Abstract: An electric vehicle having a field controlled direct current drive motor powered by batteries which are connectable in a high voltage and a low voltage configuration to change the speed range of the drive motor. Switching of the batteries between the high and low voltage connection is accomplished to provide a relatively smooth transition in both directions and to provide for optimum performance and efficiency. Logic is provided to determine the minimum speed at which high voltage operation is feasible and for initiating switching to the high voltage connection at the determined minimum speed. The minimum speed for operation at the high battery voltage connection is determined as a function of battery open circuit voltage, battery resistance, armature resistance, armature current and field flux. When for the known parameters operation at the high voltage connection is possible, the batteries are switched to the high voltage level. A throttle is provided for controlling the speed of the electric vehicle.

Abstract: Apparatus for tightening and releasing one of the clamping nuts which act to maintain a pre-established pressure-tight sealing of a flanged reactor pressure vessel, the bolts for which clamping nuts are held and pretensioned in the flange of the vessel. The clamping nut has teeth and is turned on its bolt, via a reduction gearing cooperating with the teeth, by a three phase motor whose rotor has the smallest number of poles for a small moment of inertia and a high speed of rotation. A connecting lead for the motor has a current sensor disposed in one phase thereof, and a triac contactor responsive to an output signal from the current sensor and arranged to open-circuit the connection lead when the sensed current exceeds a predetermined threshold at a limit position of the nut. The apparatus also includes an override means which acts to prevent the motor being automatically switched off in response to start-up current during a preselected period from switch-on of the motor.

Abstract: A programming apparatus for an electroerosion cutting machine with two jig tables displaced by motion screw comprising: a counter-commutator controlling motors in the course of machining piece sectors tilted with respect to coordinate axes; pulse angular displacement sensors, each having an element sensing the revolutions of the respective motion screws and mounted together with the latter on the same roll; and sensors reacting to the actions produced by said element due to the revolutions of the respective motion screw.

Abstract: The control device comprises an electric motor whose rotor drives a rotary spindle which shifts the closure member of a valve. Means are provided for detecting the stoppage of the rotation of the spindle. Switching means for opening the supply circuit of the motor are responsive to the detecting means so as to stop the supply when the spindle stops rotating.

Abstract: Apparatus for generating a feedback signal for effecting rotation of a servo motor precisely in accordance with changes in the input signal and which includes a first annular coil and two angularly positioned coils inductively coupled with the first coil. An alternating current signal is fed to the first coil and the voltages induced into the angularly positioned coils are rectified and subtracted to produce the feedback signal. Variations in the feedback signal are effected by mechanically coupling the shaft of the servo motor with said coils to produce rotation of the first coil relative to said angularly positioned coils. An electronic network is provided to effect rectification and subtraction of the induced AC signals and a corrective network may be included for additional accuracy, if desired.

Abstract: An edit circuit for a numerical control system, in which a plurality of series of input data having a common control data are edited into a single series of data. Said circuit comprises a plurality of input means receiving input data corresponding to different objects being controlled, respectively, a plurality of A-registers storing the data from the input means, a comparator circuit comparing the data stored in the A-registers, a plurality of arithmetic circuits operating on the data in the A-registers based on the result of comparison at the comparator circuit, and a B-register combining the operated data from the arithmetic circuits into one series of data for storage therein.

Abstract: The invention is a device for controlling and adjusting the tension in the cable of mooring winches or cranes by measuring the torque exerted on a speed reducer having at least one intermediate gear-train, constituted of a pinion and a larger toothed-wheel integrally connected together. The device is characterized in that this intermediate gear-train rotates freely on two bearings supported by a stationary shaft concentric with the intermediate set, which stationary shaft is carried by two fixed supports located outside the bearings. The shaft also carries at least one pair of stress gauges secured between the bearings on two diametrically opposed generatrices of the shaft which are located in the same axial plane as the resultant compression force exerted on both bearings by the two tangential forces applied on the meshing teeth of the pinion and of the wheel of the intermediate gear-train.

Abstract: A system for compensating for the backlash of a drive mechanism of an actuator that can be controlled manually or switched to automatic, with the starting position indeterminate. The actuator includes a position transducer for the actuator. Impulses are supplied to the drive mechanism to energize the drive mechanism in discrete steps in a first direction. In response to a change in the actuator position being sensed by the position transducer, the supply of impulses to the drive mechanism is terminated. Because of backlash in gearing included in the drive mechanism, each of the impulses to the drive mechanism does not necessarily result in a change in the actuator position. In response to movement of the actuator being sensed the drive mechanism is energized in a direction opposite to the first direction through a distance equal to the sum of the backlash and the amount of movement of the actuator detected by the position transducer.

Abstract: The motor is to be controlled to execute steps having a preselected step length. A displacement transducer is coupled to the motor and furnishes a displacement signal having a constant first predetermined value during motor movement by a predetermined fraction of said step length and changes to a second predetermined value during motor movement by the remainder of the step length. A voltage divider circuit and a differentiator circuit are connected to the output of the transducer and furnish a proportional and a differentiated signal. The two signals are combined in an operational amplifier whose output serves as a control signal for controlling the operation of the motor. The transducer includes three light transmitter-receiver pairs which are switched on in a first sequence when the motor rotates in one direction and in a second sequence for rotation in the opposite direction.

Abstract: A control system using a duty cycle converter to convert an analog input into both a second order or velocity squared feedback as well as a set of clockwise and counterclockwise pulse trains the frequency of which is dependent upon the amplitude of the input signal. The velocity squared feedback is augmented by a position feedback from a stepper motor to provide optimum operation. To obtain optimum performance from a stepper motor, the rate of change of input pulses must not exceed a predetermined value for starting or stopping or the motor will react improperly to some of the pulses. The present system provides a linear increase in the step rate to a maximum and then a linear decrease in the step rate such that there is no overshoot beyond the requested analog input signal.

Abstract: A storage unit divided into a plurality of stations, is rotatable about a vertical axis to allow any given station to be turned to a position where the articles at that station can be retrieved. A control circuit is provided to allow an operator to select a station, provide an input indicative of that selection, and have the unit rotate through the shortest distance to provide access to the selected station.

Abstract: The device precludes a collision between a mobile object moving in a predetermined path and a second object in the same path. It comprises a sensor carried by the mobile object which cooperates with a fixed tape disposed along the path. The tape carries a track which has two conductive bands having a predetermined resistivity and the sensor comprises a series circuit having a source of voltage, a threshold circuit, and a wiper element in contact with the bands so as to connect them in series in the circuit.

Abstract: A pulse code modulation communication system adapted in a preferred embodiment to the remote control of a flying model aircraft. The positions of the various control sticks are represented by a digital code which is multiplexed and then transmitted via pulse code modulation of a unique subcarrier signal. The unique subcarrier signal is locked onto by the receiver which, through correlation detection, detects and demultiplexes the digital code for use by the servo motors to position the flight control surfaces of the aircraft.

Abstract: An automatic machining process using a programmed machining cycle, in which process a component previously machined according to the program is used to sense deviations from the expected component shape, such deviations being employed to effect corrective tool off-sets in the aforesaid or a subsequent machining cycle. The invention also embraces a machine tool capable of performing this process.

Abstract: Two substantially identical servo channels, coupled through a differential mechanism, position an attitude control surface of an aircraft in response to a common command signal applied to both channels. The common command is coupled to each channel through separate displacement and rate limiting devices to limit the attitude displacement and rate of change of attitude commands about the associated aircraft axis. In the pitch axis a separate normal accelerometer controls each command rate limit so as to prevent excessive pitch maneuvers due to the common command source.

Abstract: A reversible mechanical assembly is remote-controlled in displacements and in efforts by means of a device comprising a motion detector which delivers a pulse each time a driving shaft associated with a motor rotates by one step, the sign of the pulses being dependent on the direction of rotation of the motor. One input of a summing device is driven by the pulses delivered by the detector and the other input is driven by pulses delivered by an assembly for controlling the motor. The output signal of the summing device is fed back into the control assembly so as to constitute an effort return and also fed to the input of an amplifying circuit for controlling the torque produced by the motor.

Abstract: An offset path generating system is described for generating in Cartisian coordinates a prescribed offset, or deviation, from a programmed path at the same time the original path is being generated.

Abstract: For counteracting slipping and skidding in a motor-driven rail vehicle, the acceleration of the driving wheel is sensed and is used to control the torque of the driving motor. The arrangement includes a device which is responsive to an absolute value of the acceleration which exceeds a predetermined first value to reduce the torque, and to a decrease in the absolute value of the acceleration to a second value to increase the torque. The torque reducing arrangement reduces the torque at a predetermined rate until a low first torque value has been reached, then reduces the torque at a lower rate until the predetermined second low acceleration value is reached, and thereafter increases the torque, the reverse of this procedure is followed when increasing the torque.

Abstract: In a brushless D. C. motor which is controlled by electronic circuits, the armature which is of the shorted drum type, is constructed in the form of a double or multiple coil winding which acts to prevent high circuit interruption potential which might damage the electronic control circuits. The double or multiple winding may be constructed as a double or multiple conductor winding. The multiple windings are separate one from the other and are connected together to supply terminals through the electronic control circuits.

Abstract: A circuit for supplying an error signal when the instantaneous difference between the number of command pulses and the number of steps produced by a stepping motor exceeds a value from which the motor cannot recover to overcome the difference.