Abstract: A method and apparatus for making bag-type packages from strip web material in which a lead end portion of strip web material is formed around a forward end portion of a mandrel and the sleeve is advanced with the mandrel during at least a portion of the forward stroke of the mandrel. A sleeve opening device on the lead end of the mandrel is extended through the end of the sleeve to open the sleeve and the mandrel is retracted and transversely sealed and severed at a location inwardly of its open end to form a bag. A turret is provided for gripping the open end of the bag at a bag loading station and transferring the bag with its open end up sequentially to a bag filling station and to a top closing and sealing station.

Abstract: An apparatus which can clean powdered material from a filled pouch during a filling operation and at the same time introduce an inert atmosphere into the pouch prior to sealing. The apparatus includes a pair of wheel members mounted on a shaft for opposite rotation, the wheels having apertures which will eject inert gas in an opposing direction. The wheel members serve the dual function of blowing powdered material from the top of the filled pouch while at the same time introducing an inert atmosphere therein. The wheel assembly is especially suited for a high speed filling operation such as that commonly found in conjunction with a multiple stationed and rotatable filling apparatus.

Abstract: This disclosure illustrates and describes a liquid packaging machine including a base frame having a vertical keel mounted along the longitudinal centerline thereof. The units relating to forming blanks into cartons, filling the cartons with consumable liquids, and sealing the filled cartons, along with the required conveying means, are all mounted on one side of the keel, while the motor and related drive and indexing mechanisms are mounted on the other side of the keel, operatively connected to the forming, filling, sealing, and conveying means.

Abstract: An automatic carton packing machine comprising: a withdrawing device adapted to withdraw carton blanks having sealed bottoms and fitting mandrels vertically downwardly from said mandrels; a push-out device adapted for successively pushing out the carton blanks in the horizontal direction on a table; a conveyor device including bucket portions and arranged at a right angle to the direction of the pushing out and for accomodating the carton blanks in a row and plat portions formed at both sides of the bucket portions; a folding device adapted to fold the upper edges of the carton top along the folding line to impart a folding habit to the carton top; and a device for triangular lugs adapted for bending, after completion of the sealing of the carton top having the folding habit and withdrawal of the carton blanks from the bucket portions of the conveyor device; the triangular lugs of the carton top downwardly and bonding the same to the side surfaces of the carton.

Abstract: A crop cutting apparatus has two vertical axis rotary drum cutters 13, each having an upper rotor with a crop conveying surface 19 and a lower rotor carrying knives 21. Gears drive the upper and lower rotors at different angular velocities. The lower rotor has an annular rim 18 having an upper surface shaped to continue the outline of the conveying surface 19. The knives 21 protrude outwardly from beneath the rim 18 and rotate with the rim. A wiper brush 34 mounted on the conveying surface 19 projects outwardly over the rim 18 for lifting and transferring crop to the surface 19. The upper rotor may have conditioning brushes 35 for conveying crop and conditioning crop by relative movement between the brushes and the crop. The upper and lower rotors may be rotated in opposite senses to effect at least partial shear cutting.

Abstract: A linear material 41 is once wound on a winding drum 3, and then wound on a core bar 1 by a winding disk 2. The winding disk 2 periodically reverses the direction of rotation.

Abstract: The invention relates to lubrication of a bearing of a spinning or twisting spindle which comprises a spindle shaft and a fixedly mounted housing. Lubricant is moved in a closed circulation path or system from a reservoir to a bearing arranged above the reservoir and back again to the reservoir. According to the invention, the spindle shaft is rotatably connected with the reservoir and is provided with a tube or pipe fixed to the housing and immersing into the reservoir. The tube is provided at its end which is immersed in the reservoir with an inlet opening towards which the lubricant flows during the start of the rotation of the reservoir. Thus, a back or dam-up pressure forms at the inlet opening of the tube, by means of which the lubricant is propelled upwardly within the tube forming a closed circulation path, emerges from an exit or outlet opening of the tube and again flows back through the bearing into the reservoir.

Abstract: An improved jewelry chain loop element and method of assembly into single, double, triple, etc., chains in which the links are formed from soldered wire rings. One segment of each ring is crimped together so that the ring is formed into an approximate teardrop shape with one end having parallel wires and the other a loop. The loop may be flattened. Then an ornament, such as a bead, tube bezel, cup bezel or other ornament is formed or secured on the crimped end to form a combined fastening means and tip ornament. The crimped segment is bent upward at a 15-60 degree angle either before or after the bead or ornament is formed. The individual links are then assembled into the chain by placing the ornament of one link through the remaining loop of the next adjacent link and the loop crimped about the adjacent link's ornament. Alternatively, teardrop-shaped links may be cast as single links or as tandem (double, triple, etc.) links. A number of completed chains or single teardrop link elements may be connected (e.

Abstract: A method and system for operating a regenerative gas turbine in which a compressed gaseous medium is saturated with steam from untreated water having impurities in a first contact chamber and then supplied to a second chamber where the mixture is washed with pure water to remove impurities. The resulting mixture is mixed with fuel and combusted to supply gas to the turbine. Exhaust gas from the turbine is supplied to two serially connected regenerators which transfer heat to the recirculating untreated and pure water.

Abstract: A supersonic two spool turbojet engine capable not only of developing sufficient power to accelerate up to supersonic cruise and maintain efficient operation at supersonic cruise, but also arranged to cruise at subsonic velocities with a relatively low specific fuel consumption. The engine is provided with a variable bypass passageway downstream of the compressor. Flow into the bypass passageway is controlled so that during low power setting the bypass passageway is closed so that all the gaseous flow is directed through the turbine. During higher power settings, the bypass passageway is opened to the extent that a selected portion of the gaseous flow is directed through the bypass passageway to bypass the first stage of the turbine section so that the corrected flow to the first turbine stage remains substantially constant for high and low power setting of the engine.

Abstract: A device for generating power from the energy of waves in a body of liquid employs a buoyant reaction element and at least one displacement element which can move back and forth to react against the reaction element. The movement of the displacement element which is caused by the cyclic application of wave forces is converted into a more readily usable form by a turbine driven by the flow of air or hydraulic fluid caused by the movement of the displacement element. Where the air or hydraulic flow is bidirectional, the turbine can be of the self-rectifying type so that it is driven unidirectionally. The turbine may, for example, drive a generator that produces electrical power. Where a plurality of displacement elements are employed, some of the displacement elements are arranged to be out of phase relative to others of the displacement elements.

Abstract: An anti-stall control for use in a system having an engine which drives a pump to supply fluid under pressure to a motor and including means responsive to a control voltage for altering the flow of fluid to the motor. The anti-stall control senses the speed of the engine and generates a voltage proportional thereto, the speed voltage being compared to a reference voltage for providing a D.C. signal proportional to the speed voltage. A quick dump/slow recovery circuit is responsive to a decrease in the amplitude of the D.C. signal for generating a control voltage which decreases at a fast rate to prevent overloading of the engine, the circuit being responsive to an increase in the D.C. signal for generating a control voltage which increases at a slow rate to improve the stability of the system.

Abstract: In a geothermal energy conversion system having a boiler and a turbine driven pumping unit, a separator is disposed between the boiler and the turbine driven pump for separating entrained liquid droplets from the vaporized working fluid exhausted from the boiler.

Abstract: A main steam line apparatus of a boiling water nuclear reactor plant including piping for introducing a steam produced in a pressure vessel into a turbine, a main steam valve for rapidly stopping the steam being supplied to the turbine through the piping, and a header. The header is located in the piping between the pressure vessel and the main steam valve. The header causes the pressure wave which occurs when the main steam valve is rapidly closed to be attenuated and an increase in pressure vessel pressure to be suppressed.

Abstract: Enthalpy is recovered from hot industrial effluents by converting a working fluid into a foam in a flashing unit and using the foam to propel a turbine located within or at the output of the flashing unit. For liquid effluents the effluent itself serves as the working fluid. For gaseous effluents a liquid is heated by the gas and then the liquid is used as the working fluid. If the effluents contain undesirable levels of pollutants working fluid is cleaned before it is flashed. The specification discloses both impulse and reactive turbines which the foam can propel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for recovering the exhaust heat using the working fluid of the toluene (or benzene)-water system in the vapor cycle, when the moderate heat energy of 400.degree.-750.degree. C. is converted into work.In practice, in order to obtain the maximum overall thermal efficiency .eta.m, the working fluid of the Rankine cycle in the recovery of exhaust heat of the temperature of 400.degree.-700.degree. C. is suitable to be the mixture of toluene (or benzene) and water containing 20-80 mol. % of water, while the working fluid of the reheating cycle in the recovery of exhaust heat of the temperature of 600.degree.-750.degree. C. is suitable to be the mixture of toluene (or benzene) and water containing 45-90 mol. % of water in considerations of the thermodynamic efficiency of vapor cycle, the performance of the exhaust heat boiler and other factors.

Abstract: A steam turbine system which includes a steam generator and a steam bypass path for bypassing steam around the turbine. The outlet throttle pressure of the steam generator is controlled by controlling admission of steam into the bypass path by means of a bypass valve. A desired throttle pressure set point is generated which is independent of steam flow and this set point is compared with the actual throttle pressure for governing the bypass valve during turbine start-up. When the turbine is fully operational the bypass valve control is effected by a comparison of the actual throttle pressure with the desired throttle pressure set point plus some bias.

Abstract: A cartridge is made up of a plurality of packet-like members each forming a closed pocket containing a material which expands to many times its dry volume when contacted by liquid water. The packet-like members are arranged superposed on one another with the members secured together as a unit. When the material is contacted by water, the individual packet-like members expand but the members remain together as a unit.

Abstract: The present invention provides a low cost, compact, efficient thermoelectric system which has no moving parts for converting waste heat into electrical energy. The system includes a plurality of heat pipes having at least one substantially planar sidewall and integral heat collecting fins. The planar sidewalls on the heat pipes enable broad surface thermal contact with thermoelectric devices. The heat pipes and integral heat collecting fins provide for the efficient collection and transmission of waste heat to the side of the thermoelectric devices contacting the heat pipes at a location outside of the flow of waste heat. The other side of each thermoelectric device is either water or air cooled to establish a temperature differential thereacross for the generation of electrical energy. The heat pipes are preferably generally rectangular in cross section to provide opposed substantially planar surfaces for making efficient, low heat loss, broad surface thermal contact with the thermoelectric devices.

Abstract: Process for quick freezing and conditioning of individual products, and apparatus to practice this process. The process is characterized in that it consists essentially in treating small individual quantities of different products in modular indivdual quick-freeze chambers (1) fed with cryogenic gas and connected each to a quick-freeze tunnel (3) so as to provide in the latter a low temperature, and in treating larger quantities of product pieces in the tunnel (3), provided with a conveyor belt (4) and which is also fed with cryogenic gas, in evacuating the residual warmed gas obtained from the interior of the tunnel (3), in packaging the products leaving the tunnel in insulating packaging disposed in a receiver (6) mounted at the outlet of the tunnel (3), or in filling the packaging with products issuing from a chamber, then in surrounding the assembly of products disposed in the packaging with a cryogenic product, and closing the packaging.

Abstract: Apparatus for carrying out a combined absorption and adsorption process comprising an adsorber (1) housing adsorbent (30) (e.g. 13.times.

Abstract: A process for cold and/or heat production using carbon dioxide, a solvent for carbon dioxide and a condensable fluid (F), comprising conducting an absorption/condensation step wherein carbon dioxide is absorbed in the solvent and the gaseous fluid (F) is condensed, a step of separation of the resultant liquid phases, a desorption step for the CO.sub.2 solution, a mixing step and an evaporation step for the condensed fluid (F).

Abstract: An apparatus, made in accordance with the present invention, comprises an ice-making unit for making pure ice using a refrigeration system, an electric heater for melting into fresh water the ice produced by the ice-making unit, a tank for storing the fresh water resulting from the melting, a sensor for sensing the water temperature prevailing in the tank, and a control responsive to a signal from the sensor to actuate the heater for maintaining the water temperature at a predetermined value. The apparatus further comprises a sensor for sensing the water level in the tank, and a control responsive to a signal from the water level sensor to control the operation of the ice-making unit for maintaining the water level at a predetermined value.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for effecting self-test of a thermostat is disclosed. The permissible thermostat outputs are arranged into an array capable of being converted into a binary number. Testing is done to determine whether or not the binary number ascertained falls into a known legal array of binary numbers for permissible thermostat outputs. If the testing indicates a fault condition then the fault is indicated and operation may be discontinued.

Abstract: A variable thermostat-type air conditioning system for an automotive vehicle passenger compartment has a dehumidification switch. When a driver depresses the dehumidification switch the compressor begins to operate as if the temperature-adjusting lever were set to the extreme COOL end. Therefore, it is possible to dehumidify or cool the passenger compartment without adjusting the temperature-adjusting lever which is already set to an appropriate lever position. The air-conditioning system according to the present invention comprises a temperature-sensitive element, a variable resistor linked to the temperature-adjusting lever, the dehumidification switch to short the variable resistor, and a thermocontrol amplifier, in addition to a standard compressor, evaporator, etc.

Abstract: A plurality of control modes set in consideration of the comfortability in a compartment of a vehicle are previously stored in a memory medium, such as a magnetic card, and programs of the compressor control, the recirculation/fresh air change-over control, the blow-out opening change-over control, the air flow rate control, the condensation prevention control and the like which are preset in a central processing unit are performed in accordance with the data of the aforesaid memory medium. Output signals from sensors provided at various portions of the vehicle or instructions by the operator, and various controls concerning the air conditioner are automatically performed without requiring manual operations. The controls can be effected through any one of a speech recognition device, sensors, external components and manual operations.

Abstract: A refrigeration system for cooling beverages as they are drawn from a plurality of containers and dispensed through a plurality of faucets. A pair of beverage dispensing coils are centrally carried in a housing which is filled with water. A refrigeration coil encircles the housing causing a build up of ice to take place on the inner wall of the housing. A temperature sensor is carried within a helical coil provided between the beverage dispensing coil and the ice bank for operating a compressor associated with the refrigeration coil. A power-driven paddle is centrally carried within the container for circulating the water therein and a gentle, wiping motion. In order to selectively turn on and off the power paddle, a second temperature sensor is located in a junction provided between the inputs of the beverage dispensing coils.

Abstract: Described is a cooling/heating and hot water service system making use of a single heat source apparatus. The system includes a heat pump chiller designed to perform cyclic operations of heating and cooling, a heat exchanger unit having a heat exchanger adapted for supplying hot water and a water reservoir. The operating time zone for storage of hot water and the operating time zone for heating and cooling the room are set by a first program timer while the operating time zone for servicing hot water is set by a second program timer.

Abstract: A refrigeration control system for modulating an electrically-operated expansion valve in which a modulating, electrically-operated expansion valve is connected to the evaporator inlet, and first and second condition-responsive electrical sensors are positioned to respond to conditions at selected location in the system. An electrical amplifier circuit connects the condition-responsive electrical sensors to the valve for regulating the opening and closing of the valve in response to differences in the conditions sensed by the sensors. Refrigerant is fed to at least one of the sensors so as to cause modulation of the expansion valve. More particularly, the condition-responsive sensors are temperature-responsive, the first sensor being positioned to respond to the temperature of the liquid refrigerant expanded to suction pressure, and the second sensor being positioned to respond to suction line sensible temperature.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a latent heat solar heating and cooling system which incorporates a low-pressure, flooded evaporator/collector panel in conjunction with a venturi type jet condenser driven by liquid motive force within a remote heat exchanger, to serve as a device to collect, store and transfer energy through changes of state between liquid and vapor phases of a transmission medium, so that efficient energy collection, storage and transfer may be accomplished without the use of electromechanical compression external to the remote heat exchanger.

Abstract: An absorption type heat pump system including a first heat pump of the absorption type and a second heat pump of the absorption type. The first heat pump includes a generator equipped with a heating source, a condenser, an evaporator, an absorber, and a solution heat exchanger for drawing off hot water from the condenser and the absorber for heating and hot water supply purposes. The second heat pump includes a generator equipped with a heating source, a condenser, an evaporator, an absorber and a solution heat exchanger. The condenser and the absorber of the second heat pump are mounted in the evaporator of the first heat pump and the first and second heat pumps are connected together, so as to absorb heat from atmosphere by the evaporator of the second heat pump and utilize as a heat source for vaporizing a refrigerant in the evaporator of the first heat pump the heat given off by the condenser and the absorber of the second heat pump.

Abstract: Refrigerated containers and trailers comprised of structural members in the form of vacuum insulated sidewalls, ceilings and floors having a thickness of approximately one inch. Each structural member is divided into a plurality of individual airtight sections and for each section there is a conduit that leads from the interior of the section to a vacuum pump via a manifold. By means of the pump, air can be withdrawn from each section to establish a vacuum therein. The manifold into which all of the conduits lead is provided with a pressure switch that responds to an increase in pressure caused by a leak in any section and actuates the vacuum pump whereby air is withdrawn from the leaking section.

Abstract: A coolant supply and discharge device for a superconductive rotor including a gaseous coolant withdrawing tube for withdrawing a gaseous coolant located at an end portion of fixed casing enclosing an end portion of the rotor and supporting a coolant feed tube. The withdrawing tube is constituted to withdraw a predetermined amount of gaseous coolant produced in a clearance between the coolant feed tube and a coolant inlet tube located within a rotor shaft to a coolant sump located outside, to avoid introduction of heat into the feed tube from outside.

Abstract: An annular capillary structure is disclosed for tubes of heat exchangers. The capillary structure comprises a series of individual, smooth, rectilinear fibers arranged parallel to the axis of a tube. The fibers are regularly positioned in annular spaces along the inner wall of the tubes. Helical springs or a layer of spring wires urges the fibers into contact with the inner wall of the tube. According to a preferred method of making the structure, a layer of spring steel wires are coiled on a mandrel and a layer of fibers is laid longitudinally thereon. The layer pass through an extruder head and are introduced into the tubular element which has just been extruded.

Abstract: A slider needle for knitting machines, particularly flat knitting machines, omprises a needle body with needle hook and needle butt, and a slider with a slider butt and mounted to be displaceable relative to the needle body. In order to produce a slider needle of simple construction with the needle butt capable of being depressed into the needle bed, the needle body consists of a guide shaft provided with a slot for receiving and guiding the slider and a flexible shaft extending from the guide shaft and projecting rearwardly from the guide shaft towards the needle butt, with the flexible shaft carrying the needle butt and being engageable from below in the needle channel by a tilting lever.

Abstract: A slider needle for knitting machines, particularly flat knitting machines, omprises a needle body with needle hook and at least one needle butt, and a slider equipped with slider foot and mounted to be displaceable relative to the needle body. In order to ensure trouble-free and reliable separation of the old stitches from newly laid yarn a short swivel detent is mounted on the needle body behind the needle hook. The length and shape of this swivel element is chosen so that in the normal position of the needle, with the needle hook closed by the slider, the swivel detent is masked by the slider in the vertical direction, while when the needle hook is open the swivel detent projects proud of the needle body and above the slider in both its end positions.

Abstract: In an electromagnetically operated, jacquard control arrangement, each controllable element is provided with an electromagnet cooperating with an anchor. An actuating current switch can energize the electromagnet arrangement. A swingably mounted control element provides a movable contact point on a lever arm for moving controllable elements. A swingable synchronization arrangement is driven back and forth by a continually rotating main shaft which can also turn the control element in one direction over a predetermined working angle. A return spring, in dependence upon the activation condition of the electromagnet, can swing back the control element. At the beginning of each working cycle the anchor is positioned proximate the poles of the electromagnet. The anchor is attached to the control element. The anchor of the control element may be carried by the synchronization arrangement.

Abstract: An embroidery device for crochet machines of the type having a looper arrangement and with a reciprocable needle bar for moving its needles into operative association with guide needles driven in an orbital pathway for loading warp threads carried thereby onto the needles of the needle bar. A plurality of bars driven in a rectangular pathway support tube elements through which weft threads are guided for linking them with the chains formed by warp threads. One of the rectangularly driven bars carries a plurality of guide tubes through which embroidery threads are guided. These guide tubes are also operatively connected to a supplementary vertical drive movement created by the pulling action of flexible members interconnecting the guide tubes with individual pulling elements.

Abstract: A continuous line for chemical treatment and irradiation of a textile web has an irradiation station provided with an outer protective jacket which has elongated openings for passing through the upper and lower runs of the conveyor. The ray exit window in the range of the outer protective jacket is enclosed by an inner protective jacket defining openings for the upper run of the conveyor supporting the web. To reduce leakage, the inner openings are vertically offset relative to the openings in the outer jacket, and the chains in the upper and lower runs of the conveyor are enclosed in protective casings, of which the upper-run casing is provided with slots for guiding the web. Ray-screening means in the form of displaceable screening blocks are provided in the range of the inner and outer openings and are movable together with the guiding channels.

Abstract: A security tie-down apparatus includes an anchor bolt having a base plate secured thereto in axially spaced relation from the bolt head. A disk is rotatably carried on the anchor bolt between the base plate and head and surrounds the head so as to prevent grasping of the head by conventional tools. Such an anchor screw assembly may be fastened to each end of an elongated connector for securement of one anchor screw assembly to an object to be protected and securement of the other to a more permanent object or surface. Additional hold-down bolts may be provided for independently securing the base plate to the object and offset access holes through the disk enable passage of the hold-down screws therethrough. A special wrench key includes posts insertable through the access holes and into the hold-down screw holes of the base plate for applying torque to the anchor bolt.

Abstract: A key operated lock having a handle member slidably and rotatably operating within a rose member secured in a door, the rose having a bore therethrough in which a lock cylinder is rotatably mounted but restrained against axial displacement and has an axially displaceable and rotatably mounted latch actuator operably engageable with the handle by a key insertable into the handle transversely to the rotational axis. The lock cylinder has fixed wards extending toward the handle and key member which in the proper position of the key are in alignment with holes in the key which permit interlocking of the handle via the key with the lock cylinder for simultaneous rotation.

Abstract: A key retaining device for capturing and selectively locking therein a portion of the working section of a key. When the key is locked in the device, its handle section is visible so that the presence of the key can be instantly determined without unlocking of the apparatus, yet the key cannot be removed from the device until unlocked with a master key. Retention of the key within the housing is accomplished by a resilient clamping mechanism employing a set of wedges which are resiliently urged toward the working section of the key and held there by a rachet spring. Insertion of a master key releases the ratchet spring allowing the wedges to release the key.

Abstract: Apparatus for and a method of hot rolling cast metal under hydrostatic pressure to achieve a substantial reduction in cross-sectional area without cracking and the improved wrought product thereof characterized by decreased segregation, better grain structure and absence of cracking.

Abstract: An improved method of stress rolling a metallic rim includes the additional step of applying an outside force to the rim to produce tensile stress in the region which is being stress rolled to produce a higher resulting compressive stress within the region than could otherwise be obtained through normal stress rolling.

Abstract: A coil winding procedure for winding pairs of coils, whereby a first coil is wound inwardly to the start and the second coil is wound from the start to the finish lead from the same continuous conductor strand, thereby eliminating the need for a start-start brazing operation.

Abstract: A blank 1 is removed from a strip of material 2 and placed in a die against which a lower punch and an upper punch are operable. In one step, by moving of the lower punch upwardly, shaped to form the pole core or pole piece, and the upper punch against the blank in the die, the pole piece, pole shoes, and outer pole radii at the end portions are formed. If desired, the pole can be perforated and the perforation formed with a thread, and accurately sized in the subsequent cutting and sizing step.

Abstract: A mechanism for successively feeding sheetlike workpieces into a press in timed relation to the up-and-down motion of a slide carrying an upper die. Linked to an infeed cam mechanism which is driven from the same shaft as is the press slide, a carriage reciprocates horizontally between a retracted position away from the dies and a loading position close thereto. The carriage carries a pair of gripping jaw assemblies for gripping each workpiece in the retracted position of the carriage and releasing the workpiece in the loading position. Each gripping jaw assembly comprises upper and lower jaws jointly movable along a pair of guide rods extending at an angle to the plane of the horizon, the lower jaw being further cam-operated for pivotal motion toward and away from the upper jaw. The infeed cam mechanism driving the carriage is provided with a lockpin for retaining the carriage in the retracted position during replacement of the press dies.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for testing a geophone during assembly is disclosed. The apparatus includes a light source cooperating with a photocell for generating a voltage signal in response to light. A member for support of the geophone to be tested is located in a defined path between the light source and the photocell for generating a voltage signal. The apparatus further includes a display unit for indicating the voltage signal generated, which is representative of the resilient characteristics of the geophone springs, characterizing the position of the geophone coil and its resonant frequency.

Abstract: An improved gas volume calibration method and apparatus for use in respiratory gas analyzers. A control unit monitors the flow of calibration gas through the analyzer by monitoring the electrical signals produced by a gas turbine and a breath switch. During calibration, a known volume of calibration gas is repeatedly delivered to the analyzer from a calibration syringe at each of a number of different flow rates. On the basis of the information received from the turbine and the breath switch, the control unit generates and stores a piecewise linear approximation of the nonlinear characteristic of the turbine. This stored turbine characteristic is then made available during subsequent measurements to eliminate those volume errors which are associated with variations in the rate at which the sample gas is delivered, thereby affording measurements of improved accuracy.

Abstract: An improvement in an engine vibration sensor of the type including a vibrator set to resonate at a specific frequency of vibration of the engine to which it is attached, for example the engine knocking vibration frequency, wherein the vibration of the vibrator is converted to an electric signal representing the specific engine vibration. The improvement consists of forming the vibrator from a magnetic material and providing a magnetic field generator for applying a magnetic field of controlled intensity to the vibrator, whereby the resonant frequency of the vibrator can be adjusted by varying the intensity of the magnetic field.