Abstract: A train car with mirror image electrical couplings having mirror image halves at each end for connecting train lines in each car to corresponding train lines in adjacent cars, regardless of the end-to-end orientation of the car, has selected pairs of train lines connected to corresponding pairs of switches for each end of the car for switching the halves of each selected pair of train lines between one or the other halves of the mirror image electrical couplings, depending on the orientation of the car.

Abstract: A computer that can be electrically coupled to an adapter with wireless inductive connectors. The adapter has a first primary inductive connector that provides power and a second secondary inductive connector that receives digital signals. The computer has a first secondary inductive connector that can receive power and a second primary inductive connector that provides digital signals. The connectors are located within the adapter and computer, so that when the computer is placed adjacent to the adapter, the inductive connectors became electrically coupled.

Abstract: A sub-cycle digital distance relay which uses only the first N/2 samples after a fault to calculate the distance to the fault using a Full Cycle Fourier Algorithm which operates on N samples, where N is the number of samples taken in a cycle of the power signal. The DC offset in the first N/2 samples taken after detection of the fault is cancelled using the N/2+1 sample taken after detection of the fault. The resulting DC adjusted N/2 samples are then multiplied by -1 in order to take advantage of the symmetry of the sine wave of the power signal in estimating the remaining N/2 samples of the first cycle of the power signal after detection of the fault. By so calculating N/2 artificial samples from the first N/2 actual samples taken after the fault, the digital distance relay of the invention can estimate the distance to the fault and thus provide a reliable trip signal in less than one cycle of the power signal.

Abstract: A steering column mounted stalk switch apparatus includes an elongated shaft having a hub fixedly mounted at one end. The hub fixedly engages one end of a hollow knob housing. An aperture is formed in the opposite end of the housing and movably receives a button therein having at least one electrical contact mounted thereon. A carrier is slidably mounted in the housing for movement between a plurality of discrete positions and includes a projection extending externally through a side wall of the housing. Electrical contacts are mounted on the carrier and engage conductive tracings on the circuit board as the carrier is moved between the discrete positions.

Abstract: A transportable, remotely actuated racking device is provided for use in connection the insertion and removal of very high voltage industrial circuit breakers. The device includes a motor activated rod assembly which is moved between first and second positions for grasping of the circuit breaker during insertion and removal from the circuit breaker housing. The racking device is remotely operated from a point of safety relative to the circuit breaker whereby direct exposure to possible fire and explosions which might occur during racking is greatly reduced.

Abstract: A personal-care apparatus comprises a load (LD) and a switch (SW), which load (LD) and which switch (SW) are coupled in series between a first (1) and a second (2) supply terminal for receiving an alternating voltage, the personal-care apparatus further comprising a rectifying circuit (RC) for converting the alternating voltage into a direct voltage, and a safety circuit (SC), which is coupled between a third (3) and a fourth (4) supply terminal for receiving the direct voltage and which comprises a capacitive sensor (CS) for the detection of the presence of a part of a human body in the proximity of the personal-care apparatus, the safety circuit being adapted to control the switch (SW) in response to said detection.

Abstract: A power control unit protection apparatus is provided in association with a power control unit for controlling high or low power supply selectively to a loud speaker. The power control unit protection apparatus has an average current detector for detecting an average current supplied to a transformer, a temperature detector detecting the temperature of the transformer, and a timer. When the average current exceeds a predetermined level, and when the temperature rises above a predetermined temperature, timer starts to count a predetermined time. After the count, a cut off signal is produced to cut off the use of the high power supply from the power control unit. Thus, the power control unit protection apparatus prevents breakdown due to overheating of the power control unit including the power supply transformer by limiting the power supplied to the speaker.

Abstract: In a double-break type circuit breaker having resistor contacts which are to be connected in parallel with main contacts in not only closing operation but also breaking operation, the resistor contacts are opened by a force due to loading of elastic members in the breaking operation and the elastic members are loaded for storing the driving force In the closing operation.

Abstract: An integrated control circuit forms a driver stage of an output transistor of a switch mode power supply. During a start-up interval of a run mode operation, the control circuit does not consume supply current and does not produce a switching control signal for switching the transistor. During an initialization interval that follows the start-up interval, a reference voltage source that is included in the control circuit is turned on and internal conditions in the control circuit are defined. The switching control signal is generated following the initialization interval.

Abstract: An auto-recloser circuit-breaker has three vacuum interrupters driven from a single bistable magnetic actuator which is powered by a first lithium sulphur dioxide battery under control of an electronic protection relay which is powered by a second lithium sulphur dioxide battery. The drive mechanism, actuator and relay are designed to minimize current consumed by the batteries so that the recloser may be self-powered for its full life by these batteries independent of the power line in which it is connected.

Abstract: A co-controller provides communication between a standard voltage regulator controller and an LTC transformer, to enable the standard controller to be used in the operation of the LTC transformer. The co-controller generally consists of an interface circuit and a control circuit. The interface circuit receives status signals pertaining to the operation of an LTC transformer, as well as control signals from a voltage regulator controller, and buffers these signals for presentation to the control circuit. The control circuit is microprocessor based, and modifies the input signals from the interface circuit to provide the appropriate control signals required for the operation of the LTC transformer. The control circuit also implements a number of functions not available through a standard controller, such as current balance paralleling, overvoltage protection and correction for faults.

Abstract: A spark gap arrangement capable of handling lightning includes a first spark gap with a relatively high-resistance insulating layer having a relatively short spark-over path, and at least one second spark gap which, compared to the first spark gap, has a relatively low-resistance insulating layer with a relatively long spark-over path, the second spark gap being electrically connected in series to the first spark gap.

Abstract: The invention discloses a vacuum contactor assembly for controlling current flow in a single or multi-phase electrical circuit wherein each phase of the electrical circuit is controlled by a single vacuum interrupter. The stem pressure or pressure exerted on the electrical contacts of each vacuum interrupter during and after closing may be individually adjusted to an optimum operating pressure. The individual interrupter stem pressure adjustment is accomplished by placing a spring and an adjustment nut on the stem screw between the operating arm and the interrupter stem. By adjusting the free length of the spring with the adjusting nut, the interrupter stem pressure may be controlled.

Abstract: An electrostatic discharge device painlessly discharges electrostatic energy from a computer operator and/or an optical element such as a filter mounted on a cathode ray tube (CRT) computer monitor. The electrostatic discharge device preferably is mounted on the frame of the optical filter, and includes an electrostatic discharge pad circuit which includes a discharge pad comprising a substrate coated with a conductive material and connected to ground. A person such as a computer operator who contacts the coated substrate is discharged of any electrostatic charge through the coated substrate, to ground. A display to indicate the discharge can be connected between the discharge pad and ground and in parallel with a resistor to control the rate of discharge through the display. The device also includes an electrostatic field drain circuit for discharging electrostatic energy emanating from the face of a CRT monitor.

Abstract: A solenoid valve control system controlling a solenoid valve which changes a solenoid valve state between an opened state and a closed state by applying pulsed electric power thereto. The solenoid valve control system includes an ammeter for detecting a current value applied to the solenoid and a control device for controlling electric power supplied to the solenoid. The control device has a duty control section which controls an ON-OFF ratio of pulsed electric power repeatingly applied to the solenoid and a correcting section which corrects an output from the duty control section according to the current value detected by the ammeter. Therefore, the line pressure is kept at a precise target value.

Abstract: A device runs a precheck of an inductive load for an overload prior to swhing on to supply mains. For this purpose, following switching-on for a load precheck, initially a phase limited voltage signal is applied to the load, whereby the voltage signal duration gradually increases. With the start of each application of voltage, the active current is measured in a narrow time window. If it does not exceed a predetermined active current limit at an application of a specific effective voltage, the load is switched to the mains. Otherwise, the switch-on process is cut off. This switching-on process avoids a high taxing of the mains in the event of a short circuit or an overload. The active current window begins with the application of voltage to the load. At a different time than this time window, a further measurement window is provided for the reactive current, whereby this measurement window begins with the zero crossing of the alternating voltage.

Abstract: A fault current limiter for use in alternating current transmission utilizes a (high temperature) superconductor body. If the current density through the body exceeds a critical value, the superconductor becomes a resistor; the fault current limiter makes use of this principle. In order to enable the critical current density to be selected from within a range of different values, the superconductor is immersed in a volume of cryogenic liquid, e.g. liquid nitrogen, in a vessel provided with a closure having an outlet communicating with a duct in which is disposed a manually adjustable back pressure regulator. The back pressure regulator enables the pressure in the ullage space of the vessel to be set at a chosen value, usually below atmospheric pressure. The liquid nitrogen is stored in the vessel at its boiling point which depends on the pressure in the ullage space. Accordingly, the temperature of the liquid nitrogen can be set by the regulator.

Abstract: A gas insulated circuit breaker includes a closed tank filled with an insulation gas, one pair of separable contacts disposed in the closed tank, a supporting frame supporting the closed tank, an opening spring for performing an opening operation of the pair of contacts, a closing spring for performing a closing operation of the pair of contacts, and an actuating mechanism box accommodating an opening coil which is adapted to receive a circuit opening command for the contacts, a closing coil which is adapted to receive a circuit closing command for the contacts and an actuating mechanism for rendering the opening spring and the closing spring operative in response to an activation of the opening coil and the closing coil. A first spring casing accommodates the opening spring and is secured on the closed tank, and a second spring casing accommodates the closing spring and is secured on the supporting frame.

Abstract: A current mirror is composed of N-MOS transistors N1, N2, a diode-connected P-MOS transistor P1 is connected to an output side of the current mirror, and a source of a P-MOS transistor P2 controlled according to the gate potential of the P-MOS transistor P1 is connected to a power source V.sub.CC via a polysilicon resistor R. The drain of the P-MOS transistor P2 is connected to the drain of the N-MOS transistor N2. A current-mirror-connected N-MOS transistor N3 is provided at the current mirror of the N-MOS transistors N1, N2. The output of the N-MOS transistor N3 is inputted to another current mirror composed, on the power source V.sub.CC side, of two P-MOS transistors P3, P4, a constant current is outputted from the drain of one of the two P-MOS transistors P3, P4 and received by a load circuit which is the series-parallel connection of diode-connected P-MOS transistors P5-P8, and the voltage generated at the load circuit is outputted as a reference voltage output V.sub.REF.

Abstract: A switched outlet having a dead front includes a housing, an electrical receptacle mounted in the housing for receiving an electrical plug, a switch mounted in the housing, a handle coupled to the housing and movable between on and off positions, and a switch actuating mechanism. The switch actuating mechanism is coupled to the switch for activating and deactivating the switch. A clutch engages or disengages the handle and the switch activating mechanism. The clutch engages the handle and the switch actuating mechanism when an electrical plug is fully inserted in the electrical receptacle. The clutch disengages the handle from the switch actuating mechanism when no electrical plug is fully received in the electrical receptacle.