Abstract: A through-flow blower assembly includes a housing that carries a motor assembly. The motor assembly has a stator, and a rotor that rotates a shaft when energized. The rotor has openings therethrough. A fan shell has an axial opening and is coupled to the housing. At least one rotating fan is carried by the shaft. The rotating fan draws working air through said axial opening and exhausts the working air through an exhaust port of the housing. The rotating fan has a diameter larger than the rotor. A cooling fan is attached to the rotor and includes a fan disc and a fan ring. The fan disc is connected to the fan ring by a plurality of blades, said fan ring having an eye that is directly adjacent the rotor openings. The cooling fan has a diameter no larger than said rotor. As the rotor rotates, the cooling fan draws a portion of the working air over the motor assembly for cooling purposes. Stationary fans may be carried by the fan shell if more than one rotating fan is provided.

Abstract: A bypass discharge motor assembly with improved noise reduction includes a motor assembly having a rotatable shaft. A working air fan assembly and a cooling fan are rotated by the shaft. A cooling fan housing is coupled to the motor assembly and partially encloses the cooling fan. The cooling fan housing has at least one radial air entry part for radially receiving cooling air drawn into the housing by the cooling fan.

Abstract: A bypass motor assembly includes a motor having a rotatable shaft, a working air fan secured to the rotatable shaft and a shroud having an intake eyelet and at least one exhaust apertures. The assembly includes an end bracket having a shaft hole through which the shaft extends. The end bracket and the shroud partially enclose the working air fan, wherein rotation of the working air fan draws air in through the intake eyelet and pushes the air through the plurality of exhaust apertures, the end bracket having a plurality of vanes that form a fan chamber that receives the working air fan such that air expelled by the working air fan is efficiently re-directed by the vanes toward the exhaust aperture. An air intake seal can be disposed between the shroud and the working air fan to further enhance the working air flow.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a combustion temperature sensor, and, more particularly, to a combustion temperature sensor that measures infrared radiation emitted at several preselected wavelengths from a flame and/or a flame's hot gas at a turbine inlet location and applies the energy signals. to a calculation model to yield temperature.

Abstract: A through-flow blower assembly includes a housing that carries a motor assembly. The motor assembly has a stator, and a rotor that rotates a shaft when energized. The rotor has openings therethrough. A fan shell has an axial opening and is coupled to the housing. At least one rotating fan is carried by the shaft The rotating fan draws working air through said axial opening and exhausts the working air through an exhaust port of the housing. The rotating fan has a diameter larger than the rotor. A cooling fan is attached to the rotor and includes a fan disc and a fan ring. The fan disc is connected to the fan ring by a plurality of blades, said fan ring having an eye that is directly adjacent the rotor openings. The cooling fan has a diameter no larger than said rotor. As the rotor rotates, the cooling fan draws a portion of the working air over the motor assembly for cooling purposes. Stationary fans may be carried by the fan shell if more than one rotating fan is provided.

Abstract: A process control device is disclosed. The process control device comprises a measuring circuit (102) and a power regulator circuit (100). The measuring circuit (102) is coupled to the power regulator (100), and produces a control signal indicative of a measured value. The power regulator circuit (100) redirects a portion of the available power from the power regulator circuit (100) in proportion to the control signal produced by the measuring circuit (102) such that it does not limit available power to the measuring circuit (102). The process control device also may comprise a power control circuit (101) coupled to the measuring circuit (102). The power control circuit (101) redirects an amount of available power from the power regulator circuit (100) in proportion to the control signal. The process control device also comprisies two or more conductors (106, 107) that are in electrical communication with the power regulator circuit (100) and the power control circuit (101).

Abstract: A molded through-flow motor assembly has a motor housing, including a cup portion and a flange portion. The flange portion includes a plurality of ramp surfaces extending outwardly therefrom. The cup portion has a field retaining wall and guide rib extending inwardly therefrom on opposite sides of the housing. A diffuser plate is provided having a plurality of scalloped ramp surfaces on a first side thereof adjacent to a plurality of air inlet apertures which open into air chambers on the second side thereof. The field and armature portions of a motor assembly are mounted in the motor housing and the diffuser plate is fitted to the flange portion of the housing such that the ramp surfaces abut one another to form a continuous ramp surface from each air inlet aperture into the air chambers. A rotating fan member is mounted to the armature shaft and is housed within a shroud cover fitted to the motor housing.

Abstract: The present invention provides a magnetic latching contactor for high current switching applications. A stationary assembly is provided which comprises a first passive biasing member and an active biasing member. A moveable assembly is slidably coupled to the stationary assembly for movement between a first stable position and a second stable position. A second passive biasing member is also provided. The first passive biasing member applies a first passive biasing force to the moveable assembly biasing the moveable assembly toward the first stable position. The second passive biasing member applies a second passive biasing force to the moveable assembly biasing the moveable assembly toward the second stable position. The active biasing member provides an active biasing force to the moveable assembly alternatively biasing the moveable assembly to the first stable position and the second stable position.

Abstract: A process and system for purifying molten metal utilize a filter holder which has a spring-loaded clasp for releasably engaging a filter component. The filter holder is particularly well-suited to engaging and releasing a fabric filter having a frame surrounding its perimeter. The process involves releasing the filter component from the filter holder by inserting the filter component into a tapered recess of a mold composite. Another mold composite is mated over the filter component and forms a molten metal flow path, across which the filter is disposed. Then, a feed stream of molten metal is introduced to the flow path and through the filter. An advantage of the filter holder is that the spring tension within the filter holder can be adjusted to allow secure travel before insertion into the tapered recess and easy release of the filter component after insertion is complete.

Abstract: A sludge blanket level is determined in a waste water treatment clarifier using sonic pulse reflections. Additionally, using similar techniques, the clarity of the waste water is determined. A sonic pulse is directed into the waste water. Echos are generated as the pulse encounters the impedance mismatches indicative of changes in the density of the water. The echos are compensated for attenuation as a function of travel time through the water, energy lost due to prior peak reflections, and are processed to remove random signals using correlation techniques. A sludge blanket is selected from the compensated echo signal as a function of the size and location of echo peaks. Additionally, the clarity is determined as a function of the area under the echo signal between two points corresponding to predefined levels in the clarifier tank.

Abstract: An illumination source transmits light through a transmitting light pipe to an optical switch. A first receiving light pipe is aligned with and spaced from the first transmitting light pipe to form a first gap therebetween. The switch includes a switch cap adapted to be disposed in a first position and in a second position. A first light transmitting tower is coupled to the switch cap and extends from the switch cap into the first gap when the switch cap is disposed in at least one of the first position and the second position. A first opaque blade extends from the switch cap and adjacent to the first light transmitting tower and is adapted to extend into the first gap to prevent light from being transmitted to the first end of the first receiving light pipe in one of the first position or the second position. In other embodiments, a switch and a method for using the switch enable illumination of only a portion of the switch cap regardless of the switch position.

Abstract: A bypass motor/fan assembly for use in applications where moisture laden air is encountered. A motor with a motor cooling fan has a fan end bracket received at one end thereof to isolate the motor and motor cooling fan from a working air fan received on the opposite side of the fan end bracket. A diffuser matingly engages with the fan end bracket. The diffuser and fan end bracket have ramped surfaces thereon which are circumferentially aligned with the working air fan. The ramped surfaces define air flow paths of uniform cross section which pass to exhaust ports which are circumferentially spaced about a fan shell which is received over the fan end brackets, diffuser and working air fan. The fan shell has an air intake aperture at an end thereof. Air passes from the air intake aperture, into the eye of the work air fan, and out of the fan at the circumference thereof into the air paths of uniform cross section and to the exhaust ports.

Abstract: A molded through-flow motor assembly has a motor housing, including a cup portion and a flange portion. The flange portion includes a plurality of ramp surfaces extending outwardly therefrom. The cup portion has a field retaining wall and guide rib extending inwardly therefrom on opposite sides of the housing. A diffuser plate is provided having a plurality of scalloped ramp surfaces on a first side thereof adjacent to a plurality of air inlet apertures which open into air chambers on the second side thereof. The field and armature portions of a motor assembly are mounted in the motor housing and the diffuser plate is fitted to the flange portion of the housing such that the ramp surfaces abut one another to form a continuous ramp surface from each air inlet aperture into the air chambers. A rotating fan member is mounted to the armature shaft and is housed within a shroud cover fitted to the motor housing.

Abstract: A motor frame assembly includes a motor housing having an end, a fan end bracket having a bracket shiplap, and a blower assembly having a blower shiplap. The end, the bracket shiplap and the blower shiplap alignable with each other to form a nested connection that provides at least radial and axial alignment for the motor frame assembly to facilitate the manufacturing process and provide a long-lasting motor frame assembly.

Abstract: A motor fan bracket is molded of a fiber reinforced thermoset polyester. The motor/fan bracket has an annular frame and an annular bearing housing concentric with the frame and supported by inwardly extending arms. The annular bearing housing has a bearing-receiving cavity configured in cross section as an equilateral polygon such that each face of that cavity is tangential to a bearing received therein.

Abstract: A combined commutator brush retainer clip and electrical connector includes a main body portion and a terminal portion. The main body portion has a recessed portion with a plurality of dimples therein. A commutator brush is electrically connected to a brush holder sleeve, and the brush holder sleeve is, in turn, clampingly engaged to the commutator housing with the retainer. The brush holder sleeve is disposed within the recessed portion of the retaining clip and is frictionally engaged by the dimples. The terminal portion of the retainer engages a corresponding terminal member on the motor stator such that an electrical connection is established between said commutator brush and said stator by way of said retainer.

Abstract: A high temperature gas stream optical flame sensor for flame detection in gas turbine engines, and method for fabricating same is provided. The sensor generally comprises a silicon carbide photodiode and silicon carbide based amplification hardware for generating a signal indicative of the presence of the flame. In a preferred embodiment, the photodiode and amplification hardware are disposed within a sensor housing and the photodiode is situated within a fuel/air premixer.

Abstract: A blower fan assembly for removing combusted by-products and flue gas from a furnace is presented. The blower fan assembly includes a housing with a cavity for receiving a blower fan. The housing is secured over an opening in a furnace so that when the blower fan rotates, flue gas is drawn from the furnace to an exhaust conduit outside the building in which the furnace is received. The blower fan includes a fan ring connected to a fan disc by a plurality of vanes which are parallel with the axis of rotation. A motor, mounted to the housing, rotates the fan disc. The blower fan draws air in through the fan ring, through the plurality of vanes and out through the exhaust conduit. A static pressure tap is located in the housing and is connected to a pressure sensor which measures the static pressure generated by the blower fan as it rotates.

Abstract: A pneumatic isostatic forging process for densification of near net shape workpieces is disclosed. In the process, a workpiece is heated prior to the forging process, such as from a previous processing step. The workpiece is loaded into a pressure vessel. The pressure in the vessel is ramped to an operating pressure and held for approximately 10-120 seconds. The vessel is pressurized using rapid pressurization to achieve a high strain rate to assist in the final closure of voids within the workpiece, with the increase in the strain rate lowering the flow stress requirements for the workpiece, thereby making the workpiece more susceptible to plastic deformation.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling fluid mass-flowrate are provided. One embodiment of the method of the present invention essentially comprises generating in response to a requested mass-fluid flowrate a torque for controlling a torque-controlled valve to provide a flow of fluid from a supply to a remote space. Angular momentum is imparted to the fluid flow related to the actual mass-flowrate of the fluid flow. The angular momentum of the fluid flow generates a feedback torque therewith for counter-acting the controlling torque. The feedback torque is summed with the controlling torque to reduce the controlling torque as a function of the feedback torque whereby to form a hydromechanical closed-loop mass-flowrate servo-valve.