Abstract: A media processing system retrieves a sheet of media and transports it to an imaging process. Misalignment of media from retrieving and transporting is removed by a media realignment process which wedges the leading edge of the media into stopped rollers while additionally advancing the trailing edge of the media for a predetermined distance. The media flexes and forms an arching buckle which aligns parallel to the leading edge of the media with the stopped rollers, thereby removing the skew of the media in relationship with the stopped rollers. The amount of over-advancement of the trailing edge of the media is modified according to the stiffness of the media. A media stiffness sensor measures the media stiffness by quantifying the deflection of the media when a portion of the media is cantilevered into deflection-measuring sensors. Imaging processes are also improved by employing media stiffness measurements to modify imaging processes.

Abstract: A method for screening fabric handle of an array of fabric samples (i.e., a plurality of fabric materials) comprising providing an array of at least two fabric samples, protruding the fabric samples through openings, and monitoring response of said fabric samples to the protrusions.

Abstract: A bending apparatus for bending a workpiece W according to cooperation of a punch P and a die D previously carries out various step bending or makes simulation of step bending, and calculates an approximation formula based on a correlation between a ratio % of a one-sided elongation value &agr; to a plate thickness t and a step bending angle &thgr; based on a relationship among the plate thickness t, the step bending angle &thgr; and the one-sided elongation value &agr; of the workpiece W so as to store the formula as a database. The more accurate one-sided elongation value &agr; of the step bending is calculated by small parameters including only two data including the plate thickness t and the step bending angle &thgr; previously input at the time of actual bending based on the approximation formula in the data base so that the bending is carried out easily.

Abstract: A method for measuring the plasticity of materials such as ceramic raw materials and masses. A weight acts on a sample body and a path signal that reproduces the deformation of the sample body is measured. During the deformation process, the time progression of a reaction force applied by the sample body is measured. Path and force measurement values are passed to a computer for processing and evaluation. Devices for measuring the plasticity of a material according to the method are also disclosed.

Abstract: A movement sensor comprising an elongate object, comprising a piezoelectric material, having an anchored end that is anchored to a base, and an unanchored end which is free to move in at least two degrees of freedom and to which a force is applied, the unanchored end of the elongated object being configured to move in response to the applied force. A plurality of electrodes are disposed on the elongate object and are configured to cooperate with the elongate object in producing signals usable to determine the magnitude and direction of the movement of the unanchored end due to the applied force. Sensing circuitry is electrically coupled to the electrodes and is configured for processing the signals from the electrodes so as to determine a magnitude and a direction of movement and produce a signal indicative of said magnitude and direction.

Abstract: A device for determining the position of a tool and/or a load-bearing machine component of a machine tool or production machine includes a primary crossbeam arranged between two movable support elements and supporting the tool or the machine component, and a rigid secondary crossbeam which is also supported between the support elements. A contactless measuring unit is connected with the crossbeam and constructed to measure a deflection of the primary crossbeam relative to the secondary crossbeam. The deflection is hereby commensurate with a position of the tool and/or a load-bearing machine component and may depend on the acceleration force, weight and/or processing force exerted on the tool or the machine component.

Abstract: A vascular prosthesis tester (10) for inducing stresses upon a vascular prosthesis (22) having a channel extending through the vascular prosthesis is disclosed. The tester includes a pump (18) adaptable to pressurize a fluid disposed within the channel to induce a radial stress upon the vascular prosthesis. The tester may further include a bend applicator (16) operable to induce a bending stress, a torque applicator (12) operable to induce a torque, a linear force applicator (52) operable to induce a linear force, and/or a stop (28) for inducing a lateral push stress upon the vascular prosthesis. A method of fatigue testing a vascular prosthesis contained within a fluid conduit is also disclosed. The method includes injecting a fluid within the inner channel and inducing a torque, bending stress, linear stress, and/or later push stress upon the vascular prosthesis.

Abstract: A method and sheet-like sensor for measuring stress distribution including a grid of members which change in resistance when subjected to strain, the members intersecting at internal nodes and intersecting at boundary nodes at the periphery of the grid defining a plurality of legs. An analyzer is electrically connected only to the boundary nodes and configured to calculate any change in resistance in all of the legs based solely on the measured resistance of the legs between the boundary nodes.

Abstract: A support for facilitating the bending test of flexible substrates is disclosed. The support includes a plastic or adhesive plastic applied on the substrate to keep the shards together after breakage, thereby eliminating the process of collecting the shards and fitting them back together for failure analysis.

Abstract: A method for measuring substrate bending stiffness and thereby basis weight on a real time basis. Provided is a corrugator having a plurality of parallel ribs, with one or more sheets of the substrate provided below the corrugator wherein a predetermined gap exists between a topmost sheet of the sheets and the corrugator. A vacuum is applied between the corrugator and the topmost sheet, wherein the vacuum is sufficiently large to raise the topmost sheet, thereby deflecting and bending it into a profile corresponding to the arrangement and size of the corrugator ribs and bending stiffness of the substrate. One or more sensors are provided for measuring the deflection of the topmost sheet. The vacuum, an air knife output and/or a fluffer output are then adjusted according to predetermined rules and the measured deflection.

Abstract: An electronic flexion transducer (10) comprises a helical coil formed from two interposed electrical conductors (A) and (B) which are electrically isolated from each other either by an insulated coating on the conductors or by being embedded in a dielectric material (11) having a substantial elasticity. The coil is bonded along one side over its entire length to a flexible non-extensible support surface (13) whereby flexion of the support surface causes a change in the length of the coil between said one side, which retains its original length, and a side opposite to said one side, which either increases or decreases in length. This relative change in length between opposite sides causes angular separation between adjacent turns of the coil and since adjacent turns represent respective conductors (A) and (B) there is a change in capacitance between the respective conductors which can be used to provide an electrical signal to a computer to record and display the change.

Abstract: There is provided a blind fastener setting tool (12) which has a front end face (218) against which a blind fastener (14) is held during a conventional setting operation and which further has a piezo-electric thin film load measuring device (222) mounted on this front face so as to be disposed and compressed between the front face (218) and a flange (122) of the fastener (14) during the setting operation so as to record a low voltage electrical signal indicative of the load being exerted thereon.

Abstract: A vascular prosthesis tester (10) for inducing stresses upon a vascular prosthesis (22) having a channel extending through the vascular prosthesis is disclosed. The tester includes a pump (18) adaptable to pressurize a fluid disposed within the channel to induce a radial stress upon the vascular prosthesis. The tester may further include a bend applicator (16) operable to induce a bending stress, a torque applicator (12) operable to induce a torque, a linear force applicator (52) operable to induce a linear force, and/or a stop (28) for inducing a lateral push stress upon the vascular prosthesis. A method of fatigue testing a vascular prosthesis contained within a fluid conduit is also disclosed. The method includes injecting a fluid within the inner channel and inducing a torque, bending stress, linear stress, and/or later push stress upon the vascular prosthesis.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for predicting a score-line cracking propensity of a multi-ply substrate. The method includes the steps of: bending the multi-ply substrate; acquiring tensile load data from the multi-ply substrate during bending; and computing a material property of a top ply of the multi-ply substrate based on the acquired tensile load data. The material property must show a strong correlation to the score-line cracking propensity of the multi-ply substrate. The material property which is computed is the energy consumed in plastic deformation of the top ply during the fracture process. The measurement results can be used to predict score-line cracking propensity in multi-ply board systems, such as multi-ply paperboard.

Abstract: A force measuring device and method for determining a force required to move a cart. The force measuring device includes a force generating device, a load member, a load cell, and a controller. The force generating device is connected to the load member and moves the load member toward or away from the cart so as to apply pushing or pulling forces to the cart. The load cell is disposed between the load member and the cart, and transmits sensed force data to the controller. During a test, the controller collects the force data from the load cell. By testing carts of various configurations under all expected loading conditions, the performance of each cart configuration can be experimentally determined. The performance data is assembled in a database to permit a user to identify an optimum cart for an intended application.

Abstract: A golf shoe (1) comprises a sole portion (an outsole) (3) and an upper portion (5). The sole portion (3) is formed of an elastic material. The golf shoe (1) has a toe side flexibility evaluation value (Gt) of 0.0015 to 0.0100. The toe side flexibility evaluation value (Gt) is calculated by the following equation (I); Gt=(20/L)/Ft  (I) In the equation (I), L represents an overall length (mm) of the sole portion (3). Furthermore, Ft represents a tensile load (N) required for fixing a half part of the sole portion (3) close to a heel and pulling a front end close to a toe, thereby displacing the front end by 20 mm.

Abstract: An apparatus for testing stiffness characteristics such as modulus of elasticity E of an article such as a piece of lumber moving in a conveying direction transverse to the testing axis, comprises a bearing unit capable of contacting the piece of lumber at two spaced apart portions thereof. There is provided a first deflecting unit including a first working element being normally disposed in a first static position relative to the conveying path for applying a first thrust against a loaded area on the article at an intermediary portion thereof located between the spaced apart portions, to produce an article deflection of a first magnitude. Each working element defines a loading surface extending substantially parallel to the article-conveying path.

Abstract: A sheet separation and feeding system for measuring substrate bending stiffness and thereby basis weight on a real time basis. Provided is a corrugator having a plurality of parallel ribs, with one or more sheets of the substrate provided below the corrugator wherein a predetermined gap exists between a topmost sheet of the sheets and the corrugator. A vacuum is applied between the corrugator and the topmost sheet, wherein the vacuum is sufficiently large to raise the topmost sheet, thereby deflecting and bending it into a profile corresponding to the arrangement and size of the corrugator ribs and bending stiffness of the substrate. One or more sensors are provided for measuring the deflection of the topmost sheet. The vacuum, an air knife output and/or a fluffer output are then adjusted according to predetermined rules and the measured deflection.

Abstract: A method for measuring substrate bending stiffness and thereby basis weight on a real time basis. Provided is a corrugator having a plurality of parallel ribs, with one or more sheets of the substrate provided below the corrugator wherein a predetermined gap exists between a topmost sheet of the sheets and the corrugator. A vacuum is applied between the corrugator and the topmost sheet, wherein the vacuum is sufficiently large to raise the topmost sheet, thereby deflecting and bending it into a profile corresponding to the arrangement and size of the corrugator ribs and bending stiffness of the substrate. One or more sensors are provided for measuring the deflection of the topmost sheet. The vacuum, an air knife output and/or a fluffer output are then adjusted according to predetermined rules and the measured deflection.

Abstract: In a system for inspection of wood-board thickness, displacement sensors (2(21U, 22U, 23U, 21L, 22L, 23L)) are disposed at three positions with respect to a width of a wood material (1) being conveyed thereto for measurement of the thickness thereof. A programmable controller (6) determines the pass/fail of the board thickness based on the extent of portion having a board thickness deviated from the range of allowance extending along a conveyance direction.

Abstract: A load sensor 10 is provided with an elastic conductive tube 21, and a first electrode member 22 and second electrode member 23 separated by a distance in the longitudinal direction. The load sensor 10 is further provided with an elongated insertion member 24 to be inserted into the elastic conductive tube 21, and envelope members 25, which are provided at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction to enclose the insertion member 24, and together with the insertion member 24 are inserted into the tube 21 to separate the insertion member 24 from the tube 21. When the tube 21 is bent by the application of a load, the electrode members 22 and 23 contact the tube 21. The load is detected by determining whether the electrode members 22 and 23 have been rendered conductive via the tube 21. The sensitivity of the sensor 10 can be easily controlled by adjusting the interval between envelope members 25 and the thicknesses thereof.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring substrate bending stiffness and thereby basis weight on a real time basis. Provided is a corrugator having a plurality of parallel ribs, with one or more sheets of the substrate provided below the corrugator wherein a predetermined gap exists between a topmost sheet of the sheets and the corrugator. A vacuum is applied between the corrugator and the topmost sheet, wherein the vacuum is sufficiently large to raise the topmost sheet, thereby deflecting and bending it into a profile corresponding to the arrangement and size of the corrugator ribs and bending stiffness of the substrate. One or more sensors are provided for measuring the deflection of the topmost sheet. The vacuum, an air knife output and/or a fluffer output are then adjusted according to predetermined rules and the measured deflection.

Abstract: The invention concerns a tensile testing sensor mounted on a mechanical member wherein forces to be measures develop comprising a bendable metal blade (1, 22) provided with measuring gauges (2, 23) implanted and positioned on the blade. Said blade (1, 22) is sensitive to mechanical tensile and compressive deformations sustained and transmitted via two bearing parts (4, 5, 20) coupled to the mechanical member wherein the forces develop. The sensor is equipped with a mechanically locking flange (31) placed during calibration between the bearing parts (4, 5, 20) and the sensor blade.

Abstract: A load detection structure in a vehicle seat having a slide rail device provided therewith, which basically comprises a generally oblong block member having a rigid yet resiliently deformable property and a strain gauge attached tight thereon. The block member extends along a part of the slide rail device, such that the deflectable portion thereof is operatively connected with the vehicle seat, while the base portion thereof is fixedly connected with that part of the slide rail device. Hence, a load applied to the seat causes deflection of the deflectable portion of block member, in response to which, the strain gauge detects an amount of such deflection and determines a weight of occupant on the seat.

Abstract: An apparatus for testing the structural integrity of a hand rail structure. The hand rail having a plurality of substantially horizontal parallel rail members. The apparatus has an elongate lever arm and a mounting portion on the lever arm. The mounting portion is sized to span at least two rail members. A receptacle on the mounting portion opposite the lever arm receives one of the rail members and vertically supports the lever arm and mounting portion. A force is applied through the lever arm and transmitted to the hand rail. The force is measured by a torque wrench on the lever arm.

Abstract: Disclosed is an evaluation method of a golf club, where a rear end portion of a club shaft is vibrated in a state where a tip portion of the club shaft is fastened to measure a frequency per unit time, and a golf club using the club shaft is evaluated based on the frequency.

Abstract: A support for facilitating the bending test of flexible substrates is disclosed. The support includes a plastic or adhesive plastic applied on the substrate to keep the shards together after breakage, thereby eliminating the process of collecting the shards and fitting them back together for failure analysis.

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: The invention relates to an arrangement in which a first contact surface (2) for bonding one end (51) of the bonding wire (5) and a piezoelectric actuator (3) are fixed on a support body (1) and a second contact surface (4) for bonding another end (52) of the bonding wire (5) is fixed to the actuator by an unsupported support body (34). The second contact surface moves back and forth in relation to the support body by means of an actuator, at a frequency of between 0.1 Hz and a few KHz and in one or more directions (31, 31′, 31″). The invention is suitable for use in testing the endurance of bonding wire connections.

Abstract: A pointing bar fatigue testing apparatus for fatigue testing upon various shapes of pointing bars includes a power source, a force feeding device and a pointing bar seat. The power source includes a motor and a rotation spindle extending upwardly. The force feeding device includes a flat board engaged with and rotationally driven by the spindle, a slide bar having a center bore and two ends engageable with two border flanges located at two ends of the flat board and a spring engaged with one end of the slide bar for exerting force on the center bore. The pointing bar seat is located above the force feeding device. When performing pointing bar fatigue testing, the pointing bar has one end fixed on the pointing bar seat and another end engaged with the center bore to receive a spring force through the center bore while the force feeding device is rotated by the power source.

Abstract: A torsional sensing load cell, suitable for mounting at support locations of an automotive seat in order to determine weight and sitting position of an occupant of a motor vehicle. The load cell has the shape of a tuning fork, with one arm fixed to a foot attached to a chassis and a second parallel arm, not contacting the first arm, arranged to support a quadrant of a seat by means of a flange on the side of the second arm, causing torsion in the arm. A stop pin arrangement is provided in the load cell to prevent overloading the cell in a high force situation such as a collision.

Abstract: A panel tester and grader includes a main frame including a plurality of rollers and defining a substantially S-shaped testing path. A substantially linear bypass path extends below the testing path and a bypass assembly is coupled to the main frame and is operable to move the main frame between a testing position in which panels are received by the testing path, and a bypass position in which panels are received by the bypass path. A load cell providing a load output is coupled to a deflector roller to measure a load applied to the panel by the deflector roller. The load output is monitored as the panels are guided through the panel tester and the load output is selectively recorded based upon the monitored load output.

Abstract: An instrumented pin member is provided that is capable of measuring bending moments, and optionally of measuring bending and axial strain in real or near real time. The instrumented pin member includes a pin member body disposed about a pin member axis, wherein the pin member body includes a bending portion. A sensing device is positioned at the pin member body within the bending portion for sensing a bending strain in the bending portion exclusive of a net axial strain, and for outputting a sensor measurement signal representative of the bending strain. A sensor measurement signal output device is provided for outputting the sensor measurement signal from the sensor device. A related system includes a plurality of pin members, among other things. Related methods also are disclosed.

Abstract: A portable device for measuring the shear properties of a material specimen under applied dynamic circumferential forces against the specimen perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said specimen. The device may further apply a dynamic force against an end of the specimen. The device includes clamps that hold the specimen at its proximal and distal end, wherein the circumferential force applied to the specimen is affectively applied between the two clamps. The temperature of the specimen may be held constant by controlling the temperature within an environmental chamber through the use of a closed loop PID control system. The force against the specimen is dynamically loaded by a dynamic load reaction frame consisting of a shear load actuator and load reaction structure. A microprocessor-based controller operates the dynamic load reaction frame under closed loop control.

Abstract: A testing apparatus has an integral load cell element. The apparatus may be used to characterize a property of a sample on, for example, the mesoscale. The apparatus has a frame, at least one actuator and at least one displacement sensor. The apparatus may further include a controller and data acquisition equipment. At least one portion of the frame defines at least one flexure element that is capable of being displaced, by the actuator or a sample, along a rectilinear axis. The frame defining the flexure element has a platform and at least two parallel beams or springs supporting the platform. The portion of the frame defining the flexure element tends to restrict displacement of the sample rectilinearly along an axis that is parallel to the applied force. The arrangement also provides a counter-rotating associated with a cantilever spring assembly. An indentation testing apparatus is has the capability to indent a sample with an indenter.

Abstract: A tool is taught for measuring force transferred from a moving web to an idler roller. The tool includes a first drive shaft having a distal end adapted to be inserted into a capture bearing mounted on the idler roller. There is a torque meter rotationally driven by the first drive shaft through the rotation of the idler roller, the torque meter including a manual braking handle. The tool further includes a tachometer also rotationally driven by the first drive shaft through the rotation of the idler roller, the torque meter registering the force transferred by the moving web to the idler roller when the manual braking handle is operated to show a reduction in the rotational speed of the idler roller.

Abstract: Conduit integrity monitors enable the detection of defects or faults in conduits. One type of the conduit integrity monitor measures the bending stiffness of the conduit. A load cell device is used to detect a force applied by a bent conduit. Defective or damaged portions may cause an increase or decrease in bending stiffness that can be detected by the conduit integrity monitor. Another type of the conduit integrity monitor includes proximity sensors each measuring its distance to a predetermined layer of the conduit, such as a metallic reinforcement layer. Defects or damage in the conduit may cause the conduit to change shape, which can be detected by the proximity sensors.

Abstract: The invention relates to a transverse force sensor with a bridge circuit having strain-sensitive resistors, the strain-sensitive resistors being arranged immediately on a component on which bending forces act directly without intermediate support, as a result of which an electric signal corresponding to the strain of the thick-film resistors can be tapped at the bridge circuit.

Abstract: The present device, generates external force tending to open the O-ring formed by the thumb and another finger of the examiner and composed of a pair of artificial finger sections including two artificial fingers 8A and 8B. The artificial fingers 8A and 8B include two slender tubes 12 and 14 having corrugated wall faces, core members 16 for maintaining the parallel arrangement of the tubes 12 and 14, and thin bag-like covering members 18 consisting of a high polymer for covering the outer periphery of the tubes 12 and 14. Pump sections 10 for controlling movement of low viscosity hydraulic oil serving as a fluid sealed in fluid chambers 12a and 14a are integrally connected to base ends of the artificial fingers 8A and 8B.

Abstract: A dynamic-mechanical analysis device has a support with upright longitudinal axis. An electro-mechanical transducer introduces a mechanical force along a linear force transmission path parallel to the longitudinal axis into holder parts of a sample holder for receiving the sample which are deflectable along the force transmission path. The introduced mechanical force is coupled to the first holder part and the reaction force is supported on the second holder part. A measuring device measures the deflection of the holder parts relative to one another. An adjusting device with connector part is connected to the force transmission path and is adjustable transverse to the longitudinal axis along first and second spatial axes perpendicular to one another. It has a first carriage slidable along the first spatial axis, a pivot frame slidable on the first carriage, and a second carriage slidable on the pivot frame along the second spatial axis.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mechanical/electrical transducer with a bridge circuit having strain-sensitive resistors, the strain-sensitive resistors being arranged immediately on a component having an approximately rectangular cross section and on which torsional forces act directly without intermediate support, as a result of which, when the component is subjected to torsion, it is possible to tap at the bridge circuit an electric signal corresponding to the strain of the thick-film resistors.

Abstract: There is provided an improved panel tester and grader which is used for determining the strength and stiffness values for individually tested panels. In one aspect of the present invention, an improvement resides in providing an apparatus and method which more accurately determines when a panel is properly located within a test load zone such that certain measurements regarding the panels characteristics may be properly measured. These variables ultimately contribute to the calculated overall strength and stiffness values. Pairs of opposing rolls are provided to process the panels therebetween along a processing line. The opposing rolls each include a groove extending completely around their outer surfaces. The grooves of the opposing rolls are aligned so as to define respective channels extending between the pairs of opposing rolls. Individual location sensors are positioned relative to the channels to determine where the panels are located along the processing line at any given moment.

Abstract: A method is provided for testing structural-acoustic systems using a shaker table. The method includes subjecting a panel structure design to a computational acoustic load and a computational vibration load. The method then computes the ratio of the panel structure maximum response to the acoustic load to the panel structure maximum response to the vibration load. The ratio of these two maximum responses provides a conversion factor for linking an acoustic environment to a vibration environment. Using the conversion factor, the method converts a sonic pressure load for the panel structure to a vibration load. The vibration load is then applied to a panel structure using a shaker table.

Abstract: The invention relates to a bending moment sensor with a bridge circuit having strain-sensitive resistors, the strain-sensitive resistors being arranged immediately on a component on which bending forces act directly without intermediate support, it being possible upon bending of the component to tap at the bridge circuit an electric signal corresponding to the strain of the thick-film resistors.

Abstract: In the present device, means for generating external force tending to open the O-ring formed by the thumb and another finger of the examinee is composed of a pair of artificial finger sections including two artificial fingers 8A and 8B. The artificial fingers 8A and 8B include two slender tubes 12 and 14 having corrugated wall faces, core members 16 for maintaining the parallel arrangement of the tubes 12 and 14, and thin bag-like covering members 18 consisting of a high polymer for covering the outer periphery of the tubes 12 and 14. Pump sections 10 for controlling movement of low viscosity hydraulic oil serving as a fluid sealed in fluid chambers 12a and 14a are integrally connected to base ends of the artificial fingers 8A and 8B.

Abstract: A sensor including a sensing layer is disposed over an electrode or an optode and a layer-by-layer assembled mass transport limiting membrane disposed over the sensing layer. The membrane includes at least one layer of a polyanionic or polycationic material. The assembled layers of the membrane are typically disposed in an alternating manner. The sensor also optionally includes a biocompatible membrane.

Abstract: To detect by means of a long-baseline system the global bending strain of a structure (1), i.e. by detecting the accumulated local bending strains over a distance of at least two meters, detection lines (8, 11), preferably optical fiber lines, which indicate the extent of their elongation by an increased attenuation of the light pulses which run through them, are used. To detect the direction and the extent of the flexure of the structure (1), the latter is closely associated with a model comprising a matrix (13) which follows the flexural bending strains of the structure (1), and at least one, preferably two detection lines (8, 11) suitably located in the matrix cross-section so that their elongation variations and/or the differences between their respective elongation variations are indicative of the flexure of the model, which gives indications on the flexure of the structure (1).

Abstract: A dynamic-mechanical analysis device has a support with upright longitudinal axis. An electromechanical transducer introduces a mechanical force along a linear force transmission path parallel to the longitudinal axis into holder parts of a sample holder for receiving the sample which are deflectable along the force transmission path. The introduced mechanical force is coupled to the first holder part and the reaction force is supported on the second holder part. A measuring device measures the deflection of the holder parts relative to one another. An adjusting device with connector part is connected to the force transmission path and is adjustable transverse to the longitudinal axis along first and second spatial axes perpendicular to one another. It has a first carriage slidable along the first spatial axis, a pivot frame slidable on the first carriage, and a second carriage slidable on the pivot frame along the second spatial axis.

Abstract: A golf club shaft includes a first strain gauge attached to a first side of the shaft facing the striking direction, a second strain gauge attached to a second side of the shaft facing the address direction at right-angles to the striking direction, and a third strain gauge which is capable of measuring the twist of the shaft. Detection signals from the strain gauges are used to classify a shaft into four types according to the swing type of a golfer in accordance with at least torque or kick point.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for initiating fatigue related damage on a circumferential surface of a rotatable member resultant from application of a tensile stress condition and a superimposed contact stress condition. The apparatus includes structure for supporting the member for axial rotation, structure for applying a load to the member during the rotation thereof to create a bending moment at a predetermined axial location along the member and a resultant tensile stress condition on a circumferential surface thereof at a corresponding location. The apparatus further includes structure for creating a contact stress on the circumferential surface of the member at the predetermined location.