Abstract: The speed of an object is measured using a device which includes a transmitter spaced a predetermined distance from a receiver. A first sound wave is propagated through air with a first velocity, typically zero velocity. A second sound wave is propagated through air, the air having a second velocity which approximately equals the air speed of the object. The difference in time between the two sound waves reaching the receiver is measured and used to calculate the air speed of the object, which is then displayed to the user. The device is readily mounted on a pair of glasses wherein the user can read the displayed air speed without involving the user's hands.

Abstract: An apparatus for simulating the effect of a living organism on the change in shape, the disintegration and dissolution behaviour and the active-ingredient release of a pharmaceutical dosage form, including a beaker-shaped container for accommodating a test medium and the pharmaceutical dosage form and an agitating device for agitating the test medium, which agitating device can be moved periodically in a reciprocating movement into and back out of the container, wherein the agitating device includes a piston-shaped head portion arranged on a piston rod, which head portion is provided with through-openings for the test medium and the distance of the piston-shaped head portion from the container floor can be altered periodically in accordance with the periodic reciprocating movement of the agitating device, wherein, the piston rod is suspended from a gallows-shaped boom or the piston rod passes through a bore in the gallows-shaped boom in such a manner that downward movement of the piston-shaped head portion ar

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting internal bio-deterioration in round wood used in various applications (e.g. utility poles, pier pilings, round wood beams, posts and poles in structures, and living trees). The method includes the steps of securing a pulsing transducer adjacent one point on the surface of the round wood and securing a receiving transducer substantially diametrically opposite to the pulsing transducer. The pulsing transducer transmits ultrasonic signals through the round wood, which propagate through possibly deteriorated areas within the round wood. The receiving transducer receives the propagating ultrasonic signals, and a plurality of acousto-ultrasonic parameters contained in the received ultrasonic signals are processed and analyzed. The processing step includes the step of storing the averaged signals, and processing the stored signals on a real time basis to determine the acousto-ultrasonic parameters in the time and frequency domains.

Abstract: A method for reducing the total operating noise and/or the total vibration of at least two generally-identical rotating machines. In one embodiment, the noise (or vibration) contribution of each machine at a predetermined reference relative phase angle is estimated. Optimum phase angles are calculated by minimizing a cost function which includes such estimated noise (or vibration) contributions and each rotating machine's relative phase angle. In another embodiment, the gradient of a weighted sum of a measure of the magnitude of the acoustic pressure amplitude of the total operating noise (or the amplitude of the total vibration) is measured. Each machine phase angle is adjusted by a predetermined increment opposite in sign to its associated gradient. The measuring and adjusting are repeated until the gradient is within a limit.

Abstract: A sample is injected into a gas chromatograph by first slowly causing a needle of a syringe containing the sample to penetrate a septum and be inserted into a sample vaporization chamber and then quickly pushing a plunger to inject the sample into the sample vaporization chamber and pulling out the needle out of the sample vaporization chamber such that effects of discrimination can be controlled and the stress on the needle can be reduced.

Abstract: A fastener measurement system includes a number of gauge blocks, each having a tapered bore disposed therein. Each gauge block has a number of conical inserts that fit within the tapered bore. The inserts have a central bore of varying sizes to receive fasteners of different shank diameters. The gauge block includes a beveled surface at the point where the bore meets a top surface of the gauge block. The beveled surface reduces wear and allows the gauge block to be easily calibrated. A computer system receives measurements made by a linear transducer that measures the height of the fastener above the surface of the gauge block a correction factor .delta. is added to the height measured to produce an indication of the true head height of the fastener. The computer system prompts the user to test the head heights of a random sample of fasteners and prints a report of the head heights as well as an indication of whether the sample of fasteners meets engineering specifications.

Abstract: Phantoms for testing and measuring the performance of ultrasonic imaging systems have regions of precisely controlled scattering or echogenicity which contain sub-resolvable scatterers. The regions are precisely positioned so as to define patterns which form images from which the performance of the ultrasonic imaging system can be evaluated to assure the quality of the images. The phantoms can reveal the combined influences of all the stages in the imaging chain in terms of modulation transfer function and resolution limits as well as other artifacts and defects in the system such as aliasing and degraded frequency response which cannot be evaluated with conventional ultrasound phantoms. The subresolution scattering regions may be formed by printing them on a thin film sheet or substrate using photo lithography, electrostatic xerographic printing or etching; the toner particles or deposited material forming the scatters being sub-resolvable in size.

Abstract: A method is provided for accurately and easily measuring properties of sand. This method includes the steps of measuring contraction properties of the sand, determining a molding parameter for molding a test piece of the sand having a known size based on the measurements of the contraction properties before the test piece is press-molded, press-molding the test piece by compacting a feed of the sand in accordance with the molding parameter, and measuring the properties of the sand by measuring properties of the test piece.

Abstract: The invention features a sample probe and reagent selector valve that enables selection among multiple functions of withdrawing a biological sample from a syringe or capillary into a fluid parameter sensor module, providing calibration and quality control reagents to the sensor module, and flowing a washing fluid through intake passages to prevent cross-contamination and clogging. The valve and sensor module are used in conjunction with an automated analytical instrument, such as an automated blood analyzer, to increase the speed of the analysis, minimize cross contamination between samples, and to overcome the inherent dangers of using the conventional needle/syringe or capillary methods of withdrawing fluids to be tested. The design of the valve provides performance benefits in the form of lower sample and reagent waste volumes, elimination of auxiliary valves and manifolds, and superior performance and reduced cost.

Abstract: A system can take transverse measurements of an elongated workpiece. The tem has a base for holding the workpiece oriented in an axial direction. A carriage mounted on the base can move axially. This carriage has a linear measurement device for providing a linear signal signifying the axial position of the carriage. An ultrasonic assembly is mounted on the carriage, and includes a nozzle for projecting a stream of liquid against the workpiece. This ultrasonic assembly also has an ultrasonic transducer for transmitting an ultrasonic wave into the stream and for detecting an ultrasonic wave returning in the stream. This ultrasonic transducer has a transducer terminal for exchanging signals signifying the occurrence of ultrasonic waves transmitted into and returning from the stream.

Abstract: An automatic soil sampler (10) removes soil samples (65) at known locations and transfers the samples to a packaging station (23) where the samples are packaged and identified. The packages (87) are left in a strip and moved to a container (168). The sampler (10) repeats the sampling function at identifiable intervals measured by an odometer (11A) and permits the sampling and packaging to be completed rapidly.

Abstract: An apparatus for assuring the proper seating of a seat belt mounting bolt 30 against a mounting tab 36 is provided that includes a cage member 56 receiving a drive tool 52 to abuttingly engage the tab 36 against a vehicle body panel 14 with the cage member 56 while drivingly engaging the bolt 30. Electrical contacts 66, 68 on the drive tool 52 engage the cage member 56 to provide an electrical signal indicating the bolt 30 is seated with respect to the tab 36.

Abstract: An apparatus for the collection of a chemical sample from the fingers of an individual for subsequent analytical analysis comprises a token having a base and a substrate on the base. The substrate defines an area such that when the token is removed from a token dispenser the fingers of the individual come into contact with the substrate. Sufficient force must be applied by the fingers of the individual to the substrate when the token is removed from the token dispenser that a chemical sample is transferred from the fingers of the individual to the substrate. The token is then presented for analysis. The substrate may be polytetrafluoroethylene or cotton. A token handler for use in association with the token and an analyzer is also disclosed. Additionally, a method of using the token to obtain a chemical sample from the fingers of an individual is disclosed.

Abstract: Ultrasonic characterization of single drops of liquids. The present invention includes the use of two closely spaced transducers, or one transducer and a closely spaced reflector plate, to form an interferometer suitable for ultrasonic characterization of droplet-size and smaller samples without the need for a container. The droplet is held between the interferometer elements, whose distance apart may be adjusted, by surface tension. The surfaces of the interferometer elements may be readily cleansed by a stream of solvent followed by purified air when it is desired to change samples. A single drop of liquid is sufficient for high-quality measurement. Examples of samples which may be investigated using the apparatus and method of the present invention include biological specimens (tear drops; blood and other body fluid samples; samples from tumors, tissues, and organs; secretions from tissues and organs; snake and bee venom, etc.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for testing a conflict monitor of the present invention includes a housing having a plurality of switches which can be manually manipulated in order to simulate the output of a controller. The conflict monitor is tested by disconnecting the traffic signal controller from the wiring harnesses and connecting the same harnesses to the test unit. The technician can then manipulate the switches in order to control the traffic signals and simulate the operation of the controller. When conflicting traffic signals are activated, the conflict monitor should punch out and put the traffic signals in a flashing state. The test unit includes a reset switch which is connected to the remote reset of the conflict monitor. After the conflict monitor punches out, the technician can simply press the reset button on the test unit without having to manually reset the conflict monitor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a calibrating gas generator for generating a calibrating gas with a pregiven concentration of a calibrating gas component. The calibrating gas generator includes two vessels through which gas can flow. These two vessels contain the calibrating gas component in a calibrating solution and are connected in series. The temperature of the calibrating solution is controlled to a constant value by a temperature control apparatus. In order to improve the constancy of temperature, one of the vessels is arranged at least partially within the other vessel and this other vessel is configured, at least in part, as a heat insulating jacket for the one vessel.

Abstract: A gauge for determining a thickness of a coating on a substrate includes a transducer for emitting ultrasonic signals into the coating and for generating electrical signals proportional to the ultrasonic signals received by the transducer, the received signals include first signals reflected from a transducer/coating interface and second signals reflected from a coating/substrate interface; a pulser for sending pulses to the transducer to trigger the emission of the ultrasonic signals; a sampler for sampling the electrical transducer signals and generating sampled data; a timer for controlling the pulser and the sampler so as to perform an equivalent time sampling of the signals received by the sampler; and a controller for calculating a thickness of the coating based on the sampled data, the controller includes the ability to subject the sampled data to a deconvolution analysis so as to distinguish sampled data corresponding to the first signals from sampled data corresponding to the second signals when the

Abstract: A panel of several circuit boards connected by bridges is separated into individual boards by opposed dies which sever the link. Shock from the die impact can damage fragile components mounted on the circuit boards, especially when dies become dull and the singulation machine needs to be serviced. Periodic measurements of die acceleration and panel acceleration are made during a die wear cycle to obtain an empirical function of the correlation of those parameters. A threshold of acceptable panel acceleration is established and the related limit of die acceleration is determined from the correlation function. Die acceleration is then monitored during a production run to predict when machine servicing is needed.

Abstract: A method of examining a ductile iron casting to determine a percent of nodularity present in the casting uses an electromagnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT) system to determine a time-of-flight of an ultrasonic shear wave pulse transmitted through the casting at a selected location, from which a velocity of sound in the casting can be determined. The ultrasonic shear wave pulse created and sent through the casting experiences several internal reflections within the casting, and the absolute delay time for both second, T.sub.DELAY1, and third, T.sub.DELAY2, multiple reflections are used to determine the time, T.sub.DELTA, required for the ultrasonic pulse to travel through twice the thickness, t, of the casting at said location. The velocity, V.sub.SHEAR, of the ultrasonic shear wave pulse through the casting is calculated from T.sub.DELTA and a measurement of the thickness, t, of the casting at the location being inspected.

Abstract: A flaw detection method and arrangement utilizes electromagnetic acoustic transducers (EMATs) which ultrasonically test a material for cracks or flaws. Four EMATs are used in a pitch-catch configuration, i.e. two pairs of EMAT transmitters and receivers. The EMAT transmitters and receivers are arranged such that a first EMAT transmitter is located on the surface diagonally across from a first EMAT receiver and a second EMAT transmitter is located diagonally across from a second EMAT receiver. The first and second EMAT transmitters transmit ultrasonic signals to the first and second EMAT receivers respectively; and these ultrasonic signals are transmitted orthogonal to each other. A pulser/receiver is operatively connected to the first and second EMAT transmitters and the first and second EMAT receivers for inducing the EMAT transmitters to propagate their respective waves. The pulser/receiver also receives the signal transmitted through the material after being received by the first and second EMAT receivers.