Abstract: A bearing assembly is provided which includes an annular support member and a plurality of thrust bearing elements coupled to and distributed about the face of the support member. The thrust bearing elements are adapted to receive and support an axial load of a rotating member such as a thrust collar on a shaft. An annular distribution ring is mounted to the face of the support member for restricting motion of the thrust bearing elements. A distribution passage is formed between the distribution ring and the support member in such a manner that the distribution passage carries fluid to and across each of the thrust bearing elements.

Abstract: An apparatus and method used to detect metallized containers or other objects in closed packages traveling in a conveyor stream. The apparatus includes a pair of coil units mounted in association with a packaging conveyor such that the closed packages will pass therebetween. Appropriate field generation circuitry are connected to the coil units for producing a magnetic field. When the metallized containers pass through the magnetic field, the impedance across the coils will vary. The varying impedance is measured continuously, thus giving an indication as to whether the metallized object has been detected. If the package is nonconforming, steps can be taken to automatically remove it from the conveyor stream.

Abstract: A power transmission assembly includes a first rotary housing and a second rotary housing disposed within the first housing. A piston housing is disposed between the first and second housing and does not rotate. A clutch plate stack is disposed adjacent to the piston assembly and is engageable to prevent relative rotation of the first and second housings with respect to one another. The rotary housings are supported by a bearing between the housings at one end, and by a series of bearings between the housings and the piston assembly at an opposite end. The arrangement enables the assembly to be supported as an overhung load, while actuating fluid is applied to the piston assembly via a non-rotating manifold.

Abstract: A system is provided for sealingly coupling a gear reducer to a driven machine, such as a screw conveyor. The gear reducer includes a sealing assembly disposed in a bore of the gear reducer housing about an output member, such as an output hub. An adapter element couples the gear reducer to the load, such as directly to a screw conveyor trough. A first seal assembly is disposed in the adapter about an output shaft received in the output hub of the gear reducer. For a screw conveyor application, the first seal assembly may be adjacent to the screw conveyor trough plate. The adapter includes a second seal assembly within an interface flange which is secured to the gear reducer housing. The first and second seal assemblies are spaced from one another by a dropout area defined by integral standoffs of the adapter.

Abstract: A system for providing DC current to a rotating superconducting winding is provided. The system receives current feedback from the superconducting winding and determines an error signal based on the current feedback and a reference signal. The system determines a control signal corresponding to the error signal and provides a positive and negative superconducting winding excitation voltage based on the control signal.

Abstract: A system for determining wear of an article including an optical fiber for transmitting light from a light source. The optical fiber is embedded in the article, and operatively coupled to an interferometric system. The interferometric system is operatively coupled to a processor. The interferometric system provides the processor with information relating to wear of the optical fiber, and the processor determines wear of the article rate of wear and remaining useful life of the article based on the information relating to wear of the optical fiber.

Abstract: A low profile shunt has an electrically insulated substrate with opposing electrical terminals joined to a sensing device by two electrically conductive layers. The conductive layers are laminated on each side of a shunt layer extending between the terminals. An insulating tape insulates the copper foil conductive and shunt layers from each other between the terminals. The sensing element is a measuring resistor having a resistive value many times greater than that of the shunt layer such that relatively low current measurements may by made at the sensing element.

Abstract: A cryogenic rotary transfer coupling for a superconducting electromechanical rotating machine delivers supply flow from a cryogenic cooler to a rotor so as to cool the superconducting coils. The flow is then returned to the cooler and recirculated throughout the system. The structure includes a relative motion gap between stationary and rotating portions of the coupling. The gap is configured to greatly simplify the manufacture of the coupling while 1) being compatible with cooling systems having both cool return flow capability and warm return flow capability and 2) maintaining a high efficiency for the coupling.

Abstract: A method of making an electromechanical machine stator assembly in provided in which concentric coil groups are alternately inserted from both ends of the stator core. A first phase group is inserted through a first axial end of the stator core. A second phase coil group is then inserted through an opposite end of the stator core, such as by rotation of the stator core 180 degrees. Additional coil groups are similarly inserted into the stator core to complete the stator. The alternating insertion process provided a winding configuration utilizing a combination of full and shared slots of the stator core with leads exiting from both ends. The method permits the use of automated winding equipment in large induction motors, and facilitates subsequent connection to the stator coil leads.

Abstract: A bearing apparatus having one or more integrated load sensors for determining the load imposed on a rotatable shaft. The bearing apparatus includes a bearing housing having a bearing set, such as a bearing insert, located therein. The load sensors are preferably configured as strain gauges having resistance characteristics that vary as the bearing housing is deformed. For example, the strain gauges may be angularly spaced in an arcuate recess defined below the bearing set in the bearing housing. Preferably, circuitry is also provided to condition the deformation signal to provide an indication of loading on the shaft. The conditioning circuitry may be advantageously attached to the exterior of the bearing housing.

Abstract: A system for monitoring the operational status of a plurality of mechanical components, such as various bearings, speed reducers and the like. Each of the mechanical devices includes a respective local transmitter in electrical communication with various local sensors. Among the sensors which may be utilized are a temperature sensor and a shaft speed sensor, as well and an accelerometer for detecting vibration. The local transmitter receives information from the sensors and provides status information in a predetermined output format, such as a serial digital format. Unique electronic identifiers are assigned to respective of the local transmitters to facilitate selective communication with a central monitoring processor. As a result, the status information will be supplied to the central monitoring processor at predetermined times.

Abstract: An integrated control and diagnostics system for a controlled system (e.g., a motor) includes a diagnostics module and a controller coupled to the motor. To optimize operation, the diagnostics information signal is used to modify the control provided by the controller as required. Moreover, the output of the control module is coupled to the diagnostics module so that the health assessment made by the diagnostics module can be based at least in part on the output of the controller. The invention uses a model-based diagnostics approach that allows integration of control algorithms with diagnostics algorithms to intelligently trade off optimizing performance to avert or accommodate failures, and to meet performance requirements in a wide range of applications.

Abstract: A bearing-sensor integration in which one or more multi-sensor lubrication sensing devices are positioned relative to the bearing to sense in situ certain parameters of the lubricating fluid. The lubrication sensing devices may be positioned on an interior surface of a bearing raceway (i.e, the outer raceway and/or the inner raceway), the bearing's cage, sealing cover, circulating system, a compliant structure positioned within the bearing chamber, a flowgate, and/or a reservoir. The lubrication sensing device(s) may include sensors for measuring certain parameters of the lubricating fluid, such as pH, chemical characteristics, electrical conductivity, temperature and/or viscosity. A processor receives lubrication-related data from the lubrication sensing device(s), processes the lubrication-related data, and provides information relating to lubrication health and/or health of the machine employing the lubricant.

Abstract: A shaft assembly includes a housing having a bore formed therein. A shaft is disposed rotatably in the housing and within the bore. A seal assembly extends between the shaft and a circumferential surface of the bore and includes a first annular seal member rotationally fixed to one of the shaft and the housing and extending therefrom to engage the other of the shaft and the housing. One or more annular seal members extend at least partially between the bore and the shaft to form a labyrinth between areas external and internal to the shaft assembly.

Abstract: A system for monitoring a characteristic of a dynamic member is disclosed. The system includes a sensor device operative to sense the characteristic of the dynamic member and to generate a first signal in response to the sensed characteristic. A monitor is in communication with the sensor device, the monitor wirelessly transmitting a second signal responsive to the first signal. A battery is in electrical communication with the sensor device and monitor. The sensor device charges the battery via the first signal, the battery powering the monitor.

Abstract: A broadband test procedure detects the onset of stator winding insulation damage, identifies the failure mechanism, determines the winding's susceptibility to further damage, and predicts stator winding failure. This is accomplished by realizing that changes in the stator winding insulation and/or geometry are reflected as changes in the capacitance between the individual windings and, hence, as changes in the stator winding's broadband impedance response. In the currently preferred approach, the impedance response includes the frequency, magnitude, width, and phase of the resonant impedance.

Abstract: A corrosion-resistant antifriction bearing is disclosed that includes a multi-layer corrosion protection system over a metallic substrate. The corrosion-resistant system may be applied to a single or multiple components of the bearing, including inner and outer rings, bearing elements, collars, and so forth. The system includes a nickel-phosphorous alloy plating layer applied by an autocatalytic process after surface preparation of the protected component. The surface preparation aids in adherence of the nickel-phosphorous alloy plating layer to the substrate. The preparation may include the application of rust inhibitors, liquid vapor honing, acid neutralizing, and so forth. Additional topcoat layers may be applied to the nickel-phosphorous alloy plating layer. These may include a chromate conversion coating and a polymeric topcoat layer.

Abstract: A superconducting electromechanical rotating (SER) device, such as a synchronous AC motor, includes a superconducting field winding and a one-layer stator winding that may be water-cooled. The stator winding is potted to a support such as the inner radial surface of a support structure and, accordingly, lacks hangers or other mechanical fasteners that otherwise would complicate stator assembly and require the provision of an unnecessarily large gap between adjacent stator coil sections. The one-layer winding topology, resulting in the number of coils being equal to half the number of slots or other mounting locations on the support structure, allows one to minimize or eliminate the gap between the inner radial ends of adjacent straight sections of the stator coilswhile maintaining the gap between the coil knuckles equal to at least the coil width, providing sufficient room for electrical and cooling element configurations and connections.

Abstract: A dynamoelectric machine diagnostic system is provided. The system includes a docking station coupled to a dynamoelectric machine; a plurality of sensors operatively coupled to the docking station, at least one of the sensors being permanently positioned in the dynamoelectric machine for data gathering; and a diagnostic module, adapted to be received by and coupled to the docking station so that the diagnostic module may collect data output from at least one of the plurality of sensors.

Abstract: A sealed, rotatable shaft assembly includes a housing that defines a bore that extends from an area exterior to the housing to an area interior to the housing. A shaft is rotatably disposed in the housing about an axis of the bore. The shaft extends through the bore between the interior area and the exterior area. An annular lip seal is disposed in the bore and is attached to one of the shaft and the housing. The lip seal extends from the one of the shaft and the housing to the other of the shaft and the housing in a contact seal so that rotation of the shaft with respect to the housing wears the lip seal to form a zero-clearance non-contacting seal. A labyrinth seal stage extends between the shaft and the housing. The labyrinth seal stage is disposed outward of the lip seal, with respect to the interior area and in communication with the lip seal.