Abstract: A field-installable circuit breaker trip actuator unit includes a flux shifter unit that interfaces with the circuit breaker operating mechanism and is installable without dismantling the circuit breaker components. The flux shifter unit responds to an electronic trip unit to articulate the circuit breaker operating mechanism and separate the circuit breaker contacts upon occurrence of an overcurrent condition. A reset arrangement allows the trip actuator unit to be automatically reset upon completion of the contact separation process.

Abstract: A lever switch assembly for controllably operating an automotive wiper or the like includes a leaf spring having an attachment portion whereby the leaf spring is secured to a switch board in a single fabrication process. A lever 1 is capable of vertical pivotal movement. A leaf spring 10 is operated and contacted with a fixed contact plate 14 as the lever 1 is vertically pivoted. The fixed contact plate 14 is mounted on a switch board 9. The leaf spring 10 has at its one end movable contacts 10b and 10c adapted to contact with the fixed contact plate 14, and at its other end an attachment portion 10d adapted to secure the leaf spring 10 to the switch board 9.

Abstract: An electrical resistance element of the molybdenum silicide type including at least one hot zone and at least two lead-in conductors. The hot zone includes an homogenous silicide material that contains molybdenum and tungsten having the chemical formula Mo.sub.x W.sub.1-x Si.sub.2, where x is between 0.5 and 0.75. From 10% to 40% of the total of the silicide material is replaced with at least one of the compounds molybdenum boride or tungsten boride; those compounds are present in the silicide material in particle form.

Abstract: A power converter having fault tolerant capability for use with a switched relucance machine isolates power converter legs in the event of a failed component coupled to the DC bus of the power converter.

Abstract: The power supply apparatus serves to convert an electric direct voltage, acting as an input voltage, into an output voltage and comprises positive and negative input terminals (1, 3) which are arranged to receive the input voltage.

Abstract: A method of controlling an electromagnetic actuator having at least one electromagnet and an armature that can be moved by generated magnetic forces in a direction counter to the force of a restoring spring associated with the electromagnet, with the armature acting on a control element. The supply of current to the electromagnet in order to initiate the armature movement is effected by a linear regulator that regulates the coil current to a constant value, via a control member, prior to the anticipated impact of the armature on the pole face of the electromagnet. An identifying signal for armature impact is derived from changes in the control variable of the regulator (control current or control voltage) when the armature impacts during the constant-current phase.

Abstract: The invention relates to a current sensor or transducer (10) for measuring the current flowing through an electric conductor (11), comprising a magnetoresistive tape (12) surrounding the conductor and whose ends (13, 14) are to be connected to a device for measuring said current, characterized in that the tape (12) is shaped like a tube with an axis centred on the conductor and in that it is formed with a multilayer, metallic, magnetic structure, whose layers constitute the same number of stacked elementary tubes concentric to said axis.

Abstract: A power supply apparatus which stabilizes the output by feeding it back is provided which suppresses variations of the output for abrupt variations of the input. The power supply apparatus comprises output sensing means for sensing output current and output voltage, first output control means for controlling the output with the increment or decrement of the value obtained from said output sensing means, second output control means for controlling the output from an absolute value of the input voltage, and selection means for selecting either said first output control means or said second output control means.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for varying an electrically variable current limiting reactor (VICLR) ( 16) are provided in cooperation with an electrostatic precipitator automatic voltage control system. The inductance of VICLR (16) is varied by altering the DC current in control winding (66) of VICLR (16). A power source (10) connects serially to an inverse parallel SCR1 and SCR2, to VICLR (16), and to a TR set comprising a transformer (18) and rectifier (20) which supply power to precipitator (22). System electrical characteristics on both sides of the TR set are monitored. Computer (40) uses these monitored values to continuously calculate form factor and fractional conduction values. Step-down transformer (60) is connected to solid state relay (62) which is in turn connected to full wave bridge rectifier (64). Rectifier (64) is connected to control winding (66) of VICLR (16). Solid state relay (62) is also connected to computer (40).

Abstract: An electrode for electric resistance welding comprises a guide hole of a circular cross-section composed of a small-diameter hole and a large-diameter hole, a guide pin composed of a small-diameter portion and a large-diameter portion, the small-diameter portion and larger-diameter portion of the guide pin being fitted into the small-diameter hole and large-diameter hole of the guide hole, respectively, so that when the guide pin is pushed down, compressed air is allowed to jet out of a gap between the small-diameter hole and the small-diameter portion. The large-diameter portion of the guide pin is firmly fitted into the guide hole, with an air passage formed in the outer circumference of the large-diameter portion and the end surface of the large-diameter portion seated on the inner end surface of the large-diameter hole.

Abstract: A spot welding device to secure the inner end of a coil of steel to itself to prevent uncoiling. The welding device is carried on an articulated support arm assembly that allows for positioning the welder within the coil on a gimble axis mount for proper access to the entire inner coil surface. Welding tips are selectively held against the welding surface by an extensible guide and engagement assembly.

Abstract: A magnetostrictive active member configured to withstanding significant bending moments and having a prestress mechanism that is adjustable for maintaining optimal performance of an integral magnetostrictive element. The magnetostrictive active member includes a magnetostrictive actuator and parallel flexures incorporated in a housing to create a load path for bending moments to be carried by the housing, through the parallel flexures, as opposed to being carried by the magnetostrictive actuator. A plurality of ball-joints are integrated with the flexures and magnetostrictive actuator, receiving compressire forces and ensuring that no moments are applied to the magnetostrictive actuator. A prestress or preload mechanism is incorporated which provides a compressire preload to the magnetostrictive actuator internal to the housing. The preload mechanism includes an adjustable nut than is externally accessible to adjust the preload and facilitate optimal performance of the magnetostrictive actuator.

Abstract: A power supply apparatus including at least one coil and a controllable switching element and a peak-limiting circuit for limiting the maximum voltage across the switching element. The peak-limiting circuit includes a capacitor and a series connection of a first rectifier element and a resistor, as well as a second rectifier element which connects one end of the series connection to the positive input terminal of the apparatus. The energy dissipation in the resistor is dependent on the duty cycle of the switching element. The duty cycle in turn is dependent on the load of the power supply apparatus. Consequently, when the load of the power supply apparatus is small, the dissipation of the apparatus will be substantially lower.

Abstract: The electric energy generated by a piezoelectric device (PEG), when mechanically stressed, is transferred from the PEG to a storage element (e.g., a capacitor or a battery) by selectively coupling an inductor in the conduction path between the PEG and the storage element. In one embodiment, the transfer of energy is optimized by allowing the amplitude of the electric signal to reach a peak value before transferring the electrical energy via an inductive network to a capacitor or a battery for storage. Electrically, the PEG is operated without a significant loading (e.g., essentially open circuited) when the amplitude of the voltage generated by the PEG is increasing. When the amplitude of the voltage has peaked, or reached a predetermined value, the electrical energy generated by the PEG is coupled to an inductive-capacitive network for absorbing and storing the energy produced by the PEG.

Abstract: An integrated circuit output driver system includes a first power line channel extending along the integrated circuit. The first power line channel includes a first power supply voltage line and a first ground voltage line. A second power line channel also extends along the integrated circuit and is spaced apart from the first power line channel. The second power line channel includes a second power supply voltage line and a second ground voltage line. A plurality of output drivers are located between the first and second spaced apart power line channels. Each output driver includes an output node, a pull-up circuit which pulls up the output node in response to a pull-up input signal, and a pull-down circuit which pulls down the output node in response to a pull-down input signal.

Abstract: A flow-through DC voltage changer having an electronic switch in the primary-side main circuit and having a further output circuit that absorbs energy in the blocking phase of the flow-through DC voltage changer. An arrangement having two diodes and two capacitors is connected to the secondary winding of the transformer for supplying an electronic circuit with an auxiliary voltage that is higher compared to the output voltage. The flow-through DC voltage changer is especially suitable for supplying ASICs.

Abstract: A switching power source unit has a constitution that the DC-DC portion 5 in which electronic parts are mounted on a metal core substrate and the AC-DC portion 6 in which electronic parts are mounted on a glass epoxy substrate are mounted in the same metallic outer cabinet 1, for example, the metal core substrate is attached on the heat sink 19 and the heat sink 19 is set in contact with the outer cabinet 1 so as to radiate heat from the metal core substrate.

Abstract: A MOSFET, an op-amp, a comparator circuit, and voltage dividers with capacitors are employed in combination to effectuate a soft-start switch with current limiting. The transconductance of the MOSFET is employed so that no sense resistor is required. The MOSFET and op-amp are configured as a closed-loop feedback circuit in which the output of the op-amp is coupled to the gate of the MOSFET and the inverting input of the op-amp is coupled to the output of the soft-start switch via a voltage divider. A first RC circuit provides a voltage to the non-inverting input of the op-amp which can be triggered to gradually me from a value close to zero to some reference voltage so as to soft-start a load. Current limiting means are effectuated by a comparator circuit and voltage dividers with capacitors.

Abstract: An electrical switch is described which comprises a housing, an operating member mounted on the housing for movement from a rest position in at least three directions relative to the housing, and at least three sets of electrical contacts, a respective set of contacts being operable by movement of said operating member away from the rest position in a respective one of said three directions. Each of the sets of contacts comprises a fixed contact and a movable contact, each of the movable contacts being carried by a common resilient annulus.

Abstract: A power conversion array delivers power to a load. The array includes at least four power converters, each of the power converters comprising an output power port for connection to the load and a synchronization port for passing synchronization information. A synchronization medium connected to the synchronization ports of the converters carries the synchronization information among the converters. The synchronization medium defines paths among the synchronization ports such that every synchronization port is connected to every other synchronization port by at least one path that does not include a connection to the synchronization port of any of the other converters. In another aspect, in arrays which include at least three power converters, the synchronizing medium conveys synchronizing information via impedance elements connected to the synchronization ports by coupling conductors, and the path between any pair of coupling conductors includes exactly two impedance elements.