Abstract: An electro-mechanical orientation system for conveyed articles having a distinguishable top and bottom such as a rail tie plate or the like is disclosed comprising a sensor frame having a transverse pivot axis, a plurality of elongate sensor fingers pivotable about that axis and subject to a biasing force, a plurality of notched beam interceptors, one mounted to each sensor finger, a corresponding plurality of opto switches and a logic circuit, whereby the frame is oriented in relation to a conveyor surface so that the sensor fingers intercept and are triggered by the conveyed article. The pattern of triggered sensor fingers is transmitted through the beam interceptors and opto switches to the logic means, from where it may be used to trigger a conveyed article reorientation device.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for gauging the amount of warpage in a composite panel is disclosed. The apparatus is used to measure the gaps between a cured composite panel (12) and the mold (10) upon which the panel was formed. The gaps are indicative of warpage in the panel. The apparatus includes inelastically deformable gauging strips (20) that are placed at selected locations on the mold. Also included is a mechanism (22,42,44) for accuraely positioning the panel adjacent to the mold after the strips are in place so that the panel contacts and partially crushes the strips. After the panel is removed, the thickness of each crushed gauging strip is measured at numerous points along its length. Variations in the thickness of the strip indicate the presence of gaps between the mold and panel, hence warpage in the panel.

Abstract: A device for measuring the profile shape of workpieces having cylindrical surfaces comprises a sensing device and a electronic evaluation circuit connected to the sensing device. During the measurement there is relative displacement between the workpiece and the sensing device. For the simultaneous measurement of a plurality of offset cylindrical surfaces of the workpiece, the sensing device is provided with a corresponding plurality of measuring sensors which are angularly offset from one another, viewed in the direction of rotational measurement, and which are adjustable in the axial and radial directions independently of each other. An angular step transmitter is provided to supply angular step signals for the trains of tracking signals from the measuring sensors and to generate a reference angle signal.

Abstract: A mechanical averaging gauge for averaging displacements at a plurality of locations along the surface of an object. The gauge includes a measuring unit which is urged into contact with the surface of the object. Several probes extend from the measuring unit and rest on the surface of the object. The probes are interconnected by means of cylindrical sliding members in contact with the rear of each of the probes. Trapezoidal sliding members are disposed between the cylindrical members so that the displacement of the measuring unit from a reference surface is the average of the various displacements of the individual probes. The arrangement also results in each probe contacting the surface of the object with substantially equal force. Therefore, the arrangement has application as a clamping device.

Abstract: An invention is disclosed for positioning an object wherein three point supports provide three contact points which define a first plane. Three additional point supports provide three additional contact points which are not coplanar with the first plane and which define a second plane. The first and second planes are nonperpendicular. The point supports accurately and repeatably position the object for optical measurement of a dimension of the object. The invention can be used in connection with the quality control testing of weldments which attach blade tips to gas turbine engine blades.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for verifying that the various dimensions and shape of the jacket for a floppy disk are correct and within predetermined tolerance ranges. The apparatus of the present invention includes instruments for determining the warpage of the jacket, the parallelism between a pair of primary fold lines of the jacket, the squareness between the first fold line of the jacket and each of the primary fold lines of the jacket, the distance from the central line of the jacket to each of the primary fold lines thereof, the width and depth of a write-enable slot and the distance of the slot to the first fold line of the jacket, the squareness of all four sides of the jacket with reference to each other, and the thickness of the regions of the primary and final fold lines.

Abstract: A quarter chord angle gage having a base with several gage points therein to engage the vane near its leading or trailing edge, the base being rotary to bring the points into contact with the vane, and the base carrying a cam to indicate the position of the base when the gage points are all in contact with the vane. Suitable electrical means sense this point contact and record the portion of the cam and thus the quarter chord angle.

Abstract: An apparatus for verifying the acceptability of the curvature of kinescope shadow mask after such masks are welded to the support frame includes a fixed member having a surface curved to conform to the curvature of the shadow mask. Sensors are embedded in the curved surface and engage a shadow mask placed on the fixed member. A movable support frame includes support members which support the shadow mask frame above the fixed member while the mask is welded to the shadow mask frame. The sensors also are movable along with the movable support frame. After the welding is completed the support frame is raised to remove the mask from the surface of the fixed member. The sensors are biased and remain in engagement with the shadow mask whereby the sensor readings verify that objectionable deformation of the shadow mask did not occur during the welding operation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sensing apparatus for sensing the displacement of a movable object relative to its ideal vertical path of travel. The apparatus includes two elongate reference wires extending parallel to the ideal vertical path of travel of the object. The apparatus further includes two sensing devices mounted for movement with the object. Each of the sensing devices is normally positioned a predetermined distance from a respective one of the reference wires such that engagement of the reference wire by the sensing device indicates that the object has been displaced about or from its expected predetermined path of travel.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a chassis adapted for travel along a railroad rail with the chassis having a plurality of bearing points located between the chassis and the rail for supporting the chassis on the rail and for allowing movement of the chassis over the rail. The bearing points are aligned along a reference line and are at least variably spaced on opposite sides of a sensing point mounted on the chassis. At least one bearing point on each side of the sensing point contacts the rail surface as the chassis moves over the rail. A sensing device is provided at the sensing point for continuously sensing the distance between the reference line and the surface of the rail as the chassis travels along the rail. The sensing device has an output which is a function of the sensed distance between the reference line and the rail surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining the charging profile on the charging surface of a shaft furnace is presented. The apparatus consists of a plurality of level probes, each probe including a weight which is suspended vertically above the charging surface on the first end of a cable which projects from a supporting arm. The second end of each of these cables, in turn, is connected outside the furnace to respective winding drums, each drum being controlled by a driving device which raises or lowers the probe connected to the drum. This invention also consists of a monitoring device for measuring the unwinding of the cable from the drum and the descent of the probe onto the charging surface as well as a method of replacing an individual probe and its cable from outside the shaft furnace.

Abstract: The elevator type gage assembly has a plurality of vertically spaced support members, that can be secured to an associated gage, each of which has a gage template operatively positioned therein and wherein a vertically extending support rod is secured to and extends between a pair of the support members and it has an indicator sleeve bracket rotatably and vertically slidably engaged therewith which bracket has a portion for engaging a laterally outer end of a support member to aid in adjusting the gage while an indicator is operatively secured to the indicator sleeve bracket; a contact arm is pivotally carried by the indicator sleeve bracket with an end portion for engaging a laterally outer end of a gage template and a second end portion to engage the indicator operating pin to provide a reading on the indicator of the position of the slide template in the associated gage.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for disc position centering is disclosed. The invention is adapted to precisely position the center of a disc at a predetermined position, in relation to the disc's outer diameter, when the allowable variation of the absolute value of the outer diameter is larger than the degree of centering precision required. The apparatus is adapted to determine the outer diameter of the disc using a displacement measuring device, and data provided to the system computer. The apparatus then positions the disc to the desired center position using devices which grip the disc by its outer periphery and whose relationship to the desired center position is known.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining the size of elongated objects, specifically logs. The logs (4) are floated in a water filled canal (5) and advanced past a measuring device 13 by cranes 8 or water jets. The size of the logs is determined by radiation sensitive devices (21) actuated by light sources 22 or mechanical transducers (54, 55, 56, 57). In another embodiment the log is held stationary while the measuring device is moved longitudinally past the log.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in determining the location of a surface of a solid object such as that being machined by a machine tool includes a stylus having an electrically conductive end that is supported by two support members, which are disposed in pressure contact with each other by means of a spring or other bias, one of the two support members being formed to have a spherical contact surface that is a portion of an imaginary sphere concentric with the contact electrode, the other of the two support members being formed so that upon contacting the spherical surface the area of contact is substantially line contact.

Abstract: It comprises a chassis (1) resting on at least one rail (3) by means of contact members (4, 4') connected to a vehicle (V) traversing the track. It comprises at least a detector (2) delivering an electric signal representing the distances separating a rectilinear reference space defined by the position in space of said chassis (1) and successive points on the surface of the rail line (3) traversed. The contact members of the chassis (1) with the rail (3) are constituted by two shoes (4, 4') articulated on the chassis (1) about axes (5) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rail. The extent of these shoes (4, 4') in the longitudinal direction of the rail (3) is at least equal to twice the wavelength (l) of the undulatory deformations of the rail of short wavelength, but less than the wavelength (L) of the undulatory deformations of long wavelength.

Abstract: A matrix balancing fixture that has a pair of fixedly positioned spaced cartridges positioning opposed top and bottom templates for movement towards each other for engaging a test article at spaced vertical portions thereof with the test article being in an open ended box positioned between the cartridges; the fixture having a pair of indicators having operating members slidably mounted therein positioned on upper portions of the cartridges in spaced relation in a horizontal plane and control members connecting the templates on a cartridge to the indicators on the cartridge for convenient reading thereon.