Abstract: A switching method for six-step motor drive with an output inverter that provides commutation switching of power to the phase windings of a driven motor includes regulating the current to the output inverter and to the motor by a variable bus. switching six transistors of a three phase H-bridge and six associated freewheeling diodes of the output inverter by a pair of two transistors to commutate power to the phase windings conducting during conduction steps, and at each commutation step one off-going transistor is switched off and one on-going transistor is switched on the switching method further comprising monitoring of the back emf on two legs of the phase windings of the motor for determining commutation timing, and commutating the output inverter through non-simultaneous switching of the off-going transistor with switching of the on-going transistor.

Abstract: An electric machine for converting between electrical and rotary mechanical energy includes a rotor that is journalled to rotate about an axis of rotation, and an adjacent stator that magnetically exerts torque upon the rotor across a magnetic airgap in response to applied electric power to air core stator windings that are bonded in thermal contact to a slotless ferromagnetic stator backiron forming the stator surface facing the magnetic airgap, the rotor has a surface that is opposed to, and spaced apart from, the corresponding surface on the stator, the rotor surface and the stator surface define the airgap therebetween. The rotor has permanent magnets that generate magnetic flux across the magnetic airgap and through the air core stator windings. The air core windings are cooled by a physical loop having an evaporator, a remote located condenser and connected by two fluid flow lines filled with two phase fluid comprising liquid and gas both traveling in the same direction around the physical loop.

Abstract: An electric machine for converting between electrical and rotary mechanical energy includes a rotor journaled to rotate about an axis of rotation, and a stationary stator mounted adjacent to the rotor. The stator has a ferromagnetic backiron with a surface facing the rotor across a magnetic airgap and having windings applied in a winding pattern formed directly onto the stator backiron and adhered to its surface with a pre-applied tacky adhesive. The windings magnetically exert torque upon the rotor across the magnetic armature airgap in response to electric power applied to the windings. The rotor has permanent magnets that generate magnetic flux across the airgap and through the windings. The windings are comprised of pre-bundled multiple individually insulated conductor strands that are electrically connected in parallel but are electrically insulated from each other along their lengths inside said magnetic armature airgap.

Abstract: A process for assembly of a brushless air core motor-generator includes assembling a rotor formed from two spaced apart rotor portions having magnetic poles that drive magnetic flux circumferentially through the rotor portions and back and forth across an armature airgap between the rotor portions. An air core armature is made by coating a nonmagnetic armature form with a tacky adhesive layer, and winding armature windings in a winding pattern onto the form with a winding head, using wire comprised of bundled multiple individually insulated conductor strands that are electrically connected in parallel but are electrically insulated from each other along their lengths where located inside the magnetic flux in the armature airgap.

Abstract: A corrugated pallet folded together from two planar blanks, including a pallet top that supports a load above a floor, and a pallet bottom that rests on the floor. Each pallet top and pallet bottom has multiple double thickness interior support ribs folded vertically from the plane of the pallet top and bottom. Ribs from the pallet top intersect with ribs from the pallet bottom perpendicularly and support the pallet top on the pallet bottom. Multiple mechanical vertical locks hold the pallet top in vertically spaced relation with the pallet bottom with middle straps folded vertically from the pallet top and/or pallet bottom into contact with interior surfaces of the pallet and lock directly into sides of the interior support ribs at positions intermediate the pallet top and bottom. Reinforcement tubes are provided over intersections of double thickness ribs at the corners of the pallet while folded doubled thickness ribs provide compression support near the center.

Abstract: A corrugated pallet folded together from two planar blanks, including a pallet top that supports a load above a floor, and a pallet bottom that rests on the floor. Each pallet top and pallet bottom has multiple double thickness interior support ribs folded vertically from the plane of the pallet top and bottom. Ribs from the pallet top intersect with ribs from the pallet bottom perpendicularly and support the pallet top on the pallet bottom. Multiple mechanical vertical locks hold the pallet top in vertically spaced relation with the pallet bottom with middle straps folded vertically from the pallet top and/or pallet bottom into contact with interior surfaces of the pallet and lock directly into sides of the interior support ribs at positions intermediate the pallet top and bottom. Reinforcement tubes are provided over intersections of double thickness ribs at the corners of the pallet while folded doubled thickness ribs provide compression support near the center.

Abstract: An electronically commutated electric motor includes a rotor, a stator and an electronic drive. The rotor is journaled to rotate about an axis of rotation, the stator is stationary relative to the rotor, and the electronic drive provides synchronous power to the stator and drives the rotor. The rotor has two ferromagnetic radially spaced apart co-rotating rotor portions having a circumferential array of alternating polarity permanent magnet poles that drive magnetic flux back and forth across an armature air gap between said spaced apart rotor portions, and circumferentially through each of said rotor portions. The stator includes an air core armature supported in the armature airgap, and has a non-ferromagnetic structure where located in the magnetic flux in the armature air gap. Three phase windings wound on the armature magnetically exert torque upon the rotor when the windings are electrically energized by the electronic drive.

Abstract: An electric machine for converting between electrical and rotary mechanical energy includes a rotor journaled to rotate about an axis of rotation, and a stationary stator mounted adjacent to the rotor. The stator has a ferromagnetic backiron with a surface facing the rotor across a magnetic airgap and having windings applied in a winding pattern formed directly onto the stator backiron and adhered to its surface with a pre-applied tacky adhesive. The windings magnetically exert torque upon the rotor across the magnetic armature airgap in response to electric power applied to the windings. The rotor has permanent magnets that generate magnetic flux across the airgap and through the windings. The windings are comprised of pre-bundled multiple individually insulated conductor strands that are electrically connected in parallel but are electrically insulated from each other along their lengths inside said magnetic armature airgap.

Abstract: An electronically commutated electric motor includes a rotor, a stator and an electronic drive. The rotor is journaled to rotate about an axis of rotation, the stator is stationary relative to the rotor, and the electronic drive provides synchronous power to the stator and drives the rotor. The rotor has two ferromagnetic radially spaced apart co-rotating rotor portions having a circumferential array of alternating polarity permanent magnet poles that drive magnetic flux back and forth across an armature air gap between said spaced apart rotor portions, and circumferentially through each of said rotor portions. The stator includes an air core armature supported in the armature airgap, and has a non-ferromagnetic structure where located in the magnetic flux in the armature air gap. Three phase windings wound on the armature magnetically exert torque upon the rotor when the windings are electrically energized by the electronic drive.

Abstract: A process for assembly of a brushless air core motor-generator includes assembling a rotor formed from two spaced apart rotor portions having magnetic poles that drive magnetic flux circumferentially through the rotor portions and back and forth across an armature airgap between the rotor portions. An air core armature is made by coating a nonmagnetic armature form with a tacky adhesive layer, and winding armature windings in a winding pattern onto the form with a winding head, using wire comprised of bundled multiple individually insulated conductor strands that are electrically connected in parallel but are electrically insulated from each other along their lengths where located inside the magnetic flux in the armature airgap.

Abstract: A process for assembling a brushless motor-generator includes assembling a rotor formed from two spaced apart rotor portions having magnetic poles that drive magnetic flux circumferentially through the rotor portions and back and forth across an armature airgap formed between the rotor portions. An air core armature is formed by coating a substantially nonmagnetic armature form with a tacky adhesive layer, and winding armature windings into a winding pattern onto the substantially nonmagnetic form using wire made of multiple individually insulated conductor strands that are electrically connected in parallel but are electrically insulated from each other along their length when located inside the armature airgap, wherein the strands of said wire are diametrically held together by an outer serve. The winding of the armature form includes sequentially applying pressure to sections of said wire against the tacky adhesive layer.

Abstract: A corrugated skid includes top and bottom blanks that are folded and assembled together to produce a double thickness deck supported by double thickness ribs that are folded downward from deck portions of each blank. The ribs of the top blank are split into three sections by two fork passages. The three sections penetrate through slots in the deck portion formed by the bottom blank. The double thickness ribs of the top and bottom blanks intersect with notches at a location below the deck. The double thickness ribs of the top and bottom blanks intersect each other near the center of the corrugated skid to form a continuous four-sided rib support rectangle that resists shifting between the top and bottom blanks.

Abstract: A method for assembling a corrugated skid includes selecting first and second planar corrugated blanks and folding the first blank to produce a first double thickness rib that extends out of the plane of the first blank. That blank is placed on a horizontal surface having blades protruding upwards such that the blades penetrate the middle of the double thickness rib and hold it perpendicular to the horizontal surface. The second blank is folded to produce a second double thickness rib that extends out of the plane of the second blank. The second blank is placed on top of the first blank such that the first rib penetrates a slot in the second blank, and the first and second blanks are engaged with one side of each blank facing each other forming a double thickness skid deck with ribs forming depending legs for supporting the skid deck above a supporting surface.

Abstract: A corrugated skid includes top and bottom blanks that are folded and assembled together to produce a double thickness deck supported by double thickness ribs that are folded downward from deck portions of each blank. The ribs of the top blank are split into three sections by two fork passages. The three sections penetrate through slots in the deck portion formed by the bottom blank. The double thickness ribs of the top and bottom blanks intersect with notches at a location below the deck. The double thickness ribs of the top and bottom blanks intersect each other near the center of the corrugated skid to form a continuous four-sided rib support rectangle that resists shifting between the top and bottom blanks.

Abstract: A process for assembling a brushless motor-generator includes assembling a rotor formed from two spaced apart rotor portions having magnetic poles that drive magnetic flux circumferentially through the rotor portions and back and forth across an armature airgap formed between the rotor portions. An air core armature is formed by coating a substantially nonmagnetic armature form with a tacky adhesive layer, and winding armature windings into a winding pattern onto the substantially nonmagnetic form using wire made of multiple individually insulated conductor strands that are electrically connected in parallel but are electrically insulated from each other along their length when located inside the armature airgap, wherein the strands of said wire are diametrically held together by an outer serve. The winding of the armature form includes sequentially applying pressure to sections of said wire against the tacky adhesive layer.

Abstract: A skid for moving and shipping goods in bulk includes top and bottom die-cut blanks of corrugated material that are each folded along score lines to produce two or more double-thickness ribs. Notches cut across the crest of the ribs in the top blank, and slots cut in the bottom blank on both sides of, and part way into the ribs enable the ribs of the top blank to be inserted through the slots in the bottom blank so the top and bottom blanks are brought together face-to-face producing a double thickness deck. The notches and slots of the top and bottom blank ribs are interlocked to lock the ribs in folded, closed position. The ribs protrude from the double-thickness deck of the skid and contact the floor to support the skid deck and its load of goods above the floor for easy access by forked moving equipment.

Abstract: A corrugated paperboard pallet is produced from two flat blanks which comprise a pallet top and a pallet bottom. The two blanks are each folded to produce only two parallel vertically extending double thickness ribs, three horizontal panels, two vertical side walls and two horizontal flaps. The ribs of the pallet top and pallet bottom lock each other from opening in the center of the pallet by intersecting perpendicularly with notches in the ribs. The horizontal flaps lock the ribs from opening at the edges of the pallet by intersecting perpendicularly with notches, and the vertical sidewalls include vertical flaps that open inward defining fork passages whereby the vertical flaps lock said horizontal flaps from opening.

Abstract: A shipping method includes the steps of receiving stacks of flat die cut corrugated paperboard blanks from a corrugator or sheet plant; loading the stacks of blanks into a pallet assembly machine; folding the blanks together in the assembly machine to produce a corrugated paperboard pallet; and providing the pallets for shipping items to a receiver. The assembly machine folds the blanks using intermittent motion of the blanks through multiple folding sections in the assembly machine. The sections operate by positioning, clamping and folding the blanks using levers that are supported by rotary bearings and driven by pinned end mounted pneumatic cylinders. The assembly machine overcomes misalignment and shifting of the stacks of blanks by picking up single blanks from the top of the stacks using vacuum, and adjusting alignment of the blanks after being picked up but prior to being fed into the first folding section of the assembly machine.

Abstract: A skid for moving and shipping goods in bulk includes top and bottom die-cut blanks of corrugated material that are each folded along score lines to produce two or more double-thickness ribs. Notches cut across the crest of the ribs in the top blank, and slots cut in the bottom blank on both sides of, and part way into the ribs enable the ribs of the top blank to be inserted through the slots in the bottom blank so the top and bottom blanks are brought together face-to-face producing a double thickness deck. The notches and slots of the top and bottom blank ribs are interlocked to lock the ribs in folded, closed position. The ribs protrude from the double-thickness deck of the skid and contact the floor to support the skid deck and its load of goods above the floor for easy access by forked moving equipment.

Abstract: A process for assembling a corrugated pallet having of two die cut corrugated paperboard blanks that form a pallet top and a pallet bottom, with each having at least one vertically extending double thickness rib, each rib having at least one notch, wherein said notches lock the opposing ribs from opening when the pallet top and pallet bottom are vertically nested together. In performance of the process a mix of machine and human performed operations is used. The machine forms the rib on each blank by applying in-plane pressure to the blank through protruding elements on the machine that engage the blank and move in relation towards each other, and the machine maintains the in-plane pressure to keep the rib from opening until a time after the pallet top and bottom are nested together. The machine uses rib folding plates that apply out-of-plane forces to the blanks to assist forming of the ribs by rotating in the out-of-plane direction when the in-plane compression is applied.