Abstract: An improved system for measuring the flow-rate of a gas by means of ultrasound, including a tubular element in which a plurality of openings are formed to allow one or more gas-flows to flow into the tubular element, and two or more devices for transmitting/receiving ultrasound beams. The system further includes two or more devices for focusing ultrasound beams. The transmitting/receiving devices transmit and receive, respectively, the ultrasound beams which pass through the focusing devices and the one or more gas-flows inside the tubular element and thus measure the flow-rate thereof.

Abstract: An automatic positioning system in which a divider element divides the space between the initial position and the required final position into a predetermined number of well defined measurement positions at predetermined but not necessarily constant intervals, at these positions measurement means determining the effective time, velocity and acceleration values and hence the extent of disturbances as an acceleration difference, while suitable calculation means define the acceleration change to be applied to the drive member to compensate said disturbances and restore the predefined law of motion; two different calculation means are also defined.

Abstract: An electropneumatic converter controlled by solenoid valves, in which the solenoid valves are connected respectively to the feed pressure and to atmosphere, each via a pressure regulator controlled by a differential pressure measurement device connected across a respective solenoid valve, so as to maintain a constant pressure difference across the solenoid valves.

Abstract: A control system for a pneumatic valve actuator comprising three operating blocks memorizing respectively the values of the spring pressure p.sub.m, the counter-thrust pressure p.sub.c and the friction pressure p.sub.a for the various valving member position values, said blocks being connected in parallel and, via a switch, to the valving member position transducer or to the set position generator and connected to the pressure computing block connected via a second switch to the pressure generator or, together with the value read by a transducer for the pressure existing in the actuator, to a differentiator connected to two multiplier units for K and for (1-K) respectively, which are connected to the transit memory of the p.sub.c operating block and to the p.sub.a operating block respectively, the switches being driven by a logic control unit which switches over when the valving member is at rest. Means are provided for sensing anomalies and the extent of wear.

Abstract: A flowmeter controller, which includes emitter sensor pairs coaxial to a rectilinear measurement tube which has a cross-section uniformly decreasing from its inlet, this latter being of annular radial extension symmetrical about the tube axis, and being provided with a grid of annular structure offering resistance to passage of the fluid under examination which increases from the outer end to the inner end of the grid, and being connected to the tube by an annular inlet duct which is curved in the shape of a circular arc with a uniformly decreasing cross-section and including a deflection fairing an axial flow deflector is provided at the tube outlet to convey the fluid into an annular duct of decreasing cross-section and the radial exit port is closable by a valving member moved along the measurement tube axis by an operating member.

Abstract: A seal system particularly suitable for a process valve, in which the intermediate chamber formed between two sliding seal gaskets arranged in series is connected to a static separator of elastic plenum chamber or bag type filled with a biodegradable, non-contaminating, non-aggressive auxiliary lubricant fluid, the internal plenum chamber or bag, which is of very high elasticity, being connected to the process fluid and cooperating with a movable head which itself cooperates with a position sensor. A modified embodiment is also described.

Abstract: A system for vapor recovery in fuel filling installations without the use of seal members between the delivery gun and the filler pipe of the vehicle to be refuelled, comprising control means which in response to electrical signals indicative of the volumetric fuel delivery rate render the volumetric draw-in rate of said recovery means always greater than said volumetric fuel delivery rate; a preferred embodiment of said control means is also described.

Abstract: A vapor recovery system for a fuel filling installation in which the recovered air-vapor mixture is pumped to the submerged end of a discharge pipe. The discharge pipe is connected to a closed tube which extends along the bottom of an underground fuel tank. The closed tube has a porosity that generates very small bubbles from the air-vapor mixture that flows through the fuel within the tank. A vent pipe for the underground tank separates air from the air-vapor mixture through decreasing density separation by means of a large cross-section for the vent pipe and by providing baffles in the pipe interior.

Abstract: A volumetric meter for liquids and/or gases in which rolling rollers are mutually repelled magnetically to press in a sealed manner against the inner surface of the outer casing of the meter, said rollers being housed in circumferential grooves in the rotor, which is mounted eccentric to said outer casing, said grooves being inclined forwards to the direction of rotation of the rotor.

Abstract: A system for safe vapor recovery, particularly for fuel filling installations, in which a positive displacement pump effects controlled drawing of a vapor-air mixture into a vapor return pipe which extends to the bottom of the underground tank of the installation. The system is provided with a non-return valve downstream of the pump and a special circuit for effecting the controlled in-drawing based on the quantity of fuel delivered, the difference in temperature between the underground tank and the recovered mixture, and especially on the density of the mixture, by which its degree of explosiveness is determined. Structure are also provided for preventing or limiting explosion propagation.

Abstract: A volumetric meter for liquids and/or gases, in the radial cavities of the rotor of which there are housed rolling rollers which, by undergoing mutual repulsion by the action of magnets embedded in them, are urged radially into a sealed state against the inner surface of the cylindrical chamber, which is provided in positions straddling said opposite maximum and minimum clearance zones with two portions having constant curvatures with their centre on the rotor axis and extending through an angle equal to the angular pitch between two successive rollers, i.e. to 360.degree. divided by the number of rollers used. Further inlet and outlet ports cooperating with the rear space in the housing cavities are also provided, as are fine adjustment means.

Abstract: An optical slub catcher, particularly suitable for open-end process weaving machines, comprises a special optical head for the measurement of yarn diameter, the analog signal of which is cleaned of the disturbances due to ambient light. This analog signal is furthermore normalized by an original compensating and normalizing unit, and is then digitized. The slub catcher of the present invention is also provided with the following: a detector unit for the detection of Moire defects, a detector unit for the detection of the % VC irregularities, and a unit for spectrogram processing.In addition, the slub catcher of the present invention compensates for dirt build-up, thermal drifts, and aging of the optical head which affect the performance of the slub catchers of the prior art.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the measurement of the mass flow-rate of fluid flowing inside a pipe made to oscillate at a certain frequency and at a constant and controlled amplitude by an impulse-generating unit. The process consists of making the pipe constantly oscillate at exactly at its twisting resonance frequency, counteracting the pipe's oscillations with a plurality of brakes, exerting a braking force on the pipe which is proportional to the pipe's shifting speed and which force has an amplitude larger than the amplitude of the Coriolis forces acting on the pipe, detecting the pipe's motion at two points along the pipe symmetrically disposed about its middle and where the greatest twisting deformation occurs, and measuring, after all distrubances have been eliminated, the differences in the amplitude of these two shifts, these differences being directly proportional to the flow-rate.

Abstract: A method and a machine are disclosed, for checking a banknote to determine its genuineness, wherein light-sensitive elements scan a few read out points on a banknote and amplifies the signals so produced up to a normalized maximum, the machine then computing the average of all the normalized read out values and detecting the deviation relative to said average, and finally checking that such errors or deviation from the average lie within preselected calibration ranges which are predetermined on a statistically significant number of genuine banknotes.

Abstract: An electromechanical digital indicator for displaying numerical information is disclosed, in which the angular movements of seven movable segments, combined with the action of a block in the shape of an eight and made of a transparent and light-channelling plastics material, acts in such a way as to display any figure at choice from zero to nine in solid lines rather than in segmental form, contrary to what occurs with the conventional display devices. Fluorescent layers on the bottom wall of the block and other expedient render the display visible under any conditions of direct or indirect lighting and also in the darkness of the night. Internal illumination means can be provided in the inside of the indicator box, that which could not be obtained heretofore with the electromechanical digital display appliances.

Abstract: This invention relates to a system which protects against excessive pressure or overpressure being applied to a silicium wafer sensor fixedly mounted in a differential pressure transmitter between two wave separation membranes. The differential pressure arising between the two zones located astride and rigidly mounted silicium wafer sensor is controlled, so as to not exceed prefixed dangerous values, by a protection system having an expansion bellows located between the said two zones and polarized by a single pre-charged spring which is compressed when the bellows move. In one embodiment, the bellows is movable towards the low pressure so that the separation membrane is moved onto its respective seat which is part of the body of the transmitter only when the said differential pressure exceeds the precharge value of the said spring.