Abstract: A method and apparatus for calculating an accurate estimate of an unregulated DC bus voltage to be used with a DC-to-DC converter including a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, the primary winding in series with a switch between the positive and negative rails of the unregulated DC bus voltage, an electrically insulating coupler linked to a switch control line to provide a trigger pulse to a sample and hold circuit, and a sample and hold circuit linked to the transformer secondary winding for measuring the secondary winding voltage when the sample and hold circuit is triggered, the sample and hold circuit providing an output voltage which can be used to calculate the DC bus voltage estimate.

Abstract: The rotatable shaft of a large machine is blocked using a plurality of preloaded springs held by a collar member secured to the housing of the machine so as to prevent the roller bearing supporting the non-drive end of the shaft from being damaged during shipment of the machine.

Abstract: A device and method are disclosed for inspecting core laminations of an electrical machine, such as an AC induction motor. The core laminations define inner diameter and outer diameter slots preferably in a predetermined orientation with respect to one another. The inspection device of the invention includes a bed plate defining at least one key channel to align with the inner and outer diameter slots in the predetermined orientation. A first key is slidable in the key channel to engage an inner diameter slot. An outer diameter slot is engaged by a second key if the predetermined orientation has been achieved. If the predetermined orientation has not been achieved, the second key will not engage the outer diameter slot. A plurality of post members may be inserted into registered slots provided in a stack of core laminations to facilitate visual inspection of several attributes.

Abstract: A system provides feedback to an operator of a steer-by-wire system. In steer-by-wire systems, there is no direct mechanical connection between the vehicle steering wheel and the steering gears. The present invention utilizes a sensor to sense torque values at the steering gears. The sensor communicates signals back to the steering wheel as operator feedback. The sensed and communicated torque values include high frequency torque fluctuations to provide road-feel in steer-by-wire systems. Also, the torque can be used to make predictions of the operator's conditions and the condition of the steering system.

Abstract: A method of calibrating a thermal trigger for an electrical switching device starts with fastening bimetal strips (1) for each phase in the housing of the trigger. Thereafter, the bimetal strips (1) are heated-up with a predetermined calibration current for a predetermined time, and are thus brought into a calibrated position. In the calibrated position, the positioning of each of the free end sections of each bimetal strip (1) is measured on both folded ends opposite each other. Then, two slides (3,4) are fitted with two hinged drive arms (5,6) and are retained in a calibration device. Stops (9) bring the drive arms (5,6) into the previously measured calibrated position of the assigned bimetal strip (1) by sluing. In the calibrated position, the other single-piece arms (8) with the trigger arms (5,6) are attached to the slide (3,4).

Abstract: A network, network connector and method are provided for transmitting power and data signals between device nodes. The network utilizes a trunk cable in which a pair of power conductors and a pair of signal conductors are embedded in an insulative cover. The connector makes contact with the power and signal conductors during installation, such as by contact members which pierce the insulative cover of the cable. The connector has a base portion and an interface portion fitted to the base portion. A capacitor is disposed in the base portion and electrically coupled across the power conductors when the connector is installed. A node device is coupled to the cable via the interface module. When the device draws power from the cable, the capacitor limits perturbations of the supply voltage to reduce differential mode noise on the signal conductors.

Abstract: A rolling mill system associates an autonomous control unit with each piece of equipment in the rolling mill system. The autonomous control unit has a model of the particular piece of equipment, for example, of the rolling mill, a reheat furnace or a cooling bath, and data indicating constraints on the operation of the equipment. A metal shape to be produced is described as a set of machine independent steps, and the performance of these steps is bid upon by the autonomous control units according to the constraint models and internal goals. Bids having conflicting requirements may generate counterbids until a complete plan for the production of the product is generated.

Abstract: An optical code reader comprises an integrated optical resonator that is disposed within a housing and that includes a substrate, a cantilever beam, and a bimorph actuator. The cantilever beam is affixed at one end to the substrate, and at least a portion of the cantilever beam has a reflective transmit surface on one side and a photodetector on an opposite side. The bimorph actuator is affixed to the cantilever beam and is responsive to an electrical stimulus to cause the cantilever beam to move in accordance with the stimulus. Movement of the cantilever beam causes the reflective surface to cooperate with a light beam generated by a light source to provide a spot of light that moves on a code pattern, and also causes a field of view of the photodetector to be dynamically altered such that the photodetector tracks movement of the moving spot of light.

Abstract: An industrial control system associates an autonomous control unit with each piece of equipment in an industrial process, the autonomous control units having a model of the equipment's operation and data indicating constraints on the equipment's operation. A product to be produced is abstracted as a set of machine independent steps and performance of these steps bid upon by the autonomous control units according constraints models and internal goals. Bids having conflicting requirements may generate counterbids until a completed plan for the production of the product is generated.

Abstract: An electromechanical machine includes a stator fixed with respect to a housing structure and a rotor fixed with respect to a shaft. The shaft is rotatably supported by a pair of bearing assemblies maintained in the housing structure. A pair of coilheads extend from respective sides of the stator core axially external of the rotor. Shaft shields, preferably configured as tubular members, radially interpose the shaft and the respective coilhead. The shaft shields may be constructed of a magnetically permeable material to divert flux that would otherwise cut through the shaft. As a result, errant currents that could be induced in the shaft by such flux are desirably reduced.

Abstract: A molded polymeric bearing housing is formed of a moldable polymer base material in combination with a glass fiber reinforcing component. A foaming agent is added to the base material to create a fine structural foam within interior regions of the housing. A density gradient is established between regions adjacent to the surfaces of the housing and the internal regions, thereby reducing the need for reinforcing ribs particularly in a base or mounting portion of the housing. An antimicrobial agent may be added to the housing material to inhibit the growth and proliferation of fungi, molds, bacteria, and so forth. Structural features of the housing may be formed subsequent to the molding process, such as by turning operations. Metal inserts may be provided to avoid crushing of regions of the housing, such as by attachment fasteners. The housing forms a mounting base surface in a single plane coextensive with the footprint of the housing.

Abstract: An improvement in an industrial controller having a processor with a memory holding an I/O table used for storing inputs and outputs transmitted between the industrial controller and a controlled process, via multiple I/O devices, uses templates associated with each I/O device to define the partitioning of the I/O table for the data. The templates define data types and ordering of data required for the particular I/O device permitting the space in the I/O table to be efficiently and intuitively allocated. The templates also relate physical addresses in the I/O table to program variables used by the control program.

Abstract: The present invention provides a spring integrally formed in a face plate of a housing for use with printed circuit board mounted operators having a central portion and J-shaped extensions. Stresses incurred when the central portion of the spring is pressed are distributed along the length of the extensions thus reducing maximum stress concentration in the spring. Additionally, material surrounding the spring is only minimally deflected when a spring is deflected, adjacent operators are not inadvertently actuated.

Abstract: A pin-less retainer for mounting a press-pack device, which includes circumscribing fins for preventing arc formation between terminal faces thereof, onto the rods of a clamping mechanism used to stack a plurality of such devices and heat sinks together. The retainer is constructed out of a semi-flexible sheet having two mirrored sections, each section having a void therein and at least two extending tabs. The voids are sized such that the retainer may be press-fitted into interstices between the fins, and the tabs are shaped and sized to suspend the press-pack device from the rods and axially align the press-pack device with other elements of the stack. The retainer, being a pin-less mount, facilitates the easy and rapid removal of a press-pack device from a stack without having to completely disassemble it.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for lacing stator coil windings and leads is provided. Lacing of the stator coil windings and leads is performed during an automated process which occurs while the stator is situated on a pallet which is moved by a conveyer belt through a manufacturing facility. The pallet includes an inner ring and an outer ring rotatably disposed therein. The inner ring supports the stator and allows the stator to be rotated during lacing. The outer ring is rotated at the same rotational speed and direction as the inner ring and includes a plurality of clips for releasably securing leads of the stator. The pallet further includes a lead lift assembly which is movable in a substantially vertical direction. Upon introduction of the pallet to a lacing station in the manufacturing facility, a vertical positioning device engages the lead lift assembly from beneath the pallet and raises the assembly to a predetermined height.

Abstract: An editor apparatus for programming industrial controllers in relay ladder language, the apparatus used to provide RLL logic to control a machine axis. The apparatus includes a display for creating an axis behavior profile that represents input devices, output devices, actuators, and required movements. The apparatus gleans information from the profile and, based on the information, creates modules that include logic required to provide a program section for controlling the axis. A compiler then compiles the modules to provide an RLL program section to control the axis.

Abstract: A reflex I/O card for an industrial controller receives enabling inputs from the executed control program and triggering inputs from an industrial process to provide outputs at a fixed delay in time or portion of a machine cycle after the inputs through dedicated hardware thus avoiding transmission delays and processing delays associated with the communication of information to a central processor and the execution of the control program.

Abstract: An X-Y traversing machine employs optical pickups on a stage that moves around a base on an air bearing. A pattern of dots on the surface of the base forms a scale. Respective X- and Y-direction optical pickups are used to detect incremental movement in X- and Y-directions independently. Each pickup averages the reflected light from an elongated rectilinear region whose long axis is aligned perpendicular to the direction of movement the pickup detects. The dots are formed on an encoder scale element. According to an embodiment of the invention, forces are developed without using serrations in the stage and magnets so that a substantial spacing between the coils and field generator (permanent magnets in the preferred embodiment) can be tolerated. This allows the encoder scale to be placed on or protected by a sheet between the platen and the stage. [For example, the pattern may be printed on a flexible transparent Mylar sheet that can be readily replaced if damaged.

Abstract: A system for determining wear of an article including an optical fiber for transmitting light from a light source. The optical fiber is embedded in the article, and operatively coupled to an interferometric system. The interferometric system is operatively coupled to a processor. The interferometric system provides the processor with information relating to wear of the optical fiber, and the processor determines wear of the article rate of wear and remaining useful life of the article based on the information relating to wear of the optical fiber.

Abstract: A system and a method for forming, storing and loading slot cell insulators into slots in a stator core of a dynamoelectric machine. The system includes a forming assembly for forming slot cell insulators and a loading assembly for storing the insulators and loading the insulators into the stator core. The system also includes a transfer mechanism for moving the insulators from the forming assembly into the loading assembly. In the process, these elements cooperate to align end portions of the insulators before they are inserted into the stator core, thereby improving the efficiency of the loading procedure. When the stator core is ready to receive the insulators, the loading assembly simultaneously loads all of the insulators into the stator core.