Abstract: A gear reducer housing includes rotating assembly supports in a housing shell, and fixturing pads disposed about the periphery of the housing shell. The fixturing supports are formed in the casting blank from which the housing shell is machined. The pads permit the shell blank to be fixtured once for machining of various features of the final shell. The pads may be formed in a peripheral flange and the flange may be machined around the pads to form a sealing surface. Apertures may be provided in the flange to facilitate assembly of the gear reducer. The apertures and fixturing pads may be provided in mirror image locations about a centerline of the housing. The apertures may be slotted, with major axes of mirror image-located apertures having transverse major axes, such that inherent tolerance is provided for positioning fasteners used to assemble the product.

Abstract: A sealing system for a gear reducer includes a compound sealing arrangement disposed in a bore of the reducer housing through which a rotating member extends. The sealing arrangement includes an outboard shielding seal and a inboard lip seal disposed adjacent to one another. The shielding seal includes an annular metallic shield and forms a labyrinth with the rotating member. An elastomeric sealing member is bonded to the shield. The inboard seal provides at least two additional points of contact for sealing the rotating member. The arrangement defined multiple barriers to liquid and solid contaminants and seals lubricant within the reducer housing. Similar arrangements may be provided about several rotating members, and about ends of members extending through the reducer housing, such as an output hub.

Abstract: A technique for computing RMS values for sampled waveforms. More specifically, a technique for computing RMS values for periodic waveforms, using data taken from a full waveform, a half waveform or some other portion of a waveform is described. Each RMS calculation is based on a different algorithm and provides accurate, real time data.

Abstract: A programmable logic controller (PLC) assembly. The PLC assembly has a PLC and a protective enclosure having a through-panel connector. The PLC is housed within the protective enclosure and electrically coupleable to the through-panel connector. The through-panel connector has a connector portion. The connector portion is configured for mating engagement with an electrical cable. The electrical cable is electrically coupleable to a PLC input device or a PLC output device.

Abstract: A current sensor includes a deflectable member disposed in a magnetic field. Nulling or compensating members may be mechanically coupled to the deflectable member. Feedback or readout devices coupled to the structure provide signals indicative of deflection of the deflectable member under the influence of applied current and the magnetic field. Nulling current applied to the nulling members tends to oppose deflection of the deflectable member. The nulling current may be modulated to drive the feedback signal to a desired level and is used as a basis for calculating the current to be measured. The current may be measured directly upon calibration of feedback devices coupled to the deflectable member or to the nulling members. Arrays of sensors may be coupled to common busses for applying measured and nulling currents to sensors of the arrays and for detecting feedback signals.

Abstract: An electromechanical device comprises a stator and a rotor which is capable of rotating relative to the stator. The rotor has a sensor embedded therein. In a preferred embodiment, the sensor is disposed within a plurality of laminations that are stacked one on top of another. For example, one of the plurality of laminations may be a sensor lamination, in which case the sensor is at least partially disposed within a cavity formed in the sensor lamination. Advantageously, the sensor may be used to directly measure rotor-associated operating conditions, such as rotor current (including the magnitude, frequency and phase of the rotor current), rotor fatigue, rotor temperature, rotor airgap, rotor flux and rotor torque. The sensor is especially well-suited for measuring current in the rotor of an induction motor.

Abstract: An electromagnetic operator includes first and second coils wound coaxially. An armature partially surrounds the coils for channeling flux during energization of the coils. The armature may be formed of a bent plate and secured to a ferromagnetic support. A control circuit applies energizing signals to the coils during operation. Both coils are energized during an initial phase of operation. One of the coils is subsequently released or de-energized automatically. A timing circuit removes current from the second coil after a variable time period. The time period may be a function of the configuration of the timing circuit, such as an RC time constant, and of the energizing signal.

Abstract: A technique for supplying power and data signals to panel-mounted components includes distribution of power and data conductors in a trunk wireway and further distribution to component locations via drop cable assemblies disposed in drop wireways. The drop cable assemblies and trunk cable assemblies may include identical cable. The cables have a plurality of parallel conductors in an insulated jacket. Connectors are mounted on the drop cable assemblies for receiving plug-in component cable assemblies routed to individual components mounted within component panels or bays. The components are thus electrically coupled in parallel with one another and may receive both power and data signals via the drop and trunk cable assemblies coupled to a network. Individual components may be independent installed and removed for servicing with interrupting service to upstream or downstream components in the system.

Abstract: A current sensor includes a deflectable member disposed in a magnetic field. Nulling or compensating members may be mechanically coupled to the deflectable member. Feedback or readout devices coupled to the structure provide signals indicative of deflection of the deflectable member under the influence of applied current and the magnetic field. Nulling current applied to the nulling members tends to oppose deflection of the deflectable member. The nulling current may be modulated to drive the feedback signal to a desired level and is used as a basis for calculating the current to be measured. The current may be measured directly upon calibration of feedback devices coupled to the deflectable member or to the nulling members. Arrays of sensors may be coupled to common busses for applying measured and nulling currents to sensors of the arrays and for detecting feedback signals.

Abstract: A configurable overload relay selectively operable in a single-phase mode of operation and a multi-phase mode of operation is configured to sense current flow through power conductors. The relay is further configured to determine a parameter related to the current flow, such as average current, vector sum of phase currents, and current imbalance, based on selection of either the single-phase or multi-phase mode of operation. Regardless of the selected mode of operation, the relay can provide protection for multiple types of power conductor fault conditions, including ground faults, overloads, and phase loss. The relay further can be configured to provide a reporting signal indicative of the value of the determined current-related parameter and/or the occurrence of the fault condition.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for high speed acquisition of the dimensional parameters of a work piece are effected by simultaneously acquiring probe positional information, converting the probe positional information to standard characteristic data, and calculating multiple dimensional geometries using the converted probe position information. Selected characteristic data may be stored for use with multiple dimensional geometry calculations, reducing the calculation time. A computer and associated software are used to convert the positional information to dimensional geometry information.

Abstract: A Hall effect current sensor system for use in, for example, a relay. The system also includes a core having a central opening for receiving the conductor therethrough. The core further includes a gap sized to receive a Hall generator. The Hall generator and the core are mounted to a first printed circuit board. This circuit board also has an opening to receive the conductor therethrough. The first printed circuit board is electrically and mechanically connected to a second printed circuit board by a board-in-board connection.

Abstract: A bearing assembly is provided which includes an annular support member and a plurality of thrust bearing elements coupled to and distributed about the face of the support member. The thrust bearing elements are adapted to receive and support an axial load of a rotating member such as a thrust collar on a shaft. An annular distribution ring is mounted to the face of the support member for restricting motion of the thrust bearing elements. A distribution passage is formed between the distribution ring and the support member in such a manner that the distribution passage carries fluid to and across each of the thrust bearing elements.

Abstract: A technique is provided for identifying waveform period or specific events during a waveform period. A periodic waveform is an input signal for a comparator, voltage divider and a balanced load. The circuitry produces a square waveform that has the same period as the input waveform, but is phase shifted based upon time required for the input waveform to cross positive and negative offsets from a zero axis. The resulting timing signals may be used for analysis of the input waveform, such as for RMS calculations based upon sampling of the input waveform.

Abstract: A unitary housing structure is provided for an electrical switching device such as a three-phase contactor. The housing includes internal partitions for separating an operator section from contact sections, and for isolating phase sections from one another. The partitions are contiguous with one another and with side walls of the housing, inhibiting plasma flow within the housing cavities. The housing is made of a thermoplastic material which is molded as a single piece. The thermoplastic may be partially protected from plasma and arcs by shields within the phase sections, such as splitter plate supports.

Abstract: A method is provided for sensing and measuring an electrical current. The current to be measured is applied to a deflectable member in a sensing module in the presence of a magnetic field. Deflection of the member is detected as an indication of the current. A nulling current may be applied to one or more additional deflectable members mechanically linked to the deflectable member. Feedback or readout signals indicative of deflection of the members are monitored. The nulling current is modulated to drive the feedback signals to a desired level. The nulling current value is converted to a value representative of the current to be measured.

Abstract: Stationary contact structures for an electrical contactor include a base plate portion, a riser portion and a turnback portion. The riser portion extends substantially perpendicularly from the base plate portion and a stationary contact pad is disposed directly above the riser, reducing the occurrence of mutually opposing flux during closure of movable contacts in the device. A current carrying extension may extend beyond the riser for carrying current during steady state operation. In such case, separate current carrying paths are defined in the stationary contact for transient and steady state operation. The portions of the structure are formed by processes, such as extrusion, which permit the desired geometry to be obtained between the base plate and riser. The turnback portion may descend towards the base plate portion to introduce arcs into an elevated position in a splitter plate stack.

Abstract: A power transmission assembly includes a first rotary housing and a second rotary housing disposed within the first housing. A piston housing is disposed between the first and second housing and does not rotate. A clutch plate stack is disposed adjacent to the piston assembly and is engageable to prevent relative rotation of the first and second housings with respect to one another. The rotary housings are supported by a bearing between the housings at one end, and by a series of bearings between the housings and the piston assembly at an opposite end. The arrangement enables the assembly to be supported as an overhung load, while actuating fluid is applied to the piston assembly via a non-rotating manifold.

Abstract: An operator assembly for an electromagnetic switching device includes a pair of insulative boards arranged in mutually facing relation. A first board carries first contacts, which may be arranged in pairs, while a second board carries second contacts designed to engage the first contacts upon closure. The first and second boards are pivotally secured to one another to rock between open and closed positions. A biasing member urges the board towards a normal position. The first board supports an electromagnet assembly and conductive traces for transmitting energizing current to the electromagnet coil. The second board supports an armature which is displaced under the influence of the electromagnet assembly during energization, thereby pivoting the boards with respect to one another against the force of the biasing member, and moving the first and second contacts into engagement.

Abstract: A method of making an electromechanical machine stator assembly in provided in which concentric coil groups are alternately inserted from both ends of the stator core. A first phase group is inserted through a first axial end of the stator core. A second phase coil group is then inserted through an opposite end of the stator core, such as by rotation of the stator core 180 degrees. Additional coil groups are similarly inserted into the stator core to complete the stator. The alternating insertion process provided a winding configuration utilizing a combination of full and shared slots of the stator core with leads exiting from both ends. The method permits the use of automated winding equipment in large induction motors, and facilitates subsequent connection to the stator coil leads.