Abstract: An apparatus for use with a switch-mode rectifier for minimizing DC bus voltage without causing current distortion, the apparatus monitoring rectifier saturation and decreasing DC bus voltage until the rectifier is near a saturation point and then maintaining the DC bus voltage at that point.

Abstract: The present invention provides a dual mode DIN rail latch for an electrical component chassis that provides a tactile feedback warning to the user of the impending snap point placing the latch in the open position. In one embodiment of the present invention, the latch has a locking tab mounted to the chassis for slidable movement. The locking tab has a pair of springs that extend into an opening formed in the locking tab and engage a nub formed as an integral part of the chassis. The springs impinge upon sidewalls of the opening as the locking tab approaches an impending mode change. The impinging action provides tactile feedback to the user of the impending change in mode.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to a take-up frame assembly that is adapted to maintain a conveyor belt under constant tension. The take-up frame assembly, in one embodiment, can include a fluid cylinder having a retractable piston. The piston is interconnected with a bearing mounted to a shaft supporting the conveyor belt. The fluid cylinder includes a fluid regulator which can be used to maintain constant pressure within the cylinder and to thus apply a constant force to the bearing. The take-up frame assembly can also be used in combination with a controller and belt alignment devices which sense the relative position of the conveyor belt. When the conveyor belt falls out of alignment, the controller is capable of varying the pressure within the fluid cylinders in order to realign the belt.

Abstract: A structure for mounting a rotating machine element, such as a drum pulley, idler, roller or the like includes first and second bearing sets secured to first and second end disks of the rotating member. The first bearing set is secured to a stationary shaft by means of a locking assembly. The locking assembly includes a wedge-shaped sleeve or adapter which is secured between the inner race of the first bearing set and the stationary shaft. During installation of the locking assembly, the second bearing set remains slidable along the shaft, thereby avoiding pre-loads or stresses in either bearing assembly or the components of the rotating member. Once the rotating member has been fixed in a desired position along the shaft by means of the locking assembly, a retaining element may be placed adjacent to the second bearing set. The structure may be easily disassembled by the reverse process.

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: An output circuit has multi-stage protection circuitry for protecting against different fault current conditions. The protection circuitry operates by detecting voltage changes across the output transistor of the output circuit. The output circuit comprises first, second and third switching devices. The first switching device is connected to the output device and power conditions the output signal. The second and third switching devices override the output signal and turn off the first switching device when a magnitude of current through the first switching device exceeds predetermined magnitudes for predetermined amounts of time. A protection circuit is also disclosed which has a sensing device that senses a current flow condition by sensing a voltage drop produced across two terminals of the first power conditioning transistor, the two terminals being the terminals through which the current flows. Advantageously, the output circuit utilizes highly flexible two-stage protection circuitry.

Abstract: An apparatus including only first and second sensors for determining three phase motor currents and providing complete over-current protection to a three phase motor having three input lines. The first and second sensors measure first and second combined currents wherein the first combined current is the current through the first and second lines and the second combined current is at least the current through the second line and at least one of the first or second combined currents include the third current. The first and second combined currents are used to provide the over-current protection and are used to determine all of the first, second and third line currents.

Abstract: A method of partitioning a control program among many spatially separated computing devices places most of the program instructions in computing devices supporting outputs to the controlled processor equipment. Inputs then simply report their data to the output computing devices rather than having that data processed by a path of computing devices communicating with each other such as may cause the evaluation of the outputs to be delayed by multiple transmissions on the common link.

Abstract: A high power AC--AC converter having integrated adaptive commutation control and a new modularity design based on standard per-phase floating AC power-building modules. The per-phase floating AC power building modules designed with high voltage throughput and optimal partitioning differential output architecture which is suitable for multi-phase multi-module high power electronic systems. Now integrated and smart AC power switch modules are provided to reduce the gate control complexity, minimize circuit connection terminals and simplify power bus structure.

Abstract: An electromechanical machine having an improved arrangement for sealing lead wires. A housing structure of the electromechanical machine includes a tubular lead conduit, such as a short pipe section, through which the lead wires extend. A resinous sealing compound, such as an epoxy, is located within the tubular lead conduit. The lead wires are thus potted, and a predetermined degree of isolation is provided between the inside of the machine housing and the ambient environment. Preferably, the inner surface of the tubular lead conduit defines a labyrinthine structure, such as a series of parallel grooves, to further enhance the sealing function.

Abstract: A coil form for winding stator wire includes front and back coil forms which are designed to overcome the drawbacks of the known coil forms. The front coil form is adjustable between a first open position in which coils may be formed in a first series of sizes and a second closed position in which coils are formed in a second series of sizes. The adjustable front coil form allows tooling to be changed between even and odd winding form configurations without delays due to required set up time. The back coil winding form includes a tapered back surface which prevents coils from moving forward or unwinding before they are captured in a coil-receiving fork. This prevents coils from being received in an improper slot in the fork and allows the manufacture of a high quality product.

Abstract: A coordinated system time is established for spatially separated components of an industrial control system using synchronizing messages transmitted over a communication link between those parts. Precisely coordinated actions may be obtained at separated components by the use of a time conditional command received by those components prior to a time of execution the command instructing the component to execute the command only when at execution time in the future has been reached. The coordinated system time may be used to time stamp received triggering events for use in coordinating subsequent actions based on those triggering events.

Abstract: A rotor supporter for use in superconducting motors including first and second torque tubes secured between first and second rotor shaft ends and a rotor winding support wherein the support is essentially hollow and the tubes are essentially or entirely located inside the support thereby reducing overall rotor length.

Abstract: A photoelectric sensor has its own cleaning system which accommodates different possibilities for mounting the photoelectric sensor, so that it is no longer necessary to custom design cleaning systems. The photoelectric sensor includes an optical lens and a cleaning device which cleans the optical lens. The cleaning device further includes a fluid chamber coupled to a source of fluid, and a fluid dispenser in fluid communication with the fluid chamber and disposed adjacent the optical lens. The fluid dispenser is operative to dispense fluid on the optical lens to clean the optical lens. In a preferred embodiment, the cleaning system uses a pulse of air to remove dust from the optical lens of the photoelectric sensor.

Abstract: A decompiler works with a compiler for an industrial controller having a user modifiable instruction table to contain code fragments necessary to compile particular instructions. During compilation, the instructions are replaced with the code fragments. Thus new instructions recognizable by the compiler may be added simply by editing this instruction table. The decompiler identifies a portion of the compiled new instructions by reference to the same instruction table used by the compiler thus maintaining compatibility with the compiler.

Abstract: A bus structure for interconnecting the modules of an industrial automation controller includes DATA lines and associated control lines that enable interface circuits on each module to transfer frames of data. The interface circuit includes a flow control circuit for managing resources within the receiving module, and thus controlling the flow of data over the backplane bus. As soon as a message begins to be received, the flow control circuit makes a determination as to the availability of resources within the module to successfully receive the data frame. If sufficient resources are not available, a busy indication is returned to the transmitting module, and the transmitting module then aborts the transmission.

Abstract: A object oriented attribute handle for parsing and packing object attributes for communication thereof between virtual and physical devices in an object oriented programming environment. The handle comprising the steps of creating a plurality of attribute description files for each class of object instances and either parsing or packing instance attributes in accordance with a corresponding one of the plurality of attribute description files. The handle using a suite of routines to parse or pack instance attributes in accordance with the corresponding predefined attribute description file.

Abstract: A method and system for manufacturing units of production enables the location of a splice to be accurately determined, so that only the unit of production containing the splice can be rejected without requiring additional units of production which are entirely free of defects to also be rejected. According to the method, first and second webs of material are spliced together so as to create a splice. The splice is marked with a magnetic marker. After the units of production are assembled, including a unit of production which contains the splice, the magnetic marker is magnetized. The magnetizing step occurs after the assembling step so that the orientation of the magnetic field remains parallel to the sensing direction until the magnetic field is detected. The magnetic marker is detected with a detector which has a plurality of closely spaced magnetic sensors.

Abstract: Driving circuitry for a switch matrix provides a reset voltage to all rows of the matrix in between scans to recharge switch capacitance. Column detection circuitry is disabled in between scans so that column driving circuitry may also `reset` the charge on capacitors reducing the scan time and/or allowing a greater number of switch elements, element size, or EMI suppressing capacitances. Pull-up resistors are supplemented or eliminated through the use of active current sourcing and sinking for the drivers.