According to one embodiment, a sensor includes a sensing element portion and a first magnetic portion. The sensing element portion includes a supporter, a deformable film portion supported by the supporter, and a first element including a magnetic layer and being provided at the film portion. The first magnetic portion is separated from the sensing element portion. The first magnetic portion includes a plurality of first holes. A width of one of the plurality of first holes along a second direction is narrower than a length of the sensing element portion along the second direction and wider than a length of the first element along the second direction. The second direction crosses a first direction from the film portion toward the first element.

A sensor assembly includes a body having a guide surface. A sensor head is mounted to the body. An elongated sensing element has a first end connected to the sensor head and a second end extending away from the first end along the body along a path of measurement. A first portion of the elongated sensing element extends from a sensor head bends by the guide surface so as to align a second portion of the sensing element with the path of measurement. A member is positionable along the path of measurement adjacent the second portion of the sensing element.

A sensor for detecting an amount of current flowing in a wire wherein displacement of a sensing mirror is used in an interferometer to enable determination of the amount of current. The sensor includes a magnetostrictive element located within a magnetic field formed by the wire. The sensor also includes a position sensor that detects a size increase of the magnetostrictive element. In addition, the sensor includes an amplifying device that amplifies the size increase of the magnetostrictive element by a predetermined amplification factor to provide an amplified size increase. Further, the sensor includes a displacement device that displaces the sensing mirror by an amount corresponding to the amplified size increase.

A method for operating a magnetostrictive displacement measuring device, having a wave guide for guiding at least one mechanical wave, at least one damping zone, a magnetic position encoder which is displaceably arranged along a measuring range of the position measuring device and a detection unit, generates the at least one mechanical wave by an excitation signal (IP) having a clock frequency (f.sub.1, f.sub.2), at least two mechanical waves having respectively different clock frequencies (f.sub.1, f.sub.2, f) being generated. The clock frequencies can be predetermined such that interfering reflections (R.sub.11, R.sub.12) occur at different positions (x.sub.11, x.sub.21, x.sub.2) of the measuring range of the displacement measurement device, and during the method of the position encoder, switching between the different clock frequencies (f.sub.1, f.sub.2, f) takes place, such that the interfering reflections (R.sub.11, R.sub.12) on the respective different positions (x.sub.11, x.sub.21, x.sub.22) of the measuring range are masked out.

A magnetostrictive displacement measuring apparatus is proposed, comprising at least one measuring probe which is of flexurally flexible configuration and comprises a waveguide, and comprising a magnetic position marker which couples to the at least one measuring probe in a non-contact manner, wherein the waveguide is supported in an elastic, flexible support tube and the flexible support tube is positioned in a carrier tube, wherein the flexible support tube is, on an outer side thereof, provided with indentations facing the carrier tube and wherein material of the carrier tube is arranged in the indentations.

A manufacturing method of a fluid pressure cylinder includes inserting the sensor rod into a hole extending in the piston rod, holding the sensor body with respect to the piston rod by using a holding member mounted on the piston rod, inserting the piston rod into the cylinder tube, and fixing the sensor body to the cylinder tube by fixing the holding member to the cylinder tube.

A device for determining the angle of a rotating component is provided. The device includes a magnetostrictive sensor structure which is coupled to a transmitter and at least one receiver, and along which a magnet is secured to the moving component moves. The transmitter and the receiver(s) are connected to an electronic analysis unit for determining the position of the moving component based on a transit time between the transmitter and a saturation zone and back from the saturation zone to the receiver(s). The transmitted signal is reflected on the saturation zone produced in the magnetostrictive sensor structure by the magnet.

A magnetostrictive sensor apparatus is provided, comprising at least one magnetic position marker, at least one sensing member with a waveguide to which the at least one magnetic position marker is contactlessly coupled, a detector coil device which is associated with the at least one sensing member, a data processing device which determines a time profile with a shape over time of signals of the detector coil device, wherein a recording of the time profile is provided, and an analysis device which analyzes the time profile.

A position sensor comprises a waveguide of a magnetostrictive material, which extends along a measurement path and which is configured for conducting mechanical pulses triggered by magnetostriction, and a housing for the waveguide. A positioning element is provided which is elastic at least regionally; which is held in the housing while being deformed; and which has a recess which extends along the measurement path and forms a receiver for the waveguide. In the position sensor in accordance with the invention, the recess has a slit which extends along the measurement path; which, viewed in a cross-sectional plane, reaches from a reception section up to a boundary of the positioning element; and which enables a lateral insertion of the waveguide into the reception section. The invention furthermore comprises a method of manufacturing a position sensor in accordance with the invention.

This disclosure relates to the inspection of train wheels while mounted on a train that is moving on a railroad track. A magnetostrictive EMAT transducer is built using an RF Coil, a static biasing magnetic field, and a strip of highly magnetostrictive material. This magnetostrictive EMAT transducer is subsequently attached to a rail on the track so the wheel tread of the moving train can contact and apply downward pressure on the magnetostrictive EMAT transducer. A mechanism under the transducer provides enough counterforce to pressure-couple the transducer with the tread of the wheel. Once the transducer is ultrasonically coupled with the wheel, an ultrasonic instrument sends a pulse to the transducer generating a Shear Horizontal wave that travels circumferentially following the tread body. The Shear Horizontal wave generated with this magnetostrictive strip EMAT transducer penetrates deep into the wheel tread and permits detection of both surface and internal defects.