The invention comprises a device and method to estimate the elasticity of soft elastic solids from surface wave measurements. The method is non-destructive, reliable and repeatable. The final device is low-cost and portable. It is based in audio-frequency shear wave propagation in elastic soft solids. Within this frequency range, shear wavelength is centimeter sized. Thus, the experimental data is usually collected in the near-field of the source. Therefore, an inversion algorithm taking into account near-field effects was developed for use with the device. Example applications are shown in beef samples, tissue mimicking materials and in vivo skeletal muscle of healthy volunteers.

An electromechanical cylinder contains a casing, an actuating rod mounted so as to be able to move longitudinally relative to the casing, an electric motor provided with a rotating rotor shaft, a mechanism for transforming a rotational movement of the rotor shaft of the electric motor into a linear translational movement of the actuating rod, and at least one bearing for guiding the rotor shaft of the electric motor in rotation relative to the casing and for supporting the rotor shaft. The cylinder further contains a sleeve that is fastened to the casing and inside which is mounted the bearing, and at least one load sensor that is mounted on the sleeve while being offset axially relative to the bearing.

A torque sensor apparatus capable of suppressing the behavior of a vehicle when the vehicle breaks down even when an adhesive between a magnet and a sleeve is peeled off is provided. The torque sensor apparatus includes a rotor and a stator that are rotatable relative to each other and are respectively fixed to an input shaft and an output shaft. The torque sensor apparatus includes a sleeve, fixed to the input shaft and fixed to the magnet of the rotor; a position regulating portion, disposed on the magnet and restricting a rotational position of the magnet and the sleeve; and a protruding portion, disposed on the sleeve and installed corresponding to the position regulating portion. A front end of the protruding portion is enlarged along a circumferential direction of the sleeve.

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for payload estimation and fault detection using hitch integrated sensors. An example apparatus includes a pin orientation determiner to determine a first orientation of a first pin and a second orientation of a second pin, the first pin and the second pin disposed within a hitch and calculate a relative orientation of the first pin and the second pin based on the first orientation and the second orientation. The example apparatus further includes a hitch condition detector to determine if a physical change has occurred in the hitch by comparing the relative orientation to an installation orientation of the first pin and the second pin.

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for payload estimation and fault detection using hitch integrated sensors. An example apparatus includes a pin orientation determiner to determine a first orientation of a first pin and a second orientation of a second pin, the first pin and the second pin disposed within a hitch and calculate a relative orientation of the first pin and the second pin based on the first orientation and the second orientation. The example apparatus further includes a hitch condition detector to determine if a physical change has occurred in the hitch by comparing the relative orientation to an installation orientation of the first pin and the second pin.

A properly calibrated load-cell is critical for the safe operation of a rod-pumping system. Load readings are utilized for shutdown thresholds, and incorrect measurements can cause those safe load limits to be exceeded. Correct surface load, combined with position measurement, is also important for the diagnosis of the complete pumping system. The diagnostic method for calculating down-hole conditions presents an interesting opportunity to validate surface load measurements, even from the incorrect load measurements themselves. The calculated down-hole dynamometer card will be transposed on a distinct diagonal with respect to both load and position, if the input surface load measurements are incorrect. A load offset can then be identified from this shifting and the surface load measurements can be corrected. Calculated pump cards have been traditionally aligned with the surface dyno card position, and so this diagonal pump card shifting correlation with incorrect, or unexpected, surface load has not been realized.

A system for detecting the operational status of a ground engaging tool of a tillage implement including an agricultural implement including a frame and a tool assembly supported relative to the frame. The ganged tool assembly includes a toolbar coupled to the frame and one or more ground engaging tools coupled to the toolbar. The system further includes a sensor coupled to the tool assembly and configured to capture data indicative of a load acting on the one or more ground engaging tools. Additionally, the system includes a controller configured to monitor the data received from the sensor and compare at least one monitored value associated with the load acting on the ground engaging tool(s). Moreover, the controller is further configured to identify the ground engaging tool(s) as being plugged when the monitored value(s) differs from the predetermined threshold value.

A personal impact monitoring system is described herein comprising a monitoring station that receives impact events sent from personal impact monitors using a monitoring station receiver. The impact events which specify impact parameters associated with the impact events are stored in a data storage location associated with the monitoring station. Software operating on the operating station is configured to receive the impact events from the data storage location and to perform calculations based on the impact events to identify notable impact events.

A personal impact monitoring system is described herein comprising a monitoring station that receives impact events sent from personal impact monitors using a monitoring station receiver. The impact events which specify impact parameters associated with the impact events are stored in a data storage location associated with the monitoring station. Software operating on the operating station is configured to receive the impact events from the data storage location and to perform calculations based on the impact events to identify notable impact events.

A measurement device for a vehicle seat includes a memory; a processor coupled to the memory; a headrest body of a headrest; a first side section of the headrest that is swingable toward a seat front side so as to support the neck of the vehicle occupant; a second side section of the headrest that is swingable toward the seat front side so as to support the neck of the vehicle occupant; a first electrode provided at the first side section and contacting the neck in a state in which the first side section is supporting the neck; and a second electrode provided at the second side section and contacting the neck in a state in which the second side section is supporting the neck. The processor is configured to acquire a waveform of a potential difference based on the potential difference between the first electrode and the second electrode over time.