Abstract: A test system for evaluating the performance of a seeking missile's guidance system under realistic but laboratory-controlled conditions wherein the guidance system is segregated from an actual missile but used to control a multiple degrees of freedom seeker capturing apparatus. The multiple degrees of freedom seeker capturing apparatus is allowed to respond to the seeker's commands in simultaneous of the actual missile's responses to such commands. The test system also provides for the introduction of countermeasures information to the seeker's input field. The test systems may be embodied with the addition of movable elements, e.g., infrared sources to a five-axis flight table apparatus and may employ computer control of the test conditions and results evaluation. Use of the disclosed system to test improved countermeasures devices against known seeker capabilities is also contemplated.

Abstract: An improved flowmeter apparatus and method for accurately determining the liquid flow rate in a conduit and the mass flow rate of selected pollutant components entrained in the flow stream characterized by injecting at least two trace materials into the flow stream at a plurality of locations and, after allowing adequate time for the trace materials to reach a downstream sampling location, collecting a plurality of samples of liquid from the flow stream containing the trace materials. By comparing the concentrations of the trace materials found in the sample, the degree of mixing of the trace materials in the flow stream, and hence the accuracy of the flow stream flow rate and pollutant component mass flow rate measurements, can be evaluated. Other injecting methods for more thoroughly mixing the trace materials with the flow stream are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for determining the level of a first layer of liquified material submerged below a second layer of liquified material is disclosed. A tube having first and second opposing tube ends includes a sacrificial cap covering the first tube end. The tube is adapted for insertion of the first tube end through the second layer into the first layer. The cap is adapted to substantially disintegrate after insertion into the first layer, such that pressure pushes a portion of the first material into the tube to a level substantially equal to the level of the first layer. A sensor determines the level of the measured portion in the tube.

Abstract: In a boiling water reactor having a core shroud disposed within a reactor vessel and a plurality of tie rods installed between vertically spaced sites on the core shroud as part of a core shroud repair, a method of measuring tie rod preload after installation includes the steps of lowering a tool into the reactor vessel from a remote location positioned externally of the reactor vessel, attaching the tool to an upper portion of a tie rod, using the tool to apply a tensile load along a longitudinal axis of the tie rod, measuring the tensile load applied to the tie rod, measuring axial displacement of the tie rod in response to the applied tensile load, plotting the applied load versus the axial displacement measured, and identifying a change in slope on the load-displacement plot occurring at a load corresponding to the tie rod preload.

Abstract: A pressure differential indicating apparatus having a wall duct with first and second ends, first and second flange like mounting plates respectively disposed around and attached to the first and second ends, and a low speed airflow indicator mounted at one of the ends on a side of the mounting plate opposite that to which the wall duct is mounted. The low speed airflow indicator is adapted to indicate a specified pressure differential or range of pressure differential across a wall. The wall duct is preferably an adjustable length wall duct having two sections, a first section attached to the first mounting plate and a second section attached to the second mounting plate, wherein one of the two sections is constructed so as to be slidingly disposed in and in sealing engagement with the other of the two sections. The airflow indicator may be mounted within an extension of a clear plastic form of the duct second section.

Abstract: A method of determining the volume of a fluid sample withdrawn from an earth formation penetrated by a wellbore is disclosed. The method includes the step of positioning a formation testing tool adjacent to the earth formation. The tool includes a probe which can be selectively placed in hydraulic communication with the formation and excluded from hydraulic communication with the wellbore. The probe can be in hydraulic communication with a pressure transducer. The tool includes a sample chamber selectively placed in hydraulic communication with the probe. The chamber includes means for measuring the volume of the chamber and means for selectively controlling the volume of the chamber.

Abstract: A pressure sensor comprises a pressure-sensitive coupler body 2 having one end provided with a diaphragm 8 and strain gage 9 stacked together, an intermediate body 3 containing a printed board 21 and encircling the strain gate 9, and a signal-detective coupler body 4 opposed to the pressure-sensitive coupler body 2 via the intermediate body 3 to define a closed chamber in the intermediate body 3. The printed board 21 and the strain gage 9 are electrically connected by terminal elements 13 extended from the strain gage 9 into slidable contact with conductive elements 25 attached to an edge of the printed board 21. Vibrations or impulses produced in the diaphragm 8 are therefore absorbed by a relative displacement between the terminal elements 13 and the conductive elements 25 to protect the printed board 21 against such vibrations or impulses.

Abstract: A differential pressure control switch system for use in determining the relative position of a piston in a pneumatic cylinder in relation to a pre-set threshold pressure sensing by the differential in the supply side and exhaust side of a double acting pneumatic cylinder and a four-way directional control valve associated therewith.

Abstract: A combination brake light testing device and tire billy is provided for use with a vehicle, such as a school bus or any C.D.L. (Commercial Driver License) vehicle. The device includes an elongated tube having an elongated rod telescopically received within it so that the rod is movable between an extended and a retracted position. A compression spring is compressed between the rod and tube and resiliently urges the rod toward its extended position. The device is dimensioned so that, with one of the tube or the rod in abutment with the driver's seat and the other of the tube or the rod in abutment with the brake pedal, the brake pedal is actuated thereby allowing inspection of the brake lights. A handgrip portion is also provided around the tube adjacent one end while a tire impact member is secured at the opposite end of the tube so that the device can be used as a tire billy.

Abstract: A pressure detector comprises a pressure sensitive element composed of a semiconductor substrate having at least four gauge resistances and outputting signal in response to a pressure. A pressure transmission member is provided on the surface having the gauge resistors of the pressure sensitive element, for transmitting the pressure to the pressure sensitive element. Taking a crystal face of (110) as the face orientation of the pressure sensitive element, a bridge circuit is constructed by disposing a pair of gauge resistors in the direction of <110> of the crystal axis, disposing another pair of gauge resistors in the direction of <100> of the crystal axis and by connecting them each other. The bridge circuit is located within a pressurized surface which the pressure transmission member presses. Further, temperature compensating resistors are disposed in the direction of <100> of the crystal axis so as to be located also within the area of the pressurized surface.

Abstract: A novel pressure measurement apparatus for measuring fluid pressures generated within a fluid passageway is disclosed. The apparatus includes a semiconductor pressure transducer which is mounted to a chip carrier comprised of a ceramic substrate layer. The semiconductor pressure transducer is reverse mounted to the substrate layer by way of a series of electrically conductive epoxy bond points. The semiconductor pressure transducer is enclosed within a gel cap containing an incompressible gel medium. Fluid pressures generated within the fluid passageway are communicated to the transducer via the gel medium.

Abstract: A pressure sensor having enhanced sensitivity without loss of accuracy over a broad pressure range. The sensor includes a resonator element sandwiched between two hollow end caps to form a sealed assembly. The sidewall thickness of the end caps abutting the resonator element is greater than the sidewall thickness at an area longitudinally spaced from the resonator, and the two dimensions may be selected to enhance sensitivity while maintaining accurate sensor performance. End cap endwalls of non-uniform thickness are employed with the thinnest endwall portion at the center and the thickest at the lateral periphery of the endwall. The rate of increase of end wall thickness toward the periphery may be modified to control the upper end of the pressure range in which the sensor is operable.

Abstract: A visual tire cap pressure gauge which comprises a cap member. A structure within the cap member is for securing the cap member to a valve stem on a tire in a motor vehicle. A lens is mounted in a top end of the cap member. An assembly within the cap member is for visually indicating when air pressure within the tire drops below a set point, so as to enable a person at a glance to tell if the tire needs more air.

Abstract: A differential pressure detection equipment typically represented by a water level measuring apparatus provided for a nuclear power plant includes a condenser having a steam flow-in port connected to a steam phase side pressure detector through a connection pipe, a reference water column side instrument pipe connected to a bottom portion of the condenser, a variable water column side instrument pipe connected to a liquid phase side pressure detector and a pressure difference detector connected to both the instrument pipes for detecting a pressure difference between a reference water head pressure of the reference water column side instrument pipe and a variable water head pressure of the variable water column side instrument pipe. The connection pipe has an upward inclination .theta. from the steam phase side pressure detector to the condenser so as to satisfy an equation of 0<tan .theta.<D/L, in which D is an inner diameter of the connection pipe and L is an axial length of the connection pipe.

Abstract: The pressure sensor comprises an air-tight vacuum chamber consisting of a hollow cylinder and a pressure-reception diaphragm. The pressure-reception diaphragm is provided to face a space communicating with a space of an object to be measured. A field emission cold cathode device is provided on the inner surface of the pressure-reception diaphragm. The cold cathode device comprises a lot of emitter electrodes arranged in a matrix manner for emitting electrons, and gate electrodes for drawing out electrons. Two anode electrodes facing the cold cathode device are provided on the inner end surface of the cylinder. The anode electrodes are connected to a differential amplifier for amplifying a variation in output distribution between them.

Abstract: A gas meter installation comprises a gas meter and a regulator which are attached to a manifold. The manifold connects to a utility pipe for supplying gas and includes an orifice and various passageways for routing the gas from the utility pipe to the regulator, from the regulator to the meter, and from the meter to a house or other type of consumer. The manifold preferably has a shut-off valve integrated into the body of the manifold so that the manifold may be connected directly to the ground pipe without requiring a separate connection to a shut-off valve. The manifold greatly simplifies the installation by eliminating a number of pipes and fittings that were previously used to mount the shut-off valve, regulator, and meter together. The manifold also permits attachment and detachment of the meter or regulator independently of each other so that these components may be individually serviced or replaced.

Abstract: In the pressure gauge of the present invention, in order to prevent mounting screws from dropping off when the pressure gauge is not mounted on a fluid pressure equipment, a counterbore 11a for receiving a head 36a of a mounting screw 36 is formed on a front end of a screw insertion hole 11 on a case 2 of the pressure gauge 1, and with the mounting screw 36 passed through the screw insertion hole 11, a front cover 4 for covering the counterbore 11a is removably mounted on the front surface of the case 2.

Abstract: A pumping segment for incorporation into a fluid delivery system, the segment having a dome-shaped pressure vessel with an optimal shape for interfacing with a pressure sensing element, and which is capable of uniformly distributing pressure across its interfacing structure and being optimally pre-loaded against the pressure sensing element. The pumping segment including a lateral restraint to inhibit rupture of the unloaded pressure vessel when experiencing high internal pressures.

Abstract: An apparatus and method uses a pair of transducers, such as lasers, mounted on the tire/wheel assembly of a mowing vehicle for measuring the actual angles of camber experienced by the vehicle tire as the vehicle moves along an actual road surface. The pair of lasers are mounted in a predetermined horizontal spaced relationship on a bracket mounted on and extending perpendicularly outwardly from a non-rotating hub mounted on the tire/wheel assembly. The reflected laser beams from the pair of lasers are continually measured as the vehicle moves along the road surface. The reflected beams determine the change in spacings of the two lasers above the road surface from which can be calculated the angles of camber continuously imparted on the tire/wheel assembly. This data is collected and stored in a computer located in the vehicle and captures the tire's operating camber angles with respect to an actual road surface when used on a particular vehicle.

Abstract: The invention is a method of determining the flow regime of fluid having more than one phase flowing in a conduit. The method includes the step of positioning a sensor in the conduit, the sensor generating measurements capable of discriminating more than one phase in the fluids, generating measurements from the sensor for a period of time, characterizing the measurements with respect to changes in magnitude of the measurements occurring during the period of time, and comparing the characterized measurements to similarly characterized measurements of a similar sensor positioned within flow streams having known flow regimes.In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the characterization of the measurements includes performing a variability analysis of the measurements.