Abstract: A piggyback code switch which provides a unique digital code for various types of circuits, for example, garage door openers, load management control receivers, etc., is used with dual-in-line packaging diodes or resistor arrays in such a manner as to enable any combination of resistors or diodes to be pulled to a preselected voltage level and thus provide such circuits with a common starting code. A switch comprising an array of pins extending from a conductive base is placed atop a DIP network. Specific DIP resistors are shorted together by selectively removing the pins of the switch in accordance with a prearranged coding plan. This provides each circuit with a unique digital identification code.

Abstract: A cold box valve, employed in cryogenic environments, includes a valve body assembly with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The valve body assembly includes a valve body and bonnet. The bonnet seals the top of the valve body to which access to the valve internals is provided. A trim assembly, including an inner tube is removably mounted within the valve body. A cage is secured to the inner tube and a valve seat ring is removably mounted on the cage by at least one pin. Once assembled, the valve seat ring engages the valve body surrounding an opening between the valve inlet and valve outlet. A seal is mounted within the valve seat ring to provide a fluid seal between the valve seat ring and the valve body. A valve plug is reciprocally mounted within the cage and a stem connected to the plug extends out of the body to be connected to an actuator. A spring is mounted within the valve bonnet and engages the inner tube for biasing the valve seat ring into engagement with the valve body.

Abstract: A battery charging system having a charger control circuit which monitors one cell of a battery bank and controls the operation of a charging current source in accordance with the terminal voltage of the monitored cell. The charger control circuit includes an overcharge sensing circuit and a shorted cell sensing circuit, each being capable of triggering a separate output driver to interrupt current flow from the charging current source to the battery bank. The overcharge sensing circuit employs a time delay network to avoid nuisance charger system interruptions. The shorted cell sensing circuit also employs a time delay network to allow charging of heavily discharged or zero voltage batteries.

Abstract: An electrical circuit interrupter is disclosed having the characteristic of a puffer interrupter and a self-extinguishing gas flow interrupter. The interrupter comprises a generally hollow movable cylinder which is adapted to be filled with an arc extinguishing fluid and which has an opening at one end. A piston is sealingly and coaxially disposed within the cylinder so as to be movable between a first and second position to change the internal volume of the cylinder in flow communication with its opening. A fixed guide is provided to direct the motion of the piston within the cylinder. A stop is carried by the guide to limit the relative motion between the piston and the cylinder. A spring biases the piston against the stop. Disposed at the open end of the cylinder is an arc site such that the pressure within the cylinder increases as the energy released from the arc increases. One of the two contacts across which the arc is formed is carried by the cylinder.

Abstract: A three-phase power supply has a current transformer in each power line. The transformer secondary winding is connected to a load. Generally, the load is a control means responsive to the current being sensed. A triac in parallel with the secondary winding and load has its gate connected by a voltage sensitive circuit to sense the corresponding secondary winding voltage and to conduct and protect the transformer in the event of load loss. The gate circuit includes a metal oxide varistor and a linear resistor in series connected in parallel with the secondary winding. A second linear resistor is connected to the common node of the first linear resistor and metal oxide varistor. The second linear resistor is in series with a diac and connects the gate to the common node of the varistor and first resistor. A trigger capacitor is connected between the common node of the second resistor and diac and the opposite end of the first linear resistor.

Abstract: The power outage timer (36, 136, or 236) forms a part of an electronic watt-hour meter (10) having a microprocessor (22), a real time value memory and a real time clock signal input from a voltage supply (23). The power outage timer (36, 136, or 236) is coupled to the microprocessor (22) for generating a signal when, after a power outage, power is restored, such signal being indicative of the time duration of the power outage and being input to the microprocessor (22) so that the microprocessor (22) can update the real time value in an EAROM (32) to reflect the correct real time.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for operating an electrical switch of the type having a set of contacts electrically connected to the tapped windings of an inductor or transformer, and a tap changing mechanism for electrically connecting various contacts in response to the rotation of a shaft. The electrical switch is mounted onto the base of the inductor or transformer and the operating shaft of the switch is connected to a flange wheel. Another flanged wheel carried by the base, is in connection with a prime mover on the exterior of the transformer or inductor. One or two bowden cables are connected between the two flanged wheels with the outer portions of the bowden cable held fixed relative to the base and the inner portion of the bowden cable connected to the flanged portion of the wheels in such matter that relative motion between the inner and outer portions of the bowden cable induces rotation of the wheels. Thus, the switch is rotated in direct response to the prime mover.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for single-point, multi-point or cross-bonding electrical power cables. The apparatus includes an electrically insulated housing which defines an access well, two electrical conductors each having one end disposed within the well, a cover for closing-off the well, a linking device carried by the cover for removably and electrically connecting together those ends of the two electrical conductors which are disposed within the well, and a connecting device for electrically connecting the linking device to a terminal on the exterior of the housing. In the preferred embodiment a movable over-voltage protective device or surge arrester is electrically interposed between the linking device and the connecting device. When the cover is installed two electrical conductors are electrically connected together and to the surge arrester. Other embodiments are described and illustrated.

Abstract: A contact operating mechanism is disclosed which employs a hydraulic motor means for moving contact members between closed and tripped positions, an accumulator for supplying hydraulic fluid under pressure to the motor means, and a separate gas supply means in fluid communication with the accumulator. The accumulator includes a piston or separating means for dividing the interior of the accumulator into two separate pressure chambers. One of the pressure chambers is connected to the hydraulic motor means and the other is connected to the gas supply means. Preferably, the gas supply means is separately disposed from and permanently connected to the accumulator with a sufficient volume of pressurized gas such that in the event that the piston repositions so as to completely fill the accumulator with hydraulic fluid sufficient gas under pressure is available to stroke the accumulator piston and operate the motor means.

Abstract: The non-linear alternating current transducer includes a current transformer core (14, 50 or 80) comprising a yoke (14, 50 or 80) for receiving a line conductor (20 or 110) and a secondary winding (22 or 86). The yoke (14, 50 or 80) has an air gap (19, 56 or 101-105) configured to provide a non-linear magnetic circuit response for changes in current through the line conductor (20 or 110). The non-linear magnetic circuit response provides a logarithmic voltage output across the secondary winding (22 or 86). The current transformer (12) is used in a control circuit (10) for sensing, monitoring and interrupting current in the line conductor (20 or 110) such that a trip coil is energized to open the circuit whenever current is sensed above a predetermined current. Also, the logarithmic response provides for high gain at low currents and low gain at high currents to that a very uniform percentage-of-reading accuracy is obtained with a meter operating off of the secondary winding.

Abstract: A unique design and method of construction is presented for a tank-like structure which houses an electrical component immersed within a dielectric fluid. The tank is formed by a generally cup-shaped enclosure and a cover. In one embodiment the cover carries a means for electrically connecting the interior of the tank with its exterior. The cover and the enclosure are joined by an overlapping edge means. By overlapping the marginal portions of the cover and the enclosure, such that the leading edges are disposed in the opposite direction, a joint is formed which is less likely to rupture than one formed by overlapping the marginal portions with the leading edges disposed in the same direction.

Abstract: An insulating system is described that incorporates a cellulosic material which is impregnated with a nitrogen content no less than 0.2% by weight and a overall density not greater than 0.9 gm/cm.sup.3. This cellulosic material when impregnated by a dielectric liquid such as transformer oil, exhibits a more uniform electrical stress distribution than papers having a density greater than 0.9 gm/cm.sup.3. The insulating system thereformed is particularly useful for application in low stress areas such as the layer insulation in a distribution class transformer.

Abstract: An arrangement for mounting a thermal protective device including a case in which there is mounted a temperature sensitive element, in a lighting fixture adapted for recessed mounting in a ceiling support surface, includes a receptacle dimensioned for receipt of the thermal protective device. The receptacle is mounted on the interior surface of the side wall of the recess mounted housing of the lighting fixture. The housing side wall defines an aperture predeterminedly located therein with which the temperature sensitive element is aligned for sensing the temperature of the area adjacent the exterior surface of the housing side wall. The receptacle includes fingers for biasing the thermal protective device into engagement with the interior surface of the housing side wall. The receptacle is constructed of reflective material to reflect heat emanating from the lamp of the lighting fixture away from the thermal protective device.

Abstract: A unique design and method of construction is presented for a spacer and support suitable for use in maintaining one or more electrical conductors at a fixed distance from one another while permitting dielectric fluid to flow therebetween. The spacer is formed from two major parts: a foraminous container and a void filling means. The foraminous container defines a plurality of flow apertures around its periphery, and at either end, into which dielectric fluid is free to flow. The container is filled with a void filling means formed from a plurality of generally incompressible filler elements or nodules. The filler elements are packed into the container so as to maintain the correct spacing. The nodules or filler elements are sufficiently large that they remain confined within the container. Dielectric fluid fills the interstices between the void filling means and the container walls.

Abstract: A unique, energy efficient puffer interrupter having a puffer piston and an opposed floating piston or head is described in detail. In one embodiment, the puffer interrupter is formed from a pair of electrical contacts which are disposed within a chamber filled with an arc extinguishing fluid. A prime mover or switching means is used to open and close the switch by moving one of the contacts with respect to the other. A puffer piston is disposed at one end of a cylinder surrounding the fixed contact. A floating piston is disposed at the opposite end of the cylinder and biased towards the moving contact assembly and away from the puffer piston. The puffer piston and the floating piston and the cylinder define a pressurization chamber, which is in fluid communication with the gap defined by the switch contacts. A pressurizing valve means controls the flow of gas from between the two pistons and into the gap thereformed when the switch is opened.

Abstract: A battery charger failure alarm circuit for use with a battery charger including a source of rectified AC voltage for charging a battery and a filtering inductor serially interposed between said charger circuit and battery and across which there appears AC ripple voltage so long as the battery charger is functioning properly, includes a sensing circuit coupled to the filtering inductor for sensing the presence of the AC ripple voltage and an alarm circuit coupled to the sensing circuit operable to indicate the failure of the battery charger circuit in response to a lack of sensed AC ripple voltage. A time delay circuit may be included in the battery charger failure alarm circuit between the sensing circuit and alarm circuit to delay the operation of the alarm circuit in the case of momentary loss of the AC ripple voltage.

Abstract: An electromechanically controlled switch assembly including an automatic, three position, removable, transfer switch and a three position, manually operated bypass switch assembly. Electromechanical controls are utilized to sense the position of both switches, including whether or not the bypass switch is being manually switched to the normal or an emergency source of power, whether or not the power sources are available, and whether or not the transfer switch is properly located within its supporting frame for normal operation, completely isolated, or isolated from the load but in the correct location for testing.

Abstract: A shock absorptive magnetic mounting support for a light fixture or the like object includes a base having a magnet mounted thereon for magnetically securing the mounting support to the underside of a metallic shelf or support surface. A support shaft upon which the light fixture is mounted has a threaded end portion received in an aperture in the base. A stop adjacent the threaded end portion limits the insertion thereof into the aperture. A rubber washer of a predetermined thickness is received on the threaded end portion of the shaft in abutting relation with the base. A nut, and, if desired, a lock washer, is received on the threaded end portion of the support shaft. The nut is tightened down against the rubber washer to secure the base and support shaft in a joined condition. The shock absorptive arrangement aids in preventing detachment of the magnetic base from the metallic shelf support in the event of the application of force to the upper side of the shelf.

Abstract: A voltage regulating transformer utilizing a microprocessor and a versatile multipurpose set of hardware modules and software modules it is described. A standard tap changing mechanism is driven in response to an analog control signal to change the output voltage of the transformer in response to digitally sampled values of voltage and current which have been transformed from the time domain to the frequency domain through a software program using Fourier transform techniques. The output current is also transformed and digitally processed to determine the power factor and the direction of power flow through the transformer. By inserting the digital values of the line characteristics to the load, line drop compensation is provided for. The difference in voltage across the input and output transformers is transformed to a digital signal and internally processed to provide an indication of the position of the tap changing mechanism without relying upon mechanical devices.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for improving the thermal stability and dielectric integrity of a cellulosic web product. The cellulosic web is impregnated with a nitrogen donor compound such that the web contains not less than 0.2% by weight of the compound and thereafter impregnated with an aqueous vegetable protein solution at a pH of not less than about 8.5.