Abstract: In a thermal sensor. a capacitor voltage of a capacitor is compared with a reference voltage, and an output voltage is generated based on the comparison. The output voltage has a pulse density indicative of a temperature detected by the thermal sensor. The capacitor is charged or discharged using at least one of a first current signal or a second current signal based on a logic level of the output voltage. The first current signal is a temperature-independent signal, and the second current signal is a temperature-dependent signal dependent on the temperature detected by the thermal sensor. In some embodiments, a clock rate of a clock signal is varied in accordance with the detected temperature to control a timing operation for supplying the first current signal to the capacitor and/or the reference voltage is varied in accordance with the detected temperature.

Abstract: A calibration device is provided for use in an apparatus for measuring kinematic error in a power mechanism which includes an input shaft, an output shaft, and a kinematic error measurement device. The calibration device comprises a Hooke's joint interposed at an inclination angle between the input shaft and the output shaft and a device to measure the inclination angle.

Abstract: A method for testing motor armature shafts is disclosed. The method includes simulating armature shaft loading conditions to test armature shaft reliability for failure. The shaft has a longitudinally extending axis, which during operation is the axis of rotation of the shaft. In the method the shaft is fixedly supported at two spaced locations a predetermined distance from one of the free ends. A normal force is rotated about the shaft's longitudinal axis. This force is exerted continuously about the circumference of the free end of the armature shaft, so that the armature shaft is continuously offset a predetermined distance from its longitudinal axis. This force is continuously applied for a predetermined number of rotations of the shaft. This simulates loading of the armature shaft in an assembled motor.

Abstract: In a sensor system with a wireless vibration or structure-borne noise sensor device (1), which makes direct use of the vibration energy of its electrodynamic or piezoelectric measuring unit (5) without other components to transmit the vibration energy via a primary coil (6) of a transformer-like pair of coils (6, 7) electrically connected to the measuring unit (5), to the secondary coil (7) of said pair (6, 7) which is located in a receiver (2) independent of the sensor device (1) and separated only by an air gap (8) which conducts the measured and transformed vibration or structure-borne noise measurement signal further, the sensor system is used to monitor the vibration, structure-borne noise and/or sound especially of defined material-removing tools in machine tools or to detect the noise of noise-generating structural units in testing machines or devices. The sensor device (1) is arranged on a traversing and/or rotary machine component (14), e.g.

Abstract: A vibrating cylindrical rate sensor (10) is mechanically balanced and mode aligned with respect to the vibrating portion of the sensor (10) by removing material from a vibrating portion of the vibrating cylinder (34) after the drive and pick-off transducers (30, 32, 30a, 18, 20) are fixed to the vibrating portion of the vibrating cylinder (34) of the cylindrical rate sensor (10).

Abstract: A tissue mimicking material for use in ultrasound scanner phantoms has a very low acoustic backscatter coefficient. The tissue mimicking material has the ultrasonic speed and attenuation characteristics of human tissue, with a backscatter coefficient of about 40 dB below that of human liver tissue. The tissue mimicking material may be in liquid or solid form. A component in both the liquid and solid forms is a filtered aqueous mixture of large organic water soluble molecules and emulsion of fatty acid esters. This mixture may be based on a combination of evaporated whole milk and water. The material also includes a hydroxy compound, such as n-propanol, to control the ultrasonic speed of propagation through the material. A preservative from bacterial invasion, such as thimerosal, is also preferably included in the material. The solid form of the material contains the same material as the liquid form, with a very pure gel-forming material included to form a solid material.

Abstract: A method for the ultrasonic inspection of acoustically "noisy" specimens, such as those having intrinsically coarse or variable grain structure (e.g., turbine rotor parts made of superalloy compositions), employs a "Pitch-Catch" analysis wherein a "through-transmitted" sound wave is first acquired for a plurality of reference locations on the specimen and used as a calibration standard to normalize ultrasonic inspection test data for that specimen prior to flaw/defect detection and processing. The through transmitted sound wave is also used for accurately equating the amplitude of "indications" (i.e., significant detected ultrasonic reflections)to that of a standardized theoretical reflector of known size (e.g., an equivalent "flat bottom hole" or EFBH reflector) so that the test sensitivity or "size of indications" can be uniquely determined for each specimen on which the test is performed.

Abstract: An ejected pilot's seat is provided with a drogue chute anchored to the seat by means of a bridle. The bridle includes a strap having redundant load cells parallel connected in redundant fashion. The load cells measure tension in the strap. Data from the load cell is conducted through the bridle to a microprocessor contained within the seat. The microprocessor includes look-up tables for correlating tensile load in the strap to forward velocity of the ejected pilot. Upon acquisition of a preselected optimum velocity, the drogue chute is released and a main chute is deployed to increase the likelihood of a safe descent to the ground.

Abstract: A speed indicating device disclosed includes a plate scaled with speed indicia mounted for pivotal movement about a generally vertical pivot at the front of the plate to enable the plate to aline with the direction of boat movement. A pointer is mounted for pivotal movement about a generally horizontal pivot at the rear of the plate. A drag assembly inclusive of a flexible line with a weight is suspended from the pointer causing the pointer to swing through an arc related to boat speed and the plate to aline with the direction of the boat as the weight is dragged by the boat via the water.

Abstract: A drag force knotmeter for indicating the speed of a boat in water, especially in the range of 1-12 knots is a device attached to the boat by a flexible line and trails an elastomeric line attached to a drag. The drag is a rigid rod having an eye on one end and a circular disk on the other end. Said circular disk being attached to the rod by its center. The drag is heavier-than-water and is attached to the elastomeric line through its eye. System friction is minimized by maintaining an overall straight line configuration from the drag to the point of attachment to the boat. The elastomeric line isolates sudden surges on the drag from the indicator on the knotmeter.

Abstract: A hand-held trolling speedometer or speed indicator for use by a person riding in a boat. The trolling speedometer includes a drogue, an indicator, and a flexible line interconnected between the drogue and a spring-biased marker in the indicator. The indicator includes a transparent column having a plurality of indicia which, in cooperation with the spring-biased marker, provides a visual indication of the resistance encountered by the drogue and, thereby, the speed of the boat. The drogue is fabricated as an open end container having a bottom with a plurality of enlarged apertures therein. A reducer cap is adapted to be removably mounted on the bottom of the drogue to selectively reduce the size of the apertures. The drogue also serves as a container for stowage of the flexible line and the indicator portion of the speedometer. A bail is affixed adjacent the open end of the container and serves as the attachment point for the flexible line.