Abstract: A work station having a plurality of tools permits selection, operation and speed control of individually selected tools using a common speed control for each tool. Each of the tools includes a tool head such as a cutter, rasp, or other forming or finishing tool supported at the end of a flexible drive shaft rotatable by a motor. A free end portion of the drive shaft includes a holding portion to permit manipulation of the tool but by an operator. A set of berths is located at the work surface with each berth configured to receive respective end portions of the drive shafts. A switch is provided in each berth for electrically connecting each of the motors to the common speed control which is operable by a foot pedal for controlling the speed of a selected tool. Under this arrangement, an operator at the work station can manipulate any one of the work tools without the burden of manipulating the tool speed which is pedal controlled.

Abstract: An apparatus for selectively controlling a plurality of electric motors for driving individual work objects, the apparatus including an electrical switch which is adapted to produce predetermined speed signals for the electric motor selected, a programmable controller disposed in signal receiving relation relative to the electrical switch and which is adapted to generate a predetermined signalling sequence in response to the signal received from the electrical switch, a variable speed motor drive electrically coupled with the programmable controller, and with the electric motor selected, the variable speed motor drive selectively driving the selected electric motor at a predetermined speed in response to the signalling sequence received from the programmable controller, and a sensor adapted to indicate the work performed by the electric motor whereby the electric switch may be selectively adjusted to control the operation of the electric motor selected.

Abstract: A technique for driving with continuous synchronized movement a plurality of parallel pulling cables of a transportation installation in a direction parallel to the cables comprising at least one vehicle connected in line to the cables. Each cable is driven by a separate independent drive device powered by a dedicated power source. Drive forces in each drive device are monitored and used to control the drive device speed of at least one drive device so as to maintain equal cable speeds.

Abstract: In a magnet wire fabrication process in which the drawing of wire is "in-line" with the enameling process, it is often a requirement that the drawing machines be supplied with electrical power from the utility grid rather than relying on an "in-house," closely regulated supply of electrical power. In such cases, during voltage dips on the grid, the drawing machine motors will slow down while the wires continue to be pulled from the drawing machine at the same speed as before. A wire accumulator is interposed between the drawing machines and the enameling oven to prevent breakage of wire by providing an accumulation of wire to be used in the event of such a voltage dip. The present invention discloses an apparatus for controlling the various channels of the accumulator so as to provide roughly equivalent amounts of wire in each channel so that the integrity of all channels during a power dip is assured. A central operator control station for effecting the desired control is disclosed.

Abstract: In a ring spinning or other textile machine with a multiplicity of thread-winding stations each including one or more variable-speed motors, a central controller supplies periodic or continuous timing signals to respective speed setters of all stations for a predetermined progressive speed change of the associated variable-speed motors. In a specific embodiment, the timing signals are recurrent pulses for the advance of identical programs of the local speed setters whereby the several stations will follow the same routine but with possible relative staggering in time, taking individual delays due to thread breaks or the like into account.

Abstract: In the inching of a grinding mill or similar apparatus which is driven by a pair of synchronous motors through fluid actuated clutches, the motors must be angularly alined one with the other in order that the load be shared equally between the motors. The apparatus of the invention connects the field supply to both motor fields and then it connects a zero frequency supply (i.e. a DC supply) to the stator windings of both motors and ramps up or increases the amplitude of the supply. This brings the rotors into alinement without undue oscillation. When the amplitude of the low frequency supply reaches a predetermined level, the clutches are closed or locked and the motors are connected to the load with the rotors in angular coincidence or alinement.

Abstract: A circuit having means responsive to a plurality of electric signals representative, respectively, of the speeds of a plurality of traction motors in a propulsion system for a traction vehicle, wherein the circuit provides a digital output signal having a frequency representative of the average speed of the respective motors.

Abstract: Control circuitry for producing signals to control motors which propel a ile platform for a standing paraplegic. Logic circuits connect a 3-axis joy stick controller to four permanent magnet DC motors mounted on the platform such that the platform follows in the direction of the displacement of the joy stick. The joy stick outputs are taken as inputs to several differential amplifiers. Each of a plurality of velocity servo amplifiers receives one input signal from the differential amplifier output and another from a tachometer feedback signal derived from each motor. Comparators receive the velocity servo amplifier outputs as well as a triangular wave input. Each comparator comprises a pulse width modulator which generates pulse outputs whose duty cycle is a function of the voltage inputs to each comparator. The comparator outputs then control motor rotation such that the platform moves in the direction of displacement of the joy stick.

Abstract: A cable extending onto a drum-cutter loader mining machine has divided branch cable sections to supply electrical current to the individual drive motors for each of two cutting drums. A branch switch coupled in each divided branch cable section and a thyristor controller is coupled in one branch cable section before the switch therein. Crossover lines bridge the branch switches in each divided branch cable section. Bridge switches in each of the bridging crossover lines are used together with the branch switches to deliver electrical current from the controller to either or, if desired, both of the separate drive motors.

Abstract: A speed control system is provided for apparatus and process for shaping and treating web material of indefinite length wherein the apparatus includes a master processing unit, one or more slave processing units communicating with the master unit through web storage or buffer means and a computer. Information as to the desired speed and mode of operation of the master unit and the mode of operation of the slave units is inputted to the computer which communicates with the drive motors of the master and slave units through special buffered isolated amplifiers and automatically controls the speed of the slave units so as to maintain the desired quantity of partially processed web material in the web storage means and to maintain the selected operating speed of the master unit.

Abstract: A tape drive for moving a tape with a prerecorded clock track past a transducer at a constant velocity. An output signal from a speed servo circuit controls the energization, and hence the speed, of a tape driving motor. It responds to a tape speed signal derived in part from a power supply voltage and a speed reference signal derived from the power supply voltage. Voltage variations and temperature-induced variations in the power supply have a minimal effect on tape velocity. Tension servo circuits control the power to a driven motor in response to the speed reference signal and the speed servo output signal thereby to maintain the tape under tension. A brake and park gating circuit slows the tape and maintains the tape under tension when it stops. The speed reference signal undergoes an exponential rise during starting operations to minimize acceleration.

Abstract: A system for determining the relative angular positions of two magnetic-p rotors of respective synchronously driven (same speed) synchronous motors operated from a common frequency generator applying the driving frequency to the motors. Each rotor is provided with an optoelectronic device generating an electronic pulse for each revolution of the rotor. The pulse of one optoelectronic device is applied to the start input of a start-stop counter. The pulse from the other device is applied to the stop input of the counter and the pulse-counting input receives its signals from a frequency multiplier connected to the frequency generator.

Abstract: A system is described for controlling the speed and direction of rotation of first and second spools in a web transport system in which a web is advanced between the spools by first and second drive motors. The system incorporates a servo control which continuously reacts to variations in the speed of the spools so as to drive the spools at respective speeds whose sum is constant and proportional to a selectable control voltage. To achieve this result, the first and second spools, driven, respectively by the first and second drive motors, are coupled to means, such as a corresponding pair of servo generators, for generating electrical outputs representative of the direction and speed of rotation of the spools. A control voltage, proportional to the sum of the desired speeds of the two spools, is continuously and algebraically summed with the outputs of the two servo generators, the summed signal constituting a motor drive signal.

Abstract: The running speeds of first and second electric motors can be controlled by a common voltage controller only by addition of an electromagnetic switch and a manual switch, the first and second motors being used for driving first and second blowers which are parts of an air heating device and an air cooling device, respectively.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a control comprising a rotatably supported wheel, a first direct current motor, means drivingly connecting the first direct current motor to the wheel with a first drive ratio, a second direct current motor, means drivingly connecting the second direct current motor to the wheel with a second drive ratio lower than the first drive ratio, a source of direct current, and a switch electrically connected to the source of direct current and to the first and second direct current motors and including a contact arm for initially electrically connecting the direct current source to the first direct current motor whereby to drive the wheel at a slow speed, and for subsequently additionally electrically connecting the source of direct current to the second direct current motor while maintaining electrical connection of the direct current source to the first direct current motor, whereby to drive the wheel at a fast speed.

Abstract: A control apparatus for manufacturing or treatment processes in which articles or batches of articles are conveyed through a process station on endless conveyor means. The apparatus comprises electrical signal producing means for producing at its output an article or batch digital signal dependent upon the length of the conveyor means associated with one article or batch of articles. Electrical reference means capable of being set with a digital value representing the effective length of the conveyor means are provided together with electrical comparator means for receiving the signals at the outputs of said signal producing means and said reference means and for determining whether the effective length of the conveyor is an exact multiple of the length associated with the article or batch.