Abstract: A rod pump control system includes a parameter estimator that determines from motor data parameters relating to operation of the rod pump and/or downhole dynamometer card without the need for external instrumentation, such as down hole sensors, rod load sensors, flow sensors, acoustic fluid level sensors, etc. In one embodiment, instantaneous motor current and voltage together with pump parameters are used in determining rod position and load. The rod position and load are used to control the operation of the rod pump to optimize the operation of the pump. Also disclosed in a pump stroke amplifier that is capable of increasing pump stroke without changing the overall pumping speed, or in the alternative, maintaining the well output with decreased overall pumping speed.

Abstract: A motion converter is disposed at the input to a work station to convert the constant velocity of sheet material as it is payed out from a roll into a cyclic, stop and go motion. The motion converter includes a pair of actuators containing electromagnets and these are alternately energized to attract the sheet material first against a contoured surface and then a flat surface. Sheet material accumulates in a serpentine path within the motion converter when attracted toward the contoured surface and it is expelled rapidly therefrom when attracted toward the flat surface. A programmed position control operates the electromagnets in response to position feedback signals from sensors on the motion converter.

Abstract: A transport and stacker system in which the articles being transported are propelled in their path of travel by the moving magnetic field of a linear induction motor. The magnetic field also functions to attract the moving articles toward the linear motor and in order to overcome this attracting force and air bearing is provided. The air pressure acting against the attracting force is just sufficient to move the articles a slight distance away from the linear induction motor so that the articles move in the path of travel while suspended in air out of contact with the physical surface of the motor. When the desired position is reached, the article is dropped on a stack by deenergizing the magnetic field.

Abstract: Linear motors are employed to position fabricating materials in work stations. The fabricating material forms the movable element of the linear motor and the positioning of the fabricating material is precisely controlled by a closed loop positioning control system which drives the stator windings of the linear motor. Two embodiments are disclosed; one for sheet metal and the other for tubular metal.

Abstract: A control system for a veneer lathe feeds a knife into a rotating log to peel off a continuous sheet of veneer. When the knife is retracted, the orientation of the log is established and stored so that when the peeling operation is resumed, the knife motion is calculated to engage the log at the discontinuity in the log surface produced during retraction. In addition, when the knife engages the rotating log a compensation factor is momentarily added to the knife motion feed command to alleviate variations in veneer thickness caused by the mechanics of the lathe during impact. A considerable savings of veneer is obtained.