Abstract: An example radio frequency (RF) charging pad includes: at least one processor for monitoring an amount of energy that is transferred from the RF charging pad to an RF receiver of an electronic device. The pad also includes: one or more transmitting antenna elements that are in communication with the processor for transmitting RF signals to the RF receiver. In some embodiments, each respective transmitting antenna element includes: (i) a conductive line forming a meandered line pattern; (ii) a first terminal of the conductive line for receiving current at a frequency controlled by the processor; and (iii) a second terminal coupled with a component that allows for modifying an impedance value at the second terminal. In some embodiments, the processor adaptively adjusts the frequency and/or the impedance value to optimize the amount of energy that is transferred from the one or more transmitting antenna elements to the RF receiver.

Abstract: An example radio frequency (RF) charging pad includes: at least one processor for monitoring an amount of energy that is transferred from the RF charging pad to an RF receiver of an electronic device. The pad also includes: one or more transmitting antenna elements that are in communication with the processor for transmitting RF signals to the RF receiver. In some embodiments, each respective transmitting antenna element includes: (i) a conductive line forming a meandered line pattern; (ii) a first terminal of the conductive line for receiving current at one or more frequencies controlled by the processor; and (iii) one or more adaptive load terminals coupled with a plurality of respective components that allows for modifying an impedance value at each of the adaptive load terminals. In some embodiments, the processor adaptively adjusts the frequency and/or the impedance value to optimize the amount of energy that is transferred from the one or more transmitting antenna elements to the RF receiver.

Abstract: A filter unit which is detachably mounted on a liquid ejecting apparatus including a liquid ejecting section which ejects liquid, the filter unit including a filter which filters the liquid; and a storage medium which stores information on the filter.

Abstract: In a method for evaluating degradation of a potentiometer, a plurality of evaluation items, from minor to major, are established as evaluation items for degradation in performance prior to failure of a potentiometer. The degradation of the potentiometer in performance of the plurality of evaluation items is evaluated in terms of stages, in a specific sequence.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for characterizing a replica tape which has been embossed, compressed or cast on a surface of a material to be measured to replicate that surface. The replica tape is secured between first and second holding components such that a compressible surface of the replica tape is secured against the first holding component. A light source transmits light through the second holding component, the replica tape and the first holding component. An image sensor measures intensity of the light respectively transmitted through at least two measurement points of the compressible surface of the replica tape. A processing unit converts the measured light intensity transmitted through the at least two measurement points into at least two data values each respectively relating to a measurement statistic of the replica tape at a corresponding one of the at least two measurement points, respectively.

Abstract: A measuring system for a down conductor of a wind turbine blade includes a measuring cable connected in series with its first end to the down conductor. A second end of the measuring cable is accessible for measurement of the electrical resistance in a lower base part of the blade.

Abstract: Measurement devices, systems, and methods to measure a high field conductivity of a fluid are provided herein. The measurement device includes a fluid cell, a pair of electrodes, a voltage switch, and a measurement unit. The fluid cell is on an inclined plane to receive the fluid. The pair of electrodes are connected to the fluid cell. The pair of electrodes are spaced apart from one another to receive the fluid therebetween and positioned parallel to one another to pass an electrical current therethrough. The power unit provides a high voltage power supply to one electrode of the pair of electrodes. The measurement unit measures the electrical current that passes between the pair of electrodes through the fluid.

Abstract: A product is provided into a first end of a conduit so that the product flows toward a second end of the conduit. The conduit may include a first pair of probes attached at a first location and a second pair of probes at a second location. The product's conductivity in the conduit at the first location is monitored using the first set of probes, and the product's conductivity at the second location is monitored using the second set of probes. An marker material is introduced into an entry port of the conduit so that the marker material flows with the product. The marker material's conductivity is different than the product's conductivity. At a first time, the first set of probes detects the conductivity of the product has changed due to the introduction of the marker material, and at a second time, the second set of probes also detects such change.

Abstract: A motor may include a rotor having a rotation shaft made of metal and a cylindrical permanent magnet fixed to the rotation shaft, and a stator facing a peripheral face of the permanent magnet and is electrically insulated from the rotation shaft. The peripheral face of the permanent magnet facing the stator and the rotation shaft are electrically connected with each other.

Abstract: A conductivity counter and method of determining conductivity of a fluid sample are disclosed. The counter is suitable for high-speed, accurate counting of discrete events or items, such as cancer cells, passing through a fluid sample cell. A variable frequency current source is used to supply an excitation current to a sample cell connected in parallel with an inductance or the electrical equivalence of an inductance. This configuration can be accurately modeled as a parallel RLC circuit when the system is operated at a stable frequency. The current source frequency is tuned to the resonance frequency of the equivalent RLC circuit, which effectively eliminates the capacitive and inductive components of the impedance, leaving only purely resistive components. The output signal is due to perturbations in the fluid sample, such as passing cancer cells.

Abstract: An interrogation circuit for a nanowire sensor array and a method for interrogating a nanowire sensor array are provided. The circuit comprises a switch array connected to the nanowire sensor array for selectively connecting first ends of nanowire sensors of the nanowire sensor array to a reference voltage; an integration amplifier (IA) connected to second ends of the nanowire sensors at a first input of the IA and to the reference voltage at a second input of the IA, for generating an oscillating output signal clamped between first and second voltage values; wherein the switch array is further arranged for switching one of the nanowire sensors to be connected in a closed loop with the IA such that a current through said one nanowire sensor periodically charges and discharges an integration capacitor of the IA for determining a resistance of said one nanowire sensor from a frequency of the periodic charging and discharging.

Abstract: A particle detector includes: a conductive nanolayer; insulating nanolayers attached to both sides of the conductive nanolayer; a nanopore formed to penetrate the conductive nanolayer and the insulating nanolayers so as to provide a migration path for a sample particle; a power supply unit configured to apply an electric field between both ends of the nanopore so as to apply a potential to the conductive nanolayer; and an electric signal measuring unit electrically connected to the conductive nanolayer and configured to measure the potential change in the conductive nanolayer induced by the sample particle as the sample particle migrates through the nanopore. The particle detector is capable of detecting a particle with high signal-to-noise ratio and resolution, scanning a sample without mechanical motion of the conductive nanolayer and analyzing DNA base sequences.

Abstract: The invention provides a fluid measuring apparatus, which includes a collector, a sensing circuit, and an electrochromic device electrically connected to the sensing circuit. When the concentration of a fluid flowing through the collector and between the sensing circuit varies, the color of the electrochromic device changes accordingly. Further, the electrochromic device includes an electrochromic material, and the sensing circuit includes a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein the first and the second electrodes are disposed in the collector and the electrochromic material is disposed on the first electrode. When the concentration of an electrolytic solution flowing between the first electrode and the second electrode varies, the color of the electrochromic material changes accordingly.

Abstract: Disclosed is an arrangement for quickly measuring the phase distribution or the component distribution in a flow cross section for substance mixtures also of a non-conducting type by measuring the complex electrical admittance. Said arrangement essentially features the following: at least one sine wave generator (5) which is mounted upstream from the transmitter electrodes (3a) of the excitation level and applies an alternating voltage to the transmitter electrodes (3a); current-to-voltage converters (7) which are mounted downstream from the receiver electrodes (3b), amplify the alternating current that flows from at least one excitation electrode (3a) through the medium to the receiver electrodes (3b), and convert said alternating current into a voltage signal; filter groups (10, 11, 16) and vector voltmeters (8) which are mounted downstream from the current-to-voltage converters (7) and allow the complex signal ratio Ua/Ue to be metrologically detected.

Abstract: A circuit for controlling a voltage across a device and permitting measurement of a current through the device includes a sense impedance in series combination with, the device, a sensed voltage measured across the sense impedance being representative of the current through the device; a capacitive stability element in parallel combination with the sense resistance, the capacitive stability element being virtually absent by connection to a virtual version of the sensed voltage when the device has a first capacitance and being present when the device has a second capacitance, the second capacitance being larger than the first capacitance.

Abstract: The present invention includes the use of conducting polymers as sensors in distributed sensing systems, as sensors and operating elements in multifunctional devices, and for conducting-polymer based multifunctional sensing fabrics suitable for monitoring humidity, breath, heart rate, blood (location of wounds), blood pressure, skin temperature, weight and movement, in a wearable, electronic embedded sensor system, as examples. A fabric comprising conducting polyaniline fibers that can be used to distribute energy for resistive heating as well as for sensing the fabric temperature is described as an example of a multifunctional sensing fabric.

Abstract: A detecting apparatus for checking shape, size and/or position of a hole of a workpiece, includes a platform for supporting the workpiece, a detecting board, which includes a detecting unit, movably set above the platform, an electrical source, a processor, and an indicator. The source, the unit, and the workpiece make up a circuit connected to the processor. When the board is moved to the workpiece, and the unit enters the hole without touching the workpiece the circuit will remain open, and the processor will control the indicator to indicate that the hole is eligible. If the detecting unit touches the workpiece, the circuit closes, and the processor will control the indicator to indicate that the hole is ineligible. An end of the unit that enters the hole is radially deformable. The apparatus improves detecting efficiency and accuracy, and is suitable for use in mass production.

Abstract: The invention provides a fluid measuring apparatus, which includes a collector, a sensing circuit, and an electrochromic device electrically connected to the sensing circuit. When the concentration of a fluid flowing through the collector and between the sensing circuit varies, the color of the electrochromic device changes accordingly. Further, the electrochromic device includes an electrochromic material, and the sensing circuit includes a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein the first and the second electrodes are disposed in the collector and the electrochromic material is disposed on the first electrode. When the concentration of an electrolytic solution flowing between the first electrode and the second electrode varies, the color of the electrochromic material changes accordingly.

Abstract: A dialysate testing method in one embodiment includes placing electrical contacts in a dialysate flow path, measuring an electrical property of the dialysate as it flows through the flow path and past the contacts, and determining whether the dialysate has been mixed properly from the detected electrical property. A dialysate testing method in another embodiment includes flowing dialysate past a pair of electrical contacts, calculating a conductivity of the dialysate using an algorithm that takes into account a geometry of the contacts, and using the calculated conductivity to determine if the dialysate has been removed properly.

Abstract: An improved flow-through conductivity sensor is provided. The sensor includes a current return path that has a current return conductor. At least one toroid of the sensor is removed from the flow path and configured to interact with the current return conductor to provide an indication of conductivity. Additional aspects of the invention include disposing a pair of toroids about the current return conductor; disposing a toroid about the current return conductor and configuring the toroid as a transformer.

Abstract: Method of minimizing the gap between a wheel and a casing of a turbine, a turbine, and a method of determining the wear behavior of a wheel of a rotor. To minimize the gap between a wheel and a casing in a turbine, optical methods are also often used in order to minimize the gap. However, this is very expensive. The method according to the invention proposes that the wheel and the casing (be part of an electric circuit, so that an electrical parameter, such as resistance for example, can be measured, the value of which shows whether a contact is present.

Abstract: A semiconductor component includes a substrate, bonding pads on the substrate, and external contacts bonded to the bonding pads. Exemplary external contacts include solder balls, solder bumps, solder columns, TAB bumps and stud bumps. Preferably the external contacts are arranged in a dense array, such as a ball grid array (BGA), or fine ball grid array (FBGA). The component also includes a polymer support member configured to strengthen the external contacts, absorb forces applied to the external contacts, and prevent separation of the external contacts from the bonding pads. In a first embodiment, the polymer support member comprises a cured polymer layer on the substrate, which encompasses the base portions of the external contacts. In a second embodiment, the polymer support member comprises support rings which encompass the base portions of the external contacts.

Abstract: A nanomechanical actuator/oscillator device and system are provided. The nanomechanical actuator/oscillator device comprising nanobimorphs, such as nanotubes, designed such that inducing a difference in charge density between the tubes (e.g. by biasing one tube positive with respect to the other with sufficient tube-to-tube contact resistance) induces lateral movement in the end of the bimorph, forming a nanoscale resonator, as well as a force sensor when operated in an inverse mode. A method of producing a novel nanobimorph structure with integrated electrodes is also provided.

Abstract: A device for measuring a clearance between tips of blades of a ring of blades and an interior wall of a casing surrounding the ring of blades in a turbomachine includes a probe which is mounted radially on the casing. The probe has an end made of a material that can be abraded by the tips of blades as they rotate. The device also includes a printed circuit arranged in a mid-plane of the probe. The probe contains an axis of rotation of the ring of blades. Further, the printed circuit includes a number of adjacent U-shaped electrical circuits that have bases arranged in a probe end likely to be abraded by the tips of blades. The bases lie at different depths from a reference level defining the interior wall of casing. The printed circuit also includes a recognizer for determining which U-shaped electrical circuits have been broken by abrasion and which U-shaped electrical circuits are intact.

Abstract: A hand truck like frame has a pair of wheels, each of which is coated with an electrically conductive material so that in a selected operating mode the wheels define electrodes. A separate pair of electrodes is mounted to the frame and the electrodes and the wheels are electrically connected through switching circuits to an ohmmeter. The ESD potential between the electrodes and/or the wheels may be measured in several selected modes for point to point, point to ground and point to bench top measurements.

Abstract: A sheet media position sensor device is disclosed which incorporates a pair of opposed nipped rollers positioned laterally across a sheet media transport path. One roller is electrically conductive while the opposed roller has an electrically conductive resilient coating. The coated roller is insulated at its mid point to divide the coating on the roller into two halves. A DC voltage is applied to the electrical conductive roller with current passing equally through each half of the adjacent coated roller. As sheet media is passed along the transport path and between the two nipped rollers, the sheet media acts as an insulator to reduce the actual contact area and therefore, the current flow between the conductive roller and the coated halves of the nipped roller. This reduced current flow is directly proportionate to the remaining contact area for each half of the roller which specifically identifies the lateral position of the sheet media.

Abstract: A method for characterizing a bearing cartridge based on a preload applied to the bearing cartridge used in a disc drive, to increase disc drive yield rates. The method begins by loading the bearing cartridge on to a test fixture and to an actuator assembly such that the actuator is rotatably attached to the base by the bearing cartridge. Then, the method includes inducing a steady swing in the actuator. Then, the method includes measuring a voltage drop that occurs across the bearing cartridge during the steady swing to characterize the preload applied to the bearing cartridge.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system to detect conductive contaminants interspersed within unconsolidated materials. By using the system described herein, voluminous amounts of unconsolidated materials such as soils, waste streams, hay, and similar non-conductive materials may be processed such that conductive contaminants, namely metal objects, may be identified and removed from the processed material. In general, the present invention utilizes the conductive property of these contaminants to alert the system such that the contaminant may be removed. By passing the unconsolidated materials across an arrangement of different contacts placed in close proximity, metal or similar conductive contaminants will complete an electrical circuit that signals a sensor within the circuit and initiates a partial shut down procedure.

Abstract: A device for sensing moisture in moving hay bales has a pair of star-shaped wheels situated to have points penetrate into the bale and be driven by the bale. The points establish electrode surfaces within the bale between which resistivity or conductivity of an electrical current may be measured and scaled to moisture content of the hay of the bale.

Abstract: A particle signal processing apparatus which processes a particle signal representative of characteristics of particles includes an amplifier having input and output terminals for amplifying a particle signal including serial pulses to output an output signal including the amplified serial pulses, a filter section for extracting a low frequency component from the output signal of the amplifier so that the extracted component is fed back into the input terminal as a negative feedback signal, and a feedback signal control section for allowing the filter section to fix the negative feedback signal when each of the amplified pulses rises and to hold the fixed negative feedback signal while the amplified pulse is larger than a threshold value.

Abstract: The invention involves a method for locating the probe of a scanning tunneling micrograph a predetermined distance from its conducting surface, and specifically the deposition of a monolayer of fullerene C60 onto the conducting plate. The Fullerene C60 molecule is approximately spherical, and a monolayer of fullerene has a thickness of one nanometer. By providing a monolayer of fullerene on the conducting surface and locating the probe on the surface of the monolayer, a distance of one nanometer can be established between the probe tip and the conducting surface.

Abstract: Measurement of a mechanical characteristic of a long metallic product. The long product is passed through at least one turn of an electromagnetic coil energized with a variable current, the impedance of the electromagnetic coil is measured continuously and the mechanical characteristic of the long product or variations therein are determined by comparing the measured impedance with at least one predetermined impedance value. The method can be used in particular to regulate the production of hyperquenched austenitic steel spring wire containing martensite (.alpha.') by drawing the wire through successive dies. The impedance of the coil through which the wire passes when it leaves the die is measured in order to regulate at least one of the following parameters: the temperature of the die and the wire and the wire speed.

Abstract: A process provides for measuring particles in suspension in a liquid in an particle response analyzing instrument comprising a cytometric flow cell head, wherein the suspension is injected into the head at an injection rate, the head comprises one or several sensors which deliver responses when measuring particles injected therein and which yield a significant response for a set measurement frequency range. The response is processed and used to generate results in the instrument. When a first response is significant, measurements continue at the same injection rate in order to obtain a result thats likely to continue being a significant response during subsequent measurements and, conversely, when the first response is not significant, the injection rate is modified in order to bring the response within a significant response range and to continue with measurements in order to obtain a result.

Abstract: An orientation sensor especially suitable for use in an underground device is disclosed herein. This orientation sensor includes a sensor housing defining a closed internal chamber, an arrangement of electrically conductive members in a predetermined positional relationship to one another within in the chamber and a flowable material contained within the housing chamber and through which electrical connections between the electrically conductive members are made such that a comparison between an electrical property, specifically voltage, of a first combination of conductive members to the corresponding electrical property of a second combination of conductive members can be used to determine a particular orientation parameter, specifically pitch or roll of the sensor.

Abstract: Apparatus for abrasive blasting of the bottom of a ship in a drydock includes a blast head mounted on a vertically swinging boom on a vehicle. The blast head has freedom of movement about two pivot axes which are not parallel to each other. One of the pivot axes is coincident with the longitudinal axis of the boom. The center of gravity of the blast head is below the pivot axes when the blast opening normally faces upwardly. The boom and blast head are raised by double acting hydraulic cylinders which hold the blast head against the ship with a constant force. The blast head has a side edge which extends laterally at least to the side edge of the vehicle to facilitate blasting adjacent to obstacles under the hull. An overhung load adapter connects the blast wheel to its motor to minimize radial loads on the blast wheel motor. In the blast head, a stream of blasting material falling toward a main hopper is subjected to a transverse air stream which laterally deflects lighter particles into a debris channel.

Abstract: A process for controlling the weldability of a sheet (1) of the composite metal sheet type having a layer (7) which is interposed between two metal facing sheets (3,5) and comprises a polymer (8) having a filler of conductive particles (9). This process comprises measuring by means of a signal of given frequency f applied to two electrodes (11,13) disposed in facing relation to each other, each electrode being in contact with a corresponding metal facing sheet (3,5), the voltage/current phaseshift .phi. due to the resistive and capacitive properties of the composite sheet (1). The response of the composite sheet (1) to this signal corresponds to that of an equivalent parallel RC circuit. Thereafter, the mass fraction of the conductive particles (9) is calculated from the value of .phi.. By comparing the determined mass fraction with prefixed thresholds, the weldability and the vibration-damping capacity of the composite sheet (1) are evaluated.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring moisture content and bulk flow rate of cotton and other bulk materials, such as wool or wood chips, while they are being transported on a belt conveyor. The apparatus comprises resistance-sensing electrode fingers pendulously mounted over the conveyor, the movement of the resistance-sensing fingers being halted in their downward arcuate path by the sensed material. The weight of the electrode assembly presses the fingers against the material with uniform pressure. The angular displacement of the fingers about an axis of suspension is used as a measure of bulk flow rate.

Abstract: Methods of measuring, adjusting and uniformalizing a sectional area ratio of a metal-covered electric wire, a method of cleaning an electric wire, a method of manufacturing a metal-covered electric wire, an apparatus for measuring a sectional area ratio of a metal-covered electric wire, and an apparatus for electropolishing a metal-covered electric wire.Electric resistance values of first and second materials are previously stored respectively so that a sectional area ratio of a metal-covered electric wire is calculated on the basis of the as-stored values and an actually measured electric resistance value of the metal-covered electric wire. Measurement and uniformalization of a sectional area ratio of a metal-covered electric wire and cleaning of an electric wire are carried out by dissolving surface layer parts of the electric wires by electropolishing.

Abstract: The apparatus and method of the present invention relate to a novel procedure for measuring the interfacial thinning that occurs during a droplet-liquid phase coalescence event. As an example, an aqueous drop is grown at the tip of a capillary submerged into an oil phase which is layered on top of a second aqueous phase. A capillary, which is made of stainless steel, serves as one electrode while a second electrode is immersed into the second aqueous phase beneath the capillary. The oil-aqueous interface is raised to the level of the droplet until the droplet is deformed. This deformation serves as a driving force to produce thinning of the protecting interfacial film who's drainage properties govern the eventual coalescence of the water droplet into the aqueous phase.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for processing materials by sensing roller, in which the sensing roller has a plurality of conductive rings (electrodes) separated by rings of dielectric material. Sensing capacitances or impedances between the electrodes provides information on thicknesses of the materials being processed, location of wires therein, and other like characteristics of the materials.

Abstract: A tester is provided for measuring the dielectric integrity of a rope, on a continuous basis. The device incorporates a pair of rope contact and retention members, that may comprise pair of spring-loaded clamps, adapted to make electrical contact with the rope, while permitting the rope to be drawn longitudinally through the device. The contact or retention members may either be adapted to make a sliding contact with the rope or may employ wheels or roller members to facilitate the movement of the rope through the device. The contact members are linked to an electrical testing circuit for measuring the conductivity of the rope segment under test. The contact and retention members may also comprise an iris having an array of flexible leaves extending inwardly from an annular retainer, with the leaves being linked to the testing circuit and adapted to press against a rope inserted within the retainer. Some or all of the leaves are connected to the testing circuit.

Abstract: A detector for continuously monitoring the integrity of a coating on a piece of material. The detector includes an upper bar and a lower bar held near the surfaces of the material. Each bar carries multiple conductive probes in contact with the corresponding surface and electrically connected to an electronic detection circuit. Adjacent probes are connected to electric terminals having different voltage potentials. When probes from the same bar carrying different voltages short together, such as by contacting the surface of conductive sheet material, the detection circuit signals an insufficiently coated area has been found. The short between probes must be large enough to cause a short for more than a predetermined time. The upper probe bar is rotatable to prevent damage to the upper probes by a bent edge on a sheet of material.

Abstract: An automatic paper feeding apparatus is designed to separate and feed originals by means of a separation pad and a feeding roller. A pressure sensitive conductive rubber is used for the separation pad to convert a change in thickness of an original into an electrical signal, thereby detecting a conveyed state, e.g., a multiple paper-conveying error, of the original.

Abstract: It is an object of this invention to allow detection of multiple paper-conveying of an original sheet in image reading or forming operation and facilitate a recovery operation. An automatic original feeding apparatus of this invention uses pressure sensitive conductive rubber in a feeding roller, and changes in length and thickness of a sheet are changed into electrical signals, so that the conveyed state such as multiple paper-conveying of the sheet can be detected.

Abstract: A rotatable capacitance sensor preferably constructed of a generally cylindrical body mounted on bearings to a carriage assembly. The body has a number of parallel, spaced apart conductive plates having edges extending through the exterior body surface, and alternate ones of the plates are connected via a bearing to a conductor in one part of the carriage assembly, and the remaining ones of the plates are connected via a bearing to a second conductor in another part of the carriage assembly.

Abstract: A rotatable capacitance sensor for detecting film thickness of a moving film web, the rotatable sensor having a capacitive element arranged to contact the moving web film, the capacitive element electrically connected to projecting shaft ends of the rotatable sensor, resilient conductors urged against the respective shaft ends, and an electrical shield overlaying the resilient conductors and the rotatable shaft, to electrically isolate shaft wobble from the surrounding housing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for carrying out the checking of the state of wear of a covering fabric in a driving belt (2) mounted on a plurality of pulleys (3, 4, 5) by measuring the electric resistance variations of the belt fabric. The apparatus provides that at least two of the pulleys (3, 4, 5) should be electrically insulated with respect to each other and connected to an electric circuit (20) designed to apply an electric voltage to said pulleys in order to carry out the measuring of the electric resistance of the fabric exhibited by belt stretches (A, B) comprised between the pulleys themselves. The electric resistance thus found lends itself to be compared with predetermined resistance values corresponding to different states of wear of the belt (2) fabric. The work surface of the belt (2) is coated with an electrically conductive fabric (12) acting by contact on the pulleys (3, 4, 5) and having characteristics of tensile strength.

Abstract: A rotatable capacitance sensor preferably constructed of a generally cylindrical body mounted on bearings to a carriage assembly. The body has a number of parallel, spaced apart conductive plates having edges extending through the exterior body surface, and alternate ones of the plates are connected via a bearing to a conductor in one part of the carriage assembly, and the remaining ones of the plates are connected via a bearing to a second conductor in another part of the carriage assembly.

Abstract: A system for testing the properties of a material used in sealing gaps between aircraft panels. The system includes a first device having a pair of interior plates positionable on opposite sides of a first specimen, a pair of intermediate plates located on the sides of the interior plates remote from the first specimen, a pair of exterior plates located on the sides of the intermediate plates remote from the specimen, drive shafts coupled to the exterior plates, a first mechanism connected to the drive shafts for imparting motion thereto, and a first electrical device connected to the interior plates for testing the properties of the first specimen during the operation of the first mechanism.

Abstract: The invention measures the resistance across a conductive fiber attached to a substrate place under a compressive load to determine the amount of compression needed to cause the fiber to fail.