Abstract: In a force sensor according to one embodiment, a main body is cylindrical. A cylindrical movable body is movable with respect to the main body and includes at least three circular openings in the outer circumference thereof. A strain body is fixed to the main body and the movable body and is deformable according to the movement of the movable body. Strain sensors are provided on the strain body. A first stopper is arranged inside each of the openings and includes a first outer circumferential surface including a first outer diameter less than a diameter of the opening. A cylindrical second stopper is arranged separate from a first inner circumferential surface of the main body by a first distance and includes a second outer circumferential surface of a second outer diameter less than a diameter of the first inner circumferential surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for measuring the electrode force on welding tongs. The welding tongs have a first electrode arm with a first electrode and a second electrode arm with a second electrode, said second electrode arm lying opposite the first electrode arm. At least one workpiece is clamped between the electrodes during the welding process. The aim of the invention is to provide a method for measuring the electrode force, said method providing an improved signal quality. The method has the following steps: a) measuring a first force acting on the first electrode, b) measuring a second force acting on the second electrode, and c) adding the measured first force and the measured second force, wherein an electrode force signal transmitted from the welding point to the electrodes is amplified, and an interference force signal introduced into the at least one workpiece from the outside and transmitted to the electrodes is eliminated.

Abstract: A method for non-destructively determining a mechanical property of a solid rocket motor propellant grain may comprise applying, via a gas, a force to a surface of the solid rocket motor propellant grain, wherein a deformation is formed on the surface of the solid rocket motor propellant grain in response to the applying, and measuring a pressure of the gas. This process may be performed over time to determine a lifespan of the propellant grain.

Abstract: There is described a method for interrogating optical fiber comprising fiber Bragg gratings (“FBGs”), using an optical fiber interrogator. The method comprises (a) generating an initial light pulse from phase coherent light emitted from a light source, wherein the initial light pulse is generated by modulating the intensity of the light; (b) splitting the initial light pulse into a pair of light pulses; (c) causing one of the light pulses to be delayed relative to the other of the light pulses; (d) transmitting the light pulses along the optical fiber; (e) receiving reflections of the light pulses off the FBGs; and (f) determining whether an optical path length between the FBGs has changed from an interference pattern resulting from the reflections of the light pulses.

Abstract: A sensor includes a main drive gear mounted on a shaft that is subjected to detection by the sensor such that the main drive gear is rotatable integrally with the shaft; at least one driven gear meshing with the main drive gear; a sensor housing accommodating the main drive gear and the at least one driven gear; a biasing member biasing the at least one driven gear toward the main drive gear; and a conversion mechanism configured to convert an axial force that is parallel to an axial direction of the shaft and acts on the at least one driven gear to a force in such a direction that the at least one driven gear is separated from the main drive gear when a part of the at least one driven gear contacts a part of the main drive gear while the shaft is inserted in the sensor housing.

Abstract: A deformable sensor for detecting a pose and force associated with an object is provided. The deformable sensor includes a housing, a deformable membrane coupled to an upper portion of the housing, an enclosure defined by the housing and the deformable membrane and configured to be filled with a medium, a time-of-flight receiver positioned within the enclosure and a plurality of time-of-flight emitters arranged around the time-of-flight receiver within the enclosure. The plurality of time-of-flight emitters are configured to emit signals toward the deformable membrane at different times. The time-of-flight receiver is configured to receive signals reflected from the deformable membrane.

Abstract: A connector (130) is arranged between an inner support (110) and an outer support (120), and connects the inner support (110) and the outer support (120). A deformable body (140) has one end connected to the inner support (110) at a first position with respect to the direction of rotation about a Z-axis and the other end connected to the outer support (120) at a second position different from the first position, and is bent to be deformed in a radial direction by applying compressive force or tensile force between the first position and the second position. A detection body (150) includes a capacitative element including respective electrodes disposed to face the deformable body (140) and the outer support (120), and detects an elastic deformation generated in the deformable body (140) on the basis of the characteristic value of the capacitative element.

Abstract: A material testing apparatus comprising a frame having three or more tracks, and a plurality of mounts positioned within the three or more tracks. The mounts including an attachment mechanism to attach the mounts to a material being tested. The mounts including a force measurement elements. Some of the mounts free mounts that move in a track slot within the track, the free mounts free to move to any position within the track slot. The apparatus further comprising a data collector to collect data from the force measurement elements in the mounts when the material is placed under stress, to characterize the material.

Abstract: A load detection device capable of preventing deterioration of the accuracy of a load detection with the lapse of time is provided. A first exemplary aspect is a load detection device, including: a load detection part including a curved surface; an application member comprising a flat surface; and a transmission member located between the load detection part and the application member. The curved surface of the load detection part and a first surface of the transmission member come into point contact with each other, and the flat surface of the application member and a second surface opposite to the first surface of the transmission member come into surface contact with each other.

Abstract: One example coherent optical time domain reflectometer device includes a coherent light source that produces coherent probe light pulses at an optical wavelength; an optical coupling unit coupled to f a fiber link under test to direct the coherent probe light pulses into the fiber link and to receive reflected probe light pulses from the fiber link; an optical detection unit to receive the reflected probe light pulses and structured to include an optical interferometer to process the reflected probe light pulses along two different optical paths to generate different optical output signals from the reflected probe light pulses along different optical paths, and optical detectors to receive the optical output signals from the optical interferometer; and a device controller coupled to the optical detection unit to extract information on spatial distribution of acoustic—or vibration—or strain-dependent characteristics as a function of distance along the fiber link under test.

Abstract: A bending apparatus for a sample is disclosed. The bending apparatus includes a translation mechanism that translates a vertical displacement/force into a horizontal displacement/force for bending. Components of the bending apparatus are fabricated from a strong, radiolucent material. In these ways, the bending apparatus is compatible with micro-CT imaging, and as such, may be used to bend a sample during imaging. In a particular application, the bending apparatus may be used to measure biomechanical properties of a bone, such as bone strength, bone material properties, fracture toughness, and fracture propagation.

Abstract: A method for non-destructively determining a mechanical property of a solid rocket motor propellant grain may comprise applying a force to a surface of the solid rocket motor propellant grain, wherein a deformation is formed on the surface of the solid rocket motor propellant grain in response to the applying, and calculating a value of the mechanical property of the solid rocket motor propellant grain based on the deformation. This process may be performed over time to determine a lifespan of the propellant grain.

Abstract: An object is displaced alternately in opposite directions, using a hydraulic power unit having a rotatable body which includes the shaft of a hydraulic machine having electronically commutated valves. A motor drives the rotatable body. The hydraulic machine drives an actuator to displace the object in use. Energy is transformed from rotational kinetic energy of the rotatable body to elastic strain energy or elastic strain and gravitational potential energy of the object during a pumping phase and rotation of the rotatable body slows, but does not change direction. The potential energy then drives the hydraulic machine to motor and the rotatable shaft speeds up again, storing rotational kinetic energy. The displacement of the hydraulic machine is controlled throughout to match a time varying demand taking into account the varying speed of rotation of the rotatable shaft. The motor provides energy to compensate for losses and the process can repeat cyclically.

Abstract: A torque detection device includes an inner ring, a middle ring, an outer ring, a first beam, a second beam, a magnetic target, and a magnetic sensor. The first beam is composed of an elastic member extending in a radial direction so as to couple the inner ring and the middle ring together. The second beam is composed of an elastic member extending in a radial direction so as to couple the middle ring to the outer ring together. The magnetic target is fixed to the inner ring and the magnetic sensor is fixed to the middle ring such that the magnetic target and the magnetic sensor face each other. Torque acting on the inner ring or the outer ring is calculated according to how an amount of magnetism sensed by the magnetic sensor changes.

Abstract: A sensor device that can suppress positional fluctuations of a sensor element with first and second magnetism collection portions due to injection molding of a housing is provided. A housing of a torque sensor has a ring portion cover portion that surrounds and holds a first ring portion of a first magnetism collection ring and a second ring portion of a second magnetism collection ring, and a sensor cover portion that houses a first magnetism collection portion, a second magnetism collection portion, and a sensor unit. The sensor cover portion extends toward the radially outer side from the ring portion cover portion. The sensor cover portion has a sensor housing portion that houses the sensor unit as interposed between the first magnetism collection portion and the second magnetism collection portion, an opening portion that opens in the axial direction, and a lid portion that closes the opening portion.

Abstract: The present application provides a piezoelectric sensor, comprising: a base member, having an inverted conical structure at one end; a piezoelectric sensing element, disposed at the other end of the base member; a mass block, disposed on the piezoelectric sensing element; a charge amplifier, disposed above the mass block and electrically connected to the piezoelectric sensing element. The process of installing the piezoelectric sensor provided in the technical solution of the present application on the ground is simple and fast, and its low-frequency response sensitivity is high.

Abstract: Standing desks, such as fixed work surfaces or height-adjustable desks or computer/workstation supports, provide relief from computer or other desk work that might otherwise force a user to remain seated. However, concerns about utilization and comfort are points of resistance to standing desks. A “smart” pressure sensing mat is provided that may provide additional cushioning and comfort as well as a source of data input for record keeping, usage verification, user identification, and control signals. Signals may be utilized to report data (e.g., utilization, user operations, functions, etc.) and/or control components (e.g., trigger a standing desk to rise for standing use or lower for seated use, activate lights, etc.).

Abstract: A torsion sensor magnetic ring structure includes a seat and magnetic ring, wherein the magnetic ring is formed by punching a metal plate; a long side of a substrate is formed with a plurality of integral spaced magnetic teeth, one narrow end of the substrate is formed into an engagement tenon, and another narrow end thereof an engagement mortise, the substrate is wound and the tenon is in engagement with the engagement mortise to form into the circular magnetic ring. Therefore, the present invention is simpler than conventional magnetic rings in structure, and capable of accurately lowering the material cost and effectively reducing the volume and space.

Abstract: A torque detection device includes a first magnetic circuit part, a second magnetic circuit part, a circuit board module, and a sensor housing. The first magnetic circuit part is disposed on one side of a multipolar magnet in an axial direction. The second magnetic circuit part is disposed on the other side of the multipolar magnet in the axial direction. The circuit board module includes plural magnetic sensors mounted thereon and facing the magnetic circuit on one end side in a width direction being included in the plane and intersecting the arrangement direction. The sensor housing is coupled to one end side in the arrangement direction of the circuit board module so as to support the circuit board module on the one end side in the arrangement direction of the circuit board module.

Abstract: The invention relates to a torque sensor having a base body (601) which extends in a radial direction (Y) of the base body from an annular inner flange (603) having first force application points (605), via a mechanically weakened sensor portion (607) equipped with measurement transducers (10, 20) which generate output signals, to an annular outer flange (509; 609) having second force application points (611), wherein the mechanically weakened sensor portion (607) comprises radially extending first connecting webs (619a) and second connecting webs (619b), which have different mechanical properties and are arranged alternately in the circumferential direction.