Abstract: An apparatus for characterising the fragmentation of a body following impact with a surface, particularly the fragmentation of a bird following impact with part of an intake of a gas turbine engine, comprises a gun, a target plate, a soft recovery plate across which the body's trajectory can be tracked, and a soft recovery system, characterised in that damage to the body is caused substantially only by the impact on the target plate.

Abstract: A nanocrystalline ITO thin film formed on a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) facilitates detection of gaseous compounds emitted from an analyte. Adsorption of gas molecules onto the nanocrystalline ITO thin film changes the resonant frequency of the quartz crystal. Parameters such as the frequency of oscillation, surface resistance, integrated frequency response, integrated surface resistance response, initial response slope, average return to baseline slope, and/or return to baseline time/initial response time ratio of the quartz crystal with the nanocrystalline ITO thin film formed thereon are determined. Using the determined parameters and principal component analysis, principal components for the gaseous compounds are also determined. These determined principal components may be compared with known principal components corresponding to known analytes.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are detectable refrigerant compositions, comprising from about 0.001 to about 5 weight percent tracer compositions, which are useful to identify leaking in a vapor compression refrigeration and/or air conditioning system. The presence of the tracers make the refrigerant compositions detectable by chemo/electro-active array, corona discharge, heated diode, electrochemical, photoionization, infra red, ultrasonic and electron capture detectors.

Abstract: A device and a process are provided for recognizing a correct use of an alcohol measuring device by a test subject. At least one alcohol measuring device is provided with a signal transmitter, an analysis and control unit and a camera unit. An image field of the camera unit is divided into an inner image field area and an outer image field area. The inner image field area detects at least the face area of the test subject. The camera unit records changes at a boundary between the inner image field area and the outer image field area. A signal sent by the signal transmitter in the inner image field area can be detected by the camera unit.

Abstract: For leak testing closed containers (9) which are filled with a filling product containing at least one liquid component the container is introduced in a test cavity (1) which is evacuated at least down to vapour pressure of that liquid component. The pressure in the surrounding of the container (9) and thus within test cavity (1) is monitored. Monitoring is performed by a vacuum pressure sensor (7), whereas lowering pressure surrounding the container (9) is performed by a vacuum pump (5). Leakage is detected by monitoring a pressure change in the surrounding of the container which is due to evaporation of liquid emerging from a leak and being evaporated in the low pressure surrounding.

Abstract: A device for detecting a property of a fluid includes a body region and a flexible element having a first end and a second end. The first end is fixedly located on the body region. The flexible element is arranged to move from at least a first configuration to a second configuration via bending of the flexible element. The flexible element includes an actuating portion arranged to move the flexible element between the first configuration and the second configuration. The device also includes a movement detector for detecting movement of the flexible element.

Abstract: A moisture monitoring device that measures the dielectric constant of a material to provide an indication of the moisture content of a material. The moisture monitoring device can provide an instantaneous indication of the moisture content of a material (e.g., soil). The moisture monitoring device can include a number of interchangeable decorative to allow a user to customize the appearance of the device. The moisture monitoring device can be used in conjunction with a moisture monitoring system that can be used to control a watering system (e.g., an irrigation system). A method for providing an instantaneous indication of the moisture content of a material is also disclosed.

Abstract: A part to be mounted into force or pressure sensors includes an annular measuring element made of piezoelectric material. First and second electrodes rest against respective opposite sides of the measuring element and are provided with wires. An electrically insulating transmission member laterally adjoins the first electrode, across from the measuring element. Another electrically insulating insulation member laterally adjoins the second electrode, across from the measuring element. All said components are mounted within the part in such a way as to be centered relative to each other. The external face of the transmission member and the external face of the insulation member which face away from and run parallel to the electrodes are designed in a very planar manner, having a levelness of less than 10 ?m.

Abstract: In a method for diagnosing an injection valve (5), in an overrun fuel cut-off phase the fuel supply to the fuel rail (4) is closed, and after the fuel supply has been closed off a first fuel pressure in the fuel rail (4) is measured, and after the first measurement of the fuel pressure an injection valve (5) is actuated for a test injection. After the test injection a second fuel pressure in the fuel rail (4) is measured, a differential pressure value (?P) is formed from the first and second measured fuel pressures and a difference of an operating parameter from a reference parameter is determined from the differential pressure value (?P), and when a previously defined maximum difference is exceeded the injection valve (5) is detected as being defective.

Abstract: A combination of a bearing component and a sensor, wherein: (a) at least a portion of the bearing component is formed from a bearing steel; (b) the sensor comprises a sensor element and a support therefor; (c) at least a portion of the support is formed from a low carbon steel comprising no more than 0.2 wt. % carbon or from nickel or an alloy thereof or from titanium or an alloy thereof; and (d) the bearing component and the support are welded or brazed to one another via said respective portions.

Abstract: It is a challenge to make it possible to produce a resonance suppression effect, and perform a stable control even in a case where a spring rigidity of a shaft significantly varies. The challenge is achieved as follows. In an engine bench system in which an engine 1 to be tested and a dynamometer 2 are coupled together by a coupling shaft 3, and a shaft torque control of the dynamometer is performed, a controller 5 includes: an integral element having an integral coefficient KI for a deviation (T12r?T12) between a shaft torque command T12r and a measured shaft torque T12; a differential element having a differential coefficient KD for the measured shaft torque T12; and a proportional element KP for the measured shaft torque T12. The controller 5 obtains a torque control signal T2 by subtracting the differential element and the proportional element from the integral element.

Abstract: A container includes a chamber for containing fluid. At least one sensor is disposed within the chamber for sensing a property of fluid in the container. A unit that receives a signal from the sensor communicates with a device that displays the property of the fluid in the container. The container may include first and second chambers. A first sensor is disposed within the first chamber. The first sensor is in contact with fluid in the first chamber. The first sensor senses a volume of fluid in the first chamber. A second sensor is disposed within the second chamber. The second sensor is in contact with fluid in the second chamber. The second sensor senses a volume of fluid in the second chamber. A diverter may direct fluid from an inlet to a bottom portion of the chamber and prevents the fluid from contacting the sensor. A releasable device may prevent fluid from flowing from the first chamber to the second chamber.

Abstract: A device for monitoring circulation of a fluid at a first opening includes a housing through which fluid passes, the first opening to be monitored, at least a second opening that empties into a chamber of the housing, and a sealing element that can shift or be moved, in a reversible manner, from one closed position in which it seals the first opening to at least one open position in which it releases the opening and allows fluid circulation. The sealing element is capable of being deployed in the chamber, and its movement is controlled by at least one activating element. The sealing element includes a moving body that forms a piston whose one end part is configured to seal the first opening and a portion of membrane is sandwiched between the end part of the moving body and at least the edge that forms a seat of the first opening.

Abstract: A flow sensing valve includes a valve housing having an inlet port, an outlet port, and a plurality of flow sensing ports. A valve member, located within the valve housing, is configured to move between an open position and a closed position. The valve member allows fuel flow between the inlet port and outlet port in the open position, and blocks fuel flow between the inlet port and the outlet port in the closed position. A position sensor, operably coupled to the valve member, is configured to determine a valve position of the flow sensing valve. The valve position is indicative of a valve open port area. A metered flow rate of pressurized fuel through the flow sensing valve in a upstream manifold is proportional to the valve open port area because the flow sensing valve maintains a nearly constant differential pressure across the inlet and outlet ports.

Abstract: A flow sensor (100) is disclosed provided with a body (102) with a first opening (128) and a second opening (130) and a flow pathway (103) coupling the first opening (128) to the second opening (130). At least one thermal sensor (140) is located in the flow pathway (103) between the first opening (128) and the second opening (130). A first turbulence inducer (114, 116, or 118) is located between the first opening (128) and the at least one thermal sensor (140). The turbulence inducer consists of a mesh of joined beams that define a plurality of voids.

Abstract: A fluid measurement system utilizes one or more digital probes that communicate over a digital bus to a fluid gauging computer. The digital probes incorporate a capacitance to digital circuit that converts probe capacitance to a digital value. The digital value is communicated to the fuel gauging computer via a data bus.

Abstract: A single layer micromachined thermal and mechanical isolator may be bonded between a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) die and package. Small bond pads of the isolator are attached to the periphery of the die. The isolator material may be chosen to match that of the die, reducing CTE mismatch. Long thin isolation beams can be used to provide thermal isolation against external temperature changes, which may be conducted through the package. Weak and flexible beams can be used to tolerate large displacements with very little resistance. Thus, excessive stress or distortion to the package, from either CTE mismatch or external stress, may be absorbed by the isolator and will not be transmitted to the MEMS die. Beam rigidity may be designed to attenuate vibration of particular frequency range. The isolator can be readily inserted into an existing disc resonator gyroscope package in one thermal compression bond step.

Abstract: Micromachined disc resonator gyroscopes (DRGs) are disclosed designed to be virtually immune to external temperature and stress effects. The DRG is a vibratory gyroscope that measures angular rate which is designed to have reduced sensitivity to external thermal and mechanical stress. The DRG features an integrated isolator that may be fabricated on the same wafer as the electrode wafer forming a plurality of integrated isolator beams. In addition, the DRG may include a wafer level hermetical vacuum seal, flip chip ball grid array (BGA), and vertical electrical feedthrough to improve reliability and to reduce manufacturing cost. An additional carrier layer may be used with shock stops, vertical electrical feedthrough, and the flip chip BGA. A pyrex or quartz cap with embedded getter and shock stops can be employed.

Abstract: A device for damping a movement of a seismic mass of a micromechanical inertial sensor, the device being designed to apply a force to the seismic mass damping the movement of the seismic mass as a function of the values of at least one movement parameter of the seismic mass, the damping being produced electrically.

Abstract: The invention is directed toward a new method for estimating and imaging the spatial and temporal mechanical behavior of materials in responses to a mechanical stimulus. This method is designed to work in inherently noisy applications, such as the imaging of the time-dependent mechanical behavior of biological tissues in vivo and using a preferred hand-held configuration of scanning.

Abstract: An ultrasonic measurement method and an ultrasonic measurement apparatus are capable of performing an inspection for a short time with a high SN ratio and a small variation (that depends on an inspection direction) in sensitivity in a process for detecting a defect in all directions at 360 degrees using a matrix array sensor without performing mechanical scanning in all directions, while reducing noise that is caused by a bottom surface echo. An element selecting circuit selects a group of a plurality of ultrasonic transducer elements for transmission from among ultrasonic transducer elements that constitute a two-dimensional array sensor so that the ultrasonic transducer elements for selected for transmission are arranged in line symmetry with respect to a first line symmetric axis to set the group selected for transmission.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer is provided with a distance measuring ultrasonic sensor for detecting a distance between the ultrasonic transducer and a surface of an inspection object and an inclination of the ultrasonic transducer with respect to the surface of the inspection object, to control the distance and the inclination of the ultrasonic transducer with respect to the inspection object based on information detected by the distance measuring ultrasonic sensor, and at least part of ultrasonic wave transmission/reception by the distance measuring ultrasonic sensor is performed during execution of aperture synthesis processing during which transmission/reception by the ultrasonic transducer is not performed.

Abstract: An acoustic transducer has a first transducer which transmits an acoustic primary wave having two frequency components, and a second transducer which, in order to receive a reflected wave of an acoustic secondary wave generated with propagation of the acoustic primary wave, is disposed so that a region for receiving the reflected wave is superimposed on the first transducer as seen along the direction of transmission of the acoustic primary wave.

Abstract: The invention may be embodied as a fingerprint scanner having an ultrasonic wave detector, a platen, an ultrasonic wave generator located between the detector and the platen. The invention may be embodied as a method of scanning a finger. One such method includes providing a platen, a detector and a generator, the generator being placed between the platen and the detector. A finger may be provided on the platen, and an ultrasound wave pulse may be sent from the generator toward the finger. The wave pulse may be reflected from the finger, and received at the detector. The received wave pulse may be used to produce an image of the finger.

Abstract: A combined wet-wet differential transducer and a gage pressure transducer located in the same housing, comprising a semiconductor chip which comprises a gage sensor chip on one section and a differential sensor chip on a second section. Each sensor chip has a Wheatstone bridge comprising piezoresistors and is responsive to an applied pressure. The gage chip and the differential chip are placed in a header having a front section and a back section adapted to receive a first and second pressure, respectively. The sensors are in communication with first and second pressure ports such that the absolute sensor provides an output indicative of a pressure applied to a first port and the differential sensor provides an output indicative of the pressure difference between the first and second pressure ports.

Abstract: A micro semiconductor-type pressure sensor and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The micro semi-conductor-type pressure sensor is implemented by etching a cavity-formation region of a substrate to form a plurality of trenches, oxidizing the plurality of trenches through a thermal oxidation process to form a cavity-formation oxide layer, forming a membrane-formation material layer on upper portions of the cavity-formation oxide layer and the substrate, forming a plurality of etching holes in the membrane-formation material layer, removing the cavity-formation oxide layer through the plurality of etching holes to form a cavity buried in the substrate, forming a membrane reinforcing layer on an upper portion of the membrane-formation material layer to form a membrane for closing the cavity, and forming sensitive films made of a piezoresisive material on an upper portion of the membrane.

Abstract: A surface mounted instrument (20) that is easily installed to seal (110, 120) against a mounting surface (150) in spite of imprecise installation of a standard rough-in box (145) or irregularities in the surface. A cover plate (60) overlays the installed instrument housing (10) without the use of outwardly visible mechanical connectors by use of a pawl (65) that engages the housing. An oversized display (50) is mounted for easy replacement on a moveable display module (45) for unobstructed access to the interior (35) of the housing. Subsurface channels (90) formed in the housing are used to deliver a working fluid from a measured location to a sensor (85) inside the housing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring gas flow are provided. In one embodiment, a calibration circuit for gas control may be utilized to verify and/or calibrate gas flows utilized for backside cooling, process gas delivery, purge gas delivery, cleaning agent delivery, carrier gases delivery and remediation gas delivery, among others.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring at least one parameter of a fluid flowing through an internal passage of an elongated body is provided. The internal passage is disposed between a first wall and a second wall, and the first wall and the second wall each include an interior surface and an exterior surface. The method includes the steps of providing an array of at least two ultrasonic sensor units, operating the sensor units to transmit ultrasonic signals at one or more frequencies substantially coincident with at least one frequency at which the transmitted ultrasonic signals resonate within the first wall, receiving the ultrasonic signals with the sensor units, and processing the received ultrasonic signals to measure the at least one parameter of fluid flow within the internal passage.

Abstract: The measuring system of the invention comprises: A measuring transducer of vibration-type, through which medium flows during operation and which serves for producing oscillatory signals dependent on a viscosity of the flowing medium and/or a Reynolds number of the flowing medium; as well as a transmitter electronics electrically coupled with the measuring transducer for driven the measuring transducer and for evaluating oscillatory signals delivered by the measuring transducer.

Abstract: A load cell for detecting the supporting force transmitted by a load-bearing support element is provided. The load cell forms a measuring portion of the support element, which deforms under the supporting force and transverse forces in a direction deviating from the supporting force to form part of the support element with the same. A plurality of thin-film resistors are arranged at the measuring portion, and exhibit a reaction proportional to strain and whose reactions proportional to transverse forces cancel each other.

Abstract: A dynamometer includes a roller that is rotabably mounted upon a shaft with the shaft being rotatably mounted upon a support that carries the weight of the roller, the dynamometer also having a shear beam load cell disposed within the roller with a first end secured adjacent to an inner surface of the roller and a second end attached to the shaft to provide the sole structural connection between the roller and the shaft.

Abstract: A device and method for effectuating the temperature compensation testing of digital load cells. The device uses conductive heat transfer to establish and maintain the temperature of the load cell(s) during testing. The device may include a vessel into which one or more load cells to be tested are placed. Temperature control of the load cells may be accomplished by circulating a temperature controlled fluid through the vessel. The vessel containing the one or more load cells may then be placed in a load application device that applies a load(s) to the one or more load cells during testing. Readings from the one or more load cells are used to establish a temperature compensation factor for each load cell tested. In other embodiments, temperature control of the load cells may be accomplished by placing the load cells in contact with a solid heat transfer element(s).

Abstract: A load sensor includes a base substrate having two holes as two fixing portions to a frame member as a detection object, a pair of strain detecting elements provided on a surface of the base substrate, and input-output terminals provided on the surface of the base substrate. The strain detecting elements are arranged in a region that is between the holes and is opposite the input-output terminals with respect to at least one of the holes.

Abstract: The present invention provides microfluidic sample processing systems and devices comprising a plurality chambers and channels in fluidic communication with a sample loading port, and methods of making and employing such systems and devices. Preferably, the systems and devices of the present invention are configured such that temperature changes in the chambers allows liquid sample in the sample loading port to be drawn into the channels.

Abstract: Asphalt-sampling apparatus (10) comprises a sample tray (12); a pair of spaced-apart holes (14) that are proximal to each of respective sides (16) of the sample tray (12); a pair of handles (20), comprising a pair of cable-portions (22), that are looped through respective pairs of the holes (14); a pair of snaps (28), that each include a swivel (30), that are snapped onto respective ones of the handles (20); a pair of lifting cables (26) that are attached to respective ones of the snaps (28); a locating cable (32) that is attached to both of the lifting cables (26); and a plurality of swivels (34) that are interspersed into the locating cable (32).

Abstract: An in vitro testing process for simulating conditions of a stomach, comprising, in combination: providing an intragastric device to an acetone bath; inducing swelling of the intragastric device; exacerbating weak spots in the intragastric device; observing the results; and estimating the results of an in vivo study. Improvements to an intragastric space filler to reduce failure at a balloon to shaft area including an adhesive fillet, washers, a balloon cuff and collar, a molded in balloon fillet, and a one-piece molded balloon assembly.

Abstract: A test fixture for use with a Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer (DMA) restrains a hollow cylindrical tube for purposes of performing either a tensile or transverse/bending load test. The fixture includes a clamp that is configured to restrain the tube without imparting a preload or changing a mechanical property of the tube.

Abstract: Disclosed is a rack bush and a rack pinion type steering apparatus having the rack bush for a vehicle, which can smoothly support a load in an axial direction and a vertical direction of a rack bar so that it is possible to reduce abnormal abrasion of the rack bush, reduce a rattle noise caused by external force transferred through the rack bar during movement of the rack bar, and prevent damage to the rack bar and a pinion through distribution of the load due to an external impact on the shaft.

Abstract: A transmission includes an input member, an output member, first and second interconnecting members, first and second countershaft members, a plurality of co-planar gear sets, and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. The torque transmitting devices include a plurality of synchronizer assemblies and a dual clutch assembly. The transmission is operable to provide at least one reverse speed ratio and a plurality of forward speed ratios between the input member and the output member.

Abstract: A transmission includes an input member, an output member, first and second shafts, first and second countershafts, a plurality of co-planar gear sets, and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. The torque transmitting devices include a plurality of synchronizer assemblies and a dual clutch assembly. The transmission is operable to provide at least one reverse speed ratio and a plurality of forward speed ratios between the input member and the output member.

Abstract: Disclosed is a gear-driven assembly of transmission gear shifting. The gear-driven assembly comprises: a plurality of driven bevel gears engaging with the driving bevel gears of the gear-driving assembly, respectively; a driven shaft formed with at least one slit in an outer peripheral surface thereof in a longitudinal direction thereof, and having at least one ratchet installation section along an extension line of the slit; a sliding member inserted into the slit to slide to the ratchet installation section in a longitudinal direction of the ratchet installation section; and a plurality of ratchets installed between the ratchet installation section of the driven shaft and a coupling groove of the driven bevel gear such that the ratchets have elastic restoring force, in which the ratchets entirely or partially engage with the coupling groove by performing rotation as the ratchets make contact with the sliding member.

Abstract: A transmission includes an input member, an output member, first and second shafts, a countershaft, a plurality of co-planar gear sets, and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. The torque transmitting devices include a plurality of synchronizer assemblies and a dual clutch assembly. The transmission is operable to provide at least one reverse speed ratio and a plurality of forward speed ratios between the input member and the output member.

Abstract: A transmission connectable to an input member and has an output member, first and second shafts, first and second countershafts, a plurality of co-planar gear sets, and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. The torque transmitting devices include a plurality of synchronizer assemblies and a dual clutch assembly. The transmission is operable to provide at least one reverse speed ratio and a plurality of forward speed ratios between the input member and the output member.

Abstract: A ball nut of a ball screw drive, in which the ball nut is mounted on a threaded spindle via balls. The ball nut has on its inner circumference a ball groove wound helically around an axis that extends over at least one winding, and a deflection body, with deflection ends, arranged on a circumferential face of the ball nut. The deflection ends engage into a recess of the ball nut, and adjoin an end and a start of the ball groove. The deflection body is supported on one side in radial directions and on the other side on a machine part. The deflection body is connected at its axial ends to bearings for mounting on the machine part. The bearings, which project circumferentially, engage into the recesses of the ball nut and are arranged with their bearing faces approximately flush with the outer circumferential face of the ball nut.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a sequential transmission of a vehicle is provided comprising a control motor that drives a selector drum for shifting gears wherein the apparatus measures torque applied to or position of the selector drum and controls the control motor to engage the gears, to accommodate for wear and transient gear interference or jamming.

Abstract: A shift cable assembly in one implementation may include a conduit, a core received within the conduit, a rod coupled to an end of the core, a slide tube in which the rod is received, and a multi-directional connector. The connector may have a housing coupled to the rod, a first surface with a first opening, a second surface with a second opening, and a cavity communicated between the first and second openings. The cavity is adapted to receive a component through either one of the first and second openings, and a fastener extends into the cavity between the first and second openings to engage a component received in the cavity and retain the component relative to the housing.

Abstract: A brake booster for a motor vehicle brake system of the “brake-by-wire” type, which can be activated, on the one hand, by a brake pedal and, on the other hand, as a function of a driver's request, as well as independently of the driver's will by an electronic control unit, wherein the coupling of the brake pedal to an input element of the brake booster is embodied by a piston rod head provided with longitudinal guide openings, in such a way that a limited relative movement of the brake pedal is possible with respect to the input element, as a result of which, in particular in the “brake-by-wire” operating mode, decoupling of the force-transmitting connection between the brake pedal and the input element is ensured. The piston rod head is embodied as a U-shaped bent part which engages around the brake pedal.

Abstract: A steering wheel of a vehicle includes a steering wheel main body. The steering wheel main body includes a rim part, a boss part, a core metal, and a resin layer. The core metal includes a ring part and an offset part such that a distance from a center of the boss part to the offset part is smaller than a distance from the center of the boss part to the ring part. The resin layer includes a ring part resin layer covering the ring part, and an offset part resin layer covering the offset part. A thickness of the offset part resin layer at an outer side of a radial direction with respect to the offset part is thicker than a thickness of the ring part resin layer at the outer side of the radial direction with respect to the ring part. The resin layer is a complete circle.

Abstract: A crank transmission mechanism includes a crank unit having a rail portion connected to an end thereof and a guide member is connected with a shaft which is connected with a disk. The rail portion is movably engaged with the guide member. A transmission unit is connected between the crank unit and the disk, the rail portion and the guide member are connected to the transmission unit. The transmission unit is adjusted according to the relative position between the rail portion of the crank unit and the guide member. The crank transmission mechanism is compact and the torque can be adjusted by slowly adjusting the length of the crank unit. The crank transmission mechanism can be used to bicycles, tricycles and elliptical exercising machine.