Abstract: Examples of a leak detection system are disclosed. In one example according to aspects of the present disclosure, a leak detection system includes a housing defining an interior, the housing connected to a component of a water distribution system. The leak detection system also includes a leak detection sensor contained within the interior of the housing and configured to detect a leak within the water distribution system. Additionally, the leak detection system includes a digital signal processing circuit in communication with the leak detection sensor.

Abstract: A method of measuring the thickness of any deposit of material (28) on an inner wall (12) of a structure (14). The method comprises: (a) causing vibrations in the structure; (b) detecting said vibrations in the structure; (c) determining a resonance frequency of the structure based on the detected vibrations; and (d) determining the thickness of any deposit of material on the inner wall of the structure based on the determined resonance frequency.

Abstract: A sensor apparatus includes a first elongated housing to at least partially enclose a sensor device and a second elongated housing coupled longitudinally to the first elongated housing. The second elongated housing includes at least one radial port extending from an inner surface to an outer surface of the second elongated housing to allow a first material received through an opening of the second elongated housing to flow through the second elongated housing and out the radial port in the vicinity of the sensor apparatus.

Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting deposit buildup within an ultrasonic flow meter are disclosed. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are ultrasonic flow meters comprising a spool piece configured to couple within a flow of fluid, a first transducer pair mechanically mounted to the spool piece and configured to fluidly couple to the flow of fluids (wherein the first transducer pair comprises an upstream transducer and a downstream transducer in operational relationship to the upstream transducer and defines a first chord there between), and electronics electrically coupled to the first transducer pair. The electronics is configured to detect deposit buildup over an inner surface of the ultrasonic flow meter.

Abstract: A sensor for sensing bioacoustic energy includes a housing comprising an interfacing portion configured to establish coupling with a body part during use of the sensor. An anchoring arrangement is defined on the housing. A transducer member has an anchoring end and at least one free end. The anchoring end of the transducer is coupled to the housing such that the transducer member is arranged to be preferentially sensitive to bioacoustic energy transferred to the transducer via the interfacing portion relative to other portions of the housing.

Abstract: Provided is an acoustic sensor for measuring a sound wave propagating through a gas such as air or a fluid such as water and an elastic wave propagating through a solid medium, and more particularly, an acoustic sensor with a piezo-arrangement film capable of detecting frequencies in a broad band or amplifying a signal at a specific frequency by comparting a waveguide into an upper waveguide and a lower waveguide by means of a compartment diaphragm and arranging piezoelectric sensors on the compartment diaphragm in several forms. The acoustic sensor can be utilized as a resonant acoustic sensor in which the piezoelectric sensors are arranged on the compartment diaphragm in the same form so that a signal at a specific frequency overlaps for high sensibility or a broadband acoustic sensor in which the piezoelectric sensors are arranged in a different form to detect frequencies in a broad band.

Abstract: A method for measuring a first angular specific sound absorption spectrum of a first sound absorbing sample. The first sound absorbing sample has a predetermined random incidence sound absorption spectrum. The angular specific sound absorption spectrum is determined from a sound wave incident on a surface of the first sound absorbing sample with a predetermined angle of incidence that is greater than zero degrees from a plane parallel to the surface of the first surface. A first weighting factor that provides a fit of the angle specific sound absorption spectrum of the first sound absorbing sample to the predetermined random sound absorption spectrum is then determined. Next, a second angular specific sound absorption spectrum of a second sound absorbing sample at the predetermined angle of incidence is determined. The weighting factor is then used to determine the random specific sound absorption spectrum from the angle absorption spectrum of the second sound absorbing sample.

Abstract: This invention relates to the design of sensors for detecting vibrations in collapsed structures. The sensor comprises a cube-shaped housing and a transducer attached internally between two opposite corners of the housing. The response of the sensor is fairly independent of which side of the housing is coupled to the collapsed structure and the sensor can also detect vibrations which occur in any signal axis of the structure.

Abstract: Sounds input via a sound input means (11) are corrected in accordance with age-based hearing characteristic data read from a memory (13) or correction values for reference hearing characteristics for individual hearing characteristics measured by an individual hearing characteristics means (15), and the sounds corresponding to the hearing characteristics are measured and displayed by a display means (14).

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting blockage of a porous medium of an air filter utilized to filter air within a forced air stream contained within an enclosure. The air filter extends in a direction transverse to a direction of the forced air stream. The detection is accomplished with an opening in the porous medium of a greater dimension than provided by the porous medium. The opening is defined by the porous medium of the air filter and extends through the porous medium through which airflow from the forced air stream passes. A flexible member is provided which is positioned within the air flow from the forced air stream which passes through the opening and received by the flexible member causing the flexible member to vibrate and emit an audible sound in response to the air flow.

Abstract: The method and apparatus according to the invention determines the acoustic spatial characteristics of an enclosure, particularly of a vehicle occupant compartment in a motor vehicle. A piece of equipment emits a useful sound together with a test sound. By analyzing a recorded analysis sound, the test sound is emitted in a psychoacoustic masking range of the useful sound. Advantageously, the covering range of the useful sound is determined in a useful-sound analysis block before the useful sound and the test sound are emitted.

Abstract: Determininig a frequency at which a resonator resonates comprising: driving an acoustic transmitter for applying an acoustic signal to the interior of a resonator by scanning through a first range of frequencies in substantially equidistant steps of a first size; detecting a signal from an acoustic receiver arranged to detect the amplitude of an acoustic signal within the resonator produced by driving the acoustic transmitter over the first range of frequencies; determining a frequency at which a maximum occurs in the detected signal for the first range of frequencies; driving the acoustic transmitter by scanning through a second range of frequencies containing the determined frequency from the first range of frequencies, the second range being smaller than the first range, and scanning through the second range of frequencies in substantially equidistant steps of a second size which is smaller than the steps of the first size; detecting a signal from the acoustic receiver produced by driving the acoustic tran

Abstract: A method and apparatus for examining internal components of a sealed container is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of attaching an acoustic sensor to an outer surface of the sealed container and moving the sealed container about at least one axis of the sealed container. An audio signal is received from the acoustic sensor, where the audio signal is generated by a component within the sealed container that is put into motion as a result of the step of moving the sealed container about the at least one axis. The audio signal is analyzed to determine the frequency of the signal. In an embodiment for an apparatus of the present invention, an acoustic sensor is attached to the sealed container. An amplifier is coupled to the acoustic sensor and receives an audio signal from the acoustic sensor. The audio signal is generated by a component within the sealed container that is put into motion as a result of movement of the sealed container.

Abstract: A method of monitoring sounds of a driveline includes detecting a sound from a driveline, comparing the detected sound with-a predicted sound of the driveline, and, when the detected sound differs from the predicted sound of the driveline, sending a warning signal that the driveline may be experiencing a problem. The method of monitoring the sounds of a driveline is used to determine the physical condition of the driveline. The present invention allows the driver to check the physical condition of a driveline while operating the vehicle. A sound detector detects sounds from a driveline and send sound signals to a control which receives the sound signals, performs computations based on the detected sounds, and compares the computations with predicted sounds of the driveline. The control sends warning signals to a display, when the detected sounds differ from the predicted sounds.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for directing ultrasonic and magnetostrictively generated mechanical waves from an exterior point to an interior point within a small diameter tube, pipe, or cylindrical structure. The present invention incorporates an external mechanism for generating waves in a cylindrical waveguide tube gun of a size small enough for insertion into the target tube and configured so as to maintain mechanical contact with an inside diameter of the target tube. Standard ultrasonic wave generating devices or magnetostrictive/mechanical wave generating coils are positioned on the waveguide external to the target tube and generate appropriate mechanical waves through the waveguide to a point interior to the target tube. A mechanical interface between the waveguide and the inside diameter surface of the tube is positioned and provided at a point within the target tube to transfer both the interrogating waves and the received return signal waves between the target tube and the waveguide.

Abstract: An acoustic signal and sound diagnostic instrument, for use by a professional automotive engine or industrial machinery maintenance operator, which is capable of locating and discriminating automotive engine and industrial machinery abnormalities. The instrument includes an acoustic transducer microphone, located at the forward end of an elongated deformable, semi-rigid probe arm, for detecting and converting acoustic signals and sounds into electromagnetic signals and an electronics housing conformed to be held in the hand of the maintenance operator with the housing mechanically supporting the probe arm at its rearward end. Pre-amplifier circuitry within the housing is electrically coupled to the transducer microphone and to range selector circuitry for selecting sound level ranges respecting the electromagnetic signals.

Abstract: A portable testing apparatus to detect air leaks across large sealed gaps comprising an elastomeric, air impervious sheet sized and shaped to overlap a gap between an opening in a structure and an insert, a vacuum plenum extending through and sealing with said sheet, means for attaching the plenum to a vacuum source, channels, with openings therein for uniformly distributing and drawing a vacuum between a sheet and the structure, extending from the plenum along the inside surface of said sheet. The testing apparatus also comprising means for detecting the passage of air through the sealed gap when a vacuum is drawn therethrough.

Abstract: The sound created by moving and chewing of insect larvae infested inside an agricultural commodity is acoustically detected and amplified, and thereafter transduced into an electrical signal which is electrically amplified for observation.

Abstract: A steel refining system has a crucible having an upwardly open mouth and containing a steel melt covered by slag, an oxygen lance directed downwardly into the mouth at the melt, a hood fitting downwardly over the mouth and having a hood wall formed by a multiplicity of coolant tubes, and an arrangement for circulating a coolant through these tubes. The tubes form a tubular hood-wall extension that has an outer end and is centered on an axis trained on the melt on the crucible. A holder is mounted on the outer end of this extension and contains a sound transducer carried by the holder and directed along the axis at the melt. A circuit is connected to this transducer for determining slag thickness by means of the sound detected by the transducer. The holder itself comprises a circularly annular hollow cell fixed by means of a collar to the extension and a transducer housing that is fixed to this cell and therethrough to the extension.

Abstract: An acoustic tube having several resonant frequencies is directed into the mouth of a rafining crucible and is heated to above 100.degree. C. A microphone at the remote end of this tube receives sound passing through the tube and generates an electrical output corresponding to the sound received. This electrical output is linearized over a band width including several of the resonant frequencies of the tube and the signal is then passed through a low pass filter to eliminate parasitic oscillations and through a mixer where it is combined with a signal from a local oscillator. The intermediate-frequency signal thus produced is passed through either of a pair of band-pass filters and is displayed. The signal strength at the output is inversely proportional to the depth of slag in the crucible, as the deeper the slag the more sound is absorbed in the crucible.