Abstract: An integrated RISC and relay ladder logic processor uses shared registers, program counter, bus lines, and processing circuitry to eliminate delays associated with transfer of control in co-processor type architecture. The RISC instructions do not significantly interfere with the specialized hardware needed for rapid relay logic execution, the latter which may be further improved through the use of a pipeline well suited for relay ladder logic which creates few pipeline hazards. Two levels of condition codes are used for the arithmetic and logic instructions to permit nested arithmetic operations without interference with those instructions visible to the user. Hybrid instructions are provided to synchronize the relay ladder instructions with the arithmetic instructions, thus truly integrating the two instruction sets.

Abstract: A motor is reconnected to a motor drive by exciting the motor to induce a back EMF, determining a speed of rotation of the motor based on the induced back EMF induced, and reconnecting the motor drive to the motor based on the speed determined. In order to induce the back EMF, current which flows through the motor is controlled using first and second regulators. The outputs of the first and second current regulators are separated from each other in phase by approximately 90.degree.. A positive feedback loop is established by using the output of one of the first and second regulators to generate an input for the other one of the first and second regulators. The positive feedback loop advantageously causes the back EMF to continually increase as the motor continues to be excited, or at least not decay so rapidly that the speed of the motor cannot be accurately determined.

Abstract: A method for retaining a movable contact in a circuit interrupter is applicable to interrupters including first and second contacts, at least one of the contacts being movable. A movable element supporting the movable contact is displaceable between a conducting position wherein the movable contact abuts a cooperating contact to complete a current carrying path through the device, and a non-conducting position wherein the movable contact is electrically separated from the cooperating contact. In accordance with the method, the movable contact is displaced by an interrupt initiation device, and a carrier or retainer is displaced by gas pressure resulting from arcs generated by movement of the contact. The carrier is guided in its displacement within the device housing from a normal operating position to a retaining position. The carrier includes an abutment element that physically contacts the movable element to prevent it from rebounding into contact with the cooperating contact.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the critical dwell time required between firing pulses generated by a PWM inverter to eliminate greater than twice overvoltage on motor supply lines. Critical dwell time is correlated with line parameters including inductance and resistance per unit length and is then provided to a controller to alter voltages provided to a motor to eliminate overvoltage.

Abstract: An assembly for supplying wire from a spool includes a support for holding the spool, a sensor mounted on the support and detachably secured to an end of the spool for detecting supplying of the end of the wire from the spool, and a controller for precluding supplying of wire from the spool when the sensor detects supplying of the end of the wire. The support may hold a plurality of spools and include a plurality of sensors and indicators for sensing and indicating spool depletion. Wires may follow a wire feed path to a winder including a first portion extending generally vertically from the support, a second portion extending generally vertically from the winder, and a third portion connecting the first portion and the second portion.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for starting a motor drive into a rotating motor, the method including determining an initial search frequency and search current wherein the current is less than a rated drive current, providing a d-axis flux generating current to the motor at the search frequency and at a magnitude equal to the search current, monitoring a q-axis flux error, decreasing the search frequency until the d-axis flux error is less than a threshold value, thereafter increasing the search current to the rated drive current and, after a flux-up period, providing both q-axis torque producing current and d-axis flux producing current to the motor.

Abstract: An electromechanical machine includes a stator fixed with respect to a housing structure and a rotor fixed with respect to a driven shaft. The stator includes a magnetically permeable core having a plurality of parallel winding slots containing driven windings. Coilheads are located at opposite axial ends of the magnetically permeable core where the windings turn to extend down a parallel winding slot. The motor is also equipped with an auxiliary winding arrangement to reduce capacitive coupling between the stator and rotor during operation. The auxiliary winding arrangement comprises grounded auxiliary windings located in the winding slots and the inside surface of the coilheads to interpose the driven windings and the rotor.

Abstract: An expandable arbor is provided for assembling a plurality of laminas into a lamination, wherein each lamina has a central opening and a plurality of slots extending radially from the central opening. The arbor includes a base portion and an expandable core that is disposed to extend axially from the base portion. The arbor further includes a plurality of key holders disposed around the core. Each key holder is configured in the form of an elongated shaft that extends axially from the base portion and has a polygonal transverse cross-section. Each key holder is further configured with a plurality of faces, and each face defines a key receptacle therein for holding a key.

Abstract: A multi-tasking operating system for real-time control of industrial processes integrates ladder type programs and state-type programs by viewing each as a series of instructions with an implicit pointer list pointing to the next instruction. A fixed number of instructions of each program task are executed after which the effective pointer to the next instruction is stored toward the next time that task is invoked. Multiple tasks that need to be coordinated can be linked with subtasks that can be guaranteed complete execution by allocating sufficient instructions to those subtasks.

Abstract: A frame for the housing of an electric motor having a top cavity that extends axially along the upper interior portion of the frame and beneath the top wall of the frame. The top cavity functions as a conduit box through which access is provided to the electrical leads of the motor, thus eliminating the need for a separate conduit box attached to the exterior of the housing. The frame also includes an axially extending, corner channel along each of its four corners. The frame is adaptable for both closed and open housing cooling arrangements.

Abstract: A linear motor path forms a closed figure. Contactless power control and position feedback permit a linear motor stage to traverse the closed figure without interference from trailing wires. One embodiment of the closed figure includes a racetrack pattern with straight runs joined by curved ends. Axes of armature windings are skewed to lie across the path in the curved ends to maintain force on the linear motor stage. Other embodiments of the invention includes multilevel paths wherein one portion of the path crosses over another portion of the path. Disclosure is made of a linear motor stage supported below the path by magnetic attraction between permanent magnets on the stage and magnetic material in the path.

Abstract: A system for training a neural network to synthesize vibration data relating to the operation of a machine. The system includes a first sensor operatively coupleable to the machine, the first sensor adapted to obtain at least one vibration signal relating to the operation of the machine. The system further includes a second sensor operatively coupleable to a power lead of the machine, the second sensor adapted to obtain at least one current signal relating to the operation of a machine. Additionally, the system includes a neural network operatively coupleable to the second sensor, the neural network being trainable to generate at least one synthesized vibration signal from the current signal, wherein the synthesized vibration signal is substantially equivalent to the vibration signal obtained from the first sensor.

Abstract: An apparatus for receiving and modifying a PWM trigger signal such that consecutive ON and OFF periods have durations at least as long as a critical dwell time where the critical dwell time is the minimum time required to avoid greater than twice overvoltage. The trigger signals are modified by, each time a trigger signal changes from low to high, providing a minimum pulse signal which remains high for the greater of a critical dwell time or the time over which the trigger signal remains high, when the minimum pulse signal changes from high to low, providing a maximum pulse signal which remains low for a critical dwell time, adding the maximum and minimum pulse times using a logical AND gate and providing the output of the AND gate as a modified trigger signal.

Abstract: An apparatus for essentially eliminating transmission line reflected waves and standing waves and for reducing common mode transient currents for use with a three phase motor controller, the apparatus including a common mode choke in series with a filter network between an inverter and a motor, the filter including three inductors and three resistors, the inductors and resistors together forming three inductor-resistor pairs, each pair including an inductor in parallel with a resistor, each pair linked to a separate one of three transmission supply lines which link the inverter to the motor, values of the resistors and inductors selected according to transmission line theory.

Abstract: An expert manufacturing system generates a manufacturing plan for producing a part in an automated manufacturing system. The expert manufacturing system generates a multipurpose manufacturing geometry definitions file. The expert manufacturing system includes a rule-based expert system which uses the manufacturing geometry definitions file to generate the manufacturing plan in the form of a neutral source code file. The neutral source code is converted to machine-specific program code directly executable by a device controller, such as a logic controller or motion controller. The expert manufacturing system also includes a parametric drawing generation program for generating drawing of the part, and a computer simulation program for simulating the manufacturing plan for producing the part.

Abstract: A programmable controller reduces the power used by the relays. The controller design permits energization of relay coils without subsequent maintenance of the relatively high voltage required for energization. The design permits the voltage across the relay to be lowered to an activated relay coil maintenance level with a design that minimizes the space required for the relay circuitry.

Abstract: A circuit card of an industrial controller may be removed or inserted under power without loss of memory or disturbance to the power supplies of other modules through the use of a power failure signal derived from shortened pins on the connector between the card and the industrial controller. The power failure signal activates a timer delaying connection of the board components to power until the physical connection between the card and the industrial controller has stabilized. At this time current drain is ramped up by a controlling series FET. Upon removal of the card, the power failure signal causes outputs of an on-board microprocessor to be pulled to particular states necessary to prevent disturbance of a battery backed-up RAM and to eliminate current flow through protection diodes on other memory type devices attached to the microprocessor.

Abstract: An actuator, with two independent degrees of freedom, rotates a stage about an axis and moves the stage along the axis, the range of motion defining a cylinder or cylindrical section. The stage is mounted on a hollow cylindrical plunger fitting in an annular well. A bearing allows the plunger to move axially and rotationally, in the preferred embodiment the bearing is an air bearing. The plunger has an array of permanent magnets on its external cylindrical face opposite coils in the well. Equal numbers of oppositely-polarized permanent magnets are arranged in a regular cylindrical pattern at 50% packing density forming rings and columns of like-polarity magnets, the rings of one polarity alternating with rings of opposite polarity and the columns of one polarity alternating with columns of opposite polarity. A set of Z-axis coils (for axial movement) curve around the plunger and are shaped to allow a current in them to produce an axial force with respect to the rings of magnets. A set of .phi.

Abstract: An electromechanical machine includes a stator fixed with respect to a housing structure and a rotor fixed with respect to a driven shaft. The stator includes a magnetically permeable core having a plurality of parallel winding slots containing conductive windings. Coilheads are located at opposite axial ends of the magnetically permeable core where the windings turn to extend down a parallel winding slot. The motor is equipped with electrostatic shield arrangements in the winding slots and coilheads to reduce capacitive coupling between the stator and rotor during operation.

Abstract: A linear motor having motor magnets on a movable stage, also includes non-interleaved armature windings on a path. The magnets are arranged m along the span A of the movable stage. The armature windings are arranged with n windings occupying a distance equal to the span S. A switching device automatically switches power on to the armature windings entering the span, and switches power off to the windings leaving the span. The switching is done when the a magnet is aligned with the coil whose power is being switched on or off in order to minimizes switching noise. Switching is conveniently done using Hall effect devices controlling the switches, and a switching magnet, movable with the stage, having a length equal to the span. As the switching magnet comes within magnetic interaction distance of a Hall effect device, the Hall effect device closes its associated switch.