Abstract: An inspection device for inspecting storage silos having mobile body with a tray portion for holding internal components for powering and controlling the inspection device, such as a control circuit and power source. Pairs of spaced apart in-line drive wheels are mounted to the tray portion. An external equipment mounting location (space) is provided between the pairs of drive wheels. A universal wiring harness is located within the tray portion and extends to the external mounting location such that at least two non-identical items of inspection equipment can be interchangeably mounted to the mobile body and connected to the wiring harness. A top portion may be secured over the tray portion to enclose the internal components. Optional fenders may be secured over the wheels and external equipment. Preferably, the external equipment can be swapped without having to remove the top portion from the tray portion.

Abstract: Example isolated AC-DC power supplies include a PFC converter coupled to an AC input, a DC-DC converter coupled between the PFC converter and a DC output, and a controller configured to control switching operation of the DC-DC converter. A pulse modulator is coupled to an output of the PFC converter to receive a signal representative of voltage ripple at the output of the PFC converter, and is configured to modulate a pulse signal based on an amplitude of the voltage ripple. A pulse demodulator is coupled to the pulse modulator to receive the modulated pulse signal, and is configured to demodulate the modulated pulse signal and provide a demodulated signal to adjust switching operation of the DC-DC converter. Also disclosed are methods for controlling isolated AC-DC power supplies.

Abstract: A method for recycling processing of dust generated in a converter furnace, includes: crushing and drying a cake formed by adding a binder to a slurry containing iron powder-containing dust that is generated at the time of converter blowing and wet-collected to produce a mixed slurry and subjecting the produced mixed slurry to a dehydration treatment in a filter press; accumulating the cake in an accumulation tank; and charging the cake into a converter furnace 10, the crushed product in the accumulation tank 25 is kept at a temperature of less than 90° C. by forcibly passing air into the accumulation tank 25 and charged into a converter furnace according to the converter operation.

Abstract: A bulk material storage container assembly for storing and unloading particulate material includes a storage vessel adapted to hold particulate material. A discharge port is in fluid communication with the storage vessel and with a discharge port outlet. The discharge port is also sized and shaped to facilitate bridging of particulate material. A shaft is mounted within the storage vessel adjacent to the discharge port and adapted for reciprocal movement with respect to the discharge port. A rake is mounted on said shaft and adapted to disaggregate particulate material that has bridged proximate the discharge port as the shaft is reciprocated with respect to the discharge port.

Abstract: According to some aspects of the present disclosure, automatic transfer switch circuits and control methods are disclosed. Example automatic transfer switch circuits include a first voltage input having a line terminal and a neutral terminal, a second voltage input having a line terminal and a neutral terminal, a voltage output having a line output terminal and a neutral output terminal, a first relay coupled to the line terminal of the first voltage input and the line terminal of the second voltage input, a second relay coupled to the neutral terminal of the first voltage input and the neutral terminal of the second voltage input, a third relay coupled between the line output terminal and at least one of the first relay and second relay, a fourth relay coupled between the neutral output terminal and at least one of the first relay and the second relay, and a controller.

Abstract: A material reducing machine includes a rotor assembly having a plurality of short cutting tools and a plurality of long cutting tools. The short cutting tools are arranged in rows which extend across the length of the rotor assembly, which rows are spaced around the periphery of the rotor assembly. Each of the short cutting tools has a cutting bit with a leading edge that is spaced outwardly from the periphery of the rotor assembly by a short cutter distance. The long cutting tools are also arranged in rows which extend across the length of the rotor assembly, which rows are spaced around the periphery of the rotor assembly. Each of the long cutting tools has a cutting bit with a leading edge that is spaced outwardly from the periphery of the rotor assembly by a long cutter distance that is greater than the short cutter distance of each of the short cutting tools. A breaker assembly includes a plurality of shear blocks, each of which is spaced so as to be aligned with a short cutting tool.

Abstract: A drum-type wood chipper for processing wood includes a chipper drum that is adapted to rotate about a generally horizontal drum axis, a plurality of cutting blades that are disposed around the periphery of the chipper drum, and an engine that is adapted to rotate the chipper drum about the drum axis. The wood chipper also includes a feed system that is adapted to advance wood to be processed towards the chipper drum, and a controller that is operatively connected to the engine and adapted to determine an instantaneous engine operating rate during rotation of the chipper drum. The controller is also operatively connected to the feed system and adapted to control the rate of advance of wood towards the chipper drum. The controller is also adapted to modify the rate of advance of wood towards the chipper drum as the instantaneous engine operating rate changes while the chipper drum is being rotated.

Abstract: A control circuit for controlling a power circuit having a power switch includes a control loop configured to generate a control signal for the power switch of the power circuit based on an error signal determined by comparing a sensed parameter of the power circuit and a reference signal, and a positive offset signal and a negative offset signal each configured to adjust the control signal. The control circuit is configured to detect a change in an output current of the power circuit and selectively apply only one of the offset signals based on the change in the output current to adjust the control signal thereby enhancing a dynamic response to the change in the output current. Additional example control circuits, example power supplies and/or power converters including a control circuit for controlling a power switch, and example control methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A debarking machine for removing the bark from a log includes a flail assembly having a flail shaft that is mounted for rotation about a flail shaft axis. A plurality of flail chains are provided, each of which has a fixed end that is attached to the flail shaft and a free end. The debarking machine is adapted to move a log to be debarked in a processing direction that is generally perpendicular to the flail shaft axis. A flail housing encloses a portion of the flail assembly and is configured and arranged to locate the flail shaft at any of a plurality of alternative vertical positions with respect to the log being moved in the processing direction.

Abstract: A flail assembly for a debarking machine includes a flail shaft that is adapted to be rotated about a flail axis of rotation. Attached to the flail shaft is a flail chain that includes a plurality of interconnected links, at least some of which have a polygonal cross-section.

Abstract: According to some aspects of the present disclosure, example interleaved power supplies and corresponding control methods are disclosed. Example interleaved power supplies include an input terminal, an output terminal, and a first phase circuit coupled between the input terminal and the output terminal. The first phase circuit includes a first inductor and a first switch. The power supply also includes a second phase circuit coupled between the input terminal and the output terminal. The second phase circuit includes a second inductor and a second switch. The power supply further includes at least one current sensor, and a controller operable to control the first phase circuit and the second phase circuit in an interleaved mode when the sensed output current is below a current threshold and to control the first phase circuit and the second phase circuit in an in-phase mode when the output current is above the current threshold.

Abstract: A switching shunt regulator circuit includes a current source having an input for receiving an input voltage and an output for providing a DC current, and a shunt voltage regulator coupled to the output of the current source. The current source is configured to provide DC current to a DC load and DC current to the shunt voltage regulator when the DC load is coupled to the output. The DC current to the shunt voltage regulator regulates a voltage at the output. The shunt voltage regulator has a current carrying capacity greater than the sum of the DC current to the DC load and the DC current to the shunt voltage regulator.

Abstract: A switch mode power supply includes an input, an output, and a power converter coupled between the input and the output. The power converter includes a transformer having a primary side and a secondary side, and a clamping circuit. The clamping circuit has a switching device coupled to the primary side of the transformer. The power supply further includes a control circuit coupled to the switching device. The control circuit includes at least one isolation component. The control circuit is configured to receive a signal from the secondary side of the transformer via the at least one isolation component, and control the switching device coupled to the primary side of the transformer in response to the signal received from the secondary side of the transformer via the at least one isolation component. Other example power supplies, power converters, control circuits, etc. are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods of regulating an output voltage of a switched mode power supply having a variable input voltage and a power switch include adjusting a reference voltage to adjust a duty cycle of a control signal for the power switch. The reference voltage may be adjusted as a function of the duty cycle, in response to the duty cycle of the control signal being outside a defined range and/or in the response to a temperature within the switched mode power supply being above a threshold temperature. Other methods include selecting a reference voltage from a plurality of reference voltages based on a determined input voltage and generating a control signal for the power switch as a function of the selected reference voltage to adjust the duty cycle of the control signal. Switched mode power supplies and control circuits for implementing the methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A power supply system includes a flyback power converter and a control circuit coupled to the flyback power converter. The power converter includes an input, an output, a transformer having a plurality of windings coupled between the input and the output, a first power switch coupled to the transformer and a clamping circuit having a capacitor, a diode, and a second power switch coupled to one of the plurality of windings. The capacitor and the diode are coupled in parallel between the winding and the second power switch. The control circuit is configured to operate the power converter in a discontinuous conduction mode and control the first power switch and the second power switch at a fixed frequency to achieve substantially zero voltage switching during turn on of the first power switch. Various other example power supply systems, power converters, and methods for controlling a power converter are also disclosed.

Abstract: An impulse mechanism for a vibratory device includes an eccentrically weighted shaft that is adapted to be rotated to create vibratory forces. A fan component is mounted on the eccentrically weighted shaft. The fan component has a plurality of fan blades spaced around its periphery.

Abstract: According to some aspects of the present disclosure, isolated power supplies and corresponding control methods are disclosed. Example isolated power supplies include a transformer, at least one power switch coupled to the transformer, a controller, an output terminal, and a feedback circuit coupled to the output terminal to sense the output voltage and compare the sensed output voltage to a voltage reference. The power supplies include a fault detection circuit to sense the output voltage, compare the sensed output voltage to a fault reference, and modify a feedback signal when the sensed output voltage exceeds the fault reference. The power supplies also include a single isolation device coupled between the feedback circuit and the controller. The controller is operable to control the power switch based on the feedback signal and to detect a fault condition when a slew rate of the feedback signal exceeds a fault threshold slew rate value.

Abstract: A multiphase DC/DC power converter includes an input, an output, at least a first converter and a second converter coupled in parallel between the input and the output, an inductor coupled to the first and second converters, an output capacitor coupled between the first and second converters and the output, and a control circuit coupled to the first converter and the second converter. The first and second converters each include a power switch. The control circuit is configured to switch the power switches at a frequency with a phase shift therebetween, and to vary the frequency to regulate a voltage at the output. Additionally, the control circuit may be configured to switch power switches at a fixed frequency with substantially no phase shift therebetween during startup of a multiphase DC/DC power converter, and at a variable frequency with a defined phase shift therebetween after startup.

Abstract: A control circuit includes a first integrator circuit corresponding to a first mode and a second integrator circuit corresponding to a second mode. The control circuit is configured to transition control of the power converter between the first mode and the second mode such that one of the first mode and the second mode is a controlling mode for a period of time and the other one of the first mode and the second mode is a non-controlling mode for the period of time, and set an output of the first integrator circuit or the second integrator circuit corresponding to the non-controlling mode to equal an output of the first integrator circuit or the second integrator circuit corresponding to the controlling mode. Other example control circuits, power converters including a control circuit, and methods for controlling a power converter are also disclosed.