Abstract: A magnetic rotational position sensor comprises a loop pole piece, at least one magnet, and at least one magnetic flux sensitive transducer. The magnet is disposed within an air gap of the loop pole piece to establish a magnetic field through the air gap and to enclose magnetic flux within the loop pole piece. A control shaft is rotatable about a first axis and the loop pole piece and the magnet are adjoined to the control shaft to synchronously rotate the magnetic field about a second axis. A working air gap area is defined within the air gap area of the loop pole piece between a pole surface of the magnet and an inner surface of the loop pole piece. A magnetic flux sensitive transducer is disposed within the air gap to sense a magnitude of magnetic flux density.

Abstract: A new board mounted electromechanical device is provided that mounts to a relay substrate to form a low profile reed relay. The reed relay is electrically connected to the electrical contacts via a signal traces and additional electrical traces located on the same side of the relay substrate which connect to the relay's signal and shielding. Additional traces on both sides of the signal traces of the reed relay provide a co-planar wave guide to maintain the desired impedance of the signal path. The reed relay is mounted in an inverted manner into a cut-out in the main circuit board so that the other portion of the reed relay itself is sits within the cut-out in the main circuit board. As a result, the reed relay component is recessed below the surface of the main circuit board resulting in an overall low profile circuit board.

Abstract: A reed switch package is disclosed that includes a reed switch with at least one electrical signal path. A cylindrical ground shield is provided about the reed switch. Ground terminals are connected to opposing sides of the ground shield so that the ground terminals are on opposing sides of the signal terminal and lie in the same plane. The reed switch resides on a support substrate. An electrically conductive signal via extends through said main body and connects to the signal terminal. Ground vias extend through the main body and respectively connect to the ground terminals. The grounds vias are on opposing sides of the signal via and lie in the same plane as the signal via. The signal and ground via exit at the bottom of the main body and are connected to a circuit via solder balls to provide a compact surface mount package with a controlled impedance environment.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine is provided. The engine includes a housing (9) having at least first and second pairs of chambers (20) formed in the housing. Each chamber extends from the exterior of the housing to a predetermined point therein. The first pair of chambers being aligned with the housing along a first axis and the second pair of chambers being aligned within the housing along a second axis extending substantially normal to the first axis. The engine further including a plurality of piston assemblies (6). Each chamber having one of the piston assemblies rigidly fastened thereto. A cylinder (1) is reciprocally mounted on an elongate cylinder pin assembly (2). The cylinder pin assembly extending within the housing and disposed between the cylinders for reciprocating the cylinders along a predetermined stroke length and relative to the fixed piston assemblies in an opposed manner during operation of the engine. The cylinder pin assembly having two axes of rotation.

Abstract: A lighting pole bracket arm isolates vibrations that would otherwise pass through the lighting pole and into a lighting fixture mounted on the lighting pole. The bracket arm includes an upper member which is pivotally mounted to the lighting pole and a lower telescopic member, which is pivotally mounted to the lighting pole at a position below the upper member pivotal mount. The lower telescopic member includes an inner tube that is slidably received within an outer tube. A cylindrical oil-free sleeve bearing is press fit over the end of the inner tube that is received within the outer tube, and a second cylindrical oil-free sleeve bearing is press fit into the end of the outer tube that fits over the inner tube. A coil spring is housed within the outer tube between a closed end of the outer tube opposite from the end having the sleeve bearing and the end of the inner tube slidably received within the outer tube.

Abstract: A wheel bearing speed sensor includes an annular rotor mounted to a vehicle axle spindle, having a plurality of teeth extending radially outwardly, which is received within a stationary stator assembly. The stator assembly includes an annular stator having a corresponding plurality of teeth extending from one end and positioned proximate to the rotor teeth. A bobbin member is slidably received within the stator just above the radially aligned rotor and stator teeth and is restricted from movement toward the teeth. A flexible magnetic strip is magnetically adhered to the inner surface of the stator adjacent the bobbin member, wherein the magnetic strip restricts movement of the bobbin member axially away from the radially aligned teeth. A variable reluctance magnetic flux path is established simultaneously between all of the rotor and stator teeth as the spindle rotates, thereby inducing a corresponding variable voltage in the bobbin windings.

Abstract: An ignition coil is disclosed that includes a primary coil, a secondary coil and a core about which the primary and secondary coil are disposed. The secondary coil has in inner diameter greater than the diameter of the primary coil. The primary coil is disposed on the core and the secondary coil is disposed about the primary coil. The secondary coil includes a spiral-back pyramid winding configuration which results in a desired distributed capacitance for the secondary windings thereby providing desired electrical characteristics for a resonant circuit. The winding layers of the secondary coil decrease in the number of turns as the coil is wound to achieve a desired distributed capacitance of the coil. A spiral-back winding technique decreases adjacent winding layer voltages so that the inter-layer insulation requirements are reduced to a lower value thereby decreasing the insulation thickness of the secondary coil.

Abstract: A rotary shaft position sensor includes a stator and a rotor and produces a linear output signal in accordance with the rotational position of a shaft coupled to the rotor. The rotor rotates about an axis of rotation. The stator includes stationary pole pieces having stationary pole faces situated perpendicular to the axis of rotation and spaced a predetermined distance apart to define an air gap therebetween. A Hall effect device is situated-in the air gap. The Hall device produces an output signal corresponding to the level of magnetic flux in the air gap. One or more magnets are attached to the rotating pole piece. The magnetic poles of the magnets are situated parallel with and spaced a predetermined distance from the stationary pole faces. Lines of magnetic flux originating from the magnets are situated in a direction perpendicular to the stationary pole face. The rotating pole piece rotates in close proximity to the stationary pole pieces.

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.