Abstract: A solid state starting and control circuit for AC motors employing a single phase power source is disclosed in which the normal motor starting capacitor and speed responsive switch or similar means for energizing and deenergizing the start winding are eliminated by use of an all electronic, sparkless circuit which provides phase displaced current to excite the motor starting winding and in which there is time regulated gradual decreasing of the starting current pulse width to deenergize the start winding.

Abstract: An improved drag link chain is fabricated from a plurality of links joined together in articulated relationship for moving bulk material along a trough or other conveying surface. The links are made having an open end and a closed end. The closed end includes a barrel having a flat side for pushing material. The barrel is disposed within the closed end with its flat side facing inwardly from the closed end toward the open end of the link. The barrel has a rounded back side that seats on a tooth of a sprocket so that a joint of articulation is caused between an inner diameter of a bore of the barrel and an outer diameter of a pin that joins together open and closed ends of tandemly connected links to form an endless drag chain. The barrels of the links, when engaged by teeth of a sprocket are seated thereon with no relative rotation therebetween and thereby avoid excessive wear on the barrels and the teeth of the sprocket.

Abstract: A solid state starting and control circuit for AC motors employing a single phase power source is disclosed in which the normal motor starting capacitor and speed responsive switch or similar means for energizing and deenergizing the start winding are eliminated by use of an all electronic, sparkless circuit which provides phase displaced current to excite the motor starting winding and in which there is time regulated gradual decreasing of the starting current pulse width to deenergize the start winding.

Abstract: A brake mechanism is disclosed wherein a support lever is pivoted at a pivot end to a stationary bearing plate and is urged by a plurality of springs, which engage the support lever radially inwardly from its pivot end, toward the end plate to effect clamping of a rotatable friction disc between the end plate and a brake shoe disposed near the pivot end of the support lever. A solenoid has a plunger pivotally connected directly to a bracket end of the support lever adapted to overcome the forces applied by the springs and release the brake when the solenoid is energized. The springs apply pressure in close proximity to the pivot point and with the solenoid being disposed at the remote free end of the support lever, there are achieved greater mechanical advantages without the need for complicated linkage assemblies. The arrangement of parts is such that the solenoid mechanical advantage is substantially 7 to 1, while the spring-set mechanical advantage is approximately 7 1/2 to 1.

Abstract: A motor starting circuit (10) is provided for disconnecting the start winding (14) of a single phase AC induction motor from an AC source (18) after a time delay. A start switch (22) in series with the start winding (14) controls energization and disconnection of the start winding (14). Turn-on of the start switch (22) is controlled by a turn-on switch 28 connected in parallel across the start switch (22) and not across the start winding (14). Turn-off of the start switch (22) is controlled by a cut-out switch (50) which in turn is controlled by an RC timing circuit (58, 60) connected across the AC source (14). A restart switch (64) may be added without changing the remaining circuitry. The restart switch (64) controls charging of the timing capacitor (60) and causes reconnection of the start winding (14) to the AC source (18) when motor speed drops below a given cut-in speed.

Abstract: A low cost, low part content single phase AC induction motor control starting circuit is provided which is speed sensitive, load sensitive and AC line voltage fluctuation insensitive. A dual comparator chip (20, 22) senses and compares relative magnitudes of AC line and auxiliary winding voltages (48, 40) to de-energize the auxiliary winding (2) at cut-out speed, and automatically re-energize the auxiliary winding at cut-in speed to accelerate or restart the motor from an overload or stall condition. Hysteresis circuitry (20, 50, 52, 57, 80) provides a lower cut-in speed than cut-out speed. Simplified power supply and voltage detection circuitry is also disclosed.

Abstract: Low cost, low part content motor control circuitry is provided, including blanking interval circuitry (42, 25) for preventing immediate connection of the start capacitor (5) of a single phase AC induction motor to the AC source (4) upon energization of the motor, to protect the start capacitor (5) and the start switch (6) against an overcurrent condition if the motor is de-energized while in the running mode and then re-energized while still coasting above a given speed, and to particularly prevent burn-out of the start capacitor (5) and/or start switch (6) upon reapplication of electrical power after a momentary power outage. Differently sized capacitors (42, 24) provide an early cross-over of auxiliary winding voltage relative to main winding voltage at the input of a quad comparator chip (31-34) to disable a turn-on signal for the start switch (6).

Abstract: Blanking interval circuitry (106, 108, 110, 104) is disclosed for preventing immediate connection of the start capacitor (5) of an AC motor to the AC source (4) upon energization of the motor, to protect the motor against an overcurrent condition if the motor is de-energized while in the running mode and then re-energized while still coasting above a given speed, and to particularly prevent burn out of the start capacitor (5) and/or start switch (10) upon reapplication of electrical power after a momentary power outage. The start capacitor (5) is disconnected from the AC source (4) during a time delay blanking interval regardless of whether auxiliary winding voltage is above or below a given cut-in value relative to main winding voltage as a function of motor speed corresponding to a given cut-in speed.

Abstract: In a single phase AC induction motor having a main winding (1) and an auxiliary winding (2) both connectable to an AC power source (4), and having a start switch (6, 74) for automatically connecting and disconnecting the auxiliary winding (2) to and from the AC source (4) in starting and running modes, respectively, and having a user operated reversing switch (207-212) for reversing the voltage polarity applied from the AC source (4) to one of the windings relative to the other winding, low cost circuitry is provided for detecting the polarity reversal by sensing when one of the main and auxiliary winding voltages shifts from a leading to a lagging position relative to the other winding voltage, whereupon the circuit automatically instantly reconnects the auxiliary winding (2) to the AC source (4) to immediately apply reverse torque.

Abstract: A device is provided that begins an electrical starting mode in a parallel circuit configuration providing an improved speed of response and after an interval of time, current is switched to a series circuit configuration for operation during a run mode. The device is initially energized at several times the power normally required to activate a coil and switching means is thereafter utilized to reduce power to a normal requirement soon after the coil is energized. Specific hardware is provided in the form of schematic diagrams for defining the operation of the invention.

Abstract: A motor starting control circuit is provided with an auxiliary switch (100), including a triac (102) and series resistor (114), connected across the start capacitor (5) for quickly discharging the start capacitor (5) upon disconnection of the start capacitor (5) from the AC source (4). This enables a lower rated start switch (6) by eliminating extra voltage thereacross caused by an otherwise charged start capacitor (5).

Abstract: In a single phase AC motor having a main winding (1) and an auxiliary winding (2) both connectable to an AC power source (4), and having a start switch (24, 49) for automatically connecting and disconnecting the auxiliary winding to and from the AC source (4) in starting and running modes, respectively, and having a user operated reversing switch (7-12) for reversing the voltage polarity applied from the AC source (4) to one of the windings relative to the other winding, circuitry is provided for detecting the polarity reversal by sensing when one of the main and auxiliary winding voltages shifts from a leading to a lagging position relative to the other winding voltage, whereupon the circuit automatically instantly reconnects the auxiliary winding (2) to the AC source (4) to immediately apply reverse torque.

Abstract: A low cost, low part content single phase AC induction motor control starting circuit is provided which is speed sensitive, load sensitive and AC line voltage fluctuation insensitive. A quad comparator chip (61-64) senses and compares relative magnitudes of main and auxiliary winding voltages (30, 32 and 42) to de-energize the auxiliary winding (2) at cut-out speed, and automatically re-energize the auxiliary winding (2) at cut-in speed to accelerate or restart the motor from a stall or overload condition. Simplified power supply and voltage detection circuitry is also disclosed.

Abstract: A control circuit (10) is provided for automatically re-applying starting torque to a single phase AC induction motor by reconnecting the auxiliary or starting winding (2) to the AC power source (3) if the motor has not accelerated to a given cut-out speed, or otherwise begins to stall. Multiple reconnections of the auxiliary winding (2) are automatically provided as needed, without external intervention, to provide multiple bumping action. The auxiliary winding (2) is connected to the AC source (3) during initial energization of the motor, and is disconnected after a given starting interval. Induced voltage in the auxiliary winding (2) is sensed and compared against a reference voltage (17) for reconnecting the auxiliary winding (2) when the sensed auxiliary winding voltage drops below a given value relative to the reference voltage. The disconnecting, sensing and reconnecting functions are accomplished with a minimum number of components.

Abstract: A conveyor adaptable for bending in vertical and horizontal planes having a central guide and drive, steel base chain capable of being driven in two planes and a continuous, horizontal, carrying surface formed by a plurality of removable, non-metallic top plates having flexible, outwardly extending, finger members interlaced between one another and adaptable for slidable engagement and flexural movement when the conveyor moves in either a horizontal or a vertical plane.

Abstract: A speed sensitive, load sensitive and AC line voltage fluctuation insensitive, motor starting system is provided for an AC motor having a main winding (1) and an auxiliary winding (2) both connectable across an AC power source (3). Relative magnitudes of main and auxiliary winding voltages are sensed and compared. The auxiliary winding is disconnected (5) from the AC source when the auxiliary winding voltage, including the components from the AC source and from rotationally induced voltage, rises above a predetermined value relative to the main winding voltage as a function of motor speed. After starting, when the motor is in a run mode and the auxiliary winding is disconnected from the AC source, only the rotationally induced auxiliary winding voltage is sensed.

Abstract: A device is provided that begins an electrical starting mode in a parallel circuit configuration providing an improved speed of response and after an interval of time, current is switched to a series circuit configuration for operation during a run mode. The device is initially energized at several times the power normally required to activate a coil and switching means is thereafter utilized to reduce power to a normal requirement soon after the coil is energized.

Abstract: In an AC motor having a main winding (1) and a start winding (2) both connectable to an AC power source (3), and having a switch (22) for disconnecting the start winding from the AC source, an improved control circuit for the switch is provided. A pulse generator (15) responds to main and start winding or capacitor voltage sensors (11 and 12) for generating a first set of variable width output pulses (16) having a width determined by the phase differential between the voltages. A comparator timer (17) responds to the pulse generator for outputting a second set of variable width pulses (18) having a width determined by the amount of which the pulse width of the pulses of first set (16) exceed a selected duration (42). An output pulse detector (20) responds to the comparator timer for detecting the second set of variable width pulses and outputs a delayed turn-off signal (21) to the switch (22).

Abstract: A magnetic clutch for selectively connecting a rotatable input shaft to a rotatable output hub using magnetic flux. An output disc connected to the output hub is mounted between a pair of input discs connected to the input shaft. Magnetic flux passing through the output disc and the input disc clamps the output discs between the input discs. The magnetic flux linking the input and output discs provide additional torque to cause the output disc to rotate along with the input disc, so a relatively small clutch can provide a large output torque.

Abstract: A control circuit for connecting and disconnecting an electronic motor brake with an AC motor and a source of AC power over electromechanical relay contacts wherein opto-coupled circuits operatively control energization and de-energization of a braking circuit with minimal time delay and provide operational response of the relay contacts in a substantially sparkless manner to promote contact life.