Abstract: An AC power generating system includes an array of permanent magnet alternators. The stator windings of these alternators are electrically connected in series and the total output voltage of the alternator array is regulated by adjusting the relative angular positions of the stators to control the phase angle of the output voltage of each alternator. The alternators employ an inside-out design wherein a plurality of permanent magnets are positioned at circumferentially displaced locations on an internal surface of a nonmagnetic support structure to form the rotor. A stator having a core with longitudinal slots for receiving a stator winding is positioned within the rotor structure such that relative rotation between the stator and rotor induces a voltage in the stator winding.

Abstract: A transmission for an electrically powered vehicle includes an output shaft having a central axis and a carrier gear mounted to rotate about that axis. The carrier gear is driven by at least one electric motor and is coupled to the output shaft by an over-running clutch. A plurality of planetary gears are mounted on shafts which are attached to the carrier gear and positioned to engage a sun gear on the output shaft and a ring gear. A housing surrounds the gear assembly and a mechanism is provided to inhibit rotation of the ring gear thereby increasing the speed of the output shaft relative to the speed of the carrier gear.

Abstract: A homopolar dynamoelectric machine is provided with a stator structure having an interior surface defining an internal space for receiving a generally cylindrical rotor which is mounted for rotation with respect to the stator structure. A plurality of brush assemblies are positioned between the stator interior surface and an exterior surface of the rotor and are capable of making sliding electrical contact with the rotor exterior surface. Each of the brush assemblies is connected by way of a brush drive rod to a brush actuator which is positioned on an external surface of the stator structure, to control radial displacement of the brushes. By mounting the brush actuators on an external stator surface, a reduction in stator size and weight is achieved.

Abstract: An optical system for testing the operation of very high speed logic devices. Output signals from the device being tested are loaded into a spatial light modulator while running at normal clocking frequencies. After being fully loaded, a laser light source is pulsed to send a short light signal through the spatial light modulator and onto a light detector array. The spatially modulated light, which is imaged upon the detector array, corresponds to the bit stream of data from the output of the device under test. According to one embodiment, the modulated signal is compared to stored binary values by conventional logic circuits. According to another embodiment, a second spatial light modulator is used to form a coinciding image on the same detector array. This second image corresponds to the complement of the correct output signal.

Abstract: An electrical switch for switching direct current in an inductively driven electromagnetic projectile launching system is provided with a rotor having a generally cylindrical conductive element with a first portion that includes a continuously conductive external surface. A second portion of the conductive element includes a pair of insulating members fixed at angularly spaced locations such that sections of the conductive elements and the insulating members alternate along the generally cylindrical surface of the elememt. One pair of angularly spaced retractable brush members extend radially inward toward and axially along the conductive surface of the first portion of the conductive element to make sliding electrical contact with the conductive element during the inductor charging phase of a launch sequence.

Abstract: The electromagnetic projectile launching systems of this invention accelerate projectiles by switching current from a current source to a pair of conductive projectile launching rails such that current flows through the rails and through an armature between the rails to produce an accelerating force on a projectile and the rate of current injection into the rails is controlled so that the initial projectile acceleration occurs at a reduced current level compared to the current used for subsequent projectile acceleration. This reduced current level is provided by initially shorting a resistor connected between one of the rails and the power source or alternatively by inserting a resistor in series with a switch which partially commutates current from the current source to the projectile launching rails. The maximum rail surface temperature during a launch is reduced by controlling the rate of initial current injection.

Abstract: An internally augmented, parallel rail electromagnetic projectile launching system includes a plurality of projectile launching rail pairs wherein the stacked height of the rails adjacent to the launcher bore decreases from the breech end to the muzzle end of the launcher. The launcher rail pairs may be electrically connected in series with each other and in series with an external current source. Alternatively, a separate though not necessarily entirely independent current source may be provided for each pair of rails and switching means may be included to substantially simultaneously connect each current source to its associated rail pair.

Abstract: An armature for use in electromagnetic projectile launchers is provided with a plurality of modular conductive fiber bundles which are arranged in a rectangular array and attached to an insulating armature support structure. The conductive fibers extend across the launcher bore and are sized to provide an interference fit between a pair of generally parallel conductive launcher rails. Each fiber bundle includes a rectangular central sheath and a pair of peripheral rectangular sheets positioned on opposite sides of the central sheath. The axis of each peripheral sheet is positioned at an angle with respect to the axis of the central sheath.

Abstract: A solid state power controller including a switching device which has a first impedance in an ON state and a second, higher impedance in an OFF state is provided with a leakage current shunt circuit. The solid state power controller includes a control circuit for turning the switching device on and off. This control circuit is operatively associated with a shunt circuit operating means which turns the shunt circuit on following a transition of the switching device from an ON state to an OFF state and which renders the shunt circuit inoperative prior to a transition of the switching device from an OFF state to an ON state. The shunt circuit thereby acts to clamp the voltage appearing at a pair of solid state power controller load output terminals.

Abstract: A microprocessor-based electronic control unit utilizes a random pattern lock and key failure detection scheme to detect failures in the system being controlled or the control unit itself. The microprocessor system is programmed to receive a random data word, to output the same data word, and to perform a variety of tests which result in the generation of a data stream having a particular relationship to the random data word such that the data stream and the random data word bits can be combined to form a predetermined data word that is needed to maintain microprocessor control of the associated electrical system. If the microprocessor fails to generate a data stream which results in the formation of the proper predetermined data word, the control unit output will be locked into a predetermined state.

Abstract: A rotary switch for switching large direct currents is provided with a rotating cylinder having a pair of electrically connected angularly spaced conductors. Retractable sliding contacts are provided to make contact with the rotor surface and an insulated slot arc chamber is provided to improve the rate of voltage rise when the switch opens. Two of these switches can be connected in parallel to provide a switching system for an electromagnetic projectile launcher wherein one switch conducts initial charging current to charge an inductive storage device then commutates that current to the second switch which subsequently commutates the current to the launcher load.

Abstract: A system for casting liquid metals is provided with an electromagnetic pump which includes a pair of primary blocks each having a polyphase winding and being positioned to form a gap through which a movable conductive heat sink passes. A solidifying liquid metal sheet is deposited on the heat sink and the heat sink and sheet are held in compression by forces produced as a result of current flow through the polyphase windings. Shaded-pole interaction between the primary windings, heat sink and solidifying strip produce transverse forces which act to center the strip on the heat sink.

Abstract: A sludge collection system for a vertically oriented nuclear steam generator is provided with an upwardly open chamber for receiving separated liquid and incoming feedwater that contain sludge particulates. A plurality of sludge collecting containers are positioned within the chamber and include a top rim encompassing an opening leading into the interior of each container. Generally flat perforated covers are positioned over each container such that a gap is formed between the cover and the adjacent top rim. Particulate material in the water entering the container can settle within the container because of relatively stagnant conditions. Sludge agitation and removal means are provided for remotely cleaning the containers. The sludge collection system components are sized to permit retrofitting this system into existing steam generators.

Abstract: A frequency control circuit for controlling the output frequency of an inverter power pole switching arrangement produces a modified clock signal by inhibiting clock pulses of a stable clock signal in response to output pulses of a voltage controlled oscillator. The average frequency of the modified clock signal is then equal to the difference between the original clock signal and the output frequency of the voltage controlled oscillator. A control voltage which represents the difference between a normal inverter output frequency and the frequency of an external power source is used to control the output frequency of the voltage controlled oscillator.

Abstract: A dynamoelectric machine is provided with a stator assembly and a rotor mounted for rotation within the stator assembly. The rotor comprises a laminated core having a central portion which includes a plurality of non-magnetic structural laminations and a plurality of magnetic laminations interspersed among the non-magnetic laminations. The rotor also has two end portions, each of which includes a plurality of non-magnetic structural laminations positioned adjacent to each other and an end lamination which closes the structure. A plurality of permanent magnets and a plurality of magnetic pole pieces extend longitudinally within the core. Each of the pole pieces lies adjacent to one surface of each of the permanent magnets and extends circumferentially between the associated magnet surface and an edge of adjacent one of the magnetic laminations. This produces a plurality of magnetic flux paths circumferentially disposed about the periphery of the core.

Abstract: A hybrid solid state/mechanical switch is provided with a pair of mechanical contacts connected in parallel with a solid state switching device. These components are operated by a control circuit to achieve arcless current interruption under normal conditions. A circuit breaking device, which can be operated by a crowbar circuit, provides failure protection for the hybrid switch if excessive leakage current is detected in the solid state switching device or current continues to flow through the switch at a preselected time following the occurrence of a turn-off command signal.

Abstract: A switching time correction circuit for electronic inverters controls the operation of power pole switches by delaying the application of each transition point in a reference pattern signal to the output switches. The length of the delay is reduced for transition points in the reference signal which correspond to negative power transitions in the power pole switch and the amount of delay time reduction is proportional to the output current of the respective power pole switch. By inserting a variable delay between the reference signal and the power switch, transition points in the output voltage are each delayed by a fixed time with respect to transition points in the reference waveform pattern.

Abstract: An electromagnetic projectile launcher is provided with a pair of parallel conductive projectile launching rails which are generally T-shaped with a significant current carrying cross section located symmetrically around a horizontal bore center line. Augmenting conductors which may be either series or parallel connected are located adjacent to the projectile launching rails. In favorable embodiments, force augmentation is also achieved by a reduction in launcher rail height from the breech to the muzzle end.

Abstract: A current limiting circuit for a DC to AC inverter is provided with means for sensing the current in the inverter output phases and means for switching all of the power poles to the polarity of the minority power pole when an overcurrent condition occurs. This reduces the switching current levels of the inverter power pole switches to reduce switching stresses and improve reliability. A current sensing scheme is illustrated in which self-excited transductors are used to sense the current in two of the three inverter output phases and the current in the remaining output phase is derived from these two sensed currents.

Abstract: A dynamoelectric machine is provided with a laminated stator having a central opening for receiving a rotor and a plurality of longitudinal slots adjacent to its peripheral surface. Each of these longitudinal slots contains an extended cleat. The cleats extend beyond each end of the stator stack and are shaped to define a tab and shoulder on each end. A pair of end bells are positioned on opposite ends of the stator stack and each includes a central aperture in axial alignment with the central opening of the stator stack and a plurality of holes for receiving the extended cleat tabs. During assembly, an expandable arbor is positioned within the central opening and the end bell apertures to provide positive axial alignment between the end bells and the stator stack. Each end bell aperture has an initial diameter which is less than the diameter of the stator stack central opening.