Abstract: A glass fiber forming bushing assembly wherein the bushing is supported by a frame is disclosed wherein portions of the frame are angled outwardly and downwardly. The result is a larger amount of insulating refractory between the bushing and the frame at the plane of the tip plate at the bottom of the bushing. This provides more uniform thermal conditions across the bushing. Structural integrity is provided by protrusions extending from the angled side frame portions into the refractory.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of controlling the temperature of a multiple segment fiber glass bushing. Sensors monitor the temperature of each individual segment and the current delivered to the bushing is adjusted so as to maintain the average bushing temperature at a predetermined value. In addition, the temperature of each individual segment is compared to a set point reference value and bushing current is shunted around each segment based on this comparison.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and methods for measuring the diameter variation of an elongated cylindrically shaped object. In particular, the instant invention relates to measuring the diameter variation of a moving strand comprised of multiple textile filaments. Using lasers and charged coupled devices (hereinafter referred to as "CCD's") for sensing the diffraction and interference patterns produced when electromagnetic radiation emitted from at least one laser is partially obscured by the edges of the strand.Several methods for extracting the information contained in the diffraction pattern may be employed. One method is based upon a comparison between the measured diffraction pattern and a theoretical pattern produced by a knife edge as calculated using the Kirchhoff-Fresnel integral. Others rely upon comparing the measured diffraction pattern with patterns previously produced by cylindrical objects of known diameter and stored in a computer library.

Abstract: A method and apparatus constructed to measure the fluid present in a multifilament or fiber strand moving at high speed is described and involves conductive contact points along the strand path which contact the strand and generate signals. The signals which are conductance measurements are synchronously demodulated to produce a signal representing the volume of fluid in the strand.

Abstract: A control system for a fiber glass forming bushing is described in which two thermocouple circuits are connected to a transformer having two sets of windings on a common core in series aiding configuration. A third thermocouple circuit is connected to the transformer. This configuration measures bushing temperatures, weight averages the signals representing those temperatures, and feeds a signal to a temperature controller for the bushing. The interposed transformer prevents the improper operation of the controller and possible damage to the bushing.

Abstract: A circuit is described which can be used to record rapidly occurring faults in a slowly reacting circuit which is self compensating so that the photoelectric light emitters used in the circuit have their flux maintained constant.

Abstract: An apparatus for more accurately measuring the temperature of a fiber glass forming bushing is described which includes the placing of sidewall and bottom thermocouples in locations on the bushing so that electrical signals representing noise are eliminated or reduced significantly.

Abstract: Detector circuitry and a system for detecting and/or counting transient events such as the passage of broken filament ends in an article such as a fiber glass strand, and for thereby determining the quality of the article being measured, is disclosed. Optical detectors are arranged to produce output pulses for each measured event, and each includes amplifier means and at least one threshold detector for producing a count pulse representing the measured event. Each detector circuit further includes a feedback loop incorporating an integrator and a drive amplifier for the optical detector light source for stabilizing the light output. An alarm is connected to the output of the drive circuit to monitor the light source current level, so as to measure changes in the light output.Count outputs from the detector circuits are fed to corresponding counters, and at periodic intervals the data contents of the counters are shifted to corresponding latch circuits under the control of a computer or microprocessor.

Abstract: The tension of flexible material can be measured with improved accuracy with the tension measuring device and method of the present invention. The tension measuring device has an engaging means, a bending means, at least one displacement means, at least two sensing means, and one or more indicating means. The engaging means contacts the flexible linear material and in conjunction with the bending means provides a fixed angle of bending to the linear material. The one or more displacement means are associated with the engaging means and are displaced in response to the fixed bending angle of the linear material. The two or more sensing means are positioned to each other at any nonlinear angular relationship in sensing engagement with the displacement means. The sensing means initiate signals in response to the displacement of the displacing means.

Abstract: The tension of filamentary material under tension in a process can be measured with improved accuracy. The measurement is effected by the tension measuring device having an elongated, externally insulated housing which substantially surrounds and encompasses a solid, continuous beam cantilever-mounted coaxially with the housing. The beam extends beyond the housing through an opening at the other end of the housing from its mounting to an engagement means for the filamentary material. The beam has at its distal end within the housing two or more target means located in a relationship to each other along different axes in the same plane where the target means are in sensing engagement with a sensing means which extend into the housing from a point of attachment on the housing. The opening of the housing is substantially covered by a shield through which the beam passes and to which there is mounted a strand contacting means.

Abstract: A fail-safe magnetic sensing arrangement including a first and a second object relatively movable in relationship to each other. The first object includes a magnetic structure having a permanent magnet and a pair of pole pieces to develop a magnetic field. The second object includes an a.c. oscillator which is coupled to an amplifier by a saturable reactor transformer and the amplifier feeds a negative d.c. maker which normally energizes a relay except when the saturable reactor transformer is saturated by the magnetic structure which signifies that the second object is in the vicinity of the first object.

Abstract: A fail-safe electronic time delay circuit for providing a predetermined time delay period having an emitter-follower amplifier connectable to a source of recurrent signals, a voltage doubling rectifier for rectifying the amplified recurrent signals and for charging a capacitor which powers a tickler coil transistor oscillator, a pair of complementary switching transistors which are alternately rendered conductive by the a.c. oscillations of the transistor oscillator, a rectifier having a capacitor which is charged when one of the pair of complementary switching transistors is conductive and which is discharged through a vital relay when the other of the pair of complementary switching transistors is rendered conductive.

Abstract: The motion translation mechanism of the invention includes a crankshaft having a crank arm with an integral eccentric pin. A circular linkpiece is provided which has an opening positioned eccentric to the center axis of the circular linkpiece and positioned within the circular linkpiece eccentric opening. A displacement member with flat bearing surfaces is mounted for reciprocating motion and has a circular opening. A first thrust converting means secured to the circular linkpiece, as well as, second and third thrust converting means that come into consecutive contact with the first thrust converting means. The circular linkpiece is positioned within the circular opening of the displacement member, whereby reciprocating motion transmitted to the displacement member is converted to rotary motion of the crankshaft via the apparatus just enumerated.

Abstract: The motion translation mechanism of the invention includes a crankshaft having a crank arm with an integral eccentric pin. A circular linkpiece is provided which has an opening positioned eccentric to the center axis of the circular linkpiece and positioned within the circular linkpiece eccentric opening. A displacement member with flat bearing surfaces is mounted for reciprocating motion and has a circular opening. The circular linkpiece is positioned within the circular opening of the displacement member, whereby reciprocating motion transmitted to the displacement member is converted to rotary motion of the crankshaft via the apparatus just enumerated.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a converter-regulator circuit which has high immunity to transient voltages and which employs a feedback controlled operational amplifier at the input end for controlling the conductive condition of an intermediate transistorized inverter which supplies feedback signals from the output end of a bridge rectifier to provide a regulated d.c. output voltage.

Abstract: The external lead from a critical circuit element in a circuit component of a larger apparatus is connected to a first terminal or connector pad on a printed circuit board and at a more distant point on the lead to a second connector pad. The connection to the next element of that component is made from the second pad. Any component output to the next circuit component is connected to the first pad. Thus, any high resistance in a poor solder joint appears on the safe side of the first pad connections, that is, in the circuit connections to the next element or in the output circuit.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to an electronic converter circuit for a cab signal system employing a negative feedback type of operational amplifier and two banks of resistive and diode elements. One bank of resistive and diode elements electrically couples the respective contacts of a master control handle through current limiting resistors and clamping diodes to the inverting input of the operational amplifier while the other bank of resistive and diode elements also electrically couples the respective outputs of a relay logic decoder through the current-limiting resistors and clamping diodes to the inverting input of the operational amplifier so that the operational amplifier produces an output signal which is indicative of the most restrictive speed condition of either the master control handle or the relay logic decoder.

Abstract: Train speed is controlled by propulsion train line (PTL) apparatus, which sets a base level of propulsion effort, and by an advance train line (ATL) apparatus, which varies the propulsion effort up or down from the existing base level in accordance with under or over speed conditions. Each full cycle of ATL operation drives the PTL apparatus to the next higher or lower base level. A propulsion error signal PE drives a comparator-clock network to generate clock pulses and an up/down signal to step the ATL register and thus the PTL encoder to bring speed within the desired range. A speed control, brake error signal SCBE controls normal train braking effort but is inhibited while propulsion control remains effective to reduce speed. When the PTL encoder counts down to the zero propulsion level, the clamp on signal SCBE is removed to activate braking to further reduce speed.

Abstract: A propulsion, braking, and station stopping control circuit for a rapid transit train including a first summing and amplifying apparatus for producing a velocity signal which is a function of the desired and actual velocity of the train and including a second summing and amplifying apparatus for producing a propulsion error signal which is a function of the velocity signal and an actual acceleration signal. An absolute value and sign determining apparatus for receiving the propulsion error signal and for producing an up-down signal which is to be supplied to an advanced train line register and propulsion train line encoder and for producing an analog signal which is supplied to a clock for generating pulses which are applied to the advanced train line register. Apparatus for producing a speed control braking error signal which is a function of the velocity signal and an actual acceleration signal.

Abstract: Clock pulses representative of the velocity error between desired and actual train speeds drive an advance train line (ATL) register to count up or down, in accordance with the sign of the error, between zero and a selected maximum count position. The existing total count is continuously applied to a D/A converter to provide a stepped analog signal which drives an advance train line channel to vary the propulsion effort of the train, car by car, to the next adjacent level, increasing or decreasing per the direction of the counting action. Attainment of either count limit by the ATL register generates, through logic circuitry, a clock pulse to drive the associated propulsion train line (PTL) encoder in the same direction to its next propulsion condition. The ATL register is reset to the opposite count limit during generation of the PTL clock pulse, to continue the stepped variation of the propulsion level in the same direction.