Abstract: A self-powered wireless transducer is disclosed for monitoring external physical conditions, such as excessive vibrations in a bearing. The transducer includes an energy conversion source, such as a piezoelectric sensor to sense the external physical condition and create a power and characteristic signal that is used to power an RF transmitting circuit. A transmitter is provided to transmit signals indicative of the external physical condition, or changes in that physical condition, such as increased vibrations in a bearing to detect bearing faults before a breakdown. In this manner, the monitored machinery can be shutdown in an orderly manner and preventative maintenance can be completed. The self-powered wireless transducer includes an voltage storage device to receive electrical voltage from the piezoelectric sensor and a voltage detector to detect the level of voltage on the voltage storage device.

Abstract: A diagnostic driveline vibration analyzing tool for measuring and characterizing the torsional vibrations in a vehicle driveline. An electronic control unit and sensor cooperate to measure speed fluctuations occurring between the passing of adjacent teeth of a rotating gear. These time measurements are the basis for displacement, velocity and acceleration calculations which, combined with driveshaft rotational order information, can be used to pinpoint the source of excessive driveline torsional vibrations.

Abstract: A diagnostic driveline vibration analyzing tool for measuring and characterizing the torsional vibration of a rotating component such as a transmission output shaft in a vehicle driveline. An electronic control unit and sensor cooperate to measure speed fluctuations occurring between the passing of adjacent teeth of a rotating gear. These time measurements are then filtered using an order tracked pass band filter to isolate frequencies of interest the results of which are then used to calculate a total torsional energy level by taking the root mean square of the filtered signal over a predetermined period of time. The total torsional energy level is then compared to a predetermined maximum amplitude and if the total torsional level exceeds this predetermined maximum amplitude then the operator is notified through a display device.

Abstract: A method for preparing a field which has crop residue rows for subsequent row crop planting comprises cutting a plurality of furrows between crop residue rows and lifting and turning over the soil from the furrows into ridges, and simultaneously scraping over a plurality of crop residue rows and transferring the residue into the furrows which are being simultaneously cut, and wherein the former step forms the ridges on surfaces that are simultaneously being cleared by the latter step. The method is accomplished by tillage apparatus including a horizontal frame, a plurality of furrow cutting moldboards affixed to the frame and being curved to lift and turn over the soil cut from the furrows into ridges, and a plurality of trash boards affixed to the frame diagonally to the crop rows and in alternate relation to the moldboards and being curved to transfer the crop residue removed thereby into the furrows being simultaneously cut by the moldboards.

Abstract: A variable speed plow bottom has a moldboard structure (37) pivotally connected to a fixed portion which includes a frog (14) and a share (17). The pivotable moldboard structure (37) includes an arm (53) whose forward end (52) is pivotally journaled on a vertical axis (49) in a socket (51) in the point (16) of the frog (14) forwardly of the moldboard (18). The moldboard structure (37) is selectively pivotable about the axis (49) by a hydraulic jack (28) between a low speed plowing position (FIG. 2) and a high speed plowing position (FIG. 3).

Abstract: A vehicle seat suspension for isolating vertical ride vibrations at low frequencies normally found in larger tractors or other vehicles, and to do this without penalty of large static deflection normally required to obtain similar isolation in the typical mass-spring damper isolation suspension system.