Abstract: An improved support ring (50) is disclosed for supporting a plurality of planetary gear sets (20) which are driven by a centrally disposed input shaft (12) having a sun gear (16) attached thereto in which the planetary gear sets are subject to radially inward loads. The support ring (50) includes an inner ring (52) and an outer ring (57). The inner ring (52) has a bore (54) which is disposed around the input shaft (12) and an outside surface (56) and the outer ring (57) has a bore (58) with a diameter greater than the diameter of the outside surface of the inner ring. The outside surface (60) of the outer ring rotatably supports the planetary gear sets (20). Preferably, the outer ring (57) has a spring rate which is less than the inner ring (52) to readily permit absorption of radial loads when the outer ring does not contact the inner ring. A retaining ring (62) may be provided to maintain a fixed axial relationship between the inner (52) and outer rings (57).

Abstract: An apparatus (9) is disclosed for determining the volume of liquid (18) in a container (1) which is being provided with an in flow and an out flow of liquid such that there normally remains an ullage volume (8) in the container filled with gas. A timer (13) actuated valve (11) is provided for interrupting one of the in flow and the out flow of liquid. A pressure sensor (10) detects the pressure of the gas in the ullage volume (8) of the container (1) during the interruption of the one of the in flow and out flow of the liquid, and a microprocessor (14) calculates the volume of liquid (18) in the container (1) from the detected change in pressure of the gas during the interruption.

Abstract: A self-aligning bearing assembly, especially adapted for use in space, contains lubrication passages to provide a stiff fluid film to support a rotating member. One or more anti-rotation pins extend between the ball and race members which allow a small articulating motion without full rotation of the ball member and race member relative to one another.

Abstract: An overtravel stop for a rotary shaft (12) is disclosed having first and second embodiments. In the first embodiment, braking torque for the shaft is supplied by the restriction by valve (14) of at least hydraulic fluid flowing in low pressure hydraulic fluid return line (18) from a hydraulic motor (22) which is connected to the shaft by a drive unit (24) in response to movement of a movable stop (34, 36) to a travel limit along an axial travel path to stop the hydraulic motor. In the second embodiment, braking torque for the shaft is supplied by a combination of a mechanical stop produced by the interaction of stop jaws (82, 84) which are respectively carried by an axially movable annular member (32) and a fixed stop (86) and the restriction of at least the low pressure hydraulic return fluid line (18) by a valve (14).

Abstract: An intermittently assisted hydrostatic bearing (10) for a hydraulic apparatus having a rotatable surface which is periodically assisted from a pressure balance of less than 100% to a pressure balance greater than 100% pressure balance includes a pressurized fluid supply source (28) for supplying a pressurized fluid, a supply channel (30, 31, 32 and 34) for supplying pressurized fluid from the pressurized fluid supply source to a point (36) between cooperating opposed bearing surfaces (24) and a pressure producing device (48) which communicates with the fluid supply channel and in response to a command signal causes the hydrostatic bearing to attain a greater than 100% pressure balance. The invention further includes a check valve (60) positioned in the supply channel (32) to prevent the reverse flow of fluid into the pressurized fluid supply source (28).

Abstract: An improved DC to DC conveter is disclosed which is highly stable and has a highly regulated ouptut voltage. A pulse width modulator drives a switch for interrupting the flow of current through an inductor. A combination of feed forward and feedback control of the pulse width modulator is provided with the majority of control being provided by the feed forward component. The pulse width of the pulses from the width modulator is directly proportional to the feed forward and feedback components of the pulse duration control signal. Preferably, approximately 75%-90% of the pulse duration control signal is provided by the feed forward component.

Abstract: A constant spark rate ignition exciter is disclosed which functions to store a predetermined constant amount of energy in an energy storage element of an ignition system independent of power supply variations. A first embodiment of the invention is a capacitive discharge ignition system. A second embodiment of the invention is an inductive discharge ignition system. Each embodiment produces the constant frequency ignition pulses by the counting of a predetermined count in a counter. The interval during which energy is stored in energy storage elements of the embodiments of the invention is determined by sensing the power supply potential and controlling the time interval for coupling the power supply to the energy storage element in a manner which is inversely proportional to the sensed voltage.

Abstract: A constant energy ignition system is disclosed. A first programmable one shot multivibrator controls the dwell of an energy storage device and the firing time to produce an ignition pulse from the stored energy. A second programmable one shot multivibrator, having a duty cycle inversely proportional to the power supply voltage provides the time base for the dwell. A control signal, proportional to the difference of the integrals of the outputs of the first and second one shot multivibrators controls the duty cycle of the first programmable one shot multivibrator.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing hermetically sealed circuit assemblies (10) having circuit elements (74, 76, 78 and 80) to be compression bonded, a hermetically sealed circuit assembly having circuit elements to be compression bonded and a stack containing at least one hermetically sealed circuit assembly having circuit elements which are compression bonded is disclosed. Uniform thickness of individual hermetically sealed circuit assemblies measured across columns (22-30) is insured by positioning deformable spacers (124-132) in the columns containing the circuit elements to be compression bonded, and deforming the deformable spacers so that a surface of each of the deformed spacers lies within a single plane. Thereafter a compressive force is applied to a stack of one or more circuits through the columns which contain the circuit elements to be compression bonded.

Abstract: A voltage fault detector (10) for producing a trip signal causing switching from a first AC voltage source (12) to a second AC voltage source (14) is disclosed. A plurality of comparators (18,20,22) monitor a signal which is proportional to the magnitude of the voltage of a first AC voltage source (12) to determine if sample values fall within predetermined ranges. A counter (30) counts the number of samples falling outside the predetermined range to generate the trip signal when the count reaches a predetermined limit. The counter (30) is augmented for each sample which is outside the predetermined range and decremented for each sample which is within the predetermined range.

Abstract: An overcurrent protection system (10) for a power supply is disclosed. The system monitors the instantaneous flow of current between a power supply (12) and an electrical load (16) to detect when the flow of current exceeds a maximum rated amount. A counter (30) is used for counting the number of times that samples of the flow of current exceed the maximum rated amount synchronous with zero current crossing to generate a trip signal when a predetermined count is reached which disconnects the power supply (12) from the load. The counter (30) is decremented each time a predetermined time interval elapses in which the flow of current above the maximum rate is not detected as measured from a point of zero current flow between the power supply (12) and the electrical load (14). The invention may be used for both AC and DC power supplies.

Abstract: A motor with an integral magnetic torque limiting coupling which maintains the relative positions of the motor rotor and a coupling output shaft thereof when the rotor is rotated, and transmits up to a predetermined amount of torque during such rotation, which exceeds the maximum sustained torque which the motor develops during normal operation so as not to interfere with the torque transmission during normal operation of the motor while allowing the output shaft and rotor to slip relative to one another to prevent transmitting a torque above a maximum safe torque which may be safely applied to a gear train to be driven by the motor, thereby preventing damage to the gear train by the motor in the event of a sudden change of speed of the gear train.

Abstract: An improved converter for converting a multiple phase variable frequency AC voltage having a high degree of noise produced by a variable frequency multiple phase voltage source into a DC voltage is disclosed. Triggering pulses for a full wave recification bridge are generated by a low pass filter which filters an output signal from the multiple phase variable frequency voltage source which introduces a constant phase shift independent of frequency. A rectangular wave form is produced having a frequency synchronized with zero crossing points of the output signal from the filter. A digital phase shift compensator phase shifts the rectangular wave form to produce a timing signal having a fixed phase shift throughout the variable frequency range which compensates for the phase shift introduced by the filter.

Abstract: A switch mode power supply is disclosed having a pair of switch mode power supply sections which are maintained precisely 180.degree. out of phase and precisely matched in duty cycle. The phase locking of the switch mode power supply sections produces an output voltage which is substantially free of harmonics which requires greatly reduced filtering. A phase lock loop is provided for controlling the phase and duty cycle between the first and second sections of the switch mode power supply.