Abstract: A method of enabling adaptable demonstrations of a household appliance comprising providing consumer-specific updates to a demonstration software at a location remote from an appliance and downloading the consumer-specific updates to the appliance over an information network in response to a determined characteristic of the consumer or enabling a video conference over multimedia interface during the demonstration.

Abstract: An electric motor having an integrally formed bonding apparatus that allows an installer to quickly and efficiently bond the electric motor to a bonding grid of a bonding area. A fastener having a head is inserted into an aperture of the housing of the electric motor such that a bonding conductor is captured between the housing and the head. The bonding conductor is electrically coupled to the housing via direct contact between the bonding conductor and the housing and/or via indirect contact through the fastener. An integrally formed surface of the housing prevents the bonding conductor from moving out from under the head.

Abstract: A small, low-voltage direct current (DC) motor for use as an educational device for students. The motor is made from simple hardware such as nails, magnets, threaded rods, nuts, washers and common household materials such as wood scraps, paper clips and milk or water containers. The preferred embodiment consists of a motor shaft 1, armature pole pieces 2 comprising nails, commutator segments 3, non-metallic tubing 4, non-metallic washers 5 and 6, metallic washers 7, hot-glue or epoxy filler 8, armature pole nuts 9, magnetic wire 10, commutator compression nuts 11, permanent field magnets 13, brushes 14 and terminal screws 15. In other embodiments, the nail motor can also be used to demonstrate alternating (AC) operation by replacing permanent field magnets with handmade nail- or bolt-electromagnets. The motor can be used to motorize models utilizing materials and instruction from a kit. The motor can also be used to demonstrate electric generator principles in the mill-volt range.

Abstract: A simple motor device for use as a learning tool includes a battery, a permanent magnet, an electrically conductive wire coil, a housing having an open bottom and parallel sidewalls to accommodate the battery, slotted grooves vertically traversing the sidewalls on an interior portion of the housing and forming openings at the top of the housing, E-shaped portions formed on both ends of the interior portion of the housing, and two specially adapted metallic supports that are positioned within their respective slotted grooves and extend through the openings on the top of the housing. One end of each metallic support contacts one end of the battery while the other end has an open yoke to electrically contact and support one end of the electrically conductive wire coil. A sub-housing portion of the housing is designed to accommodate the permanent magnet. The electrically conductive wire coil can rotate via the battery current running through it and the magnetic field produced from the permanent magnet.

Abstract: An simulated engine characteristic control system for transmission transient performance tests for automotive vehicles comprises a motor for driving an input shaft of the tested transmission, a pick-up for detecting revolution of the motor, a simulating circuit for simulating an opening angle of the throttle of the engine to be associated with the tested transmission or the intake manifold pressure of the engine, an engine characteristic generator for generating a torque command signal according to predetermined engine revolution/torque characteristic curves, in response to the signals from the pick-up and the simulating circuit, a torque/current transducer for transducing the torque command signal to an analog current command signal according to a predetermined torque/current characteristic, and means for compensating the current command signal in consideration of a torque component occurring at an axial moment of inertia of the rotating member of the motor during acceleration or deceleration of the motor, a

Abstract: The changeable modular training system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,623,312 is extended to include an energy management microprocessing unit, i.e. CPU, a keyboard, a video screen, a remote sensor, and a microprocessing interface unit, to create an energy management microprocessing training system. These added components are formed in the same size modules and/or are interconnected, where needed, by the same electrical connectors and the same peg and slot supports as used in the changeable modular training system. This energy management microprocessing training system is used when students are taught how to program, operate, install, service, and troubleshoot mechanical and electronic control systems in a classroom, when using simulated control systems.

Abstract: A module for use in a training system assembly which includes a power base is multi-sided and includes mechanical-electrical feet on one side for jacking the module into the power base or into a second module. Detent spring latches are disposed on another side of the module for receiving the feet of a second module atop the first module. The module is hollow and an electrical component is mounted therein. The component is an electrical connection with the feet and the detent spring latches. A display is on a third side of the module and the rear of the module includes a fault selector switch which causes the component to be in either an operating configuration or a fault configuration.

Abstract: A kit for use in teaching characteristics and use of electrical devices, such as motors. The kit makes it possible to transport with relative ease both one or more heavy electrical devices and the additional teaching aids required for demonstrating such devices and their proper use.

Abstract: An electrical machines constructional set comprises a base plate for mounting a pair of stator elements and including bearing apertures for a rotor shaft and a plurality of coupling holes for magnets or electro-magnets provided with complementary coupling prongs. A disk-shaped rotor element also has coupling holes, the number and arrangement of the coupling holes in the rotor element being the same as in the stator element so that parts are interchangeable to construct an electrical motor. A pair of circular disk elements made of soft iron having holes complementary to those of the stator and rotor elements are mounted on each end of the shaft to concentrate the magnetic flux provided by the magnetic elements.