Abstract: A transducer for measuring strain in an object on which the transducer is placed includes a flexible, generally planar frame member for placement on the object. The frame member, in turn, includes a pair of generally parallel beams, one of which is moveable with respect to the other when the object is subjected to strain, and a plurality of spaced-apart laterally flexible connecting beams extending between the pair of beams. The transducer also includes a force field emitter disposed on the one moveable beam for producing a force field which diminishes in strength with distance from the force field emitter. A spacer plate is disposed on the other of said parallel beams and a substrate is disposed on the spacer plate so as to be be positioned above, but spaced from the frame member.

Abstract: A field-based movement sensor adapted for measuring strain along a certain axis in an object on which the sensor is attached. The sensor includes a substrate having a working surface and formed with a pair of fingers projecting from a first direction, and a third finger projecting from a direction opposite the first direction, to a position between the pair of fingers. The pair of fingers and third finger extend generally perpendicular to the axis along which strain is to be measured, with the pair of fingers being moveable with respect to the third finger along the axis when the strain occurs. An electrically charged element for producing an electric field is disposed on the working surface of the third finger, and a pair of field-effect transistors (FETS) are each disposed on a working surface of a different one of the pair of fingers.

Abstract: A steam boiler having a water blow down in which the blowdown rate is automatically controlled in response to the flow rate and impurity level of the make up water so as to maintain the boiler water impurity level below a specified concentrations.

Abstract: An eccentric motion motor includes a hollow cylindrical stator in which is positioned a cylindrical armature in rolling engagement with the stator. Elongate conductive strips are disposed in the inside wall of the hollow of the stator to extend substantially the length thereof, with the strips being circumferentially spaced about the stator hollow. The conductive strips are coupled to a commutator voltage source which applies a voltage to successive ones of the conductive strips to produce an electrostatic force which attracts the armature and causes it to roll in the hollow of the stator. The armature may be made either of a conductive material or a dielectric material.

Abstract: A rotary variable differential transformer produces a substantially linear output over about 180 degrees of rotation of a rotor core. The transformer includes a base housing having a central bore, and a rotor having a shaft whose angular displacement is to be determined and a generally planar, circular rotor core mounted off-center at one end of the shaft and in a plane normal thereto. The rotor core is rotatably disposed within the opening of the base housing. Also included is a primary coil disposed in the opening of the base housing to circumscribe the shaft at a location rearwardly of the rotor core. First and second windings, with cores, are carried by the base housing and positioned about the base housing opening so that the axes of the coils are oriented radially of the opening and generally in a common plane with the rotor core. The first and second windings are connected together in series opposition.

Abstract: A flowmeter utilizing the property of dry saturated steam that the density of the steam is dependent upon the temperature thereof has a first sensor that is a rotation sensor (1) which includes a flap (14) which is disposed in a steam flow passage (12) to be deflected by steam flow so as to rotate a rotatable member (4) of the rotation sensor, and a second sensor that is a temperature sensor (20) for sensing the temperature of the flowing steam. Signals from these two sensors (1, 20) which are, respectively, dependent upon steam flow, and steam temperature and hence density, are processable in process means for obtaining the true mass flow rate of the steam. For other fluids, such as superheated steam, the flowmeter has a third sensor which is a pressure transducer, signals from the three sensor being processable in process means for obtaining the true mass flow rate.

Abstract: A lock pin for a badge shell having a round periphery and inwardly bent skirt along the periphery forming an open back, the lock pin being made of a length of resilient wire having a substantially straight fastening portion with a lower pointed end on the wire first free end to fasten the badge to a garment. The resilient wire includes a shell securing portion connected to the upper end of the fastening portion extending in a closed generally planar path around the fastening portion and terminating in the wire second free end comprising a locking tab extending outwardly from the plane for removably locking the second free end to the fastening portion upper end, the locking tab further adapted to bear against the inward side of the shell securing portion to resist removal of the lock pin from the badge shell. The shell securing portion has first and second arcuate segments conforming substantially to the curvature of the shell inner periphery and extending approximately 90.degree.

Abstract: There is provided, in a thermostatic steam trap that can operate in either of two modes merely dependent upon which way round the trap is connected in a steam flow line, a temperature-responsive element (9) in which there is a valve member (23) that projects from a housing (16) of the element (10) to an extent dependent upon movement of a diaphragm (19) within the housing (16). Movement of the valve member (23) out of the housing (16) to close on a seat (6) is opposed by a spring clip (8), arms (14) of which embrace the outside of the housing (16), so that if the diaphragm (19) fails the trap as a whole fails with the valve (23/6) open. Conveniently the spring clip (8) serves a further function in that lugs (15) of the clip locate on a wall of the valve seat (6) to locate the element (9) in the trap.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling the position and movement of an object in up to six desired degrees of freedom. The system comprises an armature which is provided with a distribution of electric charge. The armature may also include one or more magnetized regions. The system further comprises a base having components that may be actively controlled so as to cause a force to be exerted on the electric charge distribution of the armature. By appropriately controlling the components of the base, the position and movement of the armature with respect to the base can be selectively controlled.The base may also include passive electric and/or magnetic components which assist in stabilizing the armature in one or more degrees of freedom. In addition, the base may be provided with position sensors which provide position information to control circuitry such that the position and movement of the armature with respect to the base can be controlled automatically.

Abstract: Sensor systems and methods for detecting the position and/or movement of an object in multiple degrees of freedom. The sensor system of the present invention comprises at least one field-effect transistor (FET), the geometrical configuration of the FET being selected so as to provide the desired sensitivity. The FET is preferably provided with a conductive gate adjacent to but insulated from the channel region of the FET. An object whose position and/or movement is to be detected is prepared such that an electric field emanates from the object.The FET is brought into the vicinity of the object, and the electric field emanating from the object interacts with the gate and/or channel region of the FET so as to modify the magnitude of the electrical current flowing through the channel region. The current through the channel region is detected and is used to obtain information about the position and movement of the object relative to the channel region of the FET.

Abstract: A microgeometric electric field machine includes arrays of conductors formed on or carried by a plurality of substrates. The conductors on a first group of substrates carry electrical charges, with alternate conductors being charged positively and the other conductors being charged negatively. A second group of substrates are interleaved with the first group in close proximity therewith. Also included is a voltage source for successively supplying alternate positive and negative electrical charges to the conductors of the second group of substrates. Effectively a pattern of alternate positively and negatively charged conductors is established for the second group of substrates and these patterns are caused to move, relative to the substrates, along the arrays of conductors to produce "moving" electric force fields which cause one group of substrates to move with respect to the other group.

Abstract: A microgeometric electric field machine includes arrays of conductors formed on or carried by a plurality of substrates. The conductors on a first group of substrates carry electrical charges, with alternate conductors being charged positively and the other conductors being charged negatively. A second group of substrates are interleaved with the first group in close proximity therewith. Also included is a voltage source for successively supplying alternate positive and negative electrical charges to the conductors of the second group of substrates. Effectively a pattern of alternate positively and negatively charged conductors is established for the second group of substrates and these patterns are caused to move, relative to the substrates, along the arrays of conductors to produce "moving" electric force fields which cause one group of substrates to move with respect to the other group.

Abstract: There is provided, in a thermostatic steam trap that can operate in either of two modes merely dependent upon which way round the trap is connected in a steam flow line, a temperature-responsive element (9) in which there is a valve member (23) that projects from a housing (16) of the element (10) to an extent dependent upon movement of a diaphragm (19) within the housing (16). Movement of the valve member (23) out of the housing (16) to close on a seat (6) is opposed by a spring clip (8), arms (14) of which embrace the outside of the housing (16), so that if the diaphragm (19) fails the trap as a whole fails with the valve (23/6) open. Conveniently the spring clip (8) serves a further function in that lugs (15) of the clip locate on a wall of the valve seat (6) to locate the element (9) in the trap.

Abstract: A disc valve member (5) is disclosed that can be fitted to a thermodynamic steam trap (1) without modification of the trap. The disc valve member has an internal chamber (7) and perforated portions (8,9) through which air can escape from a chamber (6) in which the disc valve member floats when fitted in a trap, it being desirable that such air escape should be possible during start-up conditions in a steam line. At normal operating temperature, a bi-metal disc (10) within the internal chamber (7) of the disc valve member is snapped-over to a position in which the path for air escape from the trap chamber (6) is closed, and the disc valve member operates as an imperforate member.

Abstract: A microgeometric electric field machine includes arrays of conductors formed on or carried by a plurality of substrates. The conductors on a first group of substrates carry electrical charges, with alternate conductors being charged positively and the other conductors being charged negatively. A second group of substrates are interleaved with the first group in close proximity therewith. Also included is a voltage source for successively supplying alternate positive and negative electrical charges to the conductors of the second group of substrates. Effectively a pattern of alternate positively and negatively charged conductors is established for the second group of substrates and these patterns are caused to move, relative to the substrates, along the arrays of conductors to produce "moving" electric force fields which cause one group of substrates to move with respect to the other group.

Abstract: In a bellows-actuated thermostatic steam trap (A) having a bellows (41) carrying a valve member (45) of a valve (45/22) for opening and closing the trap, the bellows is disposed between connections (20/21 and 30/31) which are identical to one another so as to be selectively connectable in a steam flow line with the valve (45/22) disposed either downstream of, or upstream of, the bellows (41). The trap includes a metal housing (11/12), the mass of which constitutes at least 70% of the mass of the trap. The trap operates, when connected with the valve disposed downstream of the bellows, in a first mode in which, in normal operation, the trap discharges condensate at a temperature close to saturated steam temperature. When connected with the valve disposed upstream of the bellows, the valve operates in a second mode in which in normal operation condensate is discharged at a temperature significantly below steam temperature.

Abstract: A thermostatic steam trap, which operates either as a blast trap or a liquid expansion trap, depending solely on reversal of inlet and outlet function, has a generally cylindrical housing containing an internal cavity. The housing has two parts, the first of which contains a passage leading to a valve seat and the second of which contains a passage leading, via a plurality of bores, to the cavity. Within the cavity is a bellows, filled with a volatile liquid, having a valve on its top which mates with the valve seat and connected at its bottom to the second housing part. The connection is pivotal to permit self-centering of the valve. Either passage can serve as an inlet depending on which operating modality is desired.

Abstract: A thermostatic steam trap having a balanced pressure thermostatic element (2,2A,2B) operated by volatile fluid (15) is disclosed in which an internal void (10) of the element is open to steam/condensate within the trap, and in which the volatile fluid fills a housing (6) outside the element when the trap is fully open thereby to support the element against high pressure within the element. In the trap fully-closed condition the element adopts a nearly nesting condition so that if the element is then subjected to higher pressure externally it adopts a fully nesting condition in which it can withstand great external pressure.

Abstract: A float actuated valve mechanism for automatically removing a predetermined amount of accumulated liquid condensate from a sump area of a gas pressurized drain trap or the like so as to regulate the level of liquid in such a sump area. A four-bar linkage between a float and a valve plug provides a non-linearly varying mechanical advantage throughout the movement of the float. In a closed position the valve plug mates with a rigid seating surface and an elastomeric seating surface to provide a wear-resistant seal.

Abstract: Temperature dependent actuating mechanism comprising a temperature responsive sensor including a variable volume chamber in fluid communication with a chamber in an actuator containing a variable volume member connected with an operating member; the sensor further including temperature responsive means change in volume of which brought about by a rise in temperature increases the interior volume of said variable volume chamber to permit fluid to flow out of said actuator chamber and the volume of said variable volume member to increase with resultant movement of the operating member.