Abstract: A universal sundial which indicates watch time is constructed from a standard pipe section or cylinder with one end an elliptical plane at an angle to the axis of the cylinder preferably within approximately 15.degree. of the latitude of the proposed site. The gnomon is a small sphere located at the center of the elliptical plane end. Time, sun declination, latitude, and meridian displacement indicia are all located on the inner surface of the cylinder by angular coordinates from the center of the gnomon. Two cylinder or two removably attachable overlays are required for indication of civil time for a full year. The sundial is set up by orienting it so the shadow of the gnomon indicates the correct time when the gnomon is in a vertical position over the site latitude and meridian or meridian displacement indicia.

Abstract: A land vehicle navigation apparatus incorporates an inertial angular rate sensor on the vehicle and having a sensitive axis, and an inertial acceleration or tilt sensor having at least two sensitive axes; the latter two sensitive axes are typically located at the vehicle in a plane parallel to the Earth's surface; and a rotary drive is operatively connected to the sensors to rotate them about an axis extending generally at the vehicle in a plane parallel to the Earth's surface; and, circuitry is operatively connected with the sensors to determine three vehicle orientation angles, roll, pitch, and azimuth, with respect to an Earth-fixed coordinate set at a first location, and also to determine the three vehicle orientation angles as the land vehicle travels over the Earth surface; and changes to the azimuth angle during travel are determined by integration of the output of the rate sensor; also, the sensor, drive and circuitry are typically carried by the vehicle.

Abstract: A system for locating and positioning wafers includes a wafer shuttle, a spindle, and a position sensor. The wafer shuttle retrieves wafers from a storage location, typically a wafer cassette, and transports the wafers to the spindle. The wafers are then incrementally rotated on the spindle, and the distance between the center of rotation and the periphery of the wafer along a linear path is measured. By using three such measurements, the distance and angle with which the center of the wafer is offset from the center of rotation may be calculated. The wafer can then be centered on the spindle by rotation and translated a proper distance by the wafer shuttle. Usually, the wafers will be further rotationally oriented so that the crystal lattice lies in a desired direction.

Abstract: A spirit level light adapter assembly having a housing which is securable to a spirit level. The adapter has a pair of flexible, resilient, light supports which are extendable from an opening at each end of said housing. The housing contains a battery, a switch and a circuit connecting light emitting components in the end of each light support. The housing is securable to any size spirit level to permit the sight openings and/or the work element to be illuminated.

Abstract: An apparatus for compensating for the thermal expansion of two machine parts which are relatively movable in longitudinal guideways. The apparatus comprises a rule, a support rod longitudinally disposed on the movable machine part for supporting the rule, and an electric scanning head mounted on the stationary machine part. The support rod is made of a material which exhibits negligible thermal expansion in the concerned temperature range. The forward end of the support rod is rigidly secured to the forward end of the movable machine part while the rear end thereof is movably guided on that machine part. The rear end of the rule is fixed to the rear end of the support rod. The scanning head is disposed on the stationary machine part in such a way that any thermal expansion of the stationary machine part cannot affect the location of the scanning head.

Abstract: A contour and outline transducer gage assembly for selectively making outline (gap) and contour checks of parts positioned proximate thereto is provided with a slidably movable carrier arm within the gage housing in selective spring biased operative engagement with a linear potentiometer fixedly provided within the gage housing. Selective movement of the carrier arm in relation to the linear potentiometer causes a gaging electrical signal to be generated for read-out on associated data collector means. A movable cover plate is provided externally of the gage housing in fixed actuating engagement with the movable carrier arm. An adjustable contour check pin support assembly is provided on the movable cover plate so as to provide selective horizontal, vertical and angularity adjustment of a part-engaging contour check pin mounted on the contour check pin support assembly.

Abstract: Present invention is a manufacturing gauging system for statistical process control including a gauging fixture for holding a manufacturing part in a fixed location and orientation and for positioning a transducer probe in a predetermined relationship to a manufactured dimension of the part, a non-volatile memory for storing a set of tolerance dimensions relative to the manufactured dimensions of the part and a data processing system which receives sequential signals from the transducer probe relating to measurements of manufacturing dimensions of the part and stores them in the non-volatile memory. The gauging fixture includes a plurality of zero-based measurement stations. Each zero-based measurement station enables positioning of a transducer probe in a predetermined location and orientation relative to the part for providing a reference to a specified measure of the manufactured dimension of the part.

Abstract: A contour and outline transducer gage assembly for selectively making outline (gap) and contour checks of parts positioned proximate thereto is provided with a slidably movable carrier arm within the gage housing in selective spring biased operative engagement with a linear potentiometer fixedly provided within the gage housing. Selective movement of the carrier arm in relation to the linear potentiometer causes a gaging electrical signal to be generated for read-out on associated data collector means. A movable cover plate is provided externally of the gage housing in fixed actuating engagement with the movable carrier arm. An adjustable contour check pin suppor assembly is provided on the movable cover plate so as to provide selective horizontal, vertical and angularity adjustment of a part-engaging contour check pin mounted on the contour check pin support assembly.

Abstract: A capacitive extensometer utilizes an extensometer frame having a pair of arms connected together about a hinge axis at first remote ends, and having second ends which include specimen contacting members for engaging the surfaces of a specimen to be tested. A capacitive type sensing arrangement is mounted on the arms, and is used with conventional circuitry for determining arm motion with respect to each other. The sensor is made so that it can be adjusted, and also can compensate for nonlinearities by utilizing differently shaped elements. The ability to mount and protect the capacitor sensor appropriately, while obtaining a relatively large output signal enhances the operability of the extensometer.

Abstract: A device for supporting a stylus in a touch sensor comprises a casing, a stylus having its one end part protruding out of the casing for detecting an object, and a spring for pressing an inner base part of the stylus housed concentrically in the casing outwards from behind wherein a ball is provided at each of three abaxial positions on one of the mutually opposite faces of the stylus inner base part and an end part of the casing while an engaged part with which the ball is allowed to come into contact is configured at each of three corresponding positions on the other of said opposite faces, the three engaged parts are configured respectively into different shapes so the stylus can be kept steady in the casing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring and correcting register errors in multi-color printing machines is disclosed. A multi-color sheet that has been printed having register marks for each color is placed on a measuring table. The approximate locations of the register pairs and the accurate spacings of the individual register marks in each pair are determined by a light stylus, an electronic color video measuring camera system or on a measuring table having a digitizer surface. The values are entered into a computer which calculates the corrective values to be used to relocate one or more of the printing plates carried by each plate cylinder to achieve color registry in multi-color printing.

Abstract: A metrological instrument includes an inductive transducer having a stylus, all being disposed within a protective housing. Upon initiation of the measuring operation, the transducer is moved so that the stylus moves round an endless path such that the stylus is first projected at a high speed from the housing, is thereafter moved to engage the workpiece surface, is then moved at relatively slow speed across the workpiece surface for performing the measurements, and, following completion of the latter movement, is retracted at a high speed into the housing. These movements are effected by a series of cams driven by a single motor. Such an instrument may be located next to a production line without risk of damage and may used for the checking of each of a multiplicity of identical components produced in a mass production process.

Abstract: An automatic mask cutting/drawing apparatus for preparing a mask film and for forming both positioning holes and a desired image mask pattern or a drawing of a desired line image includes a table for supporting a film material thereon, a first carriage movable along the table surface in a first direction, a second carriage movable on the first carriage in a second direction, first and second moving elements for respectively moving the first and second carriages in their respective directions, a vertically movable drawing element on the second carriage for drawing a desired image pattern on the film material, and a vertically movable cutter element adjacent the drawing element for cutting the film material. Both the drawing element and the cutter element are selectively activatable to form the positioning holes, the image mask pattern, or the drawing as desired and in accordance with commands which are inputted to the apparatus.

Abstract: This amusement device is for use with paper and one or more pens, to draw compound plural-lobe designs. It has a base and a paper carriage mounted to the base for, ideally, rotation through a complete design-drawing motion. A pen-holding arm preferably has a motion-imparting fitting at one end, and a longitudinal slot partway between the ends. A pivot pin, movable on the base, engages the slot to provide a fixed arm-pivot axis. The pen holder performs repetitive excursions which each define a single element or lobe of a design, with a fixed ratio between number of excursions and number of complete design-drawing motions. To provide this coordination the motional fitting on the arm is linked mechanically to the carriage--in such a way (preferably using toothed gears) as to be manually offset-table in fixed increments, for redrawing a design offset by fixed steps along the carriage operating direction to make a compound design.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided to measure a plurality of physical attributes of a human body in relation to the values of these attributes in a theoretically ideal human body. In one embodiment, by means of a novel proportional panel and measurement guide, a wide range of human body heights can be accommodated in a single measuring structure.

Abstract: Proposed in accordance with the invention is a method of measuring the camber, KPI and caster wheel alignment angles in the front axle and suspension assembly of a motor vehicle without the need for recourse to a levelled surface or to any gravitation-sensing instruments for the purpose of the measurements. One front wheel at a time is measured, for which purpose the wheel is fitted with a projecting pin parallel to the wheel axle intended to support a laser beam machine which emits a beam perpendicular to the wheel axle. A screen marked with reference lines is positioned at a certain distance away from the wheel, initially in front of, and then alongside the wheel, with the direction of the reference lines corresponding to the direction of the reference plane of the vehicle.

Abstract: The apparatus according to the invention essentially comprises a pistol-shaped body provided with a trigger connected to a mobile carriage carrying a piston. A measuring piece may be adapted to a fixing head provided with a surface plate constituting a reference surface. A pressure spring connected to a slide ensures the displacement of the carriage and the piston, to act upon a sliding rod accomodated within the measuring piece.

Abstract: A tool is shown having a cross beam assembly (15) made of beams (18, 19, 20, 21) joined by a center box structure (23). The assembly (15) is adapted to be mounted by brackets (16) to the outer end of a cylindrical case (11). The center box structure (23) has a vertical shaft (25) rotatably mounted therein and extending beneath the assembly (15). Secured to the vertical shaft (25) is a radius arm (28) which is adapted to rotate with shaft (25). On the longer end of the radius arm (28) is a measuring tip (30) which contacts the cylindrical surface to be measured and which provides an electric signal representing the radius of the cylindrical surface from the center of rotation of the radius arm (28). An electric servomotor (49) rotates the vertical shaft (25) and an electronic resolver (61) provides an electric signal representing the angle of rotation of the shaft (25).

Abstract: An improved measuring device for determining both major and pitch diameters of screw threads, gears, splines and the like, wherein attractable magnetic members attached to a movable spindle and fixed anvil serve to attract and retain gauging wires in their proper positions. An adjustable screw and spring assembly biases the spindle toward the anvil with a predetermined and readily adjustable pressure.

Abstract: A vehicle body-and-frame-alignment apparatus for use in realigning the front inner structures of damaged unitized or unibody constructed vehicles employing sliding strut-shock units as front-end suspension systems, wherein the apparatus is formed by a substantially rectangular adjustable frame gauge defined by upper and lower horizontal gauge bars adjustably interconnected to oppositely positioned vertical side gauge bars by coupling brackets, each gauge bar including a measuring tape disposed along the longitudinal length thereof. The frame gauge is adapted to be supported on the sliding strut-shock units by an adjustable pair of gauge-positioning members slidably mounted to the upper horizontal bar, the lower horizontal bar being provided with a fixed central indicator and a second pair of gauge-positioning members, each gauge-positioning member including a vertically adjustable reference pointer to indicate structural alignment or misalignment of the vehicle structure.