Abstract: A method for winding a stator of a multi-phase motor includes successively winding each of a plurality of teeth on the stator with a continuous winding wire to connect each of the phases in the motor together. The wound wire is disconnected between any two phases where respective ends of the two phases connected by the winding wire are not neutral ends. A jumper wire is connected between a neutral end of any one of the phases to a neutral end of at least one other phase if the neutral end of any one of the phases is not connected to the neutral end of at least one other phase by the winding wire.

Abstract: Apparatus for mounting an electric motor, which is adapted to drive an endless belt at a predetermined tension, to a stationary frame, includes a housing that is adapted to receive the motor. A drive shaft extends from the front end of the housing and is adapted to drive the belt. An elongated base mount is integrally formed on the outside surface of the housing and extends from the front of the housing for pivotally coupling the housing to the stationary frame. The base mount has a first end and a second end, and a bore which extends longitudinally at least partially through the base mount from the first end and the second end of the base mount. A substantially rigid tab is fixedly attached to the cylindrical housing at a substantially opposite side from the base mount. The tension on the belt is set by applying a biasing force on the tab to pivot the motor about the axis of the base mount.

Abstract: A wrist device is provided for use with a prosthetic limb. The wrist device includes a base plate that is configured for attachment to a prosthetic limb and a sliding lock plate that is slidably engaged with the base plate. Both the base plate and the sliding lock plate have openings. Also included in the invention is a semi-cylindrical rotator that is configured for attachment to a prosthetic hand. The semi-cylindrical rotator has slots configured to receive the sliding lock plate and is coupled to the base plate in a manner that allows the sliding lock plate to lock into the slots.

Abstract: The present invention provides a low clearance, compact guideway, train positioning system that can be installed in close quarters alongside an existing railroad track. The system is chain driven and features an improved over/under or vertical sprocket carriage drive system in which parts normally exposed to the elements are protected while, at the same time, horizontal space requirements alongside the track are reduced. The system employs a vertically oriented chain drive which employs enclosed vertically mounted drive and idler sprocket units and a chain tube enclosing the lower chain strand which further minimizes exposure of the mechanism chain to the elements by totally enclosing the lower chain path in the over/under arrangement.

Abstract: An air bearing slide assembly including a carriage having a plurality of planar slide faces containing integrally mounted porous carbon air bearings, the carriage being movable over a slide ram. The slide faces of the carriage being mated to opposing planar slide surfaces on the slide ram, wherein compressed air expelled from the air bearings creates a hydrostatic fluid film between the slide ram and the air bearings, thereby separating and supporting the carriage for longitudinal movement over the slide ram.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus for indicating the instantaneous position of a movable member along a range of motion with respect to a reference position. The apparatus includes a magnetic body that is fixedly attached to the movable member. The body has a contoured surface to control the shape of a magnetic field relative to position, and further includes at least two magnetic field sensors. Each of the sensors is disposed adjacent to the contoured surface of the magnetic body and fixed with respect to the reference position, and is positioned apart from the other sensors, so as to form a non-uniform gap between the contoured surface and each of the magnetic field sensors. Each of the sensors produces a position dependent signal corresponding to a value of the magnetic field. The apparatus further includes a decoding circuit electrically coupled to each of the magnetic field sensors so as to receive each of the position dependent signals.

Abstract: An air bearing slide assembly including a carriage having a plurality of planar slide faces containing integrally mounted porous carbon air bearings, the carriage being movable over a slide ram. The slide faces of the carriage being mated to opposing planar slide surfaces on the slide ram, wherein compressed air expelled from the air bearings creates a hydrostatic fluid film between the slide ram and the air bearings, thereby separating and supporting the carriage for longitudinal movement over the slide ram.

Abstract: An air bearing slide assembly including a carriage having a plurality of planar slide faces containing integrally mounted porous carbon air bearings, the carriage being movable over a slide ram. The slide faces of the carriage being mated to opposing planar slide surfaces on the slide ram, wherein compressed air expelled from the air bearings creates a hydrostatic fluid film between the slide ram and the air bearings, thereby separating and supporting the carriage for longitudinal movement over the slide ram.

Abstract: A movable prosthetic limb includes a drive linkage which is configured to move the prosthetic limb. An ultrasonic drive motor is coupled to the drive linkage and powers the drive linkage. The ultrasonic motor is non-backdrivable and has high torque at low speeds. Specifically, a prosthetic limb uses an ultrasonic motor to drive an elbow joint or prosthetic fingers. A movable prosthetic wrist includes a base configured to be coupled to an amputee. An ultrasonic drive motor is attached to the base, and a hand piece is attached to the ultrasonic drive motor to form a wrist joint. In this configuration, the ultrasonic drive motor directly moves the wrist joint. A harmonic drive can also be used for gear reduction in the wrist joint.

Abstract: A grip device for an artificial or prosthetic arm, including at least two opposable digits and a drive linkage powered by a drive motor. When the drive motor is powered it enables the two opposable digits to grip. The drive linkage includes a drive and transmission attached to the drive motor. A backlock is connected to the drive and transmission. Surrounding the backlock is a backlock housing which contains the drive, selected transmission elements, and a backlock. A stop element is also included for holding the backlock housing fixed with respect to ground. The stop element can be released to allow the backlock housing to move freely and to avoid power transmission without disrupting the operating structure of the transmission.

Abstract: A stator winding for mounting onto the stator core of an electric motor is provided with a base and a coil winding around the base and a connection portion for slidingly interengaging a corresponding slot in the stator. The base extends longitudinally between front and rear ends including a leg extending radially outwardly from a radially inner cross member to the connection portion and having circumferentially opposite sides with respect to the motor axis. A stator winding is assembled on the stator of an electric motor by providing a winding base with a connection portion adapted to engage a slot in the stator; providing a slot in the stator; winding an electrical conductor winding around the base; and slidingly interengaging the connection portion with the stator slot.

Abstract: A stator winding for mounting onto the stator core of an electric motor is provided with a base and a coil winding around the base and a connection portion for slidingly interengaging a corresponding slot in the stator. The base extends longitudinally between front and rear ends including a leg extending radially outwardly from a radially inner cross member to the connection portion and having circumferentially opposite sides with respect to the motor axis. A stator winding is assembled on the stator of an electric motor by providing a winding base with a connection portion adapted to engage a slot in the stator; providing a slot in the stator; winding an electrical conductor winding around the base; and slidingly interengaging the connection portion with the stator slot.

Abstract: A web tension transducer for mounting between a stationary fixture and a pillow block rotationally supporting a web roller shaft is provided. The transducer includes a body mounted to said fixture for pivotal movement about a single horizontal axis at one longitudinal end, and having a strain gage mounted in a transverse horizontal slot at the opposite end of said body, thus providing maximum deflection of the strain gage in response to downward force applied to the shaft for measurement of the web tension.

Abstract: A stator lamination (20) for forming a stator assembly (82) of a permanent magnet motor (80) includes a yoke region (23) and a plurality of stator poles (22) spaced along and extending inwardly from the yoke region. The stator poles (22) are configured and arranged to define a slot (28) having a predetermined span (30) between the lateral end surfaces of adjacent stator poles. A plurality of teeth (24) are formed on the distal ends of each of the stator poles (22), and are separated from each other by a notch (26). The teeth (24) are equi-spaced and the number of notches (26) is an even number.

Abstract: A train positioning system for moving railroad cars by engaging bogey frames from one side includes a dog carriage guideway spaced from and parallel to a railroad track, a dog carriage mounted to operate along the guideway, a first dog pivotally attached to the dog carriage to pivot in a generally horizontal plane between a retracted position and an extended position. The first dog is positioned to engage a bogey frame in a first direction and be deflected by the bogey frame in a second direction in the extended position. A second dog may be mounted in opposed spaced relation to the first dog also to pivot in a generally horizontal plane between a retracted and an extended position. The second dog is configured to engage a bogey frame in the second direction and be deflected by the bogey frame in the first direction. A system is provided for reversibly operating the dog carriage along the guideway.

Abstract: A moving web tension monitoring apparatus of easily fabricated, relatively inexpensive and easily assembled construction comprises a cantilever mounted strain beam element coupled at the flexurable end thereof through a rigid coupling to one end of the support shaft for the web supporting guide roll. A twin beam type transducer having strain gauges at the flex points of the beams is coupled to the shaft supporting the moving web. The strain gauges are located and electrically connected to measure the radial forces applied to the shaft. A shaft coupler connects the shaft to a bearing in the transducer to reduce slippage of the shaft. The transducer is designed to be easily adjusted so that the forces applied to the shaft are accurately detected. The components of the transducer are also adjustable to alter the rigidity and/or resonance frequency of the transducer.

Abstract: A mechanical apparatus and method for a high performance hoist for raising and lowering a load, and control apparatus and method for controlling the hoist such that its operation is responsive and intuitive for a human operator. The mechanical apparatus provides a reel for winding a cable, a ball-screw for translating the reel, and an encoder on the reel with which the height of the payload may be monitored. Also disclosed is an operator's handle comprising a movable sleeve with a damper as well as a spring to return it to its null position. The control apparatus and method provides for a handle-nulling mode in which the payload height is servo-controlled to follow the displacement of the operator's hand grasping the handle. The control apparatus further provides a float-mode in which the payload height is responsive to the operator's forces applied directly to the payload.

Abstract: A low cogging torque permanent magnet rotor is provided including a shaft and a permanent magnet mounted on the shaft. A gap is provided between the shaft and the magnet near a boundary between the magnet poles thereby reducing the cogging torque as the rotor poles rotate past the poles of the motor stator.

Abstract: A device to manipulate hosiery comprises a swift-tack apparatus joined to a j-hook magazine which selectively attaches a swift tack to a hosiery stack with or without a j-hook. The hosiery stack is then selectively inverted by a pair of rotatable clamps. The hosiery stack is then selectively rotated to a desired orientation by a turntable. The hosiery stack is then stacked with other hosiery stacks by means of a drop arrangement onto a lift plate. The combined stacks are then selectively attached one to the other by a second swift-tack apparatus. The above manipulations are effectuated preferably by pneumatic power and a plurality of pusher plates and lift plates.

Abstract: This invention is drawn to an apparatus for applying labels to hosiery, specifically sock stacks. The sock stack travels along a first conveyor and are deposited onto a second conveyor. The second conveyor carries the sock stack to a pair of rotatable clamps. The clamps hold the sock stack and stretch it. A pneumatic cylinder moves the pair of clamps upwardly into contact with an adhesive label. The socks are rotated 360 degrees drawing the label onto the sock stack to band the same.