Abstract: A turntable having a food of solid or liquid put in a container is rotated during a predetermined time period and then the rotation of the turntable is suspended. After the turntable is suspended, an amplitude of vibration of the turntable is detected by a vibration sensor, and when the amplitude of vibration is a predetermined value or more, the food is determined liquid, on the other hand, when the amplitude of vibration is smaller than the predetermined value, the food is determined to be solid.

Abstract: An apparatus measures the diameter, relative concentration and weight of particles. The detection of scattered light produced when light is projected at particles drawn into a nozzle-shaped measuring space is used to measure particle diameter, particle concentration is measured based-on variations in the intensity of transmitted light, and particle weight is measured based on changes in operating frequency of a crystal oscillator resulting from the adhesion of particles on the surface of the crystal oscillator.

Abstract: An engine provided with a purge valve introducing fuel vapor from the fuel tank into the intake passage, a purge valve for opening and closing the passage, a device for setting a basic flowrate of the purge valve according to the engine running conditions, and a device for detecting the fuel concentration of the purge gas. Further, a device is provided for correcting the basic flowrate based on the fuel concentration of the purge gas so as to decrease the purge valve flowrate when the fuel concentration is high, and increase the purge valve flowrate when it is low. The purge valve opening is controlled according to this corrected flowrate, and purging can therefore be performed rapidly without adversely affecting the air-fuel ratio.

Abstract: A device for measuring the masses of objects in any gravity environment, including microgravity or zero gravity. Objects are placed on a platform having a torque restoring means. The platform is rotated from an equilibrium position and released, such that it undergoes angular simple harmonic motion. The device measures the period of oscillation which is used to calculate the mass of the object on the platform.

Abstract: The device serves to measure the density of a gas, in particular of the insulating gas of a gas-insulated electrical installation. It contains two resonators (11, 12) each comprising a piezoelectric crystal (14, 15) and each comprising two electrodes applied to the crystal. A first (11) of the two resonators (11, 12) is mounted in a first chamber (5) containing the gas to be measured, whereas a second (12) is mounted in a second chamber (6) sealed with respect to the gas.Despite small dimensions and despite simple and robust construction, this device is intended to have a high measurement precision over a long period of time.This is achieved by drawing the two resonators (11, 12) from a multiplicity of similar resonators manufactured by mass production and not subjected to a frequency alignment. The first resonator (11) is unaltered with respect to the manufacture in mass production.

Abstract: A fluid densitometer is constructed using loudspeaker technology. The loudspeaker diaphragm carries a fluid sample chamber. The increased mass loading causes a shift in resonant frequency of the loudspeaker when driven in positive feedback. With suitable calibration the shift in frequency provides a measure of the density of the fluid sample. In a modification, two loudspeakers are mounted back to back with the opposing diaphragms defining a sample chamber.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for non-destructive testing the quality of manufactured wood panels which includes supporting the panel so as to have a portion thereof in cantilevered fashion. The cantilevered portion of the panel is caused to vibrate so as to include complex vibrations that include both twisting and bending. The vibrations in the panel are sensed providing an output signal that is fed to analyzers and computers to determine from the simultaneously induced bending and twisting vibrations respectively the modulus of elasticity and shear modulus of the panel. Two different forms of apparatus are illustrated, one of which requires the panel to be stationary while being tested and the other in which the panel moves continuously while vibrations are induced and the induced vibrations sensed.

Abstract: A suspension system (11) for effectively decoupling an oscillating element microbalance (10) from its environment employs longitudinally extending suspension members axially aligned with an instantaneous center of rotation (S) of the microbalance. In a preferred embodiment, the microbalance includes a tapered elongate elastic element (12) having an elliptical cross section and the suspending members comprise a torsion bar arrangement (20, 22) oriented parallel to the major axis (HD) of the elliptical cross section. The suspension system minimizes vibrational losses from the microbalance while at the same time rendering environmental noise ineffectual.

Abstract: Mass, or changes in mass, of a rock specimen are measured to determine the changes in saturation of a rock specimen. Measurements can be obtained in test environments of high temperature or high pressure or both. The mass is rigidly attached beneath a stiff spring and made to vibrate or oscillate at a characteristic frequency. The frequency of oscillation is detected and the data then used to determine mass of the specimen.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for dynamically determining the local weight per unit area of sheet-like material, for example, paper, in which the sheet-like material is exposed to sound waves from a sound transmitter. The portion of sound transmitted and/or reflected by the sheet-like material is measured by aid of a receiver and the weight per unit area determined from the measuring signal. In order to avoid disturbances of the measuring signal due to superimposed sound waves and in order to obtain high local resolution even in the case of quickly moving material to be measured, the transmitter, material to be measured and possibly the receiver as well are arranged on a slant relative to each other in such a way that the portions of sound reflected on these elements are faded out of the path of rays between the transmitter and the receiver. Means are additionally provided to prevent the faded out portions of sound from returning to the path of rays between the transmitter and the receiver.

Abstract: A weighing apparatus of the vibratory string type is disclosed, wherein a current-carrying string connected intermediate its ends between a movable load-responsive member and a frame vibrates in a magnetic field produced by a permanent magnet mounted on the frame. The ends of the string extend beyond the clamping connections with the movable member and the frame, respectively, for electrical connection with the conductors to the string drive and load detection circuit. This driving and detection circuit and the aforementioned conductors are mounted on a printed circuit board that is connected with the frame, thereby to avoid the need of a separate power supply with its disadvantageous effect on string vibrations. In one modification, the protruding string end associated with the movable member comprises a tension spring for prestressing the string.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the precise sample mass and corresponding sample weight, being tolerant of and relatively insensitive to unwanted background environmental forces, while functioning independently of the force of gravity, uses a vibratory method and a feedback means to monitor and to sustain the sample mass in oscillation at the mechanical resonant frequency of the system in which the sample mass is introduced. The sample mass is forced to oscillate continuously by electromagnetic action, whereby the resultant motion is transmitted by springs and a transmission structure to supporting piezoelectric transducers. These transducers generate an output voltage signal representative of the sample pan's motion, that is amplified and returned to an electromagnetic drive coil in order to sustain oscillation and maintain the closed-loop nature of this system. These oscillations are monitored and the associated frequency measurements used in calculating the sample mass.

Abstract: Weighing apparatus for determining the tare and net weights of a container containing a liquid or a substance behaving like a liquid without requiring separate weighing of the empty container or its contents including apparatus for applying force to the container whereby force interactions between the liquid and the container are negligible for at least a predetermined measuring duration; and apparatus for sensing characteristics of the force applied to the container and of the motion of the container at the measuring duration for determining the tare weight of the container.

Abstract: A piston vibrator comprising a cylindrical housing having a chamber with a free floating piston therein. The free floating piston is axially moved by a pressurized medium. Piston amplifying structure is provided for regulating the effective mass of the piston and thereby the amplitude and frequency of movement thereof in said cylindrical housing.

Abstract: The mass properties measurement apparatus of this invention includes a pair of opposed bearing assemblies, each comprising a fixed bearing and a movable journal, and a radially rigid connection between the movable journals located on an axis with a single degree of freedom, which is rotation. A test object support table is fixed to one journal for rotational movement therewith, the plane of the surface of the support table being perpendicular to the rotational axis. A torsion wire coincident with the rotational axis is fixed at one end to the one journal for rotation with the support table and is fixed at its other end against rotation with the support table, thereby creating a torsional pendulum which permits oscillatory movement of the support table. Means are provided for measuring successive oscillation periods of the support table for determining the center of gravity and principal axis moments of inertia of a test object on the support table. Finally, a fail-safe caging mechanism is provided.

Abstract: High-speed weighing apparatus in which the weighing platform responds to the pressure of an object thereon to produce an undamped oscillatory vertical motion indicative of the mass of the object on the platform. The platform is supported on a vertically-movable upright column, which in turn is spring-supported on a frame primarily by means of a flexure pivot support arrangement near its bottom end, which provides spring support for the platform and column to permit the vertical motion indicative of weight; it is also supported by another support arrangement operating on an upper portion of the column nearer the platform, for preventing tilting of the column without interfering with its vertical motion or with the weighing process. The second or upper support arrangement preferably comprises a horizontal flexible rod, secured at one end to the frame and at its other end to the upper part of the column.