Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer assembly for monitoring the quality of spot welds employs a transducer element joined to a support element and fitted within a conventional welding electrode assembly. The transducer assembly is biased against the interior surface of the welding electrode tip by a biasing element, preferably a compression spring. A sleeve, preferably composed of brass, surrounds the transducer element and is joined to the support element. A coaxial cable in communication with external instrumentation has a ground lead attached to the sleeve, and a signal lead attached to the transducer element.

Abstract: A head or body coil assembly for picking up signals in an MRI system is provided. It includes a band of conductive material which surrounds the specimen to be tested but which forms a gap substantially parallel to the axis of the curved band. An overlapping conductive section overlaps the gap at the adjacent ends to form respective capacitors with these ends. A ground connection in taken off from the overlapping section and a signal output lead is attached to one of the ends. Auxiliary variable capacitors are provided for balancing the system and for tuning it into resonance.

Abstract: A novel method for detecting and measuring elastic anisotropy in a sample of the earth's formations is provided. A dyad of time series signal representative of the sample's response to imparted shear waves is recorded. The dyad of time series signals can then be processed to detect and measure elastic anisotropy in the sample. More particularly, the dyad of time series signals are collected by imparting shear waves having first and second polarizations into the samples with a shear wave transducer and recording the sample's response to each of the imparted shear waves by shear wave transducers having first and second polarizations. In one embodiment of the invention, the dyad of time series signals can be diagonalized to detect and measure elastic anisotropy in the sample. In another embodiment, the dyad of time series signals can be processed for a plurality of rotation angles and the resulting rotated dyad of time series signals can be displayed to detect and measure elastic anisotropy in the sample.

Abstract: Undesired signals are eliminated using a shaped RF pulse comprising a region of random frequency components and a region of zero components to effectively eliminate signals from areas volumes or frequency bands which are not required.

Abstract: A shrouded turbine blade vibration monitoring system is comprised of a plurality of sensors for sensing a profile of a turbine blade row. A microprocessor compares the sensed profile to an expected profile of the turbine blade row to detect motion of the turbine blades due to vibration. The microprocessor then generates an operator alarm and trips the turbine in response to the detection of unacceptable vibration of the turbine blades.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer element is supported by a member. The transducer element and the supporting member are disposed within a casing filled with ultrasonic wave propagation medium. At least part of the casing forms an ultrasonic wave transmission window. In a first case, the supporting member is rotatable about a first axis and about a second axis, and the position of the supporting member is detected. In a second case, the casing has a first portion accommodating the transducer element and the supporting member and a second portion extending in rear of the first portion and being narrower than the first portion, and the transducer element is allowed to emit and receive ultrasonic wave to and from a region extending in front of the casing with resepct to a direction of insertion of the casing into a body to be examined. In a third case, a sensor detects at least one condition related to opreation of a mechanism driving the supporting member.

Abstract: A method for detecting hydrogen attack by ultrasound wave velocity measurements in which ultrasound waves (e.g. longitudinal, shear, or creeping) are transmitted from one transducer to another transducer along a fixed path through a steel body such as pipe. The velocity of the ultrasound wave is determined with an accuracy of 0.1 percent from the fixed path length and the time for a wave to travel from one transducer to the other transducer. A decrease in velocity by more than two percent indicates hydrogen attack. In one embodiment, either refracted longitudinal or refracted shear waves are transmitted, and the velocities thereof are determined. In another embodiment, a creeping wave is transmitted from one transducer to the other transducer with the creeping wave including a surface wave and a subsurface wave. Travel time of the subsurface wave is measured and used with the known fixed path length in determining velocity.

Abstract: For marking and finding weld seams to be investigated under water ultrasonic transmitters 54 are provided which have luminous or light-reflecting characters 58. The diver brings an ultrasonic receiver 60 up to the ultrasonic transmitter 54. For more exact location determination along the weld seam 52 a tape is provided which is disposed along the weld seam 52 and has elements arranged in coded manner.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a device for monitoring the thermodynamic state of a fluid flowing through a conduit. The device generally comprises a first electromechanical transducer acoustically coupled to the conduit, electronic drive means connected to the first electromechanical transducer to provide a driving electrical signal to the first electromechanical transducer whereby the first electromechanical transducer is oscillated to generate mechanical wave energy for transmission through the fluid flow, and a second electromechanical transducer acoustically coupled to the conduit and arranged in a spaced, acoustically coupled relation to the first electromechanical transducer to receive the mechanical wave energy transmitted through the fluid flow and conduit by the first electromechanical transducer and to convert the received mechanical wave energy into an electrical signal.

Abstract: A transducer for measuring vibrations is formed of a case with a vibratory element mounted therein by means of a disk spring which is constrained to vibrate with the vibratory element in a single direction. Optical or magnetic sensors are located in registration with opposed ends of the vibratory element to produce optically or magnetically induced signals having a modulation thereon resulting from vibration of the vibratory element. The use of pairs of the sensors improves signal-to-noise ratio while allowing for increased bandwidth of the transducer in the measurement of vibration.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for three dimensional imaging of a solid angular volume utilizing a single pulse of radiated energy is described. An embodiment is disclosed which utilizes a single unipolar acoustic pulse to insonify a three dimensional volume. An array of transducers is used to collect the echoes which are stored in a memory as a replica of the reflected three dimensional wavefield. This data is processed to form a replica of the three dimensional volume of objects responsible for the echoes which is then stored in a second three dimensional memory. The data in this memory is collapsed in the direction of preferred perspective to enable viewing on a cathode ray tube.

Abstract: Three dimensional vibration of an object can be measured based on the light generated by a light source and the light reflected on a conical concave reflective surface disposed on the object. Measurement of the vibration is performed by using a measuring device for measuring frequency deviation of the reflected light and a device for measuring deviation of reflection position of the reflected light.

Abstract: In a quadrature antenna coil assembly of a magnetic resonance imaging system, the antenna coil assembly having a first receiver coil and a second receiver coil and having external coupling between the first and second receiver coils, a coupling cancellation network has a first set of terminals connected across the first receiver coil, a second set of terminals connected across the second receiver coil, and circuitry, connected between the first and second terminal sets, for generating additional coupling between the first and second receiver coils in opposite polarity and equal magnitude to the external coupling to cancel the external coupling.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes an interface circuit for coupling with a relative high-level VOICE circuit and a relatively low-level DIALER circuit to a subscriber line. A first shunt transistor is coupled across the telephone line and has its collector current forced by a current sink driven from the VOICE circuit. A second shunt transistor is coupled in a current mirror configuration to the first shunt transistor and supplies current to the DIALER circuitry. The interface circuit includes a saturation prevention circuit coupled to the current sink and to the second shunt transistor for sensing a tendency of the second shunt transistor toward saturation and for increasing the collector current load on that transistor in response. The saturation prevention circuit includes a voltage offset element and a sensing transistor arranged to form a loop with the collector-to-base junction of the second shunt transistor.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a miniature ball bearing tester which detects vibrations therefrom when such a bearing is rotated by a rotor. The device includes a base upon which are supported reeds. The reeds support an upper housing tooling which includes a bearing support for mounting a bearing thereon for rotation. A rotor is attachable to a bearing mounted on the upper tooling. The rotor is then driven to rotate the bearing and upon a defect being detected, the reeds are as a result forced to move in a direction radial with respect to the axial direction of the bearing. An accelerometer picks up the movement and the signal therefrom is then band pass filtered, integrated to obtain a velocity measurement and output by, for example, a speaker to detect any frequencies resulting from a flaw in the miniature bearing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for calculating charges for telephone calls in real time. The operator assistance switch connected to an originating telephone customer recognizes that a call is one which requires an immediate calculation of charges. Such calls include coin calls, calls from certain types of hotel/motel private branch exchanges, calls from customers who wish to be notified as to the amount of the charge for the call they are about to place, and calls from customers requesting a rate for a call to a particular destination. The operator assistance switch generates a message including the originating and terminating directory numbers and the type of the call. The message is sent to a shared rating system which uses the parameters sent in the message to calculate charges. The shared rating system then sends a message, including the calculated charges, back to the operator assistance switch. The customer, or the hotel/motel private branch exchange, is then notified of the amount of the charges.

Abstract: A microprocessor-based telephone set includes a telephone number memory, a number indicator, an abbreviated number selecting switch, an abbreviated number controller, and a selecting signal controller. The call is made when a selecting signal is sent to a base station. The selecting signal is issued when selecting signal controller retrieves a certain telephone number of a called party according to a displayed abbreviated number on the indicator on receiving a signal controlling the transmission start of the selecting signal. The signal which controls the transmission start of the selecting signal can be generated by means of the same switch that hook-signals. The telephone equipment can be installed on a steering wheel of an automobile.

Abstract: A circuit for connection into a telephone line for detecting when a telephone instrument has gone off-hook and which is unaffected by the presence of a ringing signal on the telephone line. The circuit comprises a transistor switch, a first plurality of series connected diodes connected in series with the telephone line for developing a first voltage thereacross when the telephone instrument has gone off-hook, an RC circuit coupled to the first plurality of diodes for charging to the first voltage when the telephone instrument has gone off-hook after a time delay and for activating the switch, a second plurality of series connected diodes, the second plurality being greater than the first plurality, the second plurality of diodes being connected to the switch and to the first plurality of diodes for developing a second voltage thereacross during one half cycle of a ringing signal on the telephone line.

Abstract: A key telephone system has a plurality of telephone sets, each set having a hold button for temporarily holding a central office ("CO") line. A plurality of cell park lamps temporarily indicate which of the CO lines is being held. A plurality of call park buttons are individually associated with the call park lamps. An outgoing call button is used for seizing an idle one of the CO lines when an outgoing call is to be initiated. An answer button is used for seizing one of the CO lines over which an incoming call is being received. At least one external indicator indicates the various states (busy, idle, holding) of each of the CO lines. A central unit has a hold control circuit for indicating with the call park lamps when the CO line is being held responsive to an operation of either the hold button or a call park button.