Abstract: A liquid propane gas fuel system includes a propane fuel tank. A two stage pressure regulator defined by a housing with a fuel inlet and a fuel outlet is also included. A first fuel conduit extends from an outlet in the fuel tank to the fuel inlet in the pressure regulator. The system supplies fuel to an engine that includes an exhaust gas manifold. A thermoconductive mounting bracket is secured to the housing of the pressure regulator and manifold to transmit heat from the manifold to the regulator in proportion to the load imposed on the engine. A chokeless carburetor is also included in the system and is in fluid communication through a second fuel conduit with the outlet of the pressure regulator. In an alternative embodiment, a heat exchange ris included in the first fuel conduit. In a second alternative embodiment, an electric heating element is positioned within the housing of the pressure regulator.

Abstract: A unique design and construction is presented for the rotor of a dynamoelectric machine. The rotor is comprised of two end plates, bar means for holding the end plates together, a stack of pole laminations, electrical conductors wrapped about the laminations and an insulator means. The end plate contains apertures about its periphery such that the rotor can be balanced about two axis perpendicular the rotor axis of rotation by inserting masses/weights into the apertures. The insulator means electrically insulates the electrical conductors from the ends of the stack laminations, the rotor end plates and the rotor shaft. The insulator means by its unique shape further acts as a guide to position electrical conductors about the laminations during pole winding. In one embodiment the insulator means acts as a thermal insulator protecting electrical conductors when the bar means are welded to the end plates.

Abstract: An interrupter is provided having: an outer enclosure or tank adapted to contain an arc-extinguishing fluid; a fixed tubular electrical current carrying member disposed at one end of the tank; a movable tubular current carrying member disposed in the tank in an end-to-end relationship with the fixed electrical current member; a prime mover for stroking the movable current carrying member between an open position and a closed position; an electrically conductive piston means, carried by the movable electrical current carrying member, for supplying pressurized fluid into the gap formed between two current carrying members when the interrupter is opened and for purging the vicinity of the gap when the interrupter is closed; a non-electrically conductive base means, carried by the outer enclosure, for housing the piston means and for guiding the movement or the stroking of the movable current carrying member; and an insulated plenum means, carried by the piston means and disposed around the contacting ends of the

Abstract: The electronic watt-hour meter (10) comprises an electro-optical watt-hour sensor (12) adapted to be coupled to a consumer's connection to a source of electric power for sensing voltage supplied to, and the current drawn by, the consumer's electric load and for producing output signals indicative of a quantity of watt-hours of power utilized by the consumer. In the meter (10) a microprocessor (22) is coupled to the sensor (12) for receiving output signals therefrom and a memory (29) is coupled to the microprocessor (22) for receiving and storing data. A power supply (24) supplies D.C. power to the microprocessor (22) and includes a clock signal generator to supply a 60 Hz. clock signal to the microprocessor (22). Also a visual display (30) is coupled to the microprocessor (22) for providing a readout of the power consumed since the last reading of the solid state watt-hour meter.

Abstract: A tensioning device for prestressing the rod members and transverse members connected thereto and operatively associated therewith has a jack assembly connected between at least two rod members and disposed to engage the transverse member, the jack assembly includes an expansion member such as a piston which can exert tensile forces incrementally on the rod members and the transverse member to evenly stress the same to a predetermined level. The tensioning device may have a pressure plate between the jack assembly and the transverse member to exert a more uniform pressure along the entire transverse member.

Abstract: An apparatus for clamping a pair of cables includes a clamp body of a clam shell configuration. The body includes first and second legs joined by an integral hinge. The clamp body and hinge are fabricated of a deformable material. First and second diagonal grooves are formed in the first and second legs and disposed at approximately a right angle to each other. First and second cables are placed in the grooves and the clamp closed over the cables. A one piece fastener such as a self-tapping screw is employed to close and tighten the clamp body about the cables partially deforming the clamp body and providing primary and secondary gripping forces on the cables.

Abstract: A cold box valve, employed in cryogenic environments, includes a valve body assembly with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The valve body assembly includes a valve body and bonnet. The bonnet seals the top of the valve body to which access to the valve internals is provided. A trim assembly, including an inner tube is removably mounted within the valve body. A cage is secured to the inner tube and a valve seat ring is removably mounted on the cage by at least one pin. Once assembled, the valve seat ring engages the valve body surrounding an opening between the valve inlet and valve outlet. A seal is mounted within the valve seat ring to provide a fluid seal between the valve seat ring and the valve body. A valve plug is reciprocally mounted within the cage and a stem connected to the plug extends out of the body to be connected to an actuator. A spring is mounted within the valve bonnet and engages the inner tube for biasing the valve seat ring into engagement with the valve body.

Abstract: A watt-hour meter is disclosed which includes: a microprocessor coupled to a solid-state Hall-Effect sensor; an electrically alterable ROM coupled to the microprocessor; a power supply; a power outage timing means using the discharge characteristic of a capacitor; apparatus for supplying a 60 Hz clock signal to the microprocessor; a readout device coupled to the microprocessor to provide an indication of the power consumed; an output on the microprocessor for controlling a circuit breaker; and a switch for overriding the microprocessor controlled circuit breaker.

Abstract: An electrical circuit interrupter is disclosed having the characteristic of a puffer interrupter and a self-extinguishing gas flow interrupter. The interrupter comprises a generally hollow movable cylinder which is adapted to be filled with an arc extinguishing fluid and which has an opening at one end. A piston is sealingly and coaxially disposed within the cylinder so as to be movable between a first and second position to change the internal volume of the cylinder in flow communication with its opening. A fixed guide is provided to direct the motion of the piston within the cylinder. A stop is carried by the guide to limit the relative motion between the piston and the cylinder. A spring biases the piston against the stop. Disposed at the open end of the cylinder is an arc site such that the pressure within the cylinder increases as the energy released from the arc increases. One of the two contacts across which the arc is formed is carried by the cylinder.

Abstract: The power outage timer (36, 136, or 236) forms a part of an electronic watt-hour meter (10) having a microprocessor (22), a real time value memory and a real time clock signal input from a voltage supply (23). The power outage timer (36, 136, or 236) is coupled to the microprocessor (22) for generating a signal when, after a power outage, power is restored, such signal being indicative of the time duration of the power outage and being input to the microprocessor (22) so that the microprocessor (22) can update the real time value in an EAROM (32) to reflect the correct real time.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for single-point, multi-point or cross-bonding electrical power cables. The apparatus includes an electrically insulated housing which defines an access well, two electrical conductors each having one end disposed within the well, a cover for closing-off the well, a linking device carried by the cover for removably and electrically connecting together those ends of the two electrical conductors which are disposed within the well, and a connecting device for electrically connecting the linking device to a terminal on the exterior of the housing. In the preferred embodiment a movable over-voltage protective device or surge arrester is electrically interposed between the linking device and the connecting device. When the cover is installed two electrical conductors are electrically connected together and to the surge arrester. Other embodiments are described and illustrated.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for operating an electrical switch of the type having a set of contacts electrically connected to the tapped windings of an inductor or transformer, and a tap changing mechanism for electrically connecting various contacts in response to the rotation of a shaft. The electrical switch is mounted onto the base of the inductor or transformer and the operating shaft of the switch is connected to a flange wheel. Another flanged wheel carried by the base, is in connection with a prime mover on the exterior of the transformer or inductor. One or two bowden cables are connected between the two flanged wheels with the outer portions of the bowden cable held fixed relative to the base and the inner portion of the bowden cable connected to the flanged portion of the wheels in such matter that relative motion between the inner and outer portions of the bowden cable induces rotation of the wheels. Thus, the switch is rotated in direct response to the prime mover.

Abstract: A contact operating mechanism is disclosed which employs a hydraulic motor means for moving contact members between closed and tripped positions, an accumulator for supplying hydraulic fluid under pressure to the motor means, and a separate gas supply means in fluid communication with the accumulator. The accumulator includes a piston or separating means for dividing the interior of the accumulator into two separate pressure chambers. One of the pressure chambers is connected to the hydraulic motor means and the other is connected to the gas supply means. Preferably, the gas supply means is separately disposed from and permanently connected to the accumulator with a sufficient volume of pressurized gas such that in the event that the piston repositions so as to completely fill the accumulator with hydraulic fluid sufficient gas under pressure is available to stroke the accumulator piston and operate the motor means.

Abstract: A unique design and method of construction is presented for a tank-like structure which houses an electrical component immersed within a dielectric fluid. The tank is formed by a generally cup-shaped enclosure and a cover. In one embodiment the cover carries a means for electrically connecting the interior of the tank with its exterior. The cover and the enclosure are joined by an overlapping edge means. By overlapping the marginal portions of the cover and the enclosure, such that the leading edges are disposed in the opposite direction, a joint is formed which is less likely to rupture than one formed by overlapping the marginal portions with the leading edges disposed in the same direction.

Abstract: An insulating system is described that incorporates a cellulosic material which is impregnated with a nitrogen content no less than 0.2% by weight and a overall density not greater than 0.9 gm/cm.sup.3. This cellulosic material when impregnated by a dielectric liquid such as transformer oil, exhibits a more uniform electrical stress distribution than papers having a density greater than 0.9 gm/cm.sup.3. The insulating system thereformed is particularly useful for application in low stress areas such as the layer insulation in a distribution class transformer.

Abstract: A unique design and method of construction is presented for a spacer and support suitable for use in maintaining one or more electrical conductors at a fixed distance from one another while permitting dielectric fluid to flow therebetween. The spacer is formed from two major parts: a foraminous container and a void filling means. The foraminous container defines a plurality of flow apertures around its periphery, and at either end, into which dielectric fluid is free to flow. The container is filled with a void filling means formed from a plurality of generally incompressible filler elements or nodules. The filler elements are packed into the container so as to maintain the correct spacing. The nodules or filler elements are sufficiently large that they remain confined within the container. Dielectric fluid fills the interstices between the void filling means and the container walls.

Abstract: A unique, energy efficient puffer interrupter having a puffer piston and an opposed floating piston or head is described in detail. In one embodiment, the puffer interrupter is formed from a pair of electrical contacts which are disposed within a chamber filled with an arc extinguishing fluid. A prime mover or switching means is used to open and close the switch by moving one of the contacts with respect to the other. A puffer piston is disposed at one end of a cylinder surrounding the fixed contact. A floating piston is disposed at the opposite end of the cylinder and biased towards the moving contact assembly and away from the puffer piston. The puffer piston and the floating piston and the cylinder define a pressurization chamber, which is in fluid communication with the gap defined by the switch contacts. A pressurizing valve means controls the flow of gas from between the two pistons and into the gap thereformed when the switch is opened.

Abstract: A battery charger failure alarm circuit for use with a battery charger including a source of rectified AC voltage for charging a battery and a filtering inductor serially interposed between said charger circuit and battery and across which there appears AC ripple voltage so long as the battery charger is functioning properly, includes a sensing circuit coupled to the filtering inductor for sensing the presence of the AC ripple voltage and an alarm circuit coupled to the sensing circuit operable to indicate the failure of the battery charger circuit in response to a lack of sensed AC ripple voltage. A time delay circuit may be included in the battery charger failure alarm circuit between the sensing circuit and alarm circuit to delay the operation of the alarm circuit in the case of momentary loss of the AC ripple voltage.

Abstract: A governor control linkage assembly to be connected between the governor and a valve to be controlled by the governor such as the inlet valve for a steam turbine upstream from a venturi type safety trip valve therein in one preferred form with Woodward T.G.-10 governors has a main lever arm connected at one end to the governor for actuation thereof and to the opposite end to a pivot arm on a fulcrum assembly which permits the pivot arm to be moved by a manually operable threaded assembly connected thereto so as to move the inlet valve from open to closed position and from closed to open position when the turbine is shut down to aid in the restarting thereof. In another preferred form with Woodward P.G.

Abstract: An electromechanically controlled switch assembly including an automatic, three position, removable, transfer switch and a three position, manually operated bypass switch assembly. Electromechanical controls are utilized to sense the position of both switches, including whether or not the bypass switch is being manually switched to the normal or an emergency source of power, whether or not the power sources are available, and whether or not the transfer switch is properly located within its supporting frame for normal operation, completely isolated, or isolated from the load but in the correct location for testing.