Abstract: An intelligent load sensing system employs a piezoelectric sensor and digital processor for providing accurate sensing of loads, collisions, and vibrations.

Abstract: A device for monitoring the contractibility of the pelvic floor muscles is provided in which a probe, having a plurality of elastically deformable chambers, is connected to a fluid filled conduit and a display device, which is connected to the fluid filled conduit. Such a device is effective in obtaining more isolated measurements for muscles being monitored and reducing interference from other muscles. The device can be used therapeutically to monitor progress in training of the pelvic floor muscles.

Abstract: A connector and gauge assembly for measuring liquid pressure and flow rate has an axially elongated integral tubular body with an externally threaded male end and an opposite female end. The tubular body defines an axial main conduit, and a test conduit generally transverse thereto. An internally threaded sleeve is rotatably mounted upon the body at the female end for connection of the main conduit to a source of liquid under pressure. A closure element is associated with the tubular body for resisting flow of liquid through the main conduit. A gauge of pressure and flow rate is mounted upon the tubular body in communication with the test conduit, the gauge having a display for indicating pressure and flow rate.

Abstract: A fishline tension measuring device for use in a fishing reel which is simple in structure, easy to assemble, and provides a high strength against shock. Strain gauges are mounted on bodies assembled into the spool drive gear train, to detect strain caused by tension on the fishline. In the fishline tension measuring device, at least one of the bearings for supporting the two ends of a spool shaft is supported by a bearing support member, which may be formed integrally with a reel main body and can be strained according to loading forces applied to the spool shaft when tension is given to a fishline, and one or more strain gauges for measuring the tension given to the fishline are mounted on the bearing support member.

Abstract: An improved method for compensating for the irregularity in the torque constant of the electric motor used to move the actuator arm carrying the magnetic read/write head in a disk drive is disclosed. The torque constant of the electric motor varies across the operating range on a given drive as a function of head location and the variation in torque constant is compensated for with a torque constant multiplier. The present invention provides a method for accurately determining the torque constant multiplier versus position function of a particular disk drive.

Abstract: The movement of particles carried along with a fluid is detected by isonifying a region of the fluid with pulses of ultrasound, and detecting pulses of ultrasound scattered by an individual particle from successive transmitted pulses. The difference in arrival times of successive detected pulses is simply related to the speed of the particle. Use of suitable gates (A, B) enables successive reflections from a particle to be tracked while reflections from other particles are rejected.

Abstract: A vertical dropped-weight impact test machine has a dropped-weight barrel vertically supported on upper and lower support brackets. The dropped-weight barrel is chambered to receive a dropped-weight assembly having a latch pin at its upper end, a damping unit in the middle, and a tup at its lower end. The tup is adapted for gathering data during impact testing. The latch pin releasably engages a latch pin coupling assembly. The latch pin coupling assembly is attached to a winch via a halyard for raising and lowering the dropped-weight assembly. The lower end of the dropped-weight barrel is provided with a bounce-back arresting mechanism which is activated by the descending passage of the dropped-weight assembly. After striking the specimen, the dropped-weight assembly rebounds vertically and is caught by the bounce-back arresting mechanism.

Abstract: An air data system includes a probe body defining a probe passageway which has a probe inlet and a probe outlet. The probe passageway is heated and couples an air pressure from the probe inlet to the probe outlet. A sensor has a sensor inlet for receiving the air pressure. The sensor provides a sensor output indicative of the air pressure. A coupling body has a coupling passageway which couples the air pressure from the probe outlet to the sensor inlet. The coupling passageway has a cooled surface for condensing moisture from air in the coupling passageway. The coupling body has a reservoir positioned relative to the cooled surface to collect the condensed moisture. The reservoir is heated to evaporate the condensed moisture.

Abstract: An installation for the measurement of the wind direction and the wind velocity of a ground wind dependent upon the altitude above the ground. More particularly, the installation is employed for improving the hitting accuracy of unguided projectiles or rockets. The installation incorporates a vertically-orientable firing barrel or launching tube for the launch or firing of a measuring projectile, a speed measuring installation for the measurement of the launching speed of the measuring projectile from the launching tube, an optical camera device for the photographing and digitalizing of successive pictures of the measuring projectile which is fired from the launching tube taken in timed sequence.

Abstract: A chassis dynamometer is described which is especially adapted for road simulation. A torque transducer is connected in the roll assembly so that the torque signal is not influenced by bearing friction. The torque transducer outer element is rigidly attached to the roll and the inner element is rigidly attached to the roll shaft.

Abstract: A technique for measuring mechanical force by exploiting the static electric polarization developed by piezoid elements in response to application of mechanical pressure, the magnitude of the polarization being representative of the magnitude of the mechanical force applied to one or more piezoid elements by disposing the piezoid elements adjacent to an electron transmission medium capable of sustaining an electric field internally, in which the polarization developed by the piezoid elements repel particles of like charge from the adjacent surface of the transmission medium and attract particles of opposite charge to the adjacent surface. By supplying a current of charged particles to one end of the transmission medium and separately collecting the charged particles toward different surfaces of the transmission medium, the strength of the polarization, which is representative of the strength of the applied mechanical forces, can be measured.

Abstract: An electromagnetic flowmeter comprises a measurement tube through which a fluid flows the rate of flow of which is to be measured, a plurality of electrodes disposed on the inner wall of the measurement tube to face each other, excitation coils for applying a magnetic field to the inside of the measurement tube in a direction orthogonal to the axis of the tube, an excitation circuit for supplying the excitation coils with a rectangular excitation current in at least two excitation cycles, a flow-rate value calculating circuit for, when electromotive force is generated between the electrodes in each of the excitation cycles, extrapolating flow-rate signals based on the electromotive force generated during the excitation cycles to obtain a flow-rate value signal that would be obtained when the excitation cycles are made infinitely large, and a flow-rate value output circuit for outputting the flow-rate value signal obtained by the flow-rate value calculating circuit through extrapolation.

Abstract: An electrostatically servo-controlled pendular micro-sensor includes a pendular element disposed so as to respond to a force representative of a physical quantity to be measured. To avoid the drifts affecting the stability of the micro-sensor, generated by the existence of unstable parasitic voltages that impair the voltages provided by a system servo-controlling the pendular element, the electrostatic forces generated to draw back the pendular element through servo-control voltages have a zero mean value. The control voltages are periodic voltages or series of electric signals of equal durations, each having, preferably, a zero mean value.

Abstract: A non-contact system and method for measuring torsional wave propagation along a rotating shaft as well as static angular deflection due to a constant applied torque. The relative twist angle between two cross-sectional portions of the rotating shaft separated by a predetermined distance is detected over time and then the axial variation of torque along the rotating shaft is determined as a function of relative twist angle. Detection is carried out electro-optically using a pair of photodetectors and bands of reflective marks adhered on the circumferential surfaces of the two cross-sectional portions. Axial variation of torque is determined by determining variations in the phase difference between pulse trains output by the photodetectors.

Abstract: An ultrasonic parametric amplifier incorporates a duct having rigid cylindrical wall with a periodic inner surface that undulates sinusoidally in an axial direction, and an element for heating the external surface of the wall. The sinusoidal undulations of the periodic inner surface have a wavelength which is about half of the wavelength of the waves of ultrasonic energy propagating through a fluid filling the duct. The waves are amplified by synergistic interactions of the ultrasonic waves with the periodic duct walls when heat is added in a predetermined manner, thereby compensating for the exponential decrease in fluid temperature which would otherwise lead to detuning of the amplifier.

Abstract: A pressure sensitive transducer array in which a plurality of transducers are connected in series and in parallel with one another. In one embodiment, a resistive layer is formed from carbon or silver ink on a polyester film. A plurality of conductive shunt elements having greater conductivity than the resistive layer is formed on a second polyester film. The films are placed adjacent to one another with the shunt elements contacting the resistive layer. Voltage is applied across the resistive layer and pressure is applied thereto. As the pressure increases, the number of current paths set up through contact points on the shunt elements increase thereby decreasing the resistance across the resistive layer and increasing current flow. In another embodiment a plurality of plate elements are contained in a plane on one side of a dielectric layer. A plurality of plate elements are contained in a plane on the other side of the dielectric layer.

Abstract: An integrated accelerometer includes hinges of silicon composition for securing the strut legs of a pendulous mass to the accelerometer body. Both the body of the accelerometer and the pendulous mass are of metal-coated compositions. Metallized pads are provided on selected surfaces of the hinges for forming eutectic bonds with the body and struts of the pendulous mass of the accelerometer. A heavily-doped continuous region adjacent the surface of the hinge connects the eutectic bonds through a flexure region of reduced thickness to complete necessary device circuitry.

Abstract: A differential pressure sensor includes a ferrofluid sensing element, or slug, that changes position in a tapered magnetic field in response to a pressure differential. The ferrofluid slug is contained in a tube and moves within the tapered magnetic field, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tube. The field has a maximum flux density at its center and tapers off in both axial directions from its center. In response to a pressure differential of zero, the slug is centered in the field. In response to a non-zero pressure differential, the slug moves to the position in the field where the net magnetic forces equal the pressure differential. The position of the slug is sensed by sensing elements which produce output signals that vary according to the position of the slug.

Abstract: An analog finger print reader comprises a matrix of electronic switches selectively controlled from a matrix of individually associated electrodes. A thin film having a conductive surface is suspended over the electrodes to apply control potentials to the electrodes in response to the pressure applied by a mountain in the pattern of a finger print (a ridge is viewed as a string of mountains). The area of contact between the conductive film and the electrode varies as an analog of the amount of applied pressure. Shift registers scan the electrodes to identify the address of a finger print mountain which is turning on the associated electronic switch. A detector responds to the address by giving an output which is an analog of the area of contact and, therefore, of the amount of applied pressure. The entire unit is built on a semiconductor substrate. Thus, the amount of wiring is greatly reduced. The reader is a unified device made with the precision of an integrated circuit.

Abstract: The invention is an in-line torque meter for use with an absorption dynamometer in which the twist of a rotating shaft that transmits torque from an engine to an air dynamometer is measured by a single sensor on the adjacent stationary structure. The torque shaft is supported at the dynamometer end by a splined attachment to the shaft of the dynamometer and at the engine end in a pair of preloaded angular contact ball bearings. Torque from the engine causes the shaft to twist. Attached to and rotating with the shaft are two sleeves with projecting teeth, one sleeve attached at each end of the torque shaft. The projecting teeth are interleaved and are located so that both sets of teeth can be sensed by an adjacent single sensor. When the shaft is twisted by the applied torque, the teeth on the two sleeves are angularly displaced with respect to each other. This angular displacement is measured as a phase shift in the signal generated by the sensor.