Abstract: A trigger operated speed control wherein the insulating housing is a two-shot molding having metal conductors plated on one of the molding materials on various external and interior surfaces. Stationary contact elements are secured to respective plated conductors within a housing cavity, as are terminals of the FET on an external surface of the housing. A printed circuit board is secured to the housing over an open side thereof to close the housing cavity, retaining all movable parts of the control within the cavity, the board having plated through holes which receive and are soldered to plated pin projections of the housing to secure the board to the housing and complete selected conducting paths between plated conductors and printed circuit traces. A plated molded pin projection also receives a pin receptacle terminal of a separate reversing switch unit when positioned in a pocket formed in the housing.

Abstract: An electrically controlled shift actuator (2) of the type having a rotatable worm gear wheel (22) driven by a motor (M) to a predetermined one of at least two rotational positions, the wheel having an eccentric drive pin (26) moving a reaction member (14) to preload a spring-charged (10) shift member engagement means comprising a slide (6) and ball (8) directly engaged with a shift member (16) to move a shift member to a predetermined one of at least two positions. The control includes a selector switch (36), a pair of position sensing switches (28,30), and an electrically controlled switch (62) for alternatively connecting the motor (M) to a power supply (38) or to a dynamic braking circuit (66-68), but never to both simultaneously.

Abstract: An electronic light valve is disposed over a color fill lens formed in an opaque indicia plate and an infrared filter to be energized to a transmissive condition simultaneously with a low intensity light source to illuminate the legend either by ambient light reflecting from the lens or by the light source emitting prescribed energy wavelengths through the lens, whichever thereof having the greater intensity relative to the other. In a deenergized condition of the light source and light valve, the latter blocks ambient light from the legend to prevent viewing thereof.

Abstract: A one-piece molded adaptor comprises a rectangular frame having inwardly directed ledges on opposed lateral legs cooperably engagable with projections on a contactor housing normally intended to interlock with an auxiliary contact block housing. The frame fits firmly over a rectangular protrusion of the contractor housing to securely lock the adaptor to the contactor. A depending cantilever portion provides a laterally offset portion overlying a reset plunger of an overload relay and provides a finger-engagable pushbutton portion offset from the plunger and centrally located relative to the starter panel footprint to mimic the reset button location of earlier generation starters.

Abstract: A shutter is manually rotated across a circular aperture and into a light beam projecting through said aperture to selectively block a predetermined proportion of the light beam, thereby reducing intensity of light emitted to shorten the target sensing region distance for a photoelectric proximity sensor. First and second edges of the shutter intersect at a corner common to both edges and greater than ninety degrees. The shutter pivot is located so the corner traverses the aperture and thus the light beam substantially diametrically to cause the first edge to progressively reduce the light beam, the second edge sequentially progressively reducing the remaining half-circle of light beam upon continued rotation of the shutter.

Abstract: Direct current switching apparatus having two arc extinguishing chambers located in a common transverse plane, one chamber being divided into separate laterally spaced portions disposed below the other chamber, a pair of spaced conductors each having a contact element and an arc runner extending from near the contact, the arc runners being curved and disposed in a convex mirror-imate relationship to each other between the laterally spaced portions, distal ends of each arc runners providing a divergent path into the other chamber, a conductor disposed at outboard sides of the laterally spaced arc chamber portions cooperating with concave sides of the arc runners to provide divergent paths into the spaced arc chamber portions, power supply terminals connected to the respective spaced conductors, magnetic plates disposed in front and in back of the arc chambers having portions providing a magnetic path externally around the chambers, permanent magnets magnetically coupled to at least one of the magnetic plates p

Abstract: A Hall effect device is located in a focused gap of a flux concentrator disposed over one power terminal of a D.C. switching contactor to monitor flux induced by current flow. Magnetic fields from permanent magnets of the switching apparatus are shielded from the flux concentrator by a cup-shaped magnetic ring surrounding the concentrator, magnetically spaced therefrom, and a magnetic plate of the apparatus which is modified to accept more flux in a localized area of the sensor before saturation. The gap of the concentrator in which the Hall effect device is located is particularly positioned at a point where the magnetic field gradient from the permanent magnet field is minimum.

Abstract: Direct current switching apparatus having front and rear arc extinguishing chambers substantially coextensive, the rear chamber being separated into two laterally spaced arc extinguishing chambers, each arc extinguishing chamber comprising rows of non-magnetic parallel splitter plates, a pair of spaced conductors each having a stationary contact element spanning both the front and rear arc extinguishing chambers, power supply terminals connected to the respective spaced conductors, magnetic plates disposed in front of the front chamber and in back of the back chamber having magnetic means providing a magnetic path externally around the chambers, permanent magnets magnetically coupled to at least one of the magnetic plates providing a magnetic field across the respective chambers, a movable contact movable normal to a front to rear direction into and out of bridging engagement with the stationary contacts, and an electromagnetic drive motor disposed coextensive with said arc extinguishing chambers coupled at a

Abstract: A plastic load center box economically provided by duplicate molded end sections joined by an intermediate section of uniform cross-section which is readily provided in selected lengths in either molded or extruded form. End walls receive metal inserts electrically interconnected to provide grounding when attached to grounded conduit, or plastic inserts where the load center application does not require grounded conduit. Molded end sections have formed knockouts and wire clamping tabs.

Abstract: A plunger axially depressible within a tubular housing against a return spring has a conductive pin contact contained within a helically shaped slot through the plunger to project radially from opposite sides of the plunger. A spring biases the pin toward a first pair of stationary contacts. Depression of the plunger effects abutting engagement of the pin on the stationary contacts and continued depression causes the slot to rotationally wipe the pin on the stationary contacts. A conductive washer is slidably disposed over the plunger, keyed to a helical track on the exterior surface of the plunger to cooperatively abut and subsequently rotationally wipe a second pair of stationary contacts to provide a second pole for the switch.

Abstract: A plurality of slide valve elements having plural axial-spaced annular parts and an internal slide are inserted into a bulkhead in a fluid conduit from a downstream side of the bulkhead, locked in place by a bayonet coupling and set screw, and project through the bulkhead into the upstream conduit. Pneumatic lines connecting the slide valve element actuator to pilot valves are brought out the throat of the valve element to the downstream side. Pilot valves are radially spaced around the exterior of the valve to permit the pneumatic lines to be made identical, thereby to minimize adverse timing tolerances in operation due to pressure variations. Ring manifolds surround the valve adjacent respective pilot valve arrangements to further reduce adverse timing tolerances due to pressure variations, the manifolds being directly connected to the respective pilot valves.

Abstract: Pivotal movement of a switch actuator drives a finger projecting from the actuator against a convexly bowed leaf spring, depressing an intermediate portion of the leaf spring to an unstable concave condition. The leaf spring resists the actuator movement, initially with an increasing force but changing to a decreasing force at a predictable point in actuator movement to provide tactile feedback at an operator affixed to the actuator. The leaf spring is a flat beam. The spring foce and point of changeover can be readily and predictably varied during manufacture by selecting springs having different widths, thicknesses or other variable parameters. A modular block holds the spring in the bowed condition and is positioned relative to the actuator finger by a support plate. The actuator finger drives the spring against a conductive rubber block, compressing the block against spaced conductors on a printed circuit to complete the circuit.

Abstract: An adapter converting a standard plug-on, bolt-in power distribution panelboard type circuit breaker for use in industrial control applications comprises a molded insulating base having a rail engaged by a hook of the circuit breaker and a conductor having a first terminal compatible with the circuit breaker terminal and a second terminal comprising a wiring connector. The adapter is mountable to a panel or within an enclosure, flat against a panel or on a DIN rail or is attached to the breaker when the latter is front-mounted to a door or panel. A snap-on catch for mounting plate and DIN rail mounting is deflectable by an attached breaker to pinch the grip of the catch on the plate or DIN rail to prevent lateral movement, and by a screwdriver or the like from the front to release the base from the plate or rail. The plate accommodates plural bases in ganged relation to provide multiple capability mountable as a unit.

Abstract: A lock having depending sides with holes therein is snap fit attached to a rocker actuator by causing the sides to straddle the actuator and the holes to receive beveled lateral tabs on the actuator, the holes being longer than the tabs to permit and define sliding movement of the lock on the actuator. Four feet depend from the depending sides of the lock within a housing opening in which the actuator is pivotally mounted to abuttingly align with corresponding abutments in the housing on opposite sides of the pivotal axis of the actuator, preventing rotational movement of the actuator when the lock is in a first position with respect thereto under the bias of a compression spring. The actuator is released by sliding the lock against the bias of the spring to move the feet radially offset from the abutments, thereby permitting rotational movement of the actuator in either direction, actuating corresponding switch contacts.

Abstract: A ship-open pressure type wiring terminal for electrical apparatus wherein a threaded hole in the terminal is disposed immediately adjacent and aligned with a clearance opening in a plastic housing part overlying the terminal. One or more thin plastic webs integral with the housing part project transversely into the clearance opening and are deflected into the threaded hole upon insertion of a screw through the clearance opening, the web or webs being compressed between associated threaded walls of the screw and terminal hole to provide frictional resistance to rotation of the screw.

Abstract: A poppet is modulated between closed and full open positions by a brushless DC motor operating magnetically through a housing to drive a permanent magnet rotor which carries the poppet. The rotor is supported on several parallel cables which are stationarily fixed at one end and attached to the rotor at the other end, whereby rotation of the rotor twists the cables, causing axial foreshortening and axial translation of rotor and poppet. Axial translation is enhanced by placing a spacer between the cables, intermediate their ends. A permanent magnet ring is disposed around the valve seat directly axially attracting the rotor to a valve closed position.

Abstract: A device for photoelectrically sensing the color of a target object includes two more light sources having different characteristic ranges of chromaticity and at least one photosensitive element which receives light from the light sources after it has reflected off of the target object. A logic circuit serves to serially energize the light sources and receive resultant sample signals from the photosensitive elements. The logic circuit then generates a resultant signal as a function of the various sample signals and compares the resultant signal with a predetermined reference standard. If the difference therebetween exceeds a tolerance limit, the control circuit will output a reject signal.

Abstract: A removable control unit of a motor control center has an auxiliary operator handle linked to a molded case circuit breaker handle for control of the circuit breaker externally of the motor control center cabinet. An interlock slide bar is driven by the auxiliary handle to an extended position to block removal of the unit with the circuit breaker in the ON condition, and follows the handle by gravitational force to a withdrawn position upon movement of the handle to an OFF condition of the circuit breaker, the slide bar abutting a fixed stop prior to the handle reaching the OFF condition to separate the handle from the slide bar in the OFF condition. A spring carried on the interlock slide bar is engaged by the handle to effect driving engagement, compression of the spring occurring only as the handle is nearly in the ON condition.

Abstract: Direct current switching apparatus having two arc extinguishing chambers each comprising a pair of spaced conductors providing cooperable arc runners divergent toward a row of non-ferromagnetic splitter plates and a stationary contact conductively mounted on one conductor, the stationary contacts of respective chambers being mounted on respectively opposite conductors, corresponding conductors in respective chambers being conductively connected to each other and to power terminals of the apparatus, permanent magnets applying a magnetic field across the respective chamber for moving an arc within the chamber, ferromagnetic plates providing flux return paths to optimize and maximize the magnetic field, a movable contact extending into each chamber bridging the stationary contacts and movable to separate from the stationary contacts, drawing an arc therebetween in each chamber, the arc in one chamber bridging the pair of conductors within that chamber establishing a circuit comprising the arc between the conduct

Abstract: An actuator having a spring biased button abutting a first electric switch operator button and a flange spaced from an operator button of a second electric switch is driven by a pressure sensing bellows against a Belleville snap spring, the actuator moving abruptly against an intermediate stop upon breakover of the snap spring to operate the first switch, the bellows subsequently driving the actuator and intermediate stop coincidentally against a second Belleville snap spring, and the actuator moving abruptly against a second stop upon breakover of the second snap spring to actuate a second electric switch and depress the spring biased button. Adjustment means are provided for adjusting the range for each Belleville snap spring to provide distinct pressure set points and independent electric circuits, and to adjust both set points simultaneously.