Abstract: A motor control of a motor has a DC circuit with a back-up capacitor and a switching device that can connect a motor to the back-up capacitor. A spring device applies a restoring force to the rotor of the motor when deflected from an idle position. When the DC Circuit feeds energy into the back-up capacitor from a power supply network, a control device activates switching elements of the switching device to adjust an actual deflection of the rotor to a required deflection. When the rotor is deflected from the idle position and the back-up capacitor receives no energy from the power supply network, the control device, supplied with energy by the back-up capacitor, sets the required deflection to the idle position and activates the switching elements such that the motor, upon being restored by the spring device, feeds energy into the back-up capacitor via the switching elements.

Abstract: A relay device includes: an electromagnet constituted by a metallic core and an electrical winding associated therewith; and a mobile anchor associated with a traction spring and suitable for oscillating around a respective axis of oscillation in response to the combined action of an electromagnetic attraction force, generated by the electromagnet and intended to attract the anchor towards the core, and an elastic recovery force, exerted by the spring and intended to move the anchor away from the core and make it return to an initial position, so as to open or close selectively via the anchor a contact or switch of an external electrical circuit, wherein the anchor has a balanced or equilibrium configuration in which its center of gravity is arranged substantially along the axis of oscillation, and thereby the masses of various portions anchor portions are distributed in a balanced manner around the same axis of oscillation.

Abstract: A haptic actuator system and a method of making the same include an ultrasonically vibrating motor body. A shaft is coupled to the vibrating motor body, the shaft arranged to rotate in at least one direction in response to the vibrating motor body. At least one unbalanced mass is coupled to and is moveable with the shaft to generate human-detectable vibrations in response to a motion of the shaft.

Abstract: Method and systems for testing an electric motor are provided. A switching circuit coupled to the motor is operated in a first mode causing current to flow through the motor such that the motor is actuated with near zero torque. A magnitude of the current is repeatedly adjusted between first and second values. The current flow through the motor is monitored.

Abstract: An actuator including an electric motor driven by a drive circuit powered by a power source, and a load coupled to the electric motor. The actuator further includes a spring biasing the load to a first position, and a microcontroller coupled to the electric motor to commutate the electric motor. Upon failure of the power source, the spring returns the damper to the first position, and, as the spring returns the load to the first position, the electric motor is spun to generate electricity that is used to power the microcontroller. The microcontroller can govern a speed at which the spring returns the load to the first position. In addition, a potentiometer can be used to indicate when the load approaches the first position so that the microcontroller can slow the speed of return prior to the load reaching the first position.

Abstract: A stage system includes a stage movable along a path, a first driving mechanism for accelerating or decelerating the stage on the basis of a resilience force of a resilient member, a first holding mechanism for holding a resilience force being accumulated through compression of the resilient member of the first driving mechanism, and a second holding mechanism for holding a resilience force being accumulated through extension of the resilient member of the first driving mechanism, wherein resilience energy of the resilient member is used for stage acceleration, which is very effective to prevent large heat generation, and wherein resilient energy accumulated in the resilient member during deceleration is used for subsequent stage acceleration, which is very effective for energy efficiency and for heat generation suppression.

Abstract: The electrically powered actuator includes a capacitor for supplying supplemental electrical power to a motor in response to a loss of power to the motor from a main power source in order to enable the motor to overcome the magnetic resistance of the motor and a frictional resistance of a gear train in order to bias a positioning device into a retracted fail-safe position. The supplemental electrical power supplied to the motor supplements the biasing force of a spring or the like for biasing the positioning device from an extended position into the retracted fail-safe position. The capacitor is connected to the electrical circuit of the motor so as to be charged during normal operation of the motor and for delivering a pulse of reverse polarity power to the motor in response to a loss of power to the motor from the main source of power.

Abstract: A brushless DC motor is controlled by determining a speed of the motor and a line voltage supplying drivers of the motor. Based upon these determined values and predetermined motor performance data, a maximum PWM on-time is determined for drive signals supplied to windings of the motor. This maximum PWM on-time thereby limits motor torque output to a predetermined maximum. Stopping the motor is performed in sequential phases including a loaded generator phase, an active braking phase and a holding phase. During holding, the amount of energy supplied to the motor is reduced to the point just before slippage such that holding energy is minimized. Upon power failure, the motor is driven toward a spring return home position overcoming static friction that may prevent the spring return mechanism from functioning properly. These techniques are applied to a motor in an actuator.

Abstract: A rotary actuator uses a two degree of freedom gear train with three torque members to provide torque to the output element from a first torque member. The torque is supplied to a second torque member from a drive motor. A torsion spring on the third torque member is normally wound tight and held wound by a brake which locks the third torque member during normal operation when electrical power is available for the drive motor. When power is lost, the brake releases the third torque member, allowing the spring to apply torque to the third torque member to drive the output element through the first torque member to a return position. This allows loads such as valves to be returned to a safety condition upon loss of electrical power to the system of which the load and the actuator are a part.

Abstract: Reset mechanism comprises a base, a spring arm rotatable about an axis through the base, and an extension spring fixed to the base at one end and the spring arm at the other end. The spring passes around two ball bearings on studs on the base to permit use of a long spring in a small space without binding. The spring arm is limited to rotation between first and second angular positions, the angle between the spring and the spring arm becoming more acute as the arm is rotated from the first position to the second position. The torque required to hold the arm at the second position is considerably less than the torque required to initiate rotation from the first position.

Abstract: The position of a rotating element is controlled by a galvanometer and a servo system. The position of the rotating element is determined by using a two-grating moire pattern. Movement of the element causes a projected scale image representing radiation reflected from the element to shift relative to a fixed grating thereby generating moire fringes. The accumulated fringes serve to measure absolute position and motion of the element. The servo digitally processes the measured position to generate several force components which are then combined to control the amount of force applied by the galvanometer to rotate the element.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a motor for driving a clockwork. A rotatably supported rotor 1 has diametrically opposite permanent-magnet poles. A multi-phase coil arrangement is furthermore present to produce a magnetic field which deflects the rotor 1 out of its instantaneous position as a function of control signals present in each case on the coils 3 and 4 of the coil arrangement.The coil arrangement has a plurality of coils 3 and 4 arranged at an equiangular distance apart, surrounding the rotor 1, which coils can be controlled one after the other by sine voltages which are staggered a given angle apart.

Abstract: Electric-powered actuating device usable for the positioning control of valves and the like, featuring a motor, mechanical and spring means capable of driving said valve or other attached devices into a predetermined safety position in case of electrical signal or power failure; said actuating device having electrical amplifying means capable of providing pulsed current to drive said motor in one direction in response to an input signal, a constant current to hold said motor in a selected position, or no power, to allow the mechanical and spring means to reverse the motor direction; additional means are provided to limit the travel to a selected position despite further increases in input signal.

Abstract: Electric-powered actuating device usable for the positioning control of valves and the like, featuring a motor, mechanical and spring means capable of driving said valve or other attached devices into a predetermined safety position in case of electrical signal or power failure; said actuating device having electrical amplifying means capable of providing pulsed current to drive said motor in one direction, a direct current to hold the motor in a selected position or, no power, to allow the mechanical and spring means to reverse the motor direction.

Abstract: An air conditioning economizer control method and apparatus for integrating the operation of the economizer with an air conditioning system is disclosed. An economizer position control arrangement is further disclosed incorporating a rotor locking circuit for maintaining the damper in position against a bias applied by mechanical means such as a spring. A multiple position indicator or multiple temperature sensor is utilized to modulate the position of the damper utilizing the motor for opening the damper, a spring for returning the damper and a rotor locking circuit for maintaining the damper in position. Multiple temperature sensors are also disclosed for making effective use of outdoor air when cooling through economizer operation is available. Staged cooling loads relative to outdoor ambient temperatures are utilized to select the appropriate mode of operation.

Abstract: A device to make a measurement of a variable quantity such as the speed of rotation of a first shaft or the speed of operation of an ignition system of an engine, wherein electrical pulses are produced at a frequency which is a function of the speed. The device comprises fixed first and second coils having axes in a common plane, and the planes of the coils are disposed at right-angles. Square waves corresponding to the pulses energize the first and second coils alternately, and each successive energizing of each coil is in an alternate direction, thus the magnetic field produced by the coils rotates continuously and rotates a disc magnet within the coils about an axis in the planes of the coils at an angular velocity which is a function of the speed. A rotor of conducting material in the form of a cylindrical cap over and about the magnet is integral with a second shaft coaxial with the magnet.

Abstract: In a flue damper control system, a thermistor 64 responsive to flue temperatures upstream of the damper 12 is incorporated in a trigger circuit for a triac 52 which controls energization and deenergization of the damper motor 17, the damper motor being fully energized only when the flue temperature is below a predetermined value and there is no demand for heat by the thermostat 36.

Abstract: A motor control apparatus having an electric motor which is driven in one direction by an alternating current power source and in a return direction by a spring return wherein a holding or braking of the motor is accomplished by the application of a source of direct current power to magnetize the motor and hold it in a predetermined intermediate position after the removal of the alternating current power source. The braking or holding action is removed by taking away the direct current power source and momentarily applying an alternating current power source to the motor to de-magnetize or degauss the motor so it is free to return to its initial condition under the power of the spring return.