Abstract: A tire pressure and temperature monitoring system for measuring tire inflation pressure and anomalous temperature of rotating tires in a moving vehicle by means of optoelectronic devices located in the stationary structure of the vehicle and an elastic diaphragm that rotates with the wheel and tire. The combined use of optoelectronic components and elastic diaphragms, provides a marked improvement in performance, reliability and cost over previously disclosed magnetic or radio frequency pressure measurement systems. The optoelectronic detector elements are also used to identify those tires whose side wall temperature is significantly higher than the side wall temperature of the other tires. In addition, the system can also be used as a measurement of individual wheel rotational speed and related wheel motion.

Abstract: An on-board tire pressure indicating system comprises for each tire of a vehicle, a receiver disposed adjacent the rotating wheel on which the tire is mounted. On the wheel is a transmitter which comprises three magnets, spaced apart in a general circumferential sense, and lying on essentially the same radius. As the wheel rotates, the magnets repeatedly sweep past the receiver, which generates a pulse at the passage of each magnet. Two of the three magnets are disposed in a predetermined fixed circumferential spacing on the wheel. The third magnet is selectively positioned in a circumferential sense relative to the other two magnets in accordance with the pressure in the tire. The time between the two fixed magnet pulses corresponds to a reference measurement dimension while the time between the selectively positioned magnet's pulse and the one of the two fixed magnet's pulse corresponds to an inflation pressure measurement dimension.

Abstract: An articulated arm for conducting the beam of a laser to a point of utilization which moves relative to the laser. In the preferred embodiment the articulated arm is supported in a generally vertically depending manner from a stationary laser. The articulated arm terminates in a focusing clamp assembly which is positioned by an industrial robot. The articulated arm following the motions of the robot. The articulated arm comprises joints through which the laser beam is conducted and which contain mirror assemblies for changing the direction of the laser beam as it passes through each joint. A joint may include a rotary coupling member on a main body providing relative rotation of the axis of one of the incident and reflected laser beams about the axis of the other. The mirror assemblies include adjustable shim mechanisms which provide for the precision adjustment of the mirrors to secure alignment of the incident and reflected laser beam along the intersecting path segments through each joint.

Abstract: In a pulsed gas laser having a flexible exit gas line, such as polymer tubing, a device is disposed just upstream of the flexible tubing to attenuate certain characteristics of the exit gas before it reaches the flexible line. The device comprises a walled chamber having an inlet and an outlet and constructed and arranged to attenuate the peak pressure waves at the pulse frequency. The device also provides attenuation of temperature and for this purpose is made of a good thermal conductor such as copper. The invention enhances the effectiveness of the flexible polymer tubing exit gas lines and permits a laser to be pulsed at higher pulse frequencies than are conventionally done.

Abstract: A spill valve (40) for use in a fluid control system (10), such as an automotive fuel injection system, where the mass flux of a pressurized fluid through a line (26) is to be controlled in either time or quantity or both. The spill valve (40) is connected between a fluid chamber (18) containing pressurized fluid and drain. When the spill valve (40) is open, the pressurized fluid in the chamber (18) is vented to drain; and when closed, the fluid is permitted to flow normally. The present spill valve (40) includes a valve body (100, 102, 104) having spill inlet and outlet ports (130, 132). A spill conduit (70) is disposed in the valve body and has first and second parallel spill paths therethrough to communicate the spill inlet and outlet ports (130, 132). An elongate valve closure element (50) is disposed within the spill conduit (70) to control the opening and closing of the first and second spill paths.