Abstract: A locomotive cab air conditioning method involves providing a multi-speed motor operable in at least a first speed state and a second speed state, the motor connected for driving a refrigerant compressor from a companion alternator output of the locomotive. An operating speed of a locomotive engine is monitored, and operation of the motor in one of the speed states is established based at least in part upon the monitored locomotive engine speed.

Abstract: A locomotive cab heating system having a plurality of separately actuated heating units housed in a supply air duct and connected to a microcontroller. Preferably, the system includes a high temperature shutdown thermostat. The microcontroller is equipped with memory storing a program that is configured to control the microcontroller to turn on and off a predetermined number of the heating units responsive to temperature readings received from the temperature sensor, thereby maintaining air temperature in the duct within a selected range, regardless of fan speed and air flow rate. By controlling the number of heating units in operation at any given time, the heating system of the present invention controls the heat delivered to a locomotive cab more effectively, thereby ensuring the comfort of the occupants of the cab. The locomotive cab heating system of the present invention is designed to be easily and inexpensively retrofitted to preexisting heating systems.

Abstract: An AC motor control based on an iterative computation of the motor load and method of accurately determining motor load. At the initiation of motor operation, the load term (%LOAD) is initialized to zero, and the motor is energized in accordance with a predetermined voltage and frequency schedule for producing motor rotation. During the starting interval the power loss term LOSSES and the load term (%LOAD) are iteratively computed as a function of the input voltage and current (V.sub.bus, I.sub.bus) and the motor inverter frequency (IF). When a predetermined motor speed has been achieved, the run mode is initiated. At this point, the load is known based on the iterative load calculations performed during starting, and the motor voltage and inverter frequency are scheduled as a function of motor speed and load. The iterative computation of losses and load continue during the run mode so that changes in the motor load are taken into account.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of producing a hard metal alloy with a surface region enriched with a first component being at least one of the carbides, nitrides and carbonitrides of tantalum, niobium, vanadium or combinations thereof wherein the atomic percent ratio of a second component present in the alloy and being selected from the carbides, nitrides and carbonitrides of titanium, hafnium and zirconium and combinations thereof to the first component is in the range of from 0 to about 1.5. Also disclosed are hard metal alloys having said surface enriched region which can be used to produce cutting tools which are resistant to galling and crater formation.

Abstract: A windshield washer control for a vehicle is responsive to vehicle speed to vary the speed of an electric motor driven pump so as to vary the pump pressure with vehicle speed and thus counteract the downward dislocating effect, increasing with vehicle speed, of air rushing over the windshield, whereby the cleaning fluid is applied to a predetermined target area of the windshield regardless of varying vehicle speed. In addition, the pump may be activated for a time varying inversely with vehicle speed to counteract the variation of volume flow with varying pump pressure and thus cause a substantially constant volume of cleaning fluid to be applied to the windshield for each activation of the pump.

Abstract: Power antenna control apparatus is disclosed for a vehicle having an ignition switch with off, run and start positions, engine start means responsive to the ignition switch in its start position, a radio receiver effective to generate an extend signal when activated and a retract signal when deactivated and means effective to deactivate the radio receiver with the ignition switch in its off and start positions. The control comprises control means responsive to the extend and retract signals to activate the drive means toward, respectively, fully extended and retracted antenna positions and further comprises control means responsive to the ignition switch in its start position to deactivate the drive means at least in the extend direction and for at least a predetermined period of time deemed sufficient for engine starting, whereby reversal of antenna extension during engine starting is prevented.

Abstract: A power antenna control for a motor vehicle comprises a Hall effect device responsive to motor armature rotation to generate pulses for equal predetermined increments of antenna travel. These pulses are applied to both position and stall counters. In extension, the antenna drive is stopped when the position counter reaches a number corresponding to a predetermined extended position, which may be full extension or some lesser extension. In retraction, the stall counter is used with a clock to indicate stall which, when detected, causes the antenna drive to be stopped. Automatic current limiting for drive torque limitation during stall is activated only when the position counter indicates a limited position range near full retraction. Further during retraction, if the antenna is stopped within a small position range of full rectraction, it is reset to a count indicating full retraction. The system eliminates the need for hard stall sensing reaction switches and thus reduces antenna drive cable fatigue.

Abstract: A control for separately driven, potentially interfering wiper blades includes position sensors for each wiper blade and a memory which stores, for each pattern, numbers representing inner and outer wipe positions with acceleration, constant velocity and deceleration regions therebetween and a command velocity for the constant velocity regions. The memory further stores numbers defining a zone of potential blade interference and, for each position of each blade within this zone, a non-interference zone for the other blade. The control further includes closed loop velocity control apparatus responsive to the signals from the position sensors and the command velocity to maintain the command velocity in the constant velocity region, accelerate to the command velocity in the acceleration region and decelerate from the command velocity in the deceleration region.

Abstract: A control system for a motor driven wiper on a vehicle window comprises a voltage generator effective to generate a first rectangular voltage wave having a substantially constant frequency and duty cycle and apparatus effective to derive two additional rectangular voltage waves from the first: a second delayed from the first by a first delay and a third delayed from the first by a second delay dependent upon the capacitance of a capacitor affected by moisture on the vehicle window. One of the second and third rectangular voltage waves may also be inverted. The three rectangular voltage waves are provided to the inputs of an AND gate having an output effective to trigger a retriggerable monostable multivibrator having an energized output period longer in duration than a cycle of the rectangular voltage wave to drive the wiper motor when the level of moisture on the window in the vicinity of the capacitor is sufficiently high.

Abstract: A windshield wiper control system has operations controlled by single touch actuators. A first such actuator provides for initiation of wiper operation in low speed with the first actuation and alternate high and low speed operation with additional actuations. A second such actuator stops wiper operation and, if actuated while the wiper is not running, initiates a single wipe of the wiper. A further actuator may be provided for initiation of either programmed or operator controlled wash operation, depending on the length of actuation. A final actuator may be provided for two touch intermittent wiper operation, in which the operator sets the delay time by two consecutive touches. Variations are described for either depressed park or non-depressed park systems.

Abstract: An article of manufacture adapted for use as a cutting tool is provided with an aluminum oxide coated substrate having layers of TiN and/or TiC deposited thereon, whereby the beneficial characteristics of the TiN, TiC and Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 coatings are provided simultaneously for such cutting tool. The TiN/TiC outer layers are strongly bonded to the Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 layer by means of an intermediate TiO layer. The process for producing such insert is also disclosed.

Abstract: A multi-layered wear resistant article and a method for forming the same is disclosed which is adapted for use with cutting tools. More particularly, the article includes a substrate formed from a cemented sintered metal carbide material such as a tungsten carbide and cobalt composition. A bonding layer formed of elemental boron is provided to increase the adhesion between the substrate and an outer coating of a wear resistant material such as titanium boride. A thin intermediate layer of titanium carbide, titanium nitride, titanium carbonitride, hafnium carbide, hafnium nitride, hafnium carbonitride, zirconium carbide, zirconium nitride, zirconium carbonitride, or a mixture of any of the foregoing may be interposed between the boron adhesive layer and the substrate to prevent diffusion of boron from the bonding layer into the substrate.

Abstract: Windshield wiper apparatus for a motor vehicle includes a first wiper pivoted below the driver side of the windshield and capable of wiping an arc between the bottom center and the driver side end thereof, a second wiper pivoted to the passenger side of the pivot of the first and capable of wiping an arc between the bottoms of the driver and passenger sides thereof, said arcs having a substantial portion of overlap on the driver side, first and second motors effective to drive the first and second wipers at substantially similar speeds and control apparatus having a mode of operation in which it is effective to drive the wipers in tandem from the bottom of the windshield to the end of the arc of the first wiper at the driver end of the windshield, hold the first wiper in that position while driving the second wiper to the bottom of the driver side and back and then drive both wipers in tandem back to the starting point.

Abstract: Pneumatic suspension system for automotive application in which sprung and unsprung masses are supported by variable volume air spring units and incorporating compressor and exhaust valve devices for supplying an exhausting pressurized air from the units to adjust the height between the masses. A Hall effect device effective across a pressure boundary senses the position of a magnet movable within one of the air spring units and reflects relative movement of the sprung and unsprung masses to effect control of the supply and exhaust of air from the units. By axial movement of the Hall device, dead band width can be established to accommodate normal ride motions between sprung and unsprung components. By rotating the Hall device at any axial position, the vehicle bumper height can be selectively increased or decreased.

Abstract: In an automatic flight control system of the type having automatic stabilizer trim control, the long term, constant altitude cruise trim threshold limits which alter the maximum and minimum pull-in/drop-out deflection of the elevator relative to the stabilizer minimize the steady-state downward deflection of the elevator, thereby reducing unnecessary aerodynamic drag and realizing significant savings in fuel costs.

Abstract: A motor reversing control circuit for a motor vehicle windshield wiper has a motor driven cam with a first lobe defining a park position for the wiper and a second lobe defining, in relation to the first, a wipe angle. A park switch is actuated by either lobe to reverse the output of a flip-flop which controls motor direction. The motor is activated in response to one or more of (a) a main switch, (b) the unactuated park switch and (c) the flip-flop output signalling wiper movement toward the park position. An optional timer effective to delay the motor activation in response to the main switch provides a pause in the park position.

Abstract: A multi-layered wear resistant article and a method for forming the same is disclosed which is adapted for use with cutting tools. More particularly, the article includes a substrate formed from a cemented sintered metal carbide material such as a tungsten carbide and cobalt composition. A bonding layer formed of elemental boron is provided to increase the adhesion between the substrate and an outer coating of a wear resistant material such as titanium boride. A thin intermediate layer of titanium carbide, titanium nitride, titanium carbonitride, hafnium carbide, hafnium nitride, hafnium carbonitride, zirconium carbide, zirconium nitride, zirconium carbonitride, or a mixture of any of the foregoing may be interposed between the boron adhesive layer and the substrate to prevent diffusion of boron from the bonding layer into the substrate.

Abstract: A system for effecting the adjustment of the armature of a solenoid into a desired position as indicated by an input analog signal representation of desired armature position. When the actual position of the solenoid armature does not correspond to the desired position in a first or in a second relationship, respective mutually exclusive first and second proportional and respective corresponding mutually exclusive first and second integral error signals are produced. The corresponding proportional and integral error signals are summed and circuitry responsive to the sum of these signals effects the adjustment of the solenoid armature into the desired armature position.

Abstract: An optical switching arrangement including at least one light source connected in a cyclically completed and interrupted electrical energizing circuit and a pair of photosensitive signal generating devices optically coupled thereto through a shuttering arrangement operated by the sprung mass of a motor vehicle produces, when the sprung mass is above and below a predetermined trim band, respective first and second logic signal pairs, each of which is stored until the next different pair is produced. Electrical circuitry responsive to these logic signal pairs produces respective sprung mass high and low signals to which a leveling system is responsive to level the sprung mass within the predetermined trim band.

Abstract: Electrically operable switching circuitry is effective to energize, in response to the application of a control signal, a commutated electrical motor in a first direction for driving a member driven thereby through a travel stroke and to energize, in response to the removal of the control signal, the motor in a second direction for driving the member driven thereby through another opposite travel stroke and an electrical signal produced while the motor is in the run mode is effective to maintain the switching circuitry operated for motor energization. Upon motor stall when the member driven thereby has reached the end of a travel stroke, the electrical signal produced while the motor is in the "Run" mode terminates and the switching circuitry then operates to deenergize the motor.