Abstract: A flexible mounting (2) having a ring made of elastomeric material (3) fixedly engaged between an inner metal collar (4) and an outer metal collar (5) is mechanically stressed so that it undergoes a gradual elastic deformation corresponding to a relative displacement of 15 mm between the collars in a period of 20 seconds. Acoustic transducers (7) carry out the detection of the acoustic emissions occurring within the mounting itself and caused by structural instabilities arising in the flexible mounting while it is deformed. The acoustic transducers convert the acoustic emissions to electric signals that, after suitable amplification and discrimination, provide a reliable quality evaluation of the mounting being tested.

Abstract: A sleeve (2) of elastomeric material is operationally mounted on support rollers (5, 6) which can be operated to rotate the sleeve. At least one or more television camera (15) shoots the surface (2a) of the sleeve (2) which is illuminated with light at a low angle. The superficial appearance of the sleeve (2) is recorded in the form of images, each divided into a plurality of pixels (P) distributed in an orderly fashion. The values of luminosity of the individual pixels (P) are recorded and processed to highlight those pixels wherein due to superficial irregularities (C) on the sleeve (2), a variation is detected of the light reflected by the surface (2a) of the sleeve itself. On the basis of the position occupied by the highlighted pixels (P) it is possible to go back to the position of the superficial defects (C) along the extension of the sleeve (2).