Abstract: A process for removing a modulation sinusoidal error from signals of a rotating load cell measuring forces and/or moments with respect to a non-rotating orthogonal coordinate system includes mounting the load cell to the rotating object and obtaining a first set of signals from the load cell, wherein at least one signal of the first set of signals is indicative of a load as the object rotates. A characterization of a modulation error is obtained from the first set of signals. The modulation error is a periodic signal having a frequency greater than and proportional to a frequency of revolution of the load cell. A second set of signals is obtained from the load cell pursuant to object loading. A modulation error in the second set of signals is calculated as a function of the characterization of the modulation error from the first set. The calculated modulation error in the second set of signals is subtracted from the second set of signals.

Abstract: A mechanical diagnostic probe is used to determine the thickness of articular cartilage, so that any degeneration in the articular cartilage can be detected at an early stage. The probe advantageously allows for calibrating the speed of the ultrasound in situ thereby allowing for more accurate measurements of the tissue thickness. The probe also can be used to monitor the condition of the cartilage after surgery and/or after or during physical rehabilitation of the cartilage. The probe is comprised of a probe handle and a probe, which is comprised of an ultrasonic transducer, strain-gauges, and a linear displacement actuator. A predetermined displacement then is applied to the indenter tip and a computer program is then used to analyze the results.

Abstract: An apparatus measures residual stress in a sample under test by measuring the penetration of an indenter on a unprocessed sample under test, and after processing of the sample under test, measuring again the penetration of the indenter on the processed sample under test, and deriving from the two penetration measurements the residual stress in a sample under test. The apparatus and method of the preferred embodiments are especially useful in determining residual stress in a printed wiring board. In this manner a direct measurement of residual stress is possible without destroying the printed wiring board.

Abstract: Information is exchanged between raw garbage liquefying devices and a central station so that the central station manages the liquefied raw garbage accumulated amounts in the respective raw garbage liquefying devices, selects raw garbage liquefying devices to be visited, and issues instructions for collection to a touring collection vehicle.

Abstract: A measuring device useful for measuring mechanical properties of highly flexible or limp sheet materials. The device includes a base, a pair of clamping members, with one of the clamping members being movable away from and toward the second clamping member. A load sensor is mounted in one of the clamping means for measuring of the required mechanical properties.

Abstract: A sensing device for detecting and identifying vehicles or other events which apply force to a roadway or other structure. The force applied by a vehicle is interpreted to produce a force signature which is unique to a vehicle, and thus can be used to identify individual vehicles. Other force events which can detected and identified include pedestrians, motorcycles, avalanches, roadway deterioration, structural failure of bridges or other structures, avalanches, bicycles, and railroad trains.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for determining a vibrational characteristic of a golf club shaft. The apparatus includes a table having a clamping structure for clamping the golf club shaft thereto. A multi-dimensional accelerometer is coupled to a tip end of the golf club shaft. The multi-dimensional accelerometer is also coupled to a computer. When the golf club shaft is vibrated, the multi-dimensional accelerometer converts the vibrational signal into an electrical signal which is transmitted to the computer. The computer conditions the electrical signal and outputs a signal indicative of the frequency of vibration of the golf club shaft. The stiffness of the golf club shaft is determined from the vibrational frequency of the golf club shaft.

Abstract: A method for determining behavior of a viscoelastic material at a first temperature includes performing five or more measurements of a dynamic parameter as a function of deformation at each of at least a second, third, and fourth temperature. Eleven or more data points are chosen from the measurements. Each data point comprises a value of the dynamic parameter, an associated deformation, and an associated temperature. Values of the eleven parameters are determined by inserting at least eleven of the data points into a first equation. The first temperature and the values of the eleven parameters are inserted into the first equation. The dynamic parameter is approximated as a function of the deformation at the first temperature using the first equation. A related apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: Mass flow of a material in a conduit is estimated by mode selective filtering a plurality of motion signals representing motion of the conduit to generate a plurality of mode selective filtered motion signals such that the mode selective filtered motion signals preferentially represent motion associated with a vibrational mode of the conduit. A plurality of phase estimates is generated from the plurality of mode selective filtered motion signals. A mass flow estimate is generated from the plurality of phase estimates. The plurality of phase estimates may be estimated using a phase reference derived from one of the plurality of mode selective filtered motion signals. In some embodiments, a frequency of a mode selective filtered motion signal of the plurality of mode selective filtered motion signals is estimated. Quadrature first and second reference signals are generated based on the estimated frequency.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for the detection, through nonlinear manipulation of data, of an indicator of imminent failure due to crack growth in structural elements. The method is a process of determining energy consumption due to crack growth and correlating the energy consumption with physical phenomena indicative of a failure event. The apparatus includes sensors for sensing physical data factors, processors or the like for computing a relationship between the physical data factors and phenomena indicative of the failure event, and apparatus for providing notification of the characteristics and extent of such phenomena.

Abstract: A torsional vibration measuring instrument which can be placed in a narrow space to measure the torsional vibration of a rotated object, is portable, avoids the possibility of occurrence of unrecorded data, stores recorded data in a detachable storage means, can be attached to a portable data analyzing/processing device, and can transmit the analyzed data. A portable torsional vibration measuring instrument (data logger) has a display means which can display at least the rotational speed and the torsional amplitude and a storage means in which recorded data are stored and which is detachably attached to the casing of the instrument. By attaching the storage means to a portable data analyzing/processing device (notebook personal computer), frequency analysis can be carried out and the recorded data stored in the storage means can be transmitted.

Abstract: A computer assisted system predicting adhesion energy at an interface between dissimilar materials, and an associated adhesiveness includes units for inputting given compositions and crystal structure of the dissimilar materials; like-atom and two unlike-atom interatomic interaction energy parameters on the dissimilar materials; and material interface atomic structure model information into a computer. The computer calculates a material interface total energy relative to a distance between surfaces of the dissimilar materials on the basis of the sum of the two like-atom and two unlike-atom interatomic interaction energies and evaluates the adhesion energy from the distribution of the calculated material interface total energy.

Abstract: Provided are methods and apparatus for determining from indentation testing the preexisting stress and/or effective strain in a section of a material. The invention also provides methods and apparatus for determining the variation of the stress with depth in the material (e.g. the gradient). According to the invention, first data are provided from an indentation test of the stressed (or strained) section. The stress (or effective strain) can then be determined from the first data and from second data characteristic of the material, such as a stress-strain curve. Second data can also be obtained from an additional indentation test of a section having a known stress. The methods provided herein are suitable for programming on a general purpose computer or calculator.

Abstract: A variable rate test joint comprises a housing and a shaft mounted within the housing. A hexagonal head is provided for coupling a tool to be tested to the shaft. In use a frictional braking torque is applied to the shaft. A computer controls the magnitude of the braking torque applied to the shaft as a function of time.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for checking a wrapping state of a wrapped roll having end face covers by detecting the force required to press-fit a bushing into a cylindrical core tube and comparing the detected force with a threshold value which is based on the correlation between the force required to press-fit the bushing into the cylindrical core tube and the state of tucking of the end face covers.

Abstract: The characteristics of the wire are calculated, the wire having a cross-sectional shape which is substantially uniform along its length and having a length long enough in comparison with a diameter being deformed. The wire is divided into a plurality of elements with predetermined spacing along the length. When the wire is deformed, the shape of the wire after the deformation is determined. In the determined shape, a tangential stiffness equation using the element as a basis is calculated, and the calculated tangential stiffness equation is translated into a tangential stiffness equation using the whole of the wire as a basis. A global stiffness equation representing the whole wire is calculated from the tangential stiffness equation obtained by the translation. A load or a displacement produced in each portion of the wire is calculated from the global stiffness equation and the determined shape of the wire.

Abstract: A system and method for determining the fullness of a large capacity waste container (20). Each time the a compactor (22) is used to compress the waste in the container a monitoring unit (24) determines the highest hydraulic pressure generated by the compactor during a selected period of compactor use. The monitoring unit also maintains a count of how often the compactor is used. After the container is filled and emptied a number of times, the monitoring unit then divides the highest hydraulic pressures for the uses by the number of uses to obtain a pressure/use value. This pressure/use value is used as a variable to determine a maximum uses value representative of the number of times the compactor can be used before a container is filled. Once a container data representative of how full a container is, and how many compactor uses remain, is calculated by comparing the number of times the container has been used since it was emptied to the maximum uses value.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for measuring camber of a web material. As the web material is transported across a conveyance roller, a load cell disposed at each end of the conveyance roller measures the force applied by the web material to the conveyance roller for a particular width location of the web material. An electrical signal corresponding to the applied force is transmitted to a computer and manipulated to a camber measurement.

Abstract: A system (22) for monitoring the fullness of a waste container (20). Waste in the container is compressed by a ram (26). The system includes a sensor (42) for monitoring the force employed to actuate the ram. A container state processor (46) receives the signal from the sensor. The container state processor generates data representative of the fullness of the container. The data generated by the container state processor are transmitted through a modem (50) over the public telephone network to a remote location such as to waste hauler's dispatcher. The system also includes a supervisory processor (58) that is connected to both the container state processor and the modem. The supervisory processor monitors operating state signals generated by both the container state processor (46) and the modem (50). If the operating state signals generated by the container state processor (46) indicate that it is malfunctioning, the supervisory processor (58) attempts to correct for this malfunction.

Abstract: The tension in an optical fiber being drawn from a preform is monitored by sensing its motion transverse to the drawing direction and analysing the sensed motion using an autoregressive time-series model to provide a power spectrum. One of the peaks of the spectrum is identified as associated with the fundamental natural frequency of the drawn fiber and the frequency of that peak is used in a calculation of the tension of the fiber.

Abstract: A continuous duty press monitoring system includes a linear variable displacement transducer mounted to a press frame as to acquire data related to stresses and strains in the press housing due to completion of a press operation. First and second oppose, spaced apart ends of a rod member are secured to the press housing or frame. The first send is secured to so as to cause axial movement of the rod in accordance with the frame movement at that point. The second portion is secured to the housing so as to allow the second end to be slidable in relation thereto. A linear variable displacement transducer is secured at the slidably affixed end of the rod. A magnetic flux generated by application of current to a coil of the transducer is affected by relative positioning of the rod thereto. Press operation thereby provides an indication, due to stresses or strains resultant on the press housing, as to the characteristics of a particular press operation.