Abstract: A series of pulses of ultrasonic wave emitted from the transmitter with a specified period are received by the receiver. The received signals are rectified to a smooth wave with a single peak. The occurrence time of the peak is determined to gain and store the peak value, which corresponds to the edge position, thickness or splice position of the web. Alternatively, the transmitter emits a series of pulses of ultrasonic wave with a specified period and the peak value in the signals received by the receiver is once held in the peak-holding circuit. The peak voltage held is discharged and reduced with the discharge device and smoothing of the charged voltage yields its mean value, which corresponds to the edge position, thickness or splice position of the web.

Abstract: A rotary fluid displacement apparatus (100) with an orbiting toothed ring member (30) is shown with an improved casing (60) and rolling support between the faces of the valve discs (46, 47) and the first and second fluid transfer elements (21, 35). Particularly, needle bearings (106, 112) are sandwiched between thrust washers (108,114) and then between the valve discs (46, 47) and the fluid transfer elements (21, 35), with one of the needle bearings (106) being piloted in an annular groove (110) formed in the annular plate (23) of the first fluid transfer element (21) and the other of the needle bearings (112) being piloted on the hub (35') of the second fluid transfer element (35). The casing (60) includes two pieces, i.e. a generally cylindrical portion (62) and an end cap (64).

Abstract: An apparatus (10) is disclosed including a friction clutch (12) and an overload apparatus (14) connected in parallel between an input (16) and an output (18). Encoders (20, 22) are provided for separately detecting the rotational positions of the input (16) and the output (18). A microcomputer controller (580) controls actuation of the friction clutch (12) and the overload apparatus (14) in response to the rotational positions detected by the encoders (20, 22) allowing the clutch (12) to bring the output (18) to be generally aligned with a select rotational position of the input (16) at which time the overload apparatus (14) can be actuated to rotatably relate the input (16) and the output (18) at the select rotational position and actuation of the clutch (12) can be removed. The microcomputer controller (580) also removes actuation of the overload apparatus (14) when the encoders (20, 22) detect rotation of the input (16) relative to the output (18) from the select rotational position.

Abstract: A torque and/or rotational control apparatus is disclosed in a preferred form of a brake (10) including a plurality of pairs of actuators (18) positioned on opposite sides of a friction disc (16) by spacers (120) having tear shaped cross sections. The pads (32) of the actuators (18) are removably held by a slideable locking pin (70) biased by a spring (80) into an aperture (68) of a backing plate (62) for the pad (32). A notch (64) formed in the pad (32) and the backing plate (62) is slideably received on a rail (66) axially extending from the housing (35) of the actuator (18) to prevent rotation about the locking pin (70). The friction disc (16) includes elongated and shortened fins (42, 43) upstanding between and equally circumferentially spaced intermediate first and second component discs (40, 41). The fins (42, 43) are free of circumferential interconnections to allow air to radially pass freely between the fins (42, 43).

Abstract: Device (200) for releasing fluid pressure from the pressure chamber of an overload clutch (A) is disclosed including a valve (210) captured in a radial cavity (202) in the cylinder (10) of the overload clutch (A) between a shoulder (204) and a valve cover (212) held by a snap ring (226). The valve cover (212) includes an aperture (228) for receiving a ball (230) and allowing the ball (230) to move radially inwardly to push against the spool member (220) of the valve (210) to unseat its head (221) from a seat (218) but preventing the ball (230) from moving out of the valve cover (212). The ball (230) rolls on a valve actuator (232) mounted to the piston (22). When the cylinder (10) and piston (22) are axially separated by fluid pressure, the ball (230) is located in a dent (234) formed in the valve actuator (232) such that the head (221) of the spool member (220) seals with the seat (218) and prevents release of fluid pressure from the pressure chamber.

Abstract: A brake is disclosed for the end of a shaft such as a motor shaft including a bowl-shaped housing secured to a bowl-shaped cylinder and sandwiching a pressure plate therebetween. A torque plate is reciprocally mounted and rotatably related to the housing by dowel pins which are reciprocally received in sleeve bearings and is biased by springs sandwiched between the torque plate and the housing and retained on spring pins. The torque plate includes circumferentially spaced integral lugs which extend through openings formed in the pressure plate and abut with a push plate of a reciprocal piston. A drive disc which is rotatably related but axially movable relative to the shaft to be braked is located radially inwardly of the lugs and is sandwiched between the torque plate and the pressure plate. The piston is also bowl-shaped and includes a circular plate terminating in an axially extending flange which is reciprocally received in an axially extending flange of the cylinder to define a pressure chamber.

Abstract: A device for enhancing the cooling of a friction disc according to the preferred embodiment of the teachings of the present invention is shown for use with a rotational control apparatus shown in its preferred form as a brake. Due to the rotation of the friction disc, a forward flow of air is created by air flowing into entry ports into an air cooling chamber formed in the friction disc and past the periphery of the friction disc to the atmosphere. The present invention directs cooling air radially inward into the friction disc at least in one radial segment of the friction disc at a time in a direction counter to the forward flow of air to enhance the cooling of the friction disc especially at relatively low RPM. Specifically, the device of the present invention includes in its most preferred form a wire guard housing including a plurality of circular wires which are arranged in a parallel spaced relation and secured to the periphery of the external housing in which the friction disc is mounted for rotation.

Abstract: An end pivot webguide which may be economically fabricated from stock material and eliminating many cast components is disclosed including pivot arms formed from bar stock and roller frames formed from angle stock. The pivot arms are formed by drilling passages including annular shoulders for receiving radial ball bearings in the bar stock for rotatably mounting first and second pivot pins. The use of radial ball bearings allows the pivot pins to accept thrust forces in an axial direction such that the webguide of the present invention utilizes four bearings of identical type rater than six bearings of three different types as in prior webguides. The pivot arm is symetrical such that one of the pivot pins may be nonrotatably secured to the webguide base and the other pivot pin may be nonrotatably secured to the roller frame. Bearings in the guide rolls rotatably mount the guide rolls on screws removably and nonrotatably secured to the roller frames.

Abstract: An overload apparatus is shown as an overload single position clutch having a drive ring which is reciprocated by springs and by a cylinder slideable on a piston by fluid pressure. The drive ring includes a multiplicity of ball receiving cavities. A sheave mount is further provided including an integral interface disc having a multiplicity of ball carrying cavities. Balls are captured within the ball carrying cavities by a ball cage secured to the mount. The ball cavities have diameters less than the balls and a shape and size such that the balls do not touch the closed ends or sidewalls of the cavities but rather the open ends form seats for the balls. The ball carrying cavities have diameters greater than the diameters of the ball receiving cavities to predispose the balls to cam out of the ball receiving cavities in the event of reaching a torque overload level.

Abstract: A rotational control apparatus is shown in its most preferred form as a clutch-brake including an improved housing having a cylindrical body portion and first and second housing ends removably secured thereto. The body portion includes an axially extending annular member intersecting with a radially extending annular member. The radially extending annular member forms an interface surface and a surface for reciprocal receipt of a piston inside the axially extending annular member and forms a mounting flange outside the axially extending annular member for securing axially extending bolts threadably received in the second housing end. The first housing end includes an axially extending projection having surfaces for receipt in the axially extending annular member and for reciprocal receipt of the piston.

Abstract: A rotational control apparatus is shown in its most preferred form as a clutch-brake including an improved housing having a cylindrical body portion and first and second circular shaped ends removably secured thereto. The body portion includes an axially extending annular member intersecting with a radially extending annular member. The radially extending annular member forms an interface surface and a surface for reciprocal receipt of a piston inside the axially extending annular member and forms a mounting flange outside the axially extending annular member for securing axially extending studs threadably received in the second housing end. The first housing end includes an axially extending projection having surfaces for receipt in the axially extending annular member and for reciprocal receipt of the piston.

Abstract: A coupling clutch according to the teachings of the present invention is shown in its most preferred form as including first and second hubs having first and second splined interface discs received thereon. The first interface disc is biased away from the second interface disc and is movable towards the second interface disc by a piston reciprocally mounted to a housing and rotatably mounted to the first interface disc by a bearing mounted therebetween. The splines between the second interface disc and the second hub allow the second interface disc to cant to compensate for axial angular misalignment of the first and second hubs. The housing is further rotatably mounted to the second interface disc. A radially extending, annular lip is provided on the housing which is axially captured between a shoulder and a retaining ring provided on the first hub. Bushing bumpers are provided between the lip and the shoulder and between the retaining ring and the lip.

Abstract: A two-speed clutch is shown according to the preferred embodiment of the teachings of the present invention for the selective rotational relation of an input shaft with a first or second sheeve unit having different diameters. The first sheeve unit is rotatably mounted to the input shaft. The second sheeve unit is mounted to a housing in turn rotatably mounted to the input shaft. The clutch includes a friction disc which is located between and frictionally interrelates with the first sheeve unit or the housing. The housing includes a single, reciprocally mounted piston for moving the friction disc. Utilizing a two-speed clutch of the present invention eliminates the requirement of two separate and complete drive units as in prior techniques. Furthermore, since the housing performs multiple functions, i.e.

Abstract: A rotational control apparatus is shown in its most preferred form according to the teachings of the present invention as a combination clutch/brake. The clutch/brake includes an interfacing member formed by first and second pressure plates rotatably mounted but reciprocally related with respect to each other. The interfacing member is reciprocated between one of first and second disk packs by an actuating rod reciprocally mounted in the housing and interconnected to ears formed on the second pressure plate. The actuating rods are reciprocated by actuation canisters located on opposite ends thereof. Each of the actuation canisters includes a piston which is reciprocated by a fluid chamber and a spring located in the fluid chamber. In the first preferred form, the springs of the canisters have a compressional force which are equal and less than required to actuate the clutch/brake such that in the absence of fluid pressure, the actuating rod and interfacing member is in a normal, neutral condition.

Abstract: A fail-safe device for preventing undesired rotation of the output as the result of bearing failure and seizure is shown according to the teachings of the present invention in its most preferred form for use with a clutch engagable in a single driving position. In its most preferred form, the output includes a hub portion which is rotatably mounted to the input of the clutch by a bearing. The output of the clutch further includes a collar portion for receipt upon the hub portion and forming a break away connection therebetween. The driven portion of selectively rotationally interrelating members of the clutch, i.e., teeth in the preferred embodiment shown, is located on the collar portion of the output. Under normal operation and without bearing failure, the collar and hub portions of the output have the same relative rotational position and rotate as a single unit.

Abstract: A coupling clutch is shown in its most preferred form as including first and second hubs having first and second splined interface discs received thereon. The first interface disc is biased away from the second interface disc and is movable towards the second interface disc by a piston reciprocally mounted to a housing and rotatably mounted to the first interface disc by a bearing mounted therebetween. The splines between the second interface disc and the second hub allow the second interface disc to cant to compensate for axial angular misalignment of the first and second hubs. The housing is further rotatably mounted to the second interface disc. A radially extending, annular lip is provided on the housing which is axially captured between a shoulder and a retaining ring provided on the first hub. Bushing bumpers are provided between the lip and the shoulder and between the retaining ring and the lip. Thus, axial movement of the housing is prevented with respect to the hub.

Abstract: A coupling clutch/brake is shown in its most preferred form as including first and second hubs having first and second splined friction discs received thereon. The first friction disc is movable between the second friction disc and a stationary friction surface mounted to a housing by a piston reciprocally mounted to the housing and rotatably mounted to the first friction disc by a bearing mounted therebetween. The second friction disc is substantially prevented from sliding on the splines with the second hub. The splines between the second friction disc and the second hub allow the second friction disc to cant to compensate for axial angular misalignment of the first and second hubs. In its most preferred form, the housing has a unique construction and specifically includes three generally hemispherical components. The open ends of the first and second shells abut together to form a volume for the first and second friction discs.

Abstract: A clutch where the output always comes to the same degrees of registry with the input is shown as including coaxial drive and driven members including a hub for mounting on a drive shaft. The drive member is slidably mounted on the hub and rotatable thereby. The drive member is formed with a multiplicity of ball-receiving cavities which are located radially inward of the periphery of the drive member. The driven member includes a carrier member having a multiplicity of balls mounted thereon for engagement with the cavities. The carrier member includes a flat, radial ring portion and an inner annular flange which provides a first degree of safety by tending to prevent any dislodged balls from the carrier member from travelling inwardly between the drive and driven members and tending to allow the dislodged balls to travel radially outward of the clutch. The carrier and drive members have intermeshing interface teeth.

Abstract: A coupling clutch according to the teachings of the present invention is shown in its most preferred form as including first and second hubs having first and second splined friction discs received thereon. The first friction disc is biased away from the second friction disc and is movable towards the second friction disc by a piston reciprocally mounted to a housing and rotatably mounted to the first friction disc by a bearing mounted therebetween. The second friction disc is substantially prevented from sliding on the splines with the second hub. The splines between the second friction disc and the second hub allow the second friction disc to cant to compensate for axial angular misalignment of the first and second hubs. The guard is shown according to the teachings of the present invention in its most preferred form as including a plurality of ring members held in a spaced relation by bars. The ring members have a shape complementary to and for receipt on a first shell of a housing.

Abstract: A rotational control apparatus is shown according to the teachings of the present invention in its most preferred form as a brake. In the preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes an improved drive disc having an improved ventilated hub and an improved, ventilated friction disc slideably mounted thereon. The hub includes a generally cylindrical portion having axially extending cooling air bores extending therethrough and axially extending fins extending from the opposite axial ends thereof. The friction disc includes first and second, identical, interchangeable component discs interconnected together by columns projecting from the inner surface of the component discs which abut together and form radially extending fins having circumferentially aligned air passageways formed therein.