Abstract: An improved prony brake dynamometer capable of measuring the power of a prime mover's rotating shaft connected to a cylinder brake drum rotating around a newly designed dual quad power stator (DQPS), with hydraulic pressure equalizer plate (HPEP), controlled by an electronic load control system with inline cooling system (ELCS), cooled by a 270-degree water distribution manifold (WDM). The improvements of the DQPS and HPEP result in maximizing the pressure applied by the stator over the entire surface area of the rotor drum, thereby maximizing the coefficient of friction at the kinetic point of energy and increasing load capacity over previous models. The addition of the ELCS increases the number of potential settings of hydraulic pressure, resulting in thousands of power settings, as opposed to previous models using manual load control valves. The WDM cools the dynamometer load absorption unit more efficiently than previous models.

Abstract: A wear volume estimation device estimates a wear volume of a brake pad of a vehicle. A wear volume function expresses the wear volume as a function of a vehicle speed, a brake pressure, and a brake duration. The wear volume estimation device calculates the wear volume by using the wear volume function. Moreover, the wear volume estimation device estimates a temperature of a contact surface of the brake pad that comes in contact with a brake rotor, and updates temperature history information indicating at least a temperature history of the contact surface based on the temperature of the contact surface. The wear volume estimation device variably sets the wear volume function according to the temperature history of the contact surface indicated by the temperature history information acquired at a time of previous braking.

Abstract: A caliper measurement force detecting device includes a fixed unit that is securely attached to a slider so as not to displace relative to the slider; a movable unit that is provided to allow a slight displacement relative to the fixed unit along a direction parallel to a displacement direction of the slider; and pressure detectors that are arranged between the fixed unit and the movable unit and are provided so as to detect pressure applied in the direction parallel to the displacement direction of the slider. The movable unit includes an alternative finger hook that is arranged near a finger hook of the slider and serves as an operator that pushes and pulls the slider instead of the finger hook of the slider.

Abstract: A tailstock assembly includes a housing, a torque cell supported on the housing and configured to measure loads in a first load range, and a load cell supported on the housing and configured to measure loads in a second load range that is different from the first load range. The tailstock assembly is configured so that the torque cell can be selectively mechanically isolated from the housing. In particular, the torque cell and the load cell are supported on the housing through a low friction bearing, and the tailstock assembly can be selectively switched between a first measurement mode in which the torque cell is fixed to the housing, and a second measurement mode in which the torque cell is mechanically isolated from housing via the bearing. The tailstock assembly may be used as part of a brake dynamometer for accurately measuring both active braking torques and residual drag torques.

Abstract: A method for monitoring brake torque of an elevator having a motor is provided. The method may engage an elevator brake for a predefined duration, determine a displacement of an output shaft of the motor during the predefined duration, and generate an alert if the displacement exceeds a predefined threshold.

Abstract: The magnetoinductive flowmeter measures the flow volume of a medium traveling through a measuring tube, with a magnet that serves to generate a magnetic field permeating the measuring tube that has a magnetic-field component that extends perpendicular to the direction of flow. The flowmeter also includes a first measuring electrode and a second measuring electrode for collecting a voltage induced in the medium, a reference electrode, as well as a preamplifier to which the potentials collected by the two measuring electrodes are fed. A control circuit element is provided for controlling the common-mode input voltage of the preamplifier and/or the potential span of the dynamic range of the preamplifier in such fashion that the said common-mode input voltage of the preamplifier corresponds to approximately half the maximum output voltage of the preamplifier. This concept also permits the use of preamplifiers that operate with a low supply voltage such as 0/5 V. A measuring method is also disclosed.

Abstract: In a rotary sensor according to the present invention, when a casing expands or contracts by changes in the external environment, relative sliding operation is performed between a rotator and a first elastic member in an axial direction of a drive shaft, so that a gap between the rotator and an insulating substrate need not change during expansion or contraction of the casing due to the external environment and/or during the movement of the drive shaft in the axial direction. Hence, the position of a sliding contact contacting a resistor pattern does not change so as to have excellent performances while when the drive shaft rapidly rotates, the first elastic member cannot be twisted, preventing the rotator from delaying the rotational transmission so as to have the excellent followingness of the rotator to the drive shaft.

Abstract: A screwer test bench comprises a coupling (12) designed for connection with the head of a screwer and connected to a controlled braking unit (14) and a sensor unit (15) for detection of mechanical magnitudes transmitted between the coupling and the braking unit. The braking unit (14) comprises a thin cap (17,117) constrained to said coupling (12) at least in the direction of rotation and arranged between a first pressure surface (22) thrust axially against the cap by an actuator (19) and a second fixed opposition surface (11).

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for noncontact measurement of torque applied to a torque-bearing member such as a shaft. The method involves the use of a piezoelectric transducer mechanically coupled to the shaft for rotation therewith, and having electrical characteristics responsive to applied torque. Electrical signal characteristics are changed by the torque-dependent transducer characteristics. The electrical signals are coupled to the outside (non-rotating) world by at least one capacitive coupler. In one embodiment, an fixed-frequency oscillator produces signal, and the transmission of the signal is affected by the torque-dependent resonant frequency of the transducer. In another embodiment, the transducer is coupled in the feedback loop of a circuit to form an oscillator, in which the frequency is responsive to the torque. A transducer may be placed and distributed in a protective holder. The holder may be pierced in particular locations in order to increase or decrease its sensitivity.

Abstract: A disk 10 attached to the shaft 12 of an engine 6 is loaded by a disk brake 14 having hydraulic fluid under pressure applied thereto by a manual pump 35. The disk brake is mounted on a pendulum 23 which is suspended freely on a shaft 25 which is coaxial with, but independent of, the shaft of the engine. The torque loading by the brake is indicated by measuring the force which the pendulum 23 applies to a force transducer 42 or a torque meter 50. Instead of the pendulum, the disk brake may be supported on a sliding bracket 22a or a flexure 56.