Abstract: A method and apparatus for testing dynamoelectric machine rotors, particularly squirrel cage rotors for induction motors, to obtain resistance, reactance, and effective skew values to permit identification of rotor defects. The rotor is rotated in an alternating magnetic field and pick-up coils are used to sense the voltage generated in the rotor by sensing the magnetic flux generated by magnetization of the rotor during rotation. Current sensing is used to determine the current used in magnetizing the rotor and a separate skew pick-up coil is utilized to detect effective electrical skew. These signals are processed to determine whether the rotor meets predetermined pass/fail criteria, to provide detailed statistical data and to generate a failure indication responsive to one of the values falling outside respective predetermined limits.

Abstract: A permanent magnet rotor for an electronically commutated motor (ECM) has a core, a plurality of magnetizable elements spaced around the core, and a thin-walled retaining shell which has been stretched around the core and magnetizable elements to hold the elements in position. The rotor is made by an inventive method which involves axially aligning the core and surrounding magnetizable elements with the retaining shell, and cold-pressing the retaining shell over the core and elements to sandwich the elements between the shell and core. The core and magnetizable elements serve as a mandrel about which the shell is reformed in a cold working operation. Other aspects of the invention include the fixturing apparatus used to align the core and magnetizable elements with the retaining shell, and apparatus which is used to evenly space the magnetizable elements around the core and hold the elements in position during at least a portion of the cold-pressing operation.

Abstract: A suspension system for controlling the relative position of a vehicle and a wheel assembly supporting the vehicle for travel over a surface of terrain. The system includes a member for resiliently connecting the vehicle and the wheel assembly to establish an equilibrium position therebetween in which the vehicle is supported in a predetermined position with respect to the surface of the terrain. The system further includes a dynamoelectric machine comprising a stationary assembly and a rotatable assembly magnetically coupled thereto, the stationary assembly having a plurality of winding stages adapted to be electrically energized to apply an electromagnetic field to said rotatable assembly thereby to rotatably drive the rotatable assembly about an axis. A ball screw translates rotation of the rotatable assembly driven by the stationary assembly into linear motion between the wheel assembly and the vehicle.

Abstract: Control circuit for an electronically commutated motor which has a rotatable assembly and further has a stationary assembly with a plurality of winding stages having terminals for energization, and switches for applying a voltage to one or more of the terminals of the winding stages at a time and commutating the winding stages in a preselected sequence to rotate the rotatable assembly. A preselected sequence of winding stages are left correspondingly unpowered so that a plurality of the winding stages are unpowered at some time. The winding stages generate back emf signals and also couple electrical signals from each energized winding stage to the unpowered winding stages which signals can interfere with detection of back emf for position sensing purposes. The control circuit includes a first circuit for selecting at least two of the unpowered winding stages which have electrical signals coupled to them that have a predetermined relationship in polarity and magnitude.

Abstract: A method of assembling an overload protector for use in a combination starter-protector device adapted to be associated in circuit relation with a dynamoelectic machine. To practice this method, a conductive member is extended through a slot in a sidewall of a casing, and a contact section of the conductive member is located within an open ended recess in the casing defined by the sidewall and a base wall while a terminal section of the conductive member is located on an extension wall extending laterally of the sidewall. The terminal section is secured against displacement to the extension wall. A support for a bimetal switch element is disposed in an assembly position within the open ended recess, and the bimetal switch element is biased into engagement in circuit relation with the contact section.An overload protector, a combination starter-protector device and a method of assembling a starter-protector device are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an electrical contact formed at least in part of a precious metal which defines a contact surface on the electrical contact. In this method, an initial discrete deformation of the precious metal extends a projection of the precious metal to a first preselected height beyond the contact surface. Thereafter a further discrete deformation of at least the precious metal projection forms it into a preselected configuration and also alters the extension of the precious metal projection to another preselected height beyond the contact surface different than the first preselected height.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for controlling a motor having a stationary assembly with a plurality of winding stages for carrying motor current and further having a rotatable assembly in driving relation with a blower in an air handling system. The apparatus provides control of the pressure over a range of flow restrictions to maintain air pressure in the system at a relatively constant preselected level. The apparatus receives a preselected pressure signal representing the preselected air pressure level. A microprocessor, responsive to both the preselected pressure signal and a motor speed signal, generates a desired torque signal which is a function of the preselected pressure signal, the speed signal and a previous desired torque signal. The desired torque signal is compared to a signal representing motor torque and a comparison signal representing the comparison is generated.

Abstract: A control circuit for a system including an electronically commutated motor. A tachometer pulse signal generator generates a signal representative of the rotational speed of the rotatable assembly of the motor and having a duty cycle. The control circuit includes first and second motor voltage inhibiting circuits. The first inhibiting circuit inhibits application of the motor voltage to the winding stages of the motor in response to the tachometer pulse signal when the motor speed is below the preset minimum speed. The second inhibiting circuit inhibits application of the motor voltage to the winding stages in response to the tachometer pulse signal when the duty cycle of the tachometer pulse signal is outside a preselected acceptable range.

Abstract: A method of selectively connecting a set of winding means for a dynamoelectric machine into at least two different electrical configurations. In this method, the leads of the winding means collected in a conduit box of the dynamoelectric machine are each connected with a lead termination. A terminal block is disposed in a preselected orientation adjacent a mounting table in the conduit box, and each lead termination is inserted into a predetermined one of a plurality of connection apertures in the terminal block. The terminal block is moved from its preselected orientation into another orientation in overlaying engagement with an abutment surface on the mounting table, and the terminal block is releasably engaged in its another preselected orientation to the mounting table. A lead termination device and a method of fabricating such are also disclosed.

Abstract: A motor assembly includes a stationary assembly having a plurality of winding stages adapted to be electrically energized to generate an electromagnetic field and a rotatable assembly including a plurality of permanent magnet elements in magnetic coupling relation with the stationary assembly. The motor assembly also includes first and second substantially flat end members parallel to each other and having inner facing sides between which the stationary assembly and the rotatable assembly are located. Each of the members has an outer side opposite its inner side. Control circuitry is connected to the winding stages and positioned adjacent the outer side of the first member, for applying a voltage to one or more of the winding stages at a time and for commutating the winding stages in a preselected sequence to rotate the rotatable assembly about an axis of rotation. A cap on the outer side of the first member forms a closure with the first member within which the control circuitry is located.

Abstract: A drive system for a laundry machine utilizing a switched reluctance motor of three or more phases and with stator/rotor pole ratios selected from the ratios of 6:4 and 8:6 with the actual number of poles being a multiple of 2 or more times those numbers. A stator/rotor gap of 10-20 mils is maintained in large diameter motors and cooling for the coils and electronic components positioned within the motor is provided.

Abstract: An electric transducer has a casing with a plurality of walls defining a pair of chambers, and one of the walls interposed between the chambers defines a diaphragm for deflection in response to fluid pressure in one of the chambers. A strain gauge disposed on the one wall in the other of the chambers spans the diaphragm for conjoint deflection therewith to establish an output voltage correlative with the diaphragm deflection, and an electronic amplifier in the other chamber is connected in circuit relation with the strain gauge for amplifying the output voltage.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for controlling a motor having a stationary assembly with a plurality of winding stages for carrying motor current and further having a rotatable assembly in driving relation with a blower in an air handling system. The apparatus provides control of the blower speed over a range of static pressure variations to maintain relatively constant preselected rate of air flow in the system. The apparatus receives a preselected flow rate signal representing the preselected air flow rate. A microprocessor, responsive to both the preselected flow rate signal and a speed signal, generates a desired torque signal which is a function of both the preselected flow rate signal and the speed signal. The desired torque signal is compared to a signal representing motor torque and a comparison signal representing the comparison is generated.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating cores has an endless conveyor operable with discrete intermittent movements between a plurality of preselected positions defined in a predetermined course of the endless conveyor with a preselected dwell period between each of the discrete intermittent movements, respectively. A set of drives for the endless conveyor includes a coupler associated with each drive for engagement with the endless conveyor only during the preselected dwell periods, and means for intermittently moving the drives only when the couplers are engaged with the endless conveyor, respectively.

Abstract: Improved piezoelectric ceramic switching devices are described along with their .[.method.]. .Iadd.methods .Iaddend.of fabrication. In addition to the devices themselves, novel electric circuits are described for the energization as well as the use of such devices as switching elements in electrical systems. Parts of both the energization circuits and/or utilization circuits employing the piezo ceramic switching device are physically mounted on and supported by non-polarized parts of the piezoelectric ceramic plate elements comprising the switching devices so that lightweight compact construction is achieved along with substantial reduction of stray inductance intercoupling.

Abstract: This application described a number of novel advanced piezoelectric ceramic power switching devices which are mounted within protective gastight enclosures that are either evacuated to a high degree of vacuum or filled with an inert gas protective atmosphere. The devices thus constructed are capable of operating over a range of load voltages extending from about 100 volts to 5000 volts or more with corresponding currents of from a few amperes to hundreds of amperes and wherein it is possible to provide a number of such structures in a single common protective gastight enclosure. For certain circuit applications the devices thus constructed have unpoled portions on which are mounted either passive circuit components such as resistors, capacitors and the like or active semiconductor devices all interconnected in circuit relationship with each other and the switching devices by using printed circuit or integrated circuit fabrication techniques.

Abstract: This application describes a number of novel advanced piezoelectric ceramic power switching devices which are mounted within protective gastight enclosures that are either evacuated to a high degree of vacuum or filled with an inert gas protective atmosphere. The devices thus constructed are capable of operating over a range of load voltages extending from about 100 volts to 5000 volts or more with corresponding currents of from a few amperes to hundreds of amperes and wherein it is possible to provide a number of such structures in a single common protective gastight enclosure. For certain circuit applications the devices thus constructed have unpoled portions on which are mounted either passive circuit components such as resistors, capacitors and the like or active semiconductor devices all interconnected in circuit relationship with each other and the switching devices by using printed circuit or integrated circuit fabrication techniques.

Abstract: Improved piezoelectric ceramic switching devices are described along with their .[.method.]. .Iadd.methods .Iaddend.of fabrication. In addition to the devices themselves, novel electric circuits are described for the energization as well as the use of such devices as switching elements in electrical systems. Parts of both the energization circuits and/or utilization circuits employing the piezo ceramic switching device are physically mounted on and supported by non-polarized parts of the piezoelectric ceramic plate elements comprising the switching devices so that lightweight compact construction is achieved along with substantial reduction of stray inductance intercoupling.

Abstract: A drive for a laundry machine having a means for agitating water and fabrics to launder the fabrics and for spinnning the fabrics to effect centrifugal displacement of water from the fabrics. An electronically commutated motor energized from a DC power source for driving the agitating and spinning means includes a stator with a plurality of winding stages adapted to be elctronically commutated in a plurality of preselected sequences, and a rotatable assembly is arranged in selective magnetic coupling relation with the winding stages so as to be rotatably driven thereby. The rotatable assembly is rotatably driven in one direction in response to the electronic commutation of at least some of the winding stages in one of the preselected sequences and also in the one direction and another direction opposite thereto in response to the electronic commutation of the winding stages in another of the preselected sequences.