Abstract: The position and magnitude of an unbalance correction in specified correction planes is determined for the purpose of reducing a determined unbalance in a body. Such correction planes may comprise the inner and outer surfaces of a wheel. Incremental correction is provided with respect to magnitude and continuous correction is provided with respect to the position in order to achieve minimalization of the residual static unbalance with only one correction weight per correction plane. The existing unbalance in the correction planes according to magnitude and position is determined, and the influence of various corrections upon the static and the dynamic residual unbalance that can be accomplished with one correction weight per correction plane are also determined. Corrections are provided in the correction planes for balancing that produce the minimally possible static residual unbalance and which fall within predetermined limits in each correction plane.

Abstract: An apparatus for locating the geometrical center of symmetrically shaped bore (3) in a material (2) includes a detector (4) distinguishably responsive to a property of the material (2), bore traversing means (6, 9, 10, 11) for moving the detector (4) adjacent the material (2) and along a predetermined raster scan path, and control means (15, 16, 17) responsive to changes in electrical signal outputs of the detector (4) as the traversing means (6, 9, 10 11) is scanned across the bore (3) in two mutually orthogonal directions. The control means is operative to monitor the coordinates of the interceptions of each of two mutually perpendicular chords across the bore (3) with an edge of the material (2), and to calculate the coordinates of the center of the bore (3) from these. Preferably the apparatus includes an eddy current detector (4) for determining the position of a bore (3) and an ultrasonic detector (5) for inspecting the material (2) around the bore ( 3) for flaws.

Abstract: Corrective forces are applied to a movable sensitive element of a force balance instrument by inducing a current within a coil of conductive material carried by the sensitive element so that the coil interacts with an external magnetic field. The sensing element is typically maintained at a null position by controlling the interaction between the coil and the external field. In a specific embodiment, the sensing element has at least one coil wound about each of three orthogonal axes and currents are induced within each of the coils to suspend the element.

Abstract: A temperature-compensating circuit for a capacitive or prezoelectric resistive accelerometer comprising a flexure with torquer coils subjected to physical changes in response to the linear accelerations, capacitive or piezoelectric resistive elements for detecting strain of the flexure, elements for amplifying the detected output and a negative feedback amplifier for supplying the output to the torquer coils. The output of the piezoelectric resistive element and the resistance of the torquer coils are affected considerably by the temperature change whereby the gain of the feedback amplifier changes. Accordingly, in the circuit of the present invention, the temperature change in the total gain of the accelerometer is removed by adding resistance elements to the negative feedback amplifier so as to cancel the positive temperature coefficient of resistance of the torquer coil and other elements.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining exhaust backpressure in which a bore is created in the wall of a manifold, pipe, muffler, of the like which is in fluid communication with an exhaust port of an internal combustion engine. A pressure-indicating device of the type having an elongate probe is inserted through the bore in unsealed and unthreaded relation therewith. After reading the backpressure indicated by the device, the probe is withdrawn and a plug is frictionally engaged with the bore thereby sealing against exhaust leakage.

Abstract: A wear sensor provided with a block incorporating one or more optical fibers for indicating that wear has occurred to the block, on the basis of a fact that the fibers have been severed on account of wear of the block.

Abstract: The multi-phase petroleum stream monitor includes two densitometers which measure the density of the petroleum stream at two locations and provides corresponding signals. The temperature and the pressure of the petroleum stream are also measured and corresponding signals provided. Apparatus provides signals corresponding to the density of the liquid in the petroleum stream and to the density of the gas in the petroleum stream. The liquid flow rate and the gas flow rate of the petroleum stream are determined in accordance with the two sensed density signals, the temperature signal, the pressure signal, the liquid density signal and the gas density signal.

Abstract: The vortex shedding flowmeter comprises a vortex generating bluff body of an elongated shape disposed across a cross section of a flow passage, that includes a blunt leading edge and a planar trailing edge, which planar trailing edge has two sides shielded from the moving fluid by a planar shielding member enclosing at least two sides of the planar trailing edge wherein the two sides of the planar trailing edge are respectively exposed to the fluid pressure at the two sides of the bluff body by one or more pressure openings.

Abstract: A micromachined accelerometer includes integral bidirectional shock protection and controllable viscous damping. The accelerometer includes a frame in which a seismic mass is disposed and coupled to the frame by one or more cantilever beams. Upper and lower stops are provided around the periphery of the seismic mass and around the interior of the frame to limit the travel distance of the seismic mass. The accelerometer is fabricated, preferably from monocrystalline silicon, by defining an annular recess which extends into a first surface of a silicon substrate. Next, a layer is formed over the surface of the substrate but not in contact with the lower surface of the recessed region. An annular-shaped region of the substrate extending from the bottom surface of the substrate to the layer is then removed to define the seismic mass and frame. Finally, portions of the layer are removed to define the cantilever beams and integral bidirectional stops.

Abstract: The bobbin (21) of the heating resistor (1) is made by zirconia or glass fiber. On the surface of the bobbin, a platinum film (31) or a platinum wire (23) are formed. At both ends of the heating resistor, the heating resistor is supported by a pair of supporting conductors (25).

Abstract: Given limitations on potential locations, weight sizes and amount of weights all possible applied unbalance magnitudes and angles are calculated after determining the initial unbalance magnitude and angle of the rotor this result is vector summed with all possible applied unbalances. The lowest resultant magnitude is determined, independent of the angle. The corresponding weight combination produces the lowest possible residual unbalance within the constraints.

Abstract: This invention discloses flowmeters comprising a plurality of flow passage conduits disposed in a generally axisymmetric arrangement about an axis intermediate the inlet and outlet ports of the flowmeter, which flow passage conduits are subjected to torsional vibrations about the axis of axisymmetry, wherein the time rate of flow of materials moving through the plurality of flow passage conduits is determined from the attenuation of the torsional vibrations caused by the convective momentum transfer of the moving materials that carries away the momentum associated with the torsional vibrations or from the difference in the torsional vibratory motions between the upstream and downstream halves of the combination of the flow passage conduits, which difference in the torsional vibratory motions arises from the convective inertia forces of the materials moving through the flow passage conduits acting in two opposing directions in the two halves of the combination of the flow passage conduits.

Abstract: An ionic conductivity accelerometer comprises a layer of an ionically conductive material such as rubidium silver iodide (RbAg.sub.4 I.sub.5) deposited on an electrically insulative substrate with spaced electrodes in contact with the layer. The ionically conductive material may be mixed with an electrically insulative, chemically inert material such as quartz wool in order to alleviate susceptibility to cracking.

Abstract: A flowmeter measuring rate of fluid flow comprises a vortex generator of an elongated bluff body disposed generally perpendicular to the flow direction and a vortex detector of an elongated planar member disposed generally parallel to and downstream of the vortex generator on a plane generally parallel to the flow direction, wherein the vortex sensor is fixedly secured to the wall of flow passage at one extremity and coupled to the force receiving member of an impulse detector at the other extremity. The volume flow is determined from the frequencies of vortex shedding and the mass flow is determined from the amplitude of alternating lift forces on the vortex detector exerted by the vortices, which are obtained by processing and analyzing the electric signals from the impulse detector.

Abstract: It has been discovered that vortex flowmeters can be suitably adapted for the measurement of two-phase fluid flows, and particularly for the measurement of steam quality, when disposed in a particular manner in horizontal flowpipes carrying such fluids. More specifically, the invention disclosed includes the disposition of a substantially linear vortex flowmeter horizontally and transversely in a horizontal flowpipe to measure two-phase fluid flows, for example, wet steam quality. When the mass flow rate is not determinable through knowledge of the feedstock, other sensors enable measurement of the vapor phase volumetric area and velocity to permit calculation of the flow measurand.

Abstract: Apparatus and accompanying methods for implementing both an accurate densimeter and a net oil computer utilizing a common Coriolis meter assembly is described. This apparatus measures density of an unknown fluid by first determining the period at which both flow tubes contained within a dual tube Coriolis meter oscillate while the unknown fluid passes therethrough. The apparatus then squares the result. Thereafter, the density of the unknown fluid is determined as a linear function that relates the squared tube period measurement for the unknown fluid, and squared tube period measurements and known density values for two known fluids, such as air and water, that have previously and successively passed through the meter during calibration.

Abstract: An ultrasonic inspection system for composite materials capable of detecting flaws near the surface of the inspected part which flaws are normally masked by strong reflections from the part surface. An electronic signal representative of the strong surface echo is stored in memory and subtracted in a differential amplifier from the entire test piece echo representative signal in time relationship which effects cancellation of the signal representative of the strong surface echo thereby allowing weaker echo representative signals from defects near the surface to the detected.

Abstract: A mechanical magnitude sensor integrated on silicon, and a method of manufacture. The sensor comprises a bendably deformable conductive blade (4) whose free end (43) constitutes the first plate of a variable capacitor whose fixed second plate (24) is constituted by a conductive zone formed on the silicon substrate. A JFET type structure is formed in the vicinity of the anchor point (41) of the blade (4) with a gate zone (21) situated beneath the anchor portion (41) and with drain and source zones (22, 23) being provided on either side of the gate zone (21) in order to amplify a signal representative of variations in the position of the flexible blade (4). The sensor may be used as an accelerometer or as a pressure sensor.

Abstract: An improved liquid handling system for controllably dispensing, aspirating and intermixing various liquids through the use of a precision liquid metering and aspirating device having a fixed base and a rotatable fluid containing cartridge.

Abstract: Apparatus and accompanying methods for implementing both an accurate densimeter and a net oil computer utilizing a common Coriolis meter assembly is described. In essence, this apparatus measures density of an unknown fluid by first determining the period at which both flow tubes contained within a dual tube Coriolis meter oscillate while the unknown fluid passes therethrough. This apparatus then squares the result. Thereafter, the density of the unknown fluid is determined as a linear function that relates the squared tube period measurement for the unknown fluid, and squared tube period measurements and known density values for two known fluids, such as air and water, that have previously and successively passed through the meter during calibration. When used as a net oil computer, the inventive system obtains mass flow and temperature measurements from the same flow tubes.