a body formed integral with said first and second tines. The body is rigidly secured to the housing. The tines have a rectangular cross section and have a width which is different from the thickness. The body has a stem formed therein which has a width less than that of the body. Drive electrodes are secured to the tines. An oscillatory frequency is supplied to the above drive electrodes to excite the tines in a drive mode and in the presence of an axial angular rate to cause the tines to operate in a pickup mode which is substantially separated in frequency from the drive mode. The electrode patterns are laser trimmed in order to reduce quadrature offset.

Abstract: An angular velocity sensor utilizing the Coriolis effect on a fluid jet employs a metal diaphragm impulse jet pump with no valves to reduce temperature sensitivity. The pump anvil, the nozzle block and the sensor plug may all be fabricated of the same material to further reduce temperature sensitivity. The thickness of the sensing elements is selected to reduce temperature sensitivity still further.

Abstract: An angular velocity sensor utilizing the Coriolis effect on a fluid jet employs increased spacing between the sensing elements to increase the scale factor and to reduce flow disturbances. A metal diaphragm pump is utilized to improve the ability to control the flow rate. Flow disturbances are further reduced by using a single, symmetrical central flowhole, eliminating curtain holes, and providing only two discharge paths oriented 180.degree. apart.

Abstract: A system for determining angular rate of rotation of a body about a rate axis. In one arrangement, the system comprises first (10) and second (12) accelerometers, movement apparatus and processor. The first and second accelerometers have their sensitive axes (16, 18) parallel to a sensing axis that is in turn perpendicular to the rate axis. The first and second accelerometers produce first and second output signals (a.sub.1, a.sub.2), each output signal having a frequency corresponding to the acceleration experienced by the respective accelerometer along its sensitive axis. The movement apparatus includes a generator (68) for producing a periodic movement signal and a mounting system (14) responsive to the movement signal for periodically moving the accelerometers along a movement axis perpendicular to the rate and sensing axes, such that each output signal includes a periodic Coriolis component.

Abstract: Liquid bearing two degree of freedom inertial sensor apparatus is disclosed. A single liquid bearing sensor is configured in a two degree of freedom rate gyro mode, or two of the liquid bearing sensors are made pendulous along their spin axes and configured in a two degree of freedom rate gyro and accelerometer mode.

Abstract: This invention relates to an ultrasonic angle test probe comprising at least two ultrasonic transducers for respectively generating and receiving ultrasonic waves propagating in different directions. According to the invention, in order to obtain relatively small wedge shaped coupling members and small coupling surfaces on the side of the probe contacting the workpiece, a plurality of transducers are disposed above one another instead of side by side. In a typical embodiment, a first transducer is disposed on a first wedge-shaped coupling member and second transducer is disposed on a second wedge-shaped coupling member superposed upon said first coupling member for providing different angles of propagation of sound waves responsive to energizing one or the other transducer.

Abstract: An accelerometer fabricated from a semiconductor substrate sandwiched between two non-conductive plates is shown having an inertial mass formed by etching the substrate. The mass is joined to the substrate by hinges having crossed blades to provide flexure in one direction and rigidity in other directions. The fabrication technique permits the integration of accelerometer servo and signal processing circuitry upon the same substrate in which the accelerometer mass is formed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for measuring the density of a liquid, such as a drilling mud, by continuously flowing a sample of the liquid through a container having a fixed predetermined volume. The container is supported by at least one bed of pressurized fluid. The pressure of the fluid is varied in response to fluctuations in the weight of the liquid sample in the container. A pressure transmitter monitors the pressure level in the bed and produces a signal indicative of the density of the liquid sample.

Abstract: An acceleration or inclination sensor includes at least two condensers formed as a reference electrode and a detection electrode divided into at least two portions. A magnetic fluid is provided between the reference and detection electrodes, and a magnet or electromagnet is provided for generating magnetism acting upon the magnetic fluid around the location at which the detection electrode is divided, whereby acceleration or inclination is detected by a change in the capacitance of the condensers in terms of an electrical signal.

Abstract: Angular rate sensors are disclosed. Each sensor includes a forked vibrating element having two tines extending from a base end to a free end. Each of the tines are magnetized to have two regions of opposing magnetic polarity, with the polarity of corresponding regions between the different tines being opposite. In a first embodiment, the tines are driven in complementary resonant vibration by a pair of drive coils positioned about the tines near the free ends thereof. In a second embodiment, the drive coils are located about the tines at the junction of the regions of magnetization mid-element. In the first embodiment, sense motions are detected by a pair of sense coils positioned about mid-element near the junction of the first and second regions of magnetization. In the second embodiment, sense motions are detected by capacitive sensing, which consists of two parallel plate capacitors formed of the tines and additional plates, which are connected for differential sensing.

Abstract: The invention relates to a gyrometer, without material rotor, of the type using the Coriolis forces on the particles of a fluid contained in a resonant cavity. It comprises, in addition to the conventional excitation and detection unit, a unit for effecting servo-control in phase of the longitudinal acoustic oscillation in the cavity and employs a weak coupling mode between exciter and cavity. The gyrometer according to the invention overcomes the variations in length of the cavity and the fluctuations in the speed of propagation of the oscillations in the fluid as a function of the temperature.

Abstract: An improved vibration sensor of a type used to monitor the vibration and knocking level of an automotive engine or the like. The vibration sensor includes a casing having a cavity in which is received a resonant plate composed of a metal plate and a piezoelectric element. The piezoelectric element has electrodes disposed on opposite sides thereof, one abutting the metal plate. The electrode abutting the metal plate has an extended portion which passes around the edge of the piezoelectric body of the piezoelectric element, extending onto the opposite surface with a gap formed between the end of the extended electrode portion and the electrode on this opposite surface. A thin resistor, such as may be formed by a layer of a resistive paste or a chip resistor, is installed across the gap between the end of the extended electrode layer and the opposing electrode.

Abstract: A meter box including a bottom dish having a floor, side walls, an inlet valve at one end and an outlet valve at another end passing through the sidewall. The inlet and outlet valves are integrally formed as one rigid piece with the floor and the side walls and constructed so that they are in precise alignment with each other so that a fluid meter and expansion mechanism can be installed therebetween. An upwardly extending collar is connected to the dish and a lid is secured to the upper end of the collar. A snap-fast connection releasably connects the collar to the dish and is formed as part of the collar and the dish. The inlet and outlet valves have connecting mechanisms at their outer external ends for connecting the meter box to external pipings.

Abstract: An automatic tester for the hardness of materials is disclosed in which the operations are automated and in which the possibility of human error is significantly eliminated. Particularly, a linear digital encoder is employed which is attached to the capstan and elevating table arrangement. Pulses are developed according to the movement of the penetrator in the workpiece and are utilized to standardize and measure the time during which the major and minor loads are applied to the workpiece. Additionally, use of a CPU according to certain preset procedures and methods allows for enhanced reliability of the testing procedures. Conversions from different testing scales as well as corrections of certain factors is easily accomplished. Still further, the tester includes the provision to insure that certain ASTM standards are met by testing the device with standard test blocks and comparing results with those preset in the CPU.

Abstract: A device for detecting pressure fluctuations in a combustion chamber of an internal combustion chamber includes two ionic current gages positioned in an end gas region of the combustion chamber and spaced from each other by a predetermined distance in an axial direction. The device detects pressure knocks in the combustion chamber by defining various time intervals for the occurrence of the ionic current during the knocking combustion and non-knocking combustion of gases in the combustion chamber.

Abstract: An angular rate sensor comprising a pair of accelerometers that includes means for continuously nulling error signals resulting from misalignment of the accelerometers. The first accelerometer (10) has a first force sensing axis and produces a first output signal (a.sub.1) indicating acceleration along the first force sensing axis. The second accelerometer (12) has a second force sensing axis and produces a second output signal (a.sub.2) indicating acceleration along the second force sensing axis. The accelerometers are mounted by mounting means such that their force sensing axes are both parallel to a common sensing axis and such that the accelerometers can be moved along a vibration axis normal to the sensing axis. A signal generator (76) produces a periodic deive signal having a predetermined frequency, and drive means (80, 82, 84) connected to the mounting means is responsive to the drive signal for vibrating the first and second accelerometers along the vibration axis at the predetermined frequency.

Abstract: The wheel balancer includes a plastic one-piece body for mounting on the shaft of a wheel and also having a window. A bar is carried by the body and is slidable therein to a position where the wheel is in balance, whereupon indicia on the bar, visible through the window, informs the mechanic how much weight is to be added to the wheel to place it in balance. The bar is also rotatable about its axis, in the body, so that several labels corresponding to several wheel diameters can be provided on the same bar. A detent mechanism on the body and on the bar holds the bar in a selected rotational orientation while enabling the sliding movement during balancing.

Abstract: Apparatus for the inspection of track rails. The device comprises a truck (4) capable of displacement on the track, and comprises at least two ultrasound emitter and/or receiver probes (V, O.sub.1, O.sub.2) emitting in different directions, applied against the rolling plane of the rail (1) and at least an ultrasound prove (SA) provided at the vicinity of the rail, laterally offset, emitting an ultrasound beam to the side of the rail web. Application particularly to the detection and recognition of rail fish-plates.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed which relate to measuring the quantity and thermal insulating value of fibrous material as it is delivered from a source to another location. A feeder mechanism is provided for delivering the material such as insulation to housing from which it is dispensed ultimately to some cavity such as wall space or surface. The housing includes rotary vanes which divide the housing into a number of separate chambers. A measuring system provided with electronic circuitry and acoustical apparatus delivers a controlled acoustical signal to the chamber containing the fibrous material. A sensor senses acoustical signal generated by a source but altered by the fibrous material within the chamber. Signals corresponding to the source signal and the sensed signal are both fed to a comparator which in turn emits a signal proportional to the volume and density, or thermal insulating value of material contained in the chamber.

Abstract: A metal diaphragm impulse jet pump with no valves is disclosed. The pump may be used in an angular velocity sensor utilizing the Coriolis effect on a fluid jet. A magnetic core is mounted within an anvil and a drive coil is wound around the core. The drive coil may be driven sinusoidally and the diaphragm responds with a vibratory motion in like manner. Sensing poles are provided in quadrature with the drive coils and may be used to sense the vibratory motion and thereby control the fluid flow.