Abstract: A brushless DC motor drive is disclosed which includes drive and control circuitry incorporated into an integrated drive unit. The drive circuitry includes a ground offset or signal conditioning circuit which receives command input signals from a command device and corrects for variations in ground potential between the power source and to the drive. The corrected command signal is used for closed-loop velocity control of a brushless DC motor. The signal conditioning circuit also provides a reference voltage signal for use by a controller which controls the drive circuitry. The command input signal is also applied to an energy conservation circuit. The circuit applies power to the control circuit only when the command is above a preset threshold. When the command is below the threshold level, power is interrupted to the control circuit to reduce the energy consumption of the system.

Abstract: An elastomeric coupling system for securing axially aligned driving and driven shafts includes a pair of hubs coupled to one another by an annular flexible coupling element. The hubs are fixed to respective driving and driven shafts, and the coupling element is then secured between the hubs by anchoring assemblies. Each anchoring assembly includes anchoring members which are fixed to respective hubs by fasteners received in the hubs. The fasteners are oriented generally transverse to the aligned axes of the shafts, providing ready access for installation and servicing. As the anchoring members are secured about the hubs, axial and radial loads are exerted on peripheral beads of the coupling element to produce retaining forces sufficient to withstand considerable torsional loading during use.

Abstract: An AC--AC multi-module matrix PWM converter includes one to a plurality of phase banks within which are provided architecturally identical basic circuit modules of single phase output AC--AC matrix converters. Each basic converter module includes three-phase AC inputs and two output terminals. The modules may then be interconnected in series or parallel with other modules within a phase bank to increase the output voltage or current respectively of the phase bank. The differential power module structure and the differential phase PWM modulation scheme increases the output voltage by 15.5% in comparison with 120.degree. phase modulation. Individually designed and tested phase banks can be further connected to a higher power symmetric three phase system or multiphase system for various AC load and AC motor controls. The modular structure permits standardization of the power electronics design and manufacture at system level.

Abstract: A bearing assembly includes an inner ring assembly defining a bore for receiving a shaft, and an outer ring assembly disposed radially outward from the inner ring assembly. A plurality of rotatable bearing elements are disposed between the inner and outer rings and permit the rotation of the shaft and inner ring relative to the outer ring. An annular member extends from the outer ring assembly radially inward toward the inner ring assembly. The annular member is secured to a housing surrounding the outer ring and axially bounds an area between the inner ring and the outer ring in which the plurality of rotatable bearing elements are disposed. A first seal is disposed outside the bearing area to seal a chamber between the annular member and the inner ring. The first seal permits egress of lubricant from the chamber but inhibits ingress of foreign matter therein.

Abstract: An improved speed reducer assembly is provided. The assembly comprises an input shaft, an output shaft and a gear train interfacing the input shaft and the output shaft to effect a desired angular velocity ratio between the input shaft and the output shaft. A housing defines an interior area in which the gear train is disposed, the housing being configured to hold lubricant within the interior area. A pressure sensing device is mounted on the housing in communication with the interior area. The pressure sensing device is configured to output a pressure signal responsively to fluid pressure within the interior area. A second housing may be provided to sealingly enclose a portion of the pressure sensing device outside the speed reducer housing.

Abstract: A bearing assembly includes an inner ring and outer ring defining opposed raceways having a plurality of bearing elements disposed therebetween. The bearing assembly includes an improved sealing arrangement having multiple primary seals for providing sealing with the rotating inner ring. In preferred embodiments, the multiple seals include a rolled riding seal and an oblique contact seal having a center lip therebetween. Unlike the other two primary sealing lips, the center lip preferably provides no more than light engagement with the bearing inner ring.

Abstract: A substrate (10) of a semiconductor device includes a power section (12) and a control section (14). The power section includes doped regions (16, 18, 20) and terminals (22, 24, 26) which define power devices such as transistors or SCRs. The control region also includes doped areas including a parasitic collector (32). A minority carrier current (62) flows from the doped regions of the power section to the collector of the control section when the power device to substrate junction is forward-biased. A self-biased moat assembly (40) includes a first doped region (42) between the doped regions of the power and control sections under which the parasitic minority carrier current flows. An electrical connection (46) connects the moat first doped region (42) with a moat second doped region (44). The self-biased moat assembly is isolated from ground such that it is self-biased negative in accordance with internal operating conditions of the semiconductor device.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to a take-up frame assembly that is adapted to maintain a conveyor belt under constant tension. The take-up frame assembly, in one embodiment, can include a fluid cylinder having a retractable piston. The piston is interconnected with a bearing mounted to a shaft supporting the conveyor belt. The fluid cylinder includes a fluid regulator which can be used to maintain constant pressure within the cylinder and to thus apply a constant force to the bearing. The take-up frame assembly can also be used in combination with a controller and belt alignment devices which sense the relative position of the conveyor belt. When the conveyor belt falls out of alignment, the controller is capable of varying the pressure within the fluid cylinders in order to realign the belt.

Abstract: A structure for mounting a rotating machine element, such as a drum pulley, idler, roller or the like includes first and second bearing sets secured to first and second end disks of the rotating member. The first bearing set is secured to a stationary shaft by means of a locking assembly. The locking assembly includes a wedge-shaped sleeve or adapter which is secured between the inner race of the first bearing set and the stationary shaft. During installation of the locking assembly, the second bearing set remains slidable along the shaft, thereby avoiding pre-loads or stresses in either bearing assembly or the components of the rotating member. Once the rotating member has been fixed in a desired position along the shaft by means of the locking assembly, a retaining element may be placed adjacent to the second bearing set. The structure may be easily disassembled by the reverse process.

Abstract: An expandable arbor is provided for assembling a plurality of laminas into a lamination, wherein each lamina has a central opening and a plurality of slots extending radially from the central opening. The arbor includes a base portion and an expandable core that is disposed to extend axially from the base portion. The arbor further includes a plurality of key holders disposed around the core. Each key holder is configured in the form of an elongated shaft that extends axially from the base portion and has a polygonal transverse cross-section. Each key holder is further configured with a plurality of faces, and each face defines a key receptacle therein for holding a key.

Abstract: A high power AC--AC converter having integrated adaptive commutation control and a new modularity design based on standard per-phase floating AC power-building modules. The per-phase floating AC power building modules designed with high voltage throughput and optimal partitioning differential output architecture which is suitable for multi-phase multi-module high power electronic systems. Now integrated and smart AC power switch modules are provided to reduce the gate control complexity, minimize circuit connection terminals and simplify power bus structure.

Abstract: An electromechanical machine having an improved arrangement for sealing lead wires. A housing structure of the electromechanical machine includes a tubular lead conduit, such as a short pipe section, through which the lead wires extend. A resinous sealing compound, such as an epoxy, is located within the tubular lead conduit. The lead wires are thus potted, and a predetermined degree of isolation is provided between the inside of the machine housing and the ambient environment. Preferably, the inner surface of the tubular lead conduit defines a labyrinthine structure, such as a series of parallel grooves, to further enhance the sealing function.

Abstract: A coil form for winding stator wire includes front and back coil forms which are designed to overcome the drawbacks of the known coil forms. The front coil form is adjustable between a first open position in which coils may be formed in a first series of sizes and a second closed position in which coils are formed in a second series of sizes. The adjustable front coil form allows tooling to be changed between even and odd winding form configurations without delays due to required set up time. The back coil winding form includes a tapered back surface which prevents coils from moving forward or unwinding before they are captured in a coil-receiving fork. This prevents coils from being received in an improper slot in the fork and allows the manufacture of a high quality product.

Abstract: A rotor supporter for use in superconducting motors including first and second torque tubes secured between first and second rotor shaft ends and a rotor winding support wherein the support is essentially hollow and the tubes are essentially or entirely located inside the support thereby reducing overall rotor length.

Abstract: A method and system for manufacturing units of production enables the location of a splice to be accurately determined, so that only the unit of production containing the splice can be rejected without requiring additional units of production which are entirely free of defects to also be rejected. According to the method, first and second webs of material are spliced together so as to create a splice. The splice is marked with a magnetic marker. After the units of production are assembled, including a unit of production which contains the splice, the magnetic marker is magnetized. The magnetizing step occurs after the assembling step so that the orientation of the magnetic field remains parallel to the sensing direction until the magnetic field is detected. The magnetic marker is detected with a detector which has a plurality of closely spaced magnetic sensors.

Abstract: A curved low impedance laminated bus assembly includes a curved first sheet of relatively thin conductive material forming an AC bus conductor and a curved second sheet of relatively thin conductive material forming a -DC bus conductor directly connected to a -DC line side of a DC energy storage device. A curved third sheet of relatively thin conductive material forms a +DC bus conductor directly connected to a +DC line side of the DC energy storage device and is connected to the AC bus conductor through a +DC switch. A plurality of dielectric sheets are laminated between the AC bus conductor, the -DC bus conductor, and the +DC bus conductor.

Abstract: A terminal and capacitor box is provided for mounting directly onto a generally cylindrical surface of an electric induction motor housing. The terminal box includes a generally rectangular body member adapted to receive a pair of capacitors therein. The body member includes a substantially planar deck surface, a first pair of substantially rectangular opposing sidewalls, and a second pair of opposing sidewalls. The second pair of sidewalls have a curved bottom edge preselectively contoured to conform to the curved surface of the electric motor housing. In addition to the above, the terminal box includes a torsional spring member for engaging the pair of capacitors and holding the pair of capacitors in place against the planar deck surface of the rectangular body member and between the sidewalls regardless of the orientation of the terminal box. Thus facilitating the manufacturing process by rendering the box less sensitive to rough handling and more ameanable to processing as a subassembly.

Abstract: A bearing apparatus is provided including an improved end cover. The end cover has a cup element for receipt over the end of a shaft supported by the bearing apparatus. An arm element extends from the cup element and may define a slot for receipt of a suitable threaded member, such as the bearing's lubricant fitting. When the lubricant fitting is tightened, the end cover will be maintained in the desired position on the bearing housing.

Abstract: An enclosure for an electrical motor of the explosion proof type, wherein each of the openings for the cable supporting the electrical leads of the motor includes an adapter threadedly received in the opening, and a plug coaxially received in the adapter. The adapter and the plug are retained by means of a C-shaped clamp plate which is releasably fixed directly to the wall of the enclosure and which includes an edge portion which is received in a circumferential groove in the plug. The plug may be solid in cases where it closes the spare lead opening, or it may have an internal passage through which the electrical cable extends.

Abstract: An improved speed reducer having a temperature sensing device electrically connectible to an external monitoring device. The temperature sensing device is supported by the speed reducer housing and extends at least partially into the speed reducer interior area to a predetermined location. The predetermined location is below a minimum lubricant supply level within the speed reducer interior. The temperature sensing device is responsive to the temperature of the lubricant fluid within the speed reducer and is configured to communicate information indicative thereof to an external monitoring device, which may include an alarm or a downstream processing device.