Abstract: By means of the group control the average time losses for the passengers resulting from the waiting time at the floors and the return travel time are minimized. Therefore, the number of entering stops causing a minimum of time losses is determined per elevator car on the basis of calculations. The number of entering stops is stored in monitoring or control counters by means of which the allocation of down hall calls is limited to the number stored for each car. The down hall calls are combined by means of a switching circuit to form groups of chronologically inputted or incoming hall calls of a volume corresponding to the number of hall calls respectively stored in the monitoring or control counter. In the case of an increase in the hall calls, the earliest group of hall calls is first increased and the latest group of hall calls last.

Abstract: An SCR bridge of an elevator speed control apparatus is connected between an induction motor 5 and two (R, S) of the three-phase power supply terminals. Two diagonally opposite legs of the bridge comprise single SCR's 25, 26, and the other two legs each comprise a pair of parallel, reverse polarity SCR's 21, 22; 23, 24. The third power supply terminal is connected directly to the motor through a single switch contact 8. By appropriately controlling the switch contact and the SCR.varies.s in accordance with the difference between the actual and commanded elevator speeds, the bridge can be configured to implement three phase running during acceleration and constant speed modes, single phase running during a transitional slow down mode, and D.C. braking during a deceleration mode.

Abstract: A motor operated valve, typically a butterfly valve driven by a synchronous electric motor (16), is provided with a torque sensing arrangement wherein an cyclic electrical signal representative of the rotational speed of the motor is produced by magnets (22) on disc driven by the motor and Hall effect switches (23,24). The frequency of this signal is compared in a circuit (43) with the frequency of current supplied to the motor to provide an indication of motor torque. Switches (46,47) define preset torque limits for the valve. If the limits are exceeded, a signal is fed to control logic (41) which operates switches (18) to control the supply current to the motor. The speed signal from the Hall effect switches is also fed to a counter (31) to develop a count representative of movement of the valve. The output of counter (31) is compared with preset valves defined by switch circuits (37,38) to define limits of travel for the valve.

Abstract: A hydraulic driven electric generator and air conditioning system for simultaneously generating controlled quality electrical power and producing air conditioning in a desired area has a variable displacement hydraulic pump for pumping a hydraulic fluid is driven by a prime engine means. The pump is hydraulically connected to a fixed displacement hydraulic motor which is powered by the fluid flow. The first motor drives an electrical generator means for generating electricity having a rotating blower fan mounted within a generator housing. A second hydraulic motor is hydraulically connected to the output of the first motor and is used to provide power to an air conditioning means. Means monitoring the passage of blower teeth of the rotating blower fan produces an electric output responsive to changes detected in the rotation of the blower fan.

Abstract: An engine starter protective and control module (PCM) and system having a 1/2 second start speed delay timer (DT) and a 30-second crank timer (CT) that are started when a start switch (SS) is closed to control a logic circuit (L) that operates a coil driver (CD) to energize the engine starter motor (ES). An engine speed signal from an engine-driven alternator (ALT) shaped in a wave shaping circuit (WSC) is detected by a crank frequency sensor (CFS) which by-passes the delay timer (DT) to continue the cranking if the engine attains an initial speed adequate for starting, otherwise, if the battery is too low, the delay timer (DT) terminates cranking. A run frequency sensor (RFS) receives the speed signal and provides a lockout signal to the logic circuit (L) when the engine speed reaches run RPM. A crank timer (CT) started by the start switch (SS) times a 30-second cranking cycle and a 2-minute cool-off lockout interval to prevent overheating of the starter motor (ES).

Abstract: At least one caisson which is part or all of a breakwater forms a water chamber therein whose closure is a pendulum having a natural period in rocking or oscillating the same as a period of stationary wave surges caused in the water chamber by rocking movement of the pendulum owing to wave force impinging against the pendulum. At least one double-acting piston and cylinder assembly is connected to the pendulum, so that when a piston of the assembly is reciprocatively moved by the pendulum, pressure difference between cylinder chambers on both sides of the piston of the assembly controls a change-over valve which in turn controls hydraulic pressure discharged from the cylinder chambers to be supplied to a plurality of hydraulic motors respectively having accumulators of a type wherein accumulated pressure and volume of the hydraulic liquid are proportional to each other, whereby driving a common generator alternately by the hydraulic motors.

Abstract: A microcomputer-based motor control system provides overload protection by incrementing a register whenever a full power condition exists and decrementing the register when less than a full power condition exists. When the register reaches a predetermined value, this indicates an overload condition.

Abstract: An apparatus for decelerating an elevator at a terminating floor having a plurality of terminating detectors successively provided in the vicinity of the terminating floor for generating a terminating deceleration command value gradually decreasing upon operation of the detectors when the cage of the elevator approaches the terminating floor which comprises; a pulse generator for generating pulses corresponding to the moved distance of the cage; memories for storing the distances from the terminating floor to said respective terminating detectors; a counter for setting the distance information of the detectors of said memories upon operation of the detectors and counting the output pulses of said pulse generator, thereby subtracting the pulses from the set value; and a distance-to-speed converter for calculating the terminating deceleration command value corresponding to the output of said counter.

Abstract: A bi-directional driver system for an electrical load operable in response to two independent logic command signals provides a means for selecting the direction of current flow in the load when driven by the external command. A bridge circuit employs inputs to dual transistor switches operating in the saturated mode in series with the electrical load, cooperating with common emitter transistor linear amplifiers and diodes, and biased by the input logic signal so as to drive the load current in a predetermined direction. The circuit provides protection from undesired power supply current surges when logic command signals are applied to both inputs, and from transients due to failure of a saturated transistor switch at one input to cease conducting before the application of a command signal to the second input. Embodiments for inductive loads and annunciator lamps are described.

Abstract: A starter apparatus comprises a D.C. motor, a solenoid actuator, a hollow sleeve having at one end thereof a pinion and a one way clutch. A torque of an armature of the D.C. motor is transmitted through the one way clutch to the hollow sleeve and further transmitted to a ring gear of an engine, which is engaged with a pinion of the hollow sleeve, thereby performing a start up of the engine. The engagement or disengagement between the pinion and the ring gear is carried out by means that the solenoid actuator reciprocates only the hollow sleeve through a shift lever.

Abstract: An elevator levelling/hatch control circuit including a motor controller, elevator dispatching unit, an elevator location sensing unit, and a control unit. The control unit receives hatch position signals, monitors the speed and direction of elevator motion and generates hatch open/close commands and elevator speed and direction commands to assure safe elevator operation in a shipboard environment. In one embodiment the circuit utilizes miniature electromechanical relays that may be visually monitored and easily tested.

Abstract: A brushless motor comprising seven or more armature windings mounted on a stator, a field magnet mounted on a rotating shaft to rotate therewith with respect to the armature windings, a plurality of semiconductor commutating devices, each being connected to one of the armature windings, and Hall sensors for detecting the polarity of magnetic fields immediately opposite the windings. Each commutating device controls the direction of the electric current to be fed to its respective armature winding, according to the magnetic polarity detected by the Hall sensors. The armature windings are connected together at one end thereof and are connected to respective commutating devices at the other ends thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed is an AC elevator control apparatus, in which AC power supplied from an AC source is rectified by a converter and a smoothing capacitor into DC power, the DC power being in turn converted by an inverter into variable-frequency AC power by which an AC electric motor is driven to operate an elevator cage. The apparatus includes a rectifying circuit connected to the AC source, a resistor connected between the rectifying circuit and the smoothing capacitor, a charging time measuring circuit for measuring the time from turn-on of the AC source until the completion of charging the smoothing capacitor, and a control circuit for producing an abnormality detection signal when it is detected that the output of the charging time measuring circuit is shorter than a predetermined value, whereby the reduction in capacitance of the capacitor, and hence the expiration of the lifetime of the same, can be evaluated in advance.

Abstract: An electronically controlled apparatus for controllably positioning pneumatic actuators includes, in a first embodiment, first means for selectively flowing compressed fluid to the actuator and valve means for selectively exhausting compressed fluid from the actuator. An electronic control panel is adapted to receive digital command signals from a computerized controller and is coupled to the first means and to the valve means for actuation thereof in response to the command signals. Means are included for isolating electrical switching transients from the controller.In a second preferred embodiment, the positioner also includes transducer means for generating a feedback signal representative of the position of the actuator piston assembly. A third preferred embodiment is similar to that of the second embodiment and incorporates a control adapted to receive analog rather than digital command signals. An optional high limit pressure switch may be used with any embodiment.

Abstract: A transducer for generating a feedback signal representative of the position of a movable member includes a signal generating mechanism for providing an electrical feedback signal representative of the position of the movable member. The signal generating mechanism includes a first shaft portion having a first longitudinal centerline and a drive mechanism having a shaft member coupled in driving engagement to the first shaft portion. The drive mechanism is adapted to be cable connected to one of a plurality of movable members having maximum travel spans different one from the other. The shaft member has a shaft longitudinal centerline which is concentric with the first centerline, the centerlines defining a first axis. An alignment mechanism is coupled to the drive mechanism and the signal generating mechanism and permits limited movement of the first axis with respect to a reference axis. The alignment mechanism thereby isolates the signal generating mechanism from misalignment reaction forces.

Abstract: A circuit for controlling the power delivered to a load from an alternating current source includes a bridge rectifier coupled to the alternating current source for developing full and half-wave rectified signals in response thereto. The full and half-wave rectified signals are algebraically added to form a reference signal which is applied to one input of a comparator, the other input comprising an adjustable direct current control signal. The output of the comparator comprises a pulse width modulated signal which is used to control the state of a switching transistor connected in series with the load between the rectifier node developing the full-wave rectified signal and a point of reference potential.

Abstract: In a motor in which the currents to the exciting coils are controlled by the signals from the Hall elements (H1, H2) which detect the pole positions of a permanent magnet (Mg), the Hall elements are positioned at an electrical angle of 45.degree. with respect to the exciting coils (22, L1, L2, L3, L4), and the output signals of said Hall elements are converted into pulses for conducting digital control of the currents to the exciting coils.

Abstract: An elevator system in which indicia in the hatchway to signal elevator car slowdown points for the floors of a building are also used to maintain and update the advanced car position. The advanced car position is changed to the next floor in the car's travel direction at the start of a run, and then each slowdown indicia encountered by the car associated with the car travel direction changes the advanced car position until the slowdown indicia is detected which is associated with the floor at which the elevator car is to stop.

Abstract: A windmill installation (10) includes a windmill (12) supported on a tower (18) that includes three legs (20, 22, and 24). The connections of the legs (20, 22, and 24) to their respective bases (36, 37, and 38) are provided by compliance members (30, 32, and 34) that are compliant enough that the natural frequency of axial bending of the windmill installation is less than the frequency with which blades (14) of the windmill (12) pass behind the tower (18). Also, a windmill compliance assembly (28) provides the connection between the windmill (12) and the tower (18) and has enough compliance that the natural frequency of pivotal bending is also below that frequency. As a result, vibration at a resonant frequency of the structure is avoided during normal operation.

Abstract: A plug current regulator for a dc electric traction motor propelled vehicle, implemented using a microcomputer for controlling a time-ratio switching regulator, provides a substantially smooth electrical braking function by applying relatively short time duration current pulses to build up braking current, followed by a relatively long time duration in which current pulses are inhibited. Current regulation is provided by comparing motor current to a desired braking current and generating an update signal when actual current drops below desired current. Filtering is minimized by sampling motor current at a time interval occurring relatively long after a current pulse is supplied to the motor.