Abstract: An apparatus for non-contact monitoring of travelling objects being produced in an unguided linear process comprising: a toroidal structure with an open aperture defining a measuring zone, a source of radiation configured by a plurality of radiation devices circumferentially disposed within the measuring zone whereby the radiation source emits rays that generate a planar screen of radiation across the object circumferentially to envelop the object, a plurality of circumferentially disposed recording devices for receiving radiation from the radiation devices following interception of the rays by the objects, and analysis means for analyzing imaging information of the emitted radiation recorded by the recording devices thereby to provide a measure of the physical characteristics of the object.

Abstract: An apparatus for non-contact monitoring of travelling objects being produced in an unguided linear process comprising: a toroidal structure with an open aperture defining a measuring zone, a source of radiation configured by a plurality of radiation devices circumferentially disposed within the measuring zone whereby the radiation source emits rays that generate a planar screen of radiation across the object circumferentially to envelop the object, a plurality of circumferentially disposed recording devices for receiving radiation from the radiation devices following interception of the rays by the objects, and analysis means for analyzing imaging information of the emitted radiation recorded by the recording devices thereby to provide a measure of the physical characteristics of the object.

Abstract: The invention relates to apparatus for monitoring an extruded product moving in an inline extrusion process so as to effect quality control of the process by continuously measuring dimensional parameters and determining the existence of contaminants in the extrusion. The apparatus makes use of Terahertz radiation which is adapted to provide a curtain of parallel rays of the radiation which is scanned across the product as the product passes therethrough in a linear manner. The composition of the emitted radiation received after the scanning process is subject to an imaging analysis to determine the dimensional parameters of the moving products. The imaging analysis involves applying correction values to the measured transit times of the rays crossing the products which depends on its position within the curtain of rays thereby to remove inaccuracies in the final measurement results.

Abstract: A high speed oscillating system for non-contact optical scanning of an elongated product moving in a linear production process to determine the dimensional properties and surface profile integrity thereof. The system is designed to increase the scanning frequency and thereby the capability to measure the diameter or size of the product as well as its surface integrity and pick out flaws in the structure of the product in a manner which otherwise is not possible with present day systems on the market.

Abstract: The invention relates to apparatus for monitoring an extruded product moving in an inline extrusion process so as to effect quality control of the process by continuously measuring dimensional parameters and determining the existence of contaminants in the extrusion. The apparatus makes use of Terahertz radiation which is adapted to provide a curtain of parallel rays of the radiation which is scanned across the product as the product passes therethrough in a linear manner. The composition of the emitted radiation received after the scanning process is subject to an imaging analysis to determine the dimensional parameters of the moving products. The imaging analysis involves applying correction values to the measured transit times of the rays crossing the products which depends on its position within the curtain of rays thereby to remove inaccuracies in the final measurement results.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for monitoring extruded products moving in an inline extrusion process so as to affect quality control of the process by continuously measuring dimensional parameters and determining the existence of contaminants in the extrusion. The apparatus makes use of Terahertz radiation, which is adapted to provide a curtain of parallel rays of the radiation, which is scanned across the product as the product passes there-through in a linear manner. The composition of the omitted radiation received after the scanning process is subject to an imaging analysis to determine the dimensional parameters and contaminant free integrity of the extrusion process.

Abstract: A high speed oscillating system for non-contact optical scanning of an elongated product moving in a linear production process to determine the dimensional properties and surface profile integrity thereof. The system is designed to increase the scanning frequency and thereby the capability to measure the diameter or size of the product as well as its surface integrity and pick out flaws in the structure of the product in a manner which otherwise is not possible with present day systems on the market.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for monitoring extruded products moving in an inline extrusion process so as to affect quality control of the process by continuously measuring dimensional parameters and determining the existence of contaminants in the extrusion. The apparatus makes use of Terahertz radiation, which is adapted to provide a curtain of parallel rays of the radiation, which is scanned across the product as the product passes there-through in a linear manner. The composition of the omitted radiation received after the scanning process is subject to an imaging analysis to determine the dimensional parameters and contaminant free integrity of the extrusion process.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in determining the thickness of the insulated coating of an electrical cable manufactured in an extrusion process having means for generating an alternating current in the cable core coupled with means for detecting the magnetic field produced by the current flow in the cable such that in combination with a measurement of the distance from the detection means to the coated cable surface, a determination of coating thickness may be made.

Abstract: The invention relates to method and apparatus for measuring and displaying the eccentricity or off-set position with respect to coaxiality of a metallic conductor within an insulating coating during an extrusion process. The measuring apparatus employs a combination of optical and electrically inductive techniques to determine respectively the position of the outer coating of the cable and that of the core within the cable. By relating these positional measurements it is possible to determine the position of the core relative to a desired location namely the coaxial position so that appropriate corrections can be made to the extrusion process to keep the core in that coaxial position.

Abstract: The invention relates to method and apparatus for measuring and displaying the eccentricity or off-set position with respect to coaxiality of a metallic conductor within an insulating coating during an extrusion process. The measuring apparatus employs a combination of optical and electrically inductive techniques to determine respectively the position of the outer coating of the cable and that of the core within the cable. By relating these positional measurements it is possible to determine the position of the core relative to a desired location namely the coaxial position so that appropriate corrections can be made to the extrusion process to keep the core in that coaxial position.

Abstract: Apparatus for determining the dimension and position of an elongate object (1) travelling freely in space, for example, a cable being coated in an on-line extrusion process. Two separate out-of-focus images of the object (1) are formed on respective charge coupled devices (5) and (6) positioned on either side of the image plane of the optical system (2, 4) employed. By monitoring variations in the comparative characteristics of the two images caused by object movement and size variation, using conditioning circuits (7) and (8) and an indicator/controller unit (9), the spatial position of the object (1) and its dimensions are determined on a continuous basis whereby it is possible to compensate for inaccuracies in dimensional measurement caused by object movement in space, and to control thereby the extrusion process.

Abstract: A cable monitoring system is arranged such that a light source is disposed within a chamber containing the hostile environment through which the cable is moving, and a light detector determines the condition of the cable by sensing the amount/position of light not occluded by the cable and passing through a window in the chamber to its exterior where said detector is disposed.

Abstract: Induction heating is used to heat a moving strip (4) of non-ferrous material by causing it to form a short-circuited loop acting as the secondary winding of a transformer (1), the loop passing over pulleys (6, 9, 5 or 16). In one arrangement, one of the pulleys (16) has a double groove and the strip (4) passes over one groove (18), around another of the pulleys (19) and back to the other groove (20) of the double grooved pulley (16). This enables the strip to enter or leave the inside of the loop without colliding with the other side of the loop. In an alternative arrangement, the strip enters or leaves the inside of the loop at an angle to the plane of the loop and is prevented from contacting the other side of the loop by an insulating spacer (7).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the temperature of a hot body by a non-contact technique. It comprises a chopping disc 2 which may be disposed in the path of the radient heat energy from the object so providing a pulsed output of radient heat energy directed towards a pyroelectric element 7. Between the pyroelectric element 7 and the disc 2 is a further rotatable disc 4 having a pair of wavelength filters 6 and 6'. A microprocessor 14 operates to rotate the disc 4 to interpose each filter 6 and 6' in turn in the path of the pulsed output from the disc 2 at predetermined time intervals. The consequent output from the pyroelectric element 7 is, after amplification, rectification and smoothing in suitable circuits, fed to the microprocessor 14, which then calculates the ratio of the signal from the element 7 representative of power output through one of the filters, and the signal from element 7 representative of power output through the other filter.

Abstract: A method for controlling a cellular foam cable coating extrusion process wherein the quench point or temperature of the foamed coating being extruded onto the core material, and the ratio of speed of extrusion to line speed of the extrusion process are simultaneously adjusted respectively in response to two error signals indicative of a variation in relative permittivity and annular area of extruded coating from required specified values. The method results in a faster process than possible heretofore while at the same time a tighter tolerance on deviation from required parameters is possible.

Abstract: It is known to anneal non-ferrous strip material by passing the strip continuously around a pair of spaced pulleys and effecting a short circuit between the incoming and outgoing strip material to form a closed electrical loop of continuously moving strip material around the pulleys. The material in the closed moving loop is heated to anneal temperature by inserting an induction coil in the run around the pulleys so that under electrical inductive effects a current is induced in the loop thus raising its temperature. The incoming and outgoing strip material overlaps in the groove of one of the pulleys, the incoming material being fed into the loop formation at the point of overlap in a spiralling path which leads or directs the strip laterally and towards the plane of the annealing loop. Loading of the pulleys is thus made easier, arcing and sparking is avoided at overlap, and the life of the system is extended.