Abstract: A machine such as a machine tool includes a pair of spaced platforms. One platform (11, 31, 185, 72, 159, 142) may mount an operator such as a tool in a spindle and the other platforms (10, 20, 180, 170, 144, 163) may mount an object such as a workpiece. The spaced platforms are joined by six powered and extensible legs (20-25, 40-45, 64-69, 145-150, 166, 182-84, 187-89) joined to the respective platforms by universal joints. The length of the legs is individually manipulated to vary the position of the platforms and, therefore, the object and operator relative to each other in six axes. The powered legs may be hydraulic cylinders (20-25) or recirculating ball screw driven (195, 197, 198). The distance between the spaced platforms may be measured by separate extensible instrument arms (130, 131, 171) which join the platforms. The instrument arms may use a digital position device (238, 240) to measure the extension and contraction of the instrument arms or may use a laser interferometer (267) for that purpose.

Abstract: A system for detecting a high impedance fault in a phase conductor having a potential device connected to the phase conductor, the system including a signal injection device having an input from the potential device which detects a reduction in voltage at the phase conductor and outputs a first signal in response to detecting a reduction in voltage at the phase conductor and a signal receiver which receives the first signal and provides a second signal to an interruption device in response to having received the first signal to cause the interruption device to open the circuit to the phase conductor.

Abstract: A low cost Hall effect position sensor is disclosed which includes a Hall effect integrated circuit disposed in close proximity to a metallic target device. The Hall device is mounted in a slotted flux dispersion pole piece. The slotted magnetic flux dispersion pole piece is designed to disperse a highly concentrated magnetic flux field from a magnet, typically an Alnico or rare earth magnet, into a low intensity magnetic flux field which is compatible with the Hall effect device as well as constant and evenly dispersed across the face of the slotted pole piece. The slotted pole piece is designed so that the magnetic flux differential in an air gap between the dispersion pole piece and a ferrous target is increased when compared to the magnetic flux differential of a non-recessed dispersion pole piece.

Abstract: A machining system is provided which includes a selected number of machining centers for selectively cutting or machining metallic parts, the system further including a rack structure for providing inventory storage for parts which are to be machined by the centers. There is further provided a part transport device for moving a given one of the parts in a first part flow loop when the given part is in a condition which enables the part to be readily moved around a plant or other manufacturing establishment or to be shipped in commerce. The part transport device also moves the given part through a second part flow loop when the part is in a condition which enables the part to be machined by one of the machining centers.

Abstract: A low cost Hall effect position sensor is disclosed which includes a Hall effect integrated circuit disposed in close proximity to a metallic target device. The Hall device is mounted on a flanged flux dispersion pole piece. The opposite end of the pole piece is attached to a rare earth or Alnico magnet. The flanged magnetic flux dispersion pole piece is designed to disperse a highly concentrated magnetic flux field from a magnet, typically an Alnico or rare earth magnet, into a low intensity magnetic flux field which is compatible with the Hall effect device as well as constant and evenly dispersed across the face of the flanged pole piece. The area of the dispersion flange face is designed so measured magnetic field in an air gap between the dispersion pole piece and a ferrous target is increased by a factor of 3 when compared to an open circuit field intensity field measurement at the surface of the dispersion pole piece.

Abstract: A low cost Hall effect position sensor is disclosed which includes a Hall effect integrated circuit disposed in close proximity to a metallic target device. The Hall device is mounted on a flanged flux dispersion pole piece. The opposite end of the pole piece is attached to a rare earth or Alnico magnet. The flanged magnetic flux dispersion pole piece is designed to disperse a highly concentrated magnetic flux field from a magnet, typically an Alnico or rare earth magnet, into a low intensity magnetic flux field which is compatible with the Hall effect device as well as constant and evenly dispersed across the face of the flanged pole piece. The area of the dispersion flange face is designed so measured magnetic field in an air gap between the dispersion pole piece and a ferrous target is increased by a factor of 3 when compared to an open circuit field intensity field measurement at the surface of the dispersion pole piece.

Abstract: A probe device (10) for a machine tool includes a part sensing device (28) attached to the end of a piston rod (26), movable along a cylinder (12) mounted on the machine tool spindle head (14). The rod (26) is attached to a piston (42) that is air actuated to extend or retract the rod (26) to respectively move the sensing device (28) to a part measurement position outside the cylinder (12), or to a protected position within the cylinder. When the device (28) is in its measurement position the spindle had (14) is selectively moved to bring device (28) into contact with a machined part to determine the accuracy of machining.

Abstract: A machine includes a pair of spaced supports, one of which may mount an operator such as a tool in a spindle and the other of which may mount an object such as a workpiece. The spaced platforms are joined by six powered and extensible legs joined to the respective platforms by universal joints. The length of the legs is individually manipulated to vary the position of the platforms and therefore the object and operator relative to each other in six axes. The powered legs may be hydraulic cylinders or recirculating ball screw driven. The distance between the spaced platforms may be measured by separate instrument arms which join the platforms. The instrument arms may use a digital position device to measure the extension and contraction of the instrument arms or may use a laser interferometer for that purpose. The changes in the instrument arm's lengths may be used to generate signals which are used to control the extension and contraction of the powered legs.

Abstract: A high torque rotary solenoid is disclosed employing attracting and repelling forces of permanent magnets to induce rotary motion is disclosed. Four arrays of magnets are located on a stator and rotor and are arranged along the axis of rotation of a shaft. Two magnet arrays are located on the stator, and two magnet arrays are located on the rotor. Each of the magnet arrays on the stator is arranged to come in close proximity to one of the magnet arrays on the rotor when the rotary shaft is positioned to the clockwise or counterclockwise rotary motion limits. The rotary solenoid has two rotational positions, each position corresponding to the mechanical limits of rotational movement.

Abstract: A surge arrester of modular form, including a metal oxide varistor disk having a coaxial shunt gap located within the disk. The metal oxide varistor disk has a hole located essentially through the center of the disk and includes top and bottom electrode plates having centrally located projections which protrude inwardly of the disk into the hole of the disk, thereby forming a shunt gap within the disk. The module may be used unhoused in under-oil applications or as a component part of a housed arrester. For under-oil applications, the electrode plates are solder sealed to the disk providing a seal preventing oil or moisture from entering the hole in the shunt gap. As an alternate embodiment the surge arrester module may include a series of two or more of such disks stacked between the top and bottom electrode plates.

Abstract: A tool clamping mechanism (12) is provided for a tool engaging arm having a frame or chassis (18) which is moved along a path of travel toward a tool (47). The mechanism includes a tool contact member or tongue (60) and preferably includes a pair of spaced apart fingers (40) positioned to engage a groove formed in the tool (47). The tongue (60) is mounted for movement along the path of travel with the frame, such as by means of bar (62) joined to the fingers, a pin (67) supported by the bar and projecting through a slot in the tongue (60), and a rod (72) attached to the tongue which extends into the frame (18) along a bore (75). Such mounting arrangement enables the frame (18) to continue to move toward the tool (47) after the tongue (60) has contacted the tool, thereby achieving relative motion between the frame (18) and tongue (60).

Abstract: A polyphase interrupter includes an electric fuse in series with each phase, a phase grounding conductor electrically connected with each phase and movably mounted adjacent and electrically connected with a terminal of each fuse, biasing means arranged to impart individual grounding movement to each phase grounding conductor, latch means normally in engagement with each phase grounding conductor for preventing grounding movement thereof, actuating means associated with each of said fuses and movable into releasing engagement with the associated latch means in response to current interrupting operation of the associated fuse, and coupling means interconnecting all of said latch means for imparting simultaneous releasing movement thereby to effect grounding and interruption of all phases in response to interruption in one phase.

Abstract: A carriage for a machine tool includes ways (16) and (18), a base (14) supporting the ways and a saddle (20) supported by bearings (22) and (24) for movement along the ways to carry a column (26) along the X-axis of the machine tool. The load bearing surface (16a) of way (16) is located at a higher level above machine tool support surface (16a) than the load bearing surface (18a) of way (18). Thrust directed against column (26) in the course of a machining operation is transmitted to saddle (20) through Z-axis ways 40 and way bearings (42), and is transmitted from saddle (20) to thrust bearing surface (16c) of way (16).

Abstract: A composite for constructing an article which is composed of a nonmetallic substance as represented by igneous rock of different particle sizes which are compacted and then surrounded by a solidified plastic resin. In a preferred manner, the igneous rock material is a selected type of basalt with the basalt particles being of different mesh sizes to be compacted into a mold. After compaction, the plastic resin as represented by an epoxy resin is introduced into the mold so as to displace air from any voids surrounding the basalt particles and to surround them with a resin which later solidifies. A novel resin delivery system is also presented.

Abstract: An electric cutout of the link break type includes a fuse holder comprising a hollow fuse tube of insulating material, a lower tube casting secured to one end of the fuse tube, a conducting hinge element pivotally mounted on one side of said lower tube casting and having a pair of coaxial trunnions seated in a pair of jaw contacts constituting one terminal of the cutout, an ejector element pivotally mounted on the conducting hinge element biased away from the fuse tube and having its swing end normally spaced from one end of the fuse tube and substantially normal to the axis of the fuse tube together with a ramp portion angularly disposed to the axis of the fuse tube and to the swing end portion thereof and integral therewith, a fuse link disposed within the fuse tube and having an extension secured to the conducting hinge element and in engagement with the swing end of the ejector element so as to hold the conducting hinge element and the ejector in their normal positions, a manually operable fuse link break

Abstract: A numerically controlled automatic tool changing machining center is provided with a rotary driven spindle concentric within which is a spindle bar that may be reciprocated out from or into the spindle by a hydraulic cylinder. Located at the forward end of the spindle bar is a tool receiving socket which is operative to releasably engage the shank of a single toolholder or multiple spindle toolhead transferred to the spindle bar from the machine tool storage magazine by a tool transfer arm. When a large, single toolholder is engaged by the spindle bar, the spindle bar is retracted into the spindle to urge the large single toolholder against the nose of the spindle.

Abstract: A tool measuring apparatus for a machine tool is provided with a plunger (16) mounted to move along an axis (22) to vary the spacing between the end of the plunger and an inductive element (26) of an inductive displacement measuring device (24). Device (24) generates a signal V.sub.y which varies as a function of the spacing between the plunger (16) and device (24). Spindle (14), engaging a tool (12), is moved to a position M located a known distance from inductive element (26). As the spindle is moved to position M, tool (12) engages plunger 16 and moves the plunger to decrease the spacing between the plunger and the element (26) to a value S.sub.3, corresponding to an unknown length d of tool (12). Levels of V.sub.y corresponding to spacing S.sub.3 and to S.sub.2, representing a known nominal value N of tool length, are coupled to a processor 32 and a control 30 to determine tool offset e, i.e., the difference between actual length d and nominal length N.

Abstract: In a current limiting fuse, the combination of a plurality of metallic fuse strips and a packing of silica enveloping said strips, said strips being made of cadmium alloyed with a grain size stabilizing minor amount of a metal selected from the group consisting of zinc and silver.

Abstract: An electric bypass switch for connecting and disconnecting an electric apparatus such as a voltage regulator with respect to a power system includes a pair of spaced insulators on each of which a pair of conductive terminals are mounted, one pair of terminals being adapted for connection to the apparatus and the other pair of terminals being adapted for connection with the infeed and outfeed conductors of an electric power line respectively, a pair of hinge contacts hingedly mounted respectively on one pair of the conductive terminals, a pair of jaw contacts mounted respectively on the other pair of conductive terminals, a unitary switch blade having a pair of concentric conductors which are separated by mechanically sturdy insulating material and arranged with the hinge ends thereof connected respectively with the hinge contacts and the swing ends of the switch blade conductors being engageable and disengageable with the jaw contacts respectively, a bypass conductor electrically connected with and pivotally

Abstract: An electric disconnect switch having fixed and movable contacts includes a latch mounted for limited oscillating and sliding movement on the movable contact and operable by a manual operating member, a ramp fixedly mounted on the fixed contact and having a latching surface engageable by the latch, a biasing device arranged to bias the latch in a direction to maintain the latch in engagement with the latching surface, together with a low friction device mounted on the movable contact and engageable with a part of the latch during a switch closing operation to impart closing movement to the movable contact in response to closing movement of the operating member.