Meggitt Sensing Systems, Endevco®
model 72-60K piezoresistive shock accelerometer

Meggitt Sensing Systems, Endevco® model 72-60K piezoresistive shock accelerometer. As the newest member of its popular model 72 series, the sensor offers a 60,000 g measurement range, light gas damping and best-in-class four times over-range shock survivability.  The series is designed to support a variety of high-reliability acceleration, vibration and shock measurements, and especially, the long duration shocks found in weapons testing, missiles and munitions, fuze/safe and arm and high-shock data recorder applications.

Design of the Endevco® model 72-60K features a patented, monolithic, four-active arm bridge circuit design (U.S. patent number 6,988,412) incorporating the use of Meggitt's own proprietary sensing element, all manufactured in-house at its ISO9001 certified MEMS facility in Sunnyvale, California, USA. The element is housed within a low-profile, miniature, seam sealed leadless chip carrier (LCC) package, weighing just 0.16 gram, for minimized mass loading effects and ease of SMT mounting. Included integral mechanical stops at a minimum of 2X allow for 1.5X linear over-range for increased ruggedness and reduced likelihood of breakage under overload conditions.

The Endevco® model 72-60K piezoresistive shock accelerometer. As the newest member of its popular model 72 series, the sensor offers a 60,000 g measurement range, light gas damping and best-in-class four times over-range shock survivability.  

The Endevco® model 72 series also offers a Class 3 rating (>4000 V - Human Body Model) and integral ESD protection against potential process damage.  A combination of light gas damping and mechanical overtravel stops serves to attenuate resonance and dramatically enhance shock survivability, even in applications where actual shock levels may not be known. The model 72-60K also exhibits excellent performance stability and frequency response extending down to DC (steady state), with low power consumption and optional input voltage.  All units are fully factory tested at full-scale range to ensure minimal zero shift after shock, ensuring their exceptional reliability and performance within demanding environments.

Recommended accessories for the model 72-60K include the model 126 three-channel DC bridge amplifier; the model 136 three-channel signal conditioner; and the model 436 DC differential voltage amplifier. Please note, global sale of this product is subject to International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and as such, a license is required for all non-US shipments, with the product also potentially subject to other restrictions on its sale and use. Please consult the factory for details. 

For further information, view website: www.meggitt.com  Refer to page  68

New wire rope isolators from AAC are designed
for heavy-duty military and industrial applications

A new Series of 70 wire rope isolators from Advanced Antivibration Components (AAC) feature multiaxial shock and vibration protection, corrosion-resistance, maintenance-free operation. These mounts are featured at the AAC eStore where you can order online, request a quote, download CAD models, check stock plus view catalog and technical pages.

The cable itself is made from stainless steel and the mounting plates are made of aluminum. These cable mounts, identified as V10Z70-... Series are stocked in 1/16", 3/32", 1/8", 5/32", 3/16", 1/4", 3/8", 1/2", 5/8", and 7/8" diameter cable. They have a wide range of applications which include their use in: military applications, electronic racks, shipboard electronics & equipment, rotating equipment (pumps, generators, compressors), aerospace, on and off road transport.

AAC stocks a wide range of shock & vibration isolation products which include: stud & nut type mounts, base plate fastened mounts, wheels, leveling & foot mounts, suspension mounts, spring, steel mesh & cable mounts, bumpers, and channel mounts, bushings & grommets, pads & tapes, and couplings. These products are stocked in different materials including: rubber, neoprene, urethane, sorbothane, stainless steel mesh and springs. Many are suitable for use in extreme environmental conditions. Of special interest is a complete selection of Silicone Gel floor mounts, pads, sheets, plus paste-type thermal gel.
 
Detailed specifications are contained in Catalogs V100 and V115, available free upon request from Advanced Antivibration Components (AAC), 2101 Jericho Turnpike, New Hyde Park, NY 11042-5416. Fax: 516-326-3365, Website: http://www.vibrationmounts.com/newproducts/WireRope.htm  Refer to page 165

Thorite helps underwater vehicles stay watertight

The UK's biggest pneumatic products and process systems distributor, Thorite, has designed and supplied a package of test equipment to Aberdeen-based NCS Survey, the leading independent UK Offshore Survey company.

The test equipment is based around a Vuototecnica electric vacuum pump, with all additional components preassembled for fast operational deployment, to test the water tightness of NCS Survey's Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs).

The AUVs are torpedo-sized survey submersibles manufactured by Teledyne Gavia, which NCS Survey uses in its core business of providing survey and positioning solutions for the upstream Oil & Gas, Offshore Renewables, Hydrography, Ports & Harbours and Telecommunication industries. Each AUV is constructed in "plug-together" modules around 500mm in length, which can be assembled in various formats to change the operating functions of each submersible. The Thorite equipment enables each of the seals between modules to be vacuum tested in the field, to ensure there can be no water ingress during dives.

Alan McDonald, NCS Survey's Engineering Manager, has been impressed with Thorite's capabilities and said: "Although relatively small in size our AUVs are extremely sophisticated seabed mapping vehicles which can carry side scan sonar, multi-beam echo sounders and cameras to produce highly detailed 3D underwater images. The Thorite equipment is currently being used to test AUVs that are monitoring the scouring effects of tides and currents around the seabed foundations of offshore turbine locations. It was a pleasure to deal with Thorite, particularly Clive Halliday, their Process and Vacuum Manager, who provided proactive, enthusiastic and knowledgeable advice. His helpful approach and immediate grasp of our unusual requirements enabled specialist equipment to be sourced and assembled quickly and efficiently - and I'm delighted I selected his company after searching the web for a possible supplier."

A Designed and supplied  package of test equipment from Thorite.

NCS Survey is part of the Acteon group of companies. There are 17 companies in the group, possessing unique experience, skills and technologies that link seabed to surface across the entire life of the field.

For further information, e-mail: ross.gowler@thorite.co.uk or view website: www.thorite.co.uk 

It all hinges on EMKA

So ubiquitous are hinges in our everyday life as access solutions that if "the hinge" did not exist it would be a really urgent matter to invent it - and EMKA would be right up there at the front of the development program! EMKA's hinge program covers a welter of approaches to providing that simple axis point in engineering space where door and cabinet, panel and machine can come together, with a degree of freedom that enables the mechanism to operate.

Once invented, the hinge of itself was not the problem - the problem then was and still is - how to provide ways of fitting the hinge while enabling all the other constraints to be met. This is where EMKA's development engineers have provided very practical solutions. Andy Billingham, M.D. of EMKA UK explains: "Hinge requirements vary tremendously - consequently we offer everything we can from weld-on flap hinges to cast butt types, screw-on, clip-on, pop-in, plastic, steel, cast and stainless variants."

Good examples would be for overhead gantry signs, air conditioning units, generator sets, display windows etc.

Design engineers with experience of electrical/electronic cabinet design will appreciate that these are common but specialist applications - just "any old" hinge from a trade supplier will rarely do the job properly or look right, or both. Consequently a perennial problem for specialist enclosure producers is the correct specification and cost effective fitment of suitable hinges.

EMKA have very much taken this to heart and have developed probably the largest offering of specialist hinges available designed to suit the electrical and electronic industries and addresses the hinging of prominent/lay-on doors with 23 different groupings of hinge types developed in parallel with the growth in electrical and electronic industries. The EMKA standardised solutions are special purpose designs to match a defined range of applications, environments and performance criteria, with each type available in various sizes to suit door rigidity, sealing requirements, door loading etc.

EMKA prominent door hinges feature weld-on or fully finished items with traditional screw fixings or fast fixing possibilities. Opening capabilities of 120 degrees to 180 degrees are available as are removable pins or lift-off facilities to speed installation.

In addition EMKA offer a custom hinge capability - a recent example being for a vehicle trailer genset access door requiring an "articulated action" so that the door could be pulled to the side and then swing open with very specific angle and clearance parameters. This was injection moulded in 6 parts with 4 stainless steel pins giving 3 pivot points - the 4^th pin enabling rapid demount of the door.

EMKA's hinge manufacturing technologies encompass mild steel, die-cast zinc, glass-reinforced thermo-plastic and stainless steel, to suit the environmental and aesthetic requirements of the situation. Hinge selection for cabinets with prominent doors really is not now a difficult matter, especially since EMKA's website includes a simple drill-down architecture for guidance.

For further information on EMKA products and services or to download the EMKA product catalogue, view website: www.emka.co.uk  Refer to page 46

Elesa lever handles - simple leverage for everyday clamping

Lever handles fill a gap between wing knobs and handwheels, where the level of force required for clamping is matched by a single handed manual operation. The Elesa range in steel, reinforced technopolymer and stainless steel provides single and double lever configurations for situations in the workshop or on mobile equipment where location or construction are called for.

In addition to simple male/female lever handles, Elesa offer cam levers - where clamping force may be previously determined and coupled with a cam action for rapid closure or release.

For further information regarding Elesa products, view website: www.elesa.co.uk   Refer to page 42