Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for measuring weight and speed of a moving railcar through dynamic processing of a voltage signal from at least one strain gauge embedded into a rail on the railroad track. The system comprises at least one strain gauge, an amplifier circuit, a converter circuit, and a first processing means. The method performed by the first processing means is a state machine expert system algorithm which dynamically determines the baseline non-stressed voltage level and the peak voltage level upon the strain gauge being stressed by a moving railcar passing over the strain gauge. The method further provides for eliminating the effects of debounce on the weight calculations by continuously monitoring the voltage signal from the strain gauge for a predetermined period of time after an initial peak is detected and updating that value if a greater peak is detected within the predetermined period of time.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for pressure testing valves utilizes a seal plate having a mounting plate disposed on one of its ends and a sealing surface on its other end, and a mounting plate cradle is provided for releaseably securing the mounting plate to a cradle support plate, whereby the seal plate may be readily installed within a valve testing machine without the necessity of screwing or bolting the seal plate within the valve testing machine.

Abstract: An elongate temperature probe is provided for extending into a fluid flow. First an second temperature sensors are mounted in the temperature probe, spaced apart from each other along the length of the probe. The first and second temperature sensors provide temperature signals to a data processor. The data processor in use determines the temperature of the fluid flow from the temperature signals and at least one other fluid parameter, using a mathematical model of the heat transfer along the probe.

Abstract: A non-contact ultrasonic system for measuring the volume of liquid in a container in which an ultrasonic sensor is disposed opposite the top of the container. A circuit provides pulses of ultrasonic energy for transmission through the air to the air-liquid interface of liquid in the container and for measuring the round trip transit time from the sensor to the interface and back to the sensor. A computer is programmed with dimensional data of the container internal volume and computes the volume of liquid in the container based on the dimensional data and the round trip transit time. The computed volume data is stored. The system can measure the volume of a plurality of containers using a plurality of sensors that are operated in sequence or at the same time or single sensor in which the plurality of sensors are moved relative to the single sensor for the volume of each of the sensors to be sequentially measured.

Abstract: A process for checking the air pressure in the tires of motor vehicle wheels wherein at least a pressure signal characteristic for the air pressure will be picked up as a measured signal by a measurement device located in or on the tire of each motor vehicle wheel, wherein at least.

Abstract: In a duplex bearing 10 in which a preload is applied to balls 14a and 14b interposed between an outer race 11 and first and second inner races 12 and 13 by tightening a nut 16, a preload jig 19 fitted to the lower end of the second inner race 13 is turned by a motor 21 and applied with an axial load by a rod 31. The rod 31 has a load detector 31 at the middle. Position sensors 24 and 25, each of which is adapted to detect an amount of displacement in the direction of axis, are provided at the ends of the outer race 11 and the second inner race 13, respectively. A rotation detecting sensor 33 adapted to detect a rotational position is provided below the lower surface of the preload jig 9. Under the condition that the axial load is applied to the extent that measuring loads are FH and FL, the amounts of average displacement XAH and XAL of the outer race 11, and the amounts of average displacement XBH and XBL are detected, and the amounts of displacement .DELTA.XH and .DELTA.

Abstract: A detector is provided to determine the presence and absence of laminar airflow on the face of an airfoil or sail or surface and to transmit and signal the airflow condition to a user who is at a distance from the sail or surface to thereby allow the user to adjust the condition or position of the sail or airfoil in order to establish laminar airflow across the sail or airfoil or surface.

Abstract: This invention provides a system for measuring and comparing various characteristics of a motor fan rotated by a power generating unit, the system including the power generating unit for rotating the fan, a housing containing the power generating unit therein and being formed with a suction inlet for drawing air during rotation of the fan and a discharge outlet for discharging the air absorbed through the suction inlet, a supporting unit installed into the housing for supporting the power generating unit, a protection unit having in a front surface thereof a suction hole for drawing the air, for protecting breakage of the fan, a vacuum measuring unit installed to measure a vacuum in the housing, a wind amount regulating unit for controlling a draining port of the housing so as to maintain optimal vacuum in the housing, a revolution measurement unit for measuring revolution of the rotating unit installed to the power generating unit, and a torque table for measuring torque.

Abstract: A method of detecting defective ignition or fuel injection system of an internal combustion engine with several cylinders and at least two spark plugs or two fuel injection devices per cylinder with separate control circuits, at least a second control circuit for the ignition or fuel injection systems is disabled so that all the spark plugs or injection devices of the at least second ignition or injection systems become inoperative, the engine running smoothness is then measured, the first system which was not disabled is identified as including the defective spark plug or injection device if the engine running smoothness was found to be affected, then the ignition or injection systems for any other spark plugs or injection devices are disabled cylinder-by-cylinder and the engine running smoothness is monitored to identify the cylinder which includes the defective spark plug or injection device.

Abstract: An automated terminal test system performs a terminal test of brake equipment on a train. The system includes a test control box connected to a head of train locomotive and accessible from outside of such locomotive. Linked to such brake equipment, the test control box has a control for activating the test control box, applying and releasing the brakes, and charging and venting such brake pipe. The system also includes an end of train transceiver device connected to such brake pipe on a last railcar of such train. The end of train transceiver device monitors pressure within such brake pipe on such last railcar, senses movement of such last railcar, and communicates signals representative of such pressure monitored and such movement sensed. The system further includes a head of train transceiver device linked to such brake equipment and connected to such brake pipe on such locomotive.

Abstract: An annularly configured device for use on each earthquake restrainer cable of a bridge, which device, will deform due to its internal configuration upon the occurrence of an earthquake, if the earthquake stresses the bridge cable with which the device is associated excessively. The result of the stress is a visual indication of the cable's elongation as manifested by a "crowning" of the annular indicator and a shortening of its length. The specific configuration required of the annular member is one of a reduced thickness section of the interior wall, with tapered edges leading to the main cross section of the annular member.

Abstract: Torsion springs (1) are graded by both winding and unwinding them in a test fixture (20) having a central arbor (52a) and ledges (54,58) functionally corresponding to the use of the springs. This takes hysteresis into account. Data obtained at a known location is approximated as separate straight lines for winding and unwinding. The rotation at the predetermined base or preload torque is determined from the straight lines, and the two values are averaged. To this average value a large predetermined amount (70 degrees) of rotation is added, the torque at that value of rotation is determined from the straight lines, and the two values are averaged. The spring is graded as acceptable when that average torque is within a predetermined range.

Abstract: A load cell combines the outputs of a plurality of strain gauges to measure components of an applied load. Combination of strain gauge outputs allows measurement of any of six load components without requiring complex machining or mechanical linkages to isolate load components. An example six axis load cell produces six independent analog outputs, each directly proportional to one of the six general load components.

Abstract: A gas meter cabinet is adapted for mounting within a wall of a building. The cabinet has a body partially recessed within the building wall. A perforation at the top of the cabinet accommodates a gas line. A door is coupled to the body. A manifold connects a gas meter to a building gas system. The manifold has a downward facing inlet port, an upward facing outlet port, and a forward facing surface port, above the inlet port. A mounting flange is provided on the manifold for mounting the manifold to a base surface.

Abstract: In a Doppler system for determining the average flow velocity of a liquid based on reflection from particles moving with the liquid, and in which system the received signal is subjected to both in-phase and quadrature detection, and is then analyzed into frequency domain in-phase channel amplitude and phase components and quadrature channel amplitude and phase components, an improved method for calculating the average flow velocity, comprising discarding those amplitude components for which the in-phase and quadrature phase components differ from approximately +90 degrees and approximately -90 degrees before using the remaining amplitude components to calculate an average amplitude-weighted frequency that is used in estimating the average flow velocity.

Abstract: A flowmeter utilizing velocity at the surface of a fluid and lookdown level sensors is mounted within a manhole without requiring entry into the manhole by the installer. The velocity and level sensors generate first and second energy signal beams which are directed toward the same vicinity of the fluid surface which reflects the beams back to the sensors surface velocity signal representative of the velocity of scatters on the fluid surface is produced from the Doppler frequency shift between the directed and reflected first beam. This signal is modified to produce a mean velocity signal. A level signal is produced by determining the air space between the sensor and the fluid surface from the directed and reflected second beam and relating changes in the air space to changes in fluid level in accordance with the configuration of the pipe. Fluid flow can be calculated from the mean velocity and fluid level signals.

Abstract: A submarine deployed sea-state sensor comprises an elongated housing having nose cone and an aft end, the housing having a forward buoyant chamber for receiving an accelerometer. Aft of the buoyant chamber, a damping assembly communication link deployment means and a lifting body are provided. Both the damping assembly and the lifting body are attached to a communication link interconnecting the accelerometer and a submerged platform so that, when the portion of the communication link between the lifting body and the submerged platform becomes taught, the lifting body is pulled from the housing. The damping assembly includes a motion damping body mounted on the buoyant chamber through an extendable telescoping arm. The extension of the arm is controlled by a pressure release spring, so that, when the sensor reaches a selected depth the telescoping arm will extend to project the motion damping body aftwardly.

Abstract: In a light-temperature distribution sensor, Raman scattering light is extracted from back scattering light produced by a light pulse supplied into an optical fiber, thereby calculating a temperature distribution. An intensity distribution signal of anti-Stokes Raman scattering light is extracted from the back scattering light. An intensity distribution signal of Stokes Raman scattering light is extracted from the back scattering light. An intensity distribution signal of Rayleigh scattering light is extracted from the back scattering light. The intensity distribution signal of the anti-Stokes Raman scattering light and the intensity distribution signal of the Stokes Raman scattering light are normalized, with the intensity distribution signal of the Rayleigh scattering light used as reference signal.

Abstract: A dough sheet sensor comprises a sensing roller, a pivot, a roller support arm and an adjustable counterweight. The sensing roller is displaceable in a first direction as a function of tension in a dough sheet. The roller support arm supports the sensing roller and is attached to the pivot. The adjustable counterweight is attached to the roller support arm and positioned opposite to the pivot with respect to the sensing roller for counterbalancing the sensing roller and the roller support arm. A non-contact distance sensor is operably coupled to the sensing roller through a measurement gap. The measurement gap has a length that varies with the sensing roller displacement.

Abstract: Acquired signals representing samples of propagating wavefields are processed using space-time linked variable methods to form images having better definition and resolution than may be obtained by conventional methods. Frequencies accessed include those anticipated as well as some apparently beyond those deemed feasible according to Nyquist criteria as well as those present in the wavefield source.The signals and physical features may be obtained in tomography (medical CT scans), echo location (radar or sonar) or seismic imaging for example. Signals are processed maintaining interrelation of the linked variables of time and space, rather than following the conventionally accepted current techniques which treat the time and space variables independently.Definition and resolution of images are obtained beyond those normally considered possible with earlier techniques by understanding and correctly interpreting the information content of a sampled wavefield.