Abstract: A system for detecting imminent failure of rotatable equipment that has lost centerline control and is near catastrophic failure is housed in a linear tubular element within which is permanently potted a thin gage insulated wire protected by an optional fuse. The contact end of the wire is located immediately adjacent to a semiconductor disk and an optional abradable disk placed at close proximity to the rotatable equipment being monitored. The thin gage insulated wire return is connected between the fuse and the semiconductor disk providing an electrical return path for detection of a change in electrical continuity. The semiconductor and abradable disks between the contact wire and the rotatable equipment act as insulators from errant grounding. Loss of rotatable equipment centerline control will cause physical contact between the contact wire and rotatable equipment, breaking electrical continuity, the resulting ground path being instantly detected through the internally potted fuse.

Abstract: A sensor device is used for sensing position of a movable component. The sensor device can be applied to multiple applications. For example, proper alignment between a shifter spline and a shifter position sensor of a transmission assembly can be confirmed by applying the sensor device of the present invention to confirm alignment of the transmission shifter with a transmission shifter position sensor during transmission assembly. A rotary sensor converts angular movement to a proportional electrical output. A converter then converts the proportional electrical output to an input which can be read. The location of the movable component is then determined, and displayed.

Abstract: A remote monitoring system for determining and transmitting information indicating the status of a door movable to a plurality of positions or alternatively, an alarm system includes sensor for determining each position of a door and providing output signals indicative of each position detected, a transmitter responsive to the output signal and repetitively transmitting a broadcast signal indicative of the output signal received, a first timer operatively connected to the transmitter means for selectively controlling periodic transmission of the broadcast signal in accord with first time intervals as established by the first timer means. A receiver receives the broadcast signal and includes a second timer for periodically energizing the receiver at predetermined second time intervals as established by the second timer to allow for reception of the broadcast signal.

Abstract: A sensor detects skewed adjacent movable component. The sensor may be used to detect harmful skews of aircraft control surfaces, such as slats or flaps on aircraft wings, which may be caused by an actuator disconnection from the surface it drives. Harmful skew, which is a relative asymmetrical motion of control surfaces beyond a predetermined limit, is detected by the sensor, but the relatively smaller harmless skew caused by normal flight is ignored. The sensor comprises first and second arms connected to a common base that may be attached to a first control surface. A constraining means such as a mechanical fuse holds the arms together while a separating means such as a spring exerts a separating force on the arms when the fuse breaks. A switching means is integral to the two arms. A striker pin on a second control surface strikes the first or second sensor arm when the relative motion between the control surfaces exceeds a certain predetermined limit.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a rotational phase difference detecting system and method that is capable of very accurately detecting a rotational phase difference between a plurality of rotating bodies. There is also disclosed a machine operating-state monitoring system and method employing the rotational phase difference detecting system. The detecting system has a first rotating body (13) with a first mark (12), a second rotating body (11) with a second mark (10), a mark sensor (4) for detecting the first mark, a first camera (2) for imaging the second mark when the mark sensor detects the first mark, and a display section (7) for displaying the second mark imaged by the first camera. The rotational phase difference is detected from a position of an image of the second mark displayed on the display section and is thus detected very accurately with a simple construction comprising the mark sensor, the first camera, and the display section.

Abstract: A substrate support is provided that comprises a sensing system configured to detect when a moveable end effector is in an over clamp position. The sensing system may comprise various sensors such as an inductive sensor, a light emitter and a detector, and a pressure sensor, etc. Use of such an over clamp sensor may prevent substrate damage that results from improper substrate gripping.

Abstract: A failure detection method for a steering wheel sensor which includes a center sensor determining a position of a steering wheel center and a steering wheel angle sensor determining a steering wheel angle. A steering wheel center is first determined by the center sensor. The steering wheel angle is determined at said steering wheel center by the steering wheel sensor. A failure of the steering wheel sensor is considered to occur if no steering wheel center is determined by the center sensor when the steering wheel turns 360 degrees from the first determined steering wheel angle.

Abstract: Axial bearing wear in a motor is determined by differencing signals from special coils in the two ends of the motor stator. The signals on the two coils vary in opposite directions with axial displacement of the motor rotor. A dead zone circuit suppresses output when the axial displacement of the rotor is within the normal range of play for the rotor of the particular motor. When the axial displacement exceeds the normal range, the output actuates an indicator in relation to the magnitude of the displacement in excess of the normal range. Sequential LED indicators indicate both magnitude and direction of excess displacement. An analog meter is also disclosed which indicates only the magnitude of the excess displacement.

Abstract: The subject matter of the invention is a motor vehicle closing device with a positioning element (3) which turns around one axis of rotation (7) or which moves linearly along one lengthwise axis and which has a position which is to be ascertained, and with a position detection means (8) which works without contact and which is located on the path of motion of the positioning element (3) (or on the positioning element 3 itself). It thus lends itself to “diagnosis” by the fact that on the positioning element (3) (or on the path of movement of the positioning element 3) in the direction of its motion there are several passive position detection elements (9) in succession and that position detection takes place by counting the signals of the position detection elements (9) by the position detection means (8).

Abstract: The invention relates to a system and method for indicating a broken shear pin on a snow blower head cutter drum in a rotary snow blower. At least one shear pin connects the snow blower head cutter drum to a drive shaft on the snow blower. The indicator system utilizes a proximity sensor which is mounted on the drive box of the vehicle and focused on at least one target on the snow blower head cutter drum. As the snow blower head cutter drum rotates, the proximity sensor detects the passage of the target and resets a timer. When the shear pin breaks, the cutter drum stops rotating. Because the proximity sensor does not detect the target, the timer is not reset. When the elapsed time equals or exceeds a predetermined amount, an electrical impulse is transmitted, activating the broken shear pin indicator.

Abstract: A pedal stroke sensor a rotor that rotates with a brake pedal with a pair of brushes fixed on the rotor. The brushes are inclined oppositely to each other along rotating direction of the rotor and contact a circuit printed on a circuit board to generate output voltages V1A and V1B which increase and decrease oppositely to each other in response to the brushes sliding over the circuit board. A difference signal |V1A−V1B| is output as a signal corresponding to pedal stroke S of the brake pedal. When any kind of vibration changes the contacting positions of the brushes on the board, the output voltages V1A, V1B change in the same direction, so that, even if the contacting positions of the brushes change because of a vibration, the difference signal |V1A−V1B| does not change greatly, allowing accurate detection of the position of the brake pedal even if such vibrations occur.

Abstract: A detector for detecting a rotational angle of a gearshift lever. The detector includes a magnet that forms a magnetic flux in a predetermined direction along its surface. A magnetic resistance sensor generates a detection signal corresponding to the direction of the magnetic flux. The detected object is connected to the magnet or the magnetic resistance sensor. The magnet and the magnetic resistance sensor are rotated relatively to each other to generate the detection signal and obtain the rotational angle of the detected object. The magnetic resistance sensor is separated from an axis of rotation of the sensor or the magnet.

Abstract: A method of determining the angular position of the steering wheel of a motor vehicle using an optoelectronic steering angel sensor includes disposing a code transmitter between the light source and the line sensor. The line sensor has image points positioned along a line at equal intervals with respect to one another. The line sensor is operable for generating light signals as a function of the position and intensity of light traces imaged onto the image points of the line sensor. The code transmitter concentrically surrounds a steering spindle of a steering wheel of a motor vehicle and is fixed to the steering spindle to rotate therewith. The code transmitter has a scanning line and a reference line for respectively imaging a scanning light trace and a reference light trace from the light source onto the image points of the line sensor.

Abstract: A circuit and apparatus for magnetically sensing fluid flow and applying voltage to a load has a spring loaded check valve disposed within a conduit and provided with a magnetic shield. A magnet is located on one side of the magnetic shield while a sensor, associated with the valve, is located on the opposite side of the magnetic shield. The check valve, and hence the magnetic shield, moves to permit fluid flow. When the magnetic shield moves due to fluid flow, the magnet activates the sensor. A load control circuit includes a supply terminal for receiving a supply voltage and a detector which detects a condition requiring the operation of a load. The detector causes a threshold voltage to be generated from the supply voltage, and a time delay controller controls the time required to generate the threshold voltage.

Abstract: An alarm switch assembly includes a housing having first and second surfaces and an opening defined therein that extends from one surface toward the other surface. The opening is further defined by at least four inner surfaces. A magnetic field generating device is disposed adjacent the opening and between the first and second surfaces, and a switch is disposed adjacent the opening and is opposed to the magnetic field generating device.

Abstract: A sensor mounting arrangement comprising a mounting component arranged, in use, to carry a moveable part of a sensor. The mounting component is coupled through a first load path to a drive component to move with the drive component. The mounting component includes an opening through which the drive component extends, the drive component defining an abutment surface which is spaced from the mounting component in normal use and is arranged such that, should the first load path fail, the abutment surface is moveable into engagement with the mounting component to transmit movement of the drive component to the part of the mounting component carrying the moveable part of the sensor through a second load path.

Abstract: A system actively monitors the fatigue of gears used in a vehicle drive axle assembly. The system includes a sensor system for detecting a speed of rotation and a torque. The speed of rotation and the torque are indicative of the speed of rotation and the torque on the gears. A microprocessor communicates with the sensor system to gather the speed of rotation and torque information. The microprocessor utilizes the information to actively determine gear fatigue. The microprocessor compares the gear fatigue with a pre-selected threshold gear wear value. If the pre-selected threshold value has been exceeded, the microprocessor provides an output, which preferably notifies the driver of the excessive gear fatigue.

Abstract: An analog output Hall effect sensor provides a proportional output representative of the angular position of a rotary shift member in a transfer case, transmission or the like. The rotary shift member is driven by a bidirectional electric motor through a speed reducing gear train. A wheel having a single spiral bipolar (N-S) magnetic track rotates with the output of the gear train and the shift member. The analog output Hall effect sensor is proximate the spiral magnetic track and provides an analog (ramp) output proportional to the position of the rotary shift member relative to first and second end points.

Abstract: A rotary apparatus in which at least one electrically controlled device is attached to a rotor. The rotor carries coils such that rotation of the rotor generates power for the device. A switch is provided for controlling the supply of power to the device and receives control signals via a contactless communication link.