Abstract: An AC-induction-motor rotor lamination has a longitudinal axis and circumferentially spaced apart and closed rotor slots. Each rotor slot includes first through fifth corners, a straight slot base, straight first and second slot sides, and first and second curved sides. The slot base extends from the first corner to the second corner, the first slot side extends substantially radially inward from the second corner to the third corner, and the second slot side extends substantially radially inward from the first corner to the fourth corner. The first and second curved sides extend from a corresponding one of the third and fourth corners to the fifth corner. A rotor lamination having slot sides extending substantially radially outwardly from the second and first corners, and rotor laminations having open rotor slots (with slot sides extending substantially radially inward or outward) are also described.

Abstract: A dynamoelectric-machine stator includes a stator lamination stack, a plurality of electrically-conductive magnetic wedges, a plurality of electrically-insulative nonmagnetic wedges, and coil windings. The stator lamination stack has circumferentially-spaced-apart stator teeth. Adjacent stator teeth each have a tooth side bounding an intervening stator slot. Adjacent stator teeth each have a radially-outermost tooth tip which circumferentially projects from the corresponding tooth side into the intervening stator slot to partially close the intervening stator slot. The coil windings are randomly wound in the stator slots. The magnetic wedges are each positioned in a corresponding stator slot and physically and solid-magnetically contact the corresponding tooth tips to fully close the corresponding stator slot proximate the corresponding tooth tips. The nonmagnetic wedges are each positioned in a corresponding stator slot between the corresponding coil windings and the corresponding magnetic wedge.

Abstract: An AC-induction-motor rotor lamination has a longitudinal axis and circumferentially spaced apart and closed rotor slots. Each rotor slot includes first through fifth corners, a straight slot base, straight first and second slot sides, and first and second curved sides. The slot base extends from the first corner to the second corner, the first slot side extends substantially radially inward from the second corner to the third corner, and the second slot side extends substantially radially inward from the first corner to the fourth corner. The first and second curved sides extend from a corresponding one of the third and fourth corners to the fifth corner. A rotor lamination having slot sides extending substantially radially outwardly from the second and first corners, and rotor laminations having open rotor slots (with slot sides extending substantially radially inward or outward) are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus including a monolithic, motor/generator phase insulation article having a manufactured state and a ready-to-use state. The insulation article has longitudinally-spaced-apart first and second tabs and flexible, transversely-spaced-apart first and second legs each having a first end monolithically joined to the first tab and a second end monolithically joined to the second tab. The first and second tabs are disposed longitudinally closer together in the manufactured state than in the ready-to-use state. In the manufactured state the first and second legs each have a more serpentine shape, and in the ready-to-use state the first and second legs each have a less serpentine shape. A method for manufacturing the insulation article is also described which cuts a monolithic, substantially-rectangular sheet of motor/generator phase insulation to create the insulation article.

Abstract: Apparatus including a locomotive-radiator-cooling-fan tankhead assembly having a substantially-circular base plate and a substantially-circular outer ring. The base plate has a central longitudinal axis and a circumference. The outer ring is substantially coaxially aligned with the central longitudinal axis and is attached to the base plate proximate the circumference. The base plate has a substantially-planar first surface having a central recess substantially coaxially aligned with the central longitudinal axis and having circumferentially-separated, first and second peripheral recesses each radially spaced apart from the central recess and extending radially inward from proximate the circumference. The outer ring longitudinally extends beyond the first surface. The tankhead assembly is devoid of any gussets attached to the base plate and is devoid of any gussets attached to the outer ring.

Abstract: A notching apparatus for notching both an outer lamination and an inner lamination from a single lamination blank at s single station using a single press device includes a multi-piece die assembly provides multiple outer slot punches, multiple inner slot punches, and a separator punch. The outer slot punch portion, inner slot punch portion, and separator punch portion of the multi-piece die assembly are all selectively positionable in respective punching positions and non-punching positions to facilitate a controlled notching operation.

Abstract: A display module includes a sealed, heat conductive housing, a display screen secured to the housing by spaced, resilient mounting members, a touch responsive screen separated from the display screen by a narrow air gap, an airtight seal between a peripheral lip of the housing and the touch responsive screen, and a fan in the housing to circulate a fluid through the gap.

Abstract: An electric-powered display is retained in any of a large plurality of positions in the field of vision of a user by a mechanical linkage mounted on the user below the head.

Abstract: An arrangement for supplementing passive heat transfer from a hard disk drive housing to a surrounding environmental housing includes active heat transfer devices and an arrangement biasing the disk drive housing into heat conducting contact with the environmental housing. The environmental housing includes a heat conducting outer shell and an internal heat conducting plate spaced from the shell, with the active heat transfer devices positioned in the space. In one embodiment, lifting devices having relatively moveable wedge members are actuatable to lift the disk drive housing into firm contact with the heat conducting plate. In another embodiment, the hard disk drive is moved into heat conducting contact by the cooperation of pins on the disk drive housing and inclined surfaces in the environmental housing, along with wedge members on a door of the environmental housing. The active heat transfer devices can be Peltier effect devices or heat pipes.

Abstract: A hard disk system having a disk housing shock mounted in an environmental housing employs a device to transfer heat from the disk housing while avoiding any mechanical connection that would impose significant rigidity between the disk housing and the environment housing so as to defeat the shock mounting. In one embodiment, a Peltier effect heat pump has a cold side in contact with the disk housing and a hot side in contact with heat-conducting spring fingers contacting the environmental housing. In another embodiment, a fan is positioned in a space between the outside of the disk housing and the inside of the environmental housing to circulate air around the disk housing, while a Peltier effect heat pump moves heat to the environmental housing.

Abstract: One or more video cameras are mounted on the vehicle to make continuously a visual record of the scene in a region around the vehicle. Camera images during a time interval covering the current time and the recent past are stored on-board the vehicle, preferably, digitally recorded in a compressed format. In addition, data (e.g. one or more operating parameters such as speed, GPS data, engine, and/or brake operating parameters) from the vehicle's on-board embedded computers covering the present and recent past interval are also preferably digitally stored on-board the vehicle. An accident detector or detectors on-board the vehicle, for example a biaxial accelerometer, generate a trigger signal in response to an accident, such as the vehicle striking something or being struck by another vehicle. In response to an accident detector trigger signal, the data stored on-board the vehicle is automatically transmitted over a wireless link (e.g.

Abstract: A locomotive cab heating system having a plurality of separately actuated heating units housed in a supply air duct and connected to a microcontroller. Preferably, the system includes a high temperature shutdown thermostat. The microcontroller is equipped with memory storing a program that is configured to control the microcontroller to turn on and off a predetermined number of the heating units responsive to temperature readings received from the temperature sensor, thereby maintaining air temperature in the duct within a selected range, regardless of fan speed and air flow rate. By controlling the number of heating units in operation at any given time, the heating system of the present invention controls the heat delivered to a locomotive cab more effectively, thereby ensuring the comfort of the occupants of the cab. The locomotive cab heating system of the present invention is designed to be easily and inexpensively retrofitted to preexisting heating systems.

Abstract: A receptacle assembly apparatus for electric power leads that includes a receptacle, a backshell, and a disk-shaped member clamped therebetween. The receptacle has a housing and a grommet having orifices formed therethrough to receive power leads and associated pins. The disk-shaped member is formed of a relatively hard dielectric material such as nylon and contains orifices therethrough, corresponding to orifices in the grommet, which receive the electric power leads and associated pins. The lead pins have annular ribs formed thereon such that the ribs are captured between a collar on the disk-shaped member and a protrusion on the grommet, thereby preventing relative rearward movement of the lead pins and associated leads.

Abstract: The invention is a stator lamination jig system which comprises a centrally located spindle and a support for a stator lamination having a plurality of holes therein. The support is rotatively-mounted on the spindle for driving the lamination during a notching operation. A plate is included to secure the lamination on the support and a non-rotatable ejector is located below the support which has a lowered position and a raised position. An ejection cylinder is seated upon the ejector which is shaped and positioned to extend through holes in the support. The invention also comprises a cylinder connected to the ejector for driving the ejector. When the cylinder is actuated upwards, the ejector is in a raised position which urges the ejection cylinder through the holes in the support to cause the lamination to be released from the jig.

Abstract: A stator lamination for an electric motor includes a plurality of notches extending about an inner periphery thereof shaped to minimize damage to insulation of the conductor during insertion of the conductor into the notches and removal of the conductor from the notches. Each notch includes two side walls which intersect the inner periphery of the laminate at a tapered angle. The side walls each include a cutout shaped to receive a retaining strip or slat therebetween, and the cutouts intersect the walls at tapered angles. The tapered angles are preferably less than about 12.degree. or greater than about 14.degree., in order to prevent the formation of a locking taper.

Abstract: The invention is a stator lamination jig system which comprises a centrally located spindle and a support for a stator lamination having a plurality of holes therein. The support is rotatively-mounted on the spindle for driving the lamination during a notching operation. A plate is included to secure the lamination on the support and a non-rotatable ejector is located below the support which has a lowered position and a raised position. An ejection cylinder is seated upon the ejector which is shaped and positioned to extend through holes in the support. The invention also comprises a cylinder connected to the ejector for driving the ejector. When the cylinder is actuated upwards, the ejector is in a raised position which urges the ejection cylinder through the holes in the support to cause the lamination to be released from the jig.

Abstract: A method for minutia extraction from a digitized fingerprint array by twin tracker border line analysis includes scanning the array to detect ridge pixels, setting up a pair of tracker pixels or trackers on opposite borders of the ridge, moving the trackers along the borders of the ridge, periodically calculating the midpoint between the trackers to generate a centerline between the borders, calculating an average slope of the centerline, and periodically testing between the trackers for the presence of valley pixels. When such a valley pixel is detected, a sequence of aberration tests is conducted to identify the type of aberration. If the aberration tests all fail, the aberration is identified as a ridge diversion, the location and slope of which are stored as a minutia in a minutia location table. Ridge endings are detected by comparing the coordinates of the trackers after each move. If a ridge ending is detected, an attempt is made to jump to another ridge within a given proximity to the current ridge.