Abstract: A vibration type driving apparatus capable of inhibiting wear in an elastic member and a contact member is provided. The vibration type driving apparatus is a vibration type driving apparatus relatively driving an elastic member given vibrations by an electric-mechanical energy conversion element and a contact member contacting the elastic member, wherein at least one of the elastic member and the contact member is formed by aluminum oxide ceramics containing 5 wt % to 40 wt % of zirconium oxide.

Abstract: Plurality of discs shaped permanent magnet polefaces are disposed on a armature shaft, plurality of discs shape armatures are also disposed on said armature shaft. Each armature is situated between two polefaces with endframes supporting each end of said shaft, elongated support strut are fixedly attached between both endframes and also secured each poleface. The shaft and its armatures rotate on bearing in each endframe.

Abstract: A piezoelectric vibrator has a vibrator piece and a frame integral with the vibrator piece. The frame is connected to one end of and surrounds the vibrator piece. A lid has a surface anodically bonded to a first surface of the frame. The lid has a recessed portion at a position disposed opposite to and confronting the vibrator piece. A base has a surface anodically bonded to a second surface of the frame opposite the first surface thereof. The base has a recessed portion at a position disposed opposite to and confronting the vibrator piece. A beveled portion is formed around a surface of one of the lid and the base which does not correspond to the anodically bonded surface thereof.

Abstract: When drive control of a generator is performed, PWM control of a switching circuit comprising an FET and a diode connected to the opposite ends of a winding is performed. In the vicinity of a moment in time Lmax where the winding has a maximum inductance L, an alternating mode for repeating a supply mode and a reflux mode alternately is performed through PWM control. After the alternating mode is performed, the reflux mode is performed temporarily in order to increase the quantity of current, and then a regenerative mode is performed. The regenerative mode is performed by increasing the current level as much as possible when the reflux mode is started while suppressing the brake force of the rotor in the alternating mode. From a position advancing in angle by a time Tah from the moment in time Lmax where the winding has a maximum inductance L, a first alternating mode C1 for repeating the supply mode P and the reflux mode Q alternately is performed.

Abstract: A damper for a stator assembly, the stator assembly comprising a stator segment and a seal mounted to the stator segment. The damper locates between the stator segment and the seal, and comprises: a medial section; and opposed arms extending from the medial section. The medial section engages one of the stator segment and the seal and the opposed arms engage the other of the stator segment and the seal. A method of making the damper, comprising the steps of: providing a sheet of material having a medial section and opposed arms extending from the medial section; forming a bend at the medial section so that the medial section can engage one of the stator segment and the seal; and forming a bend at each of the arms so that the arms can engage the other of the stator segment and the seal.

Abstract: There is disclosed a system for use in transport vehicles, comprising in combination an auxiliary power unit (APU) for a transport vehicle powered by a diesel engine and having a fuel system, an engine exhaust system and a battery powered electrical system; and a locator unit for use in a tracking and monitoring system for communicating over a communication network with the locator unit and with a remote location the APU, wherein the locator unit is attached to or installed within the APU.

Abstract: An electric generation control apparatus for a vehicle alternator receives an electric generation control signal transferred from an ECU placed apart from the control apparatus through a data transfer line. The control apparatus has a voltage comparator, a communication state judgment circuit, a serial data communication receiver, a PWM communication receiver, and an electric generation control circuit. The voltage comparator acts as a receiver of receiving the electric generation control signal transferred through the data transfer line. The communication state judgment circuit judges whether the received signal is a PWM signal or a serial data signal. The serial data communication receiver and the PWM communication receiver demodulate an electric generation control parameter from the received control signal based on the judgment result. The electric generation control circuit controls the operation of the vehicle alternator based on the electric generation control parameter demodulated.

Abstract: A generator system includes a generator control for providing electrical power to a main generator. The main generator is mechanically coupled to an electrical power source that provides electrical power to the generator control during operation of the main generator. An arc fault device in electrical communication with the electrical power source electrically isolates the power source from the generator control when an arc fault within the generator control is detected.

Abstract: A magnet assembly includes a back iron and an array of magnets. The back iron is in the form of a plate having opposed surfaces. The magnets are arranged along one of the surfaces, with the other surface being dimensioned and configured according to the magnetic field distribution associated with the magnets. The back iron geometry provides for reduced mass, reduced leakage flux, and high flux densities to improve performance of a linear motor that employs such a magnet assembly. Additionally, the back iron can be a magnetically conductive annular ring, such as is employed in a rotary motor. Moreover, the magnets can be arranged in a manner that generates a Halbach array to increase force output in a desired direction while canceling stray magnetic fields in other directions. Similar reduced-mass designs can be employed in conjunction with a back iron of a fixed cross-section and magnets of variable thicknesses, variable lengths, and/or variable widths.

Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle generator includes a switch, a regulator, a fault condition detector, and a PWM signal generator. The switch is selectively turned on and off so as to intermittently excite the generator. The regulator controls on/off operation of the switch so as to bring an output of the generator into agreement with a target value. The fault condition detector detects a fault condition of the generator. The PWM signal generator generates and outputs a PWM signal that has a duty determined as a function of a duty of the on/off operation of the switch and a frequency determined based on if the fault condition of the generator is detected by the fault condition detector. Consequently, the control apparatus can inform an external control apparatus of the duty of the on/off operation of the switch and the fault condition of the generator with the single PWM signal.

Abstract: An electric alternator having a rotor, stator and at least one winding in the stator adapted to conduct a current, the machine also having and first and second magnetic circuits around different portions of the winding which may be configured relative to one another to control generated output voltage of the winding.

Abstract: The supraconductor device contains a rotor, which can rotate about a rotational axis, with a supraconductive coil in a heat conducting coil support. The coil support comprises a central cylindrical cavity. A cooling head, which is located outside of the rotor, of a cooling unit is connected in a heat conductive manner to a heat transfer body, which projects into the cavity of the coil support while remaining stationary. An annular gap located between the coil support and the heat transfer body is filled with a heat conducting contact gas.

Abstract: Permanent magnets are mounted on a rotor of an electrical motor by an apparatus that keeps an adhesive bonding layer between the magnet and rotor in compression over wide variations in temperature and speed of rotation. The mechanical stresses on the magnets are controlled using compliant layers and spacers. The apparatus allows the removal and replacement of individual magnets.

Abstract: A sensorless method of detecting piston collisions in a reciprocating free piston linear compressor driven by an electronically commutated linear motor having at least one excitation winding is provided. A free piston gas compressor is also provided.

Abstract: A curved sensor device, such as an ultrasonic transducer array, is fabricated from a flat micromachined sensor (such as cMUT or pMUT) array constructed using micromachined electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) techniques. The device comprises: a support structure comprising a spine having a profile that is generally curved and a multiplicity of teeth extending from one side of the curved spine; and a multiplicity of sensors built on the support structure. The spine can be bent forward or backward and attached to a curved front face of a support member, thereby causing the sensors to adopt a curved array.

Abstract: A compacted magnetic powder metal component stator for use in an electrical machine is provided. Each stator is comprised of a plurality of stator core assemblies. Each stator core assembly forms an arcuate section of the stator core itself. Each stator core assembly is comprised of an inner shoe component, with winding guides supporting a winding, and at least one back piece and two end caps fitted to the winding on the outer radial edge of the stator assembly.

Abstract: An electric generation control apparatus for a vehicle alternator receives an electric generation control signal transferred from an ECU placed apart from the control apparatus through a data transfer line. The control apparatus has a voltage comparator, a communication state judgment circuit, a serial data communication receiver, a PWM communication receiver, and an electric generation control circuit. The voltage comparator acts as a receiver of receiving the electric generation control signal transferred through the data transfer line. The communication state judgment circuit judges whether the received signal is a PWM signal or a serial data signal. The serial data communication receiver and the PWM communication receiver demodulate an electric generation control parameter from the received control signal based on the judgment result. The electric generation control circuit controls the operation of the vehicle alternator based on the electric generation control parameter demodulated.

Abstract: Wind power installation for generating electrical energy with at least two components which respectively have sensors and actuators and comprise a control unit, each of the control units being connected to a data network and exchanging with the control units of the other components, signals for the operating conditions of the components, detected sensor values and/or control signals for the other components.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for estimating engine power output for an engine in a hybrid electric vehicle powertrain that includes an electric motor and an electric generator. Selected powertrain variables, including electric motor torque and electric generator torque, are used in determining desired vehicle traction wheel torque and an estimated engine power. A calibrated delay in calculating estimated engine power following a time sampling of the values for motor torque and generator torque avoid inertial effects.

Abstract: An electrical energy generator device comprising an array of micro-fans each associated to a respective dynamo-electric generator by means of a respective connecting shaft, further comprises, for at least some of the micro-fans (3), a lug element (6) associated to the respective connecting shaft (4) which mechanically co-operates at each revolution with a piezoelectric element (7), for the production of additional electrical energy. In addition or instead of the aforesaid arrangement, it is possible to provide plates (10) made of piezoelectric material which vibrate in the flow of air that invests them, thereby producing electrical energy.