Abstract: A probe is used to detect axial movement of a rotating part such as a shaft. The probe includes a probe tube portion that protrudes into an annular groove on the rotating part. When the rotating part moves axially, one or the other side surfaces of the groove contacts the probe tube. This contact leads to a changed state of the probe, that is sensed by a sensor.

Abstract: A gate drive circuit for a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) connected in an a-c power circuit includes a voltage divider network connected between a d-c voltage source and the SCR for developing a varying voltage on a control node, depending upon whether the anode-to-cathode a-c voltage of the SCR is positive or negative. A first switching transistor, responsive to the control node voltage, controls conduction of a second switching transistor connected between the d-c voltage source and a voltage regulated driver circuit. In this way, a constant drive current is applied to the SCR gate only while the anode-to-cathode voltage of the SCR is positive.

Abstract: A refrigeration system includes a temperature sensor in a freezing compartment, a temperature sensor in a cooling compartment, an adjustable damper controlling the flow of cooled air from the freezing compartment to the cooling compartment and variable speed drives for fan motors and a compressor motor. The desired set point temperatures for the compartment are compared with the actual sensed temperatures through a controller that controls the speed of the compressor and fan motors, to achieve the desired temperature in a fast and efficient manner. When excessive ice is detected on freezing compartment coils, the controller reverses the heat transfer cycle of the refrigerant to defrost the freezing compartment coils.

Abstract: A refrigeration system includes a temperature sensor in a freezing compartment, a temperature sensor in a cooling compartment, an adjustable damper controlling the flow of cooled air from the freezing compartment to the cooling compartment and variable speed drives for fan motors and a compressor motor. The desired set point temperatures for the compartment are compared with the actual sensed temperatures through a controller that controls the speed of the compressor and fan motors, to achieve the desired temperature in a fast and efficient manner. When excessive ice is detected on freezing compartment coils, the controller reverses the heat transfer cycle of the refrigerant to defrost the freezing compartment coils.

Abstract: Semiconductor apparatus for mounting and cooling disc type semiconductor devices. The apparatus includes two disc type semiconductor devices each having a pole face thereof in contact with a first terminal bar, that bar in turn being in contact, through thermally conductive electrical insulation, with a water-cooled plate. The opposite pole face of each disc device is in electrical and thermal contact with a first surface of a respective metallic block. A second surface of each block, opposing the first face, is in electrical conductive contact with a second terminal bar. A compressive mounting force is applied across the first and second terminal bars to appropriately compress the disc devices. Each metallic block is sized to absorb a substantial portion of the disc device junction heat generated during a transient portion of a duty cycle, such as may correspond to the starting of a motor.

Abstract: A power regulation system for an AC motor includes a motor terminal box mounted solid state starter having water-cooled SCRs. The SCRs of the starter are cooled by water circulated through a dedicated SCR heat exchanger. The starter mounted in the motor terminal box includes the SCRs configured as an AC switch and a gating circuit for generating gating signals for application to the SCRs.

Abstract: The power dissipated, in a trigger circuit for gating on a semiconductor switch, is minimized by employing a constant current source to provide the gate trigger current. This assures adequate triggering regardless of supply voltage variations or switch intrinsic control voltage requirements. Power is saved by supplying only the current required to drive the semiconductor switch on, thereby preventing overdrive. With constant d-c gate current, the precise amount of power needed to turn on and close the switch is provided while wasting relatively little energy due to gate intrinsic voltage variations of the switch or to input line voltage variations.

Abstract: The power delivered from a three-phase A-C power source and through a network of SCR's (connected, for example, to form a full wave rectifier bridge or to provide an A-C switch) to a load circuit is adjusted by controlling the conduction angles of the SCR's. The control is achieved by developing, from only one of the three alternating phase voltages provided by the A-C power supply, a reference square wave signal of the same frequency and whose amplitude excursions are precisely synchronized or keyed to the zero voltage crossings of the selected phase voltage, even though that phase voltage may include undesired harmonics, noise, transients or other distortion components.

Abstract: An adjustable surge and capacity control system for matching a capacity control system to an inverter-driven centrifugal compressor based liquid chiller having unknown surge characteristics. The necessary adaptation of the capacity control circuit to a particular chiller is attained by the provision of two potentiometers which are adjustable to develop a functional which avoids surge and operates the system in an efficient manner at all feasible operating point loads and heads. The use of a circuit employing a pair of potentiometers permits the formation of the appropriate functional with two degrees of shaping flexibility.

Abstract: An evaporator inlet water temperature control system for controlling the inlet water temperature of an evaporator utilized in an inverter driven centrifugal chiller. The system creates the proper chilled water set point at the evaporator outlet needed to maintain the inlet water at its set point for greater efficiency of operation. Control is accomplished by generating an electrical error signal which is a function of an inlet water set point voltage and the actual inlet water temperature. A logic signal is produced as a function of the error signal detected by the circuit and establishes a dead zone band representing a range in which the error signal is acceptable. Output of the control system is passed to the capacity control circuit of an inverter driven centrifugal compressor chiller.

Abstract: The control system disclosed herein regulates a centrifugal compressor which has inlet guide vanes adjustable to vary the compressor capacity. A variable speed motor is connected to drive the compressor, and variation of this motor speed provides another input for regulating the compressor capacity. A control system achieves optimum energy efficiency, while avoiding surge, by the manner in which the motor speed and the inlet guide vane positions are regulated. To do this, a control signal must be derived to indicate the compressor head value. This signal is achieved by providing two signals, one related to the absolute condenser pressure, and the second related to the absolute evaporator pressure. The control system operates on these two signals to provide a third signal which is a function of a ratio, in which the numerator is the difference between the condenser and evaporator pressures, and the denominator is the evaporator pressure. Alternative measurement and processing techniques are described.

Abstract: An adjustable surge and capacity control system for matching a capacity control system to an inverter-driven centrifugal compressor based liquid chiller having unknown surge characteristics. The necessary adaptation of the capacity control circuit to a particular chiller is attained by the provision of two potentiometers which are adjustable to develop a function which avoids surge and operates the system in an efficient manner at all feasible operating point loads and heads. The use of a circuit employing a pair of potentiometers permits the formation of the appropriate function with two degrees of shaping flexibility.

Abstract: The logic control system of the invention regulates the frequency of operation of an inverter which drives an electric motor, and also regulates the level of the d-c bus voltage supplied to the inverter. This is accomplished by sensing the level of the bus voltage and the level of the current supplied to the motor, and comparing the sensed values to a reference or set point signal. The motor drives a compressor, and a capacity control system cooperates with the logic control system in the regulation of the compressor. The capacity control system provides signals, such as start/stop and inverter set point, to the logic control system to assist in regulating operation of the inverter which drives the compressor. In particular the logic control system includes a reference conductor on which a basic reference control signal is developed for use in controlling both the amplitude and the frequency of the a-c energy supplied by the inverter to the motor.

Abstract: The load currents, supplied by a three-phase AC power source to a three-phase load, are established and maintained at a preset desired level by sensing those currents and producing a feedback voltage which is compared with a reference potential. Anytime the load currents differ from the desired level the comparison produces a difference or error signal which causes an adjustment of the amplitudes of the three load currents such that they automatically return to the desired level, thereby regulating the current flow to the load. At start-up, the feedback arrangement is also effective in preventing instant current build-up to avoid sudden power surges. When the load is a three-phase motor, limiting the current flow facilitates a soft start with the motor gradually accelerating to full operating speed. Two overload protection circuits shut the system down in response to different overload or overcurrent conditions.

Abstract: The phase sequence of a three-phase AC power supply is detected and information representing that sequence is stored in a memory device, such as a flip-flop. Since the power supply, once it is energized, may require a few seconds to stabilize (such as may be the case when the power source is a diesel generator), the information fed to the memory device is likely to change during the stabilizing period. At the end of that period, however, the stored information represents the true phase sequence of the AC power supply, and at that time the information is read out and used to actuate switching apparatus to interconnect the three-phase AC power supply to the three terminals of a phase-sensitive load (such as a three-phase AC motor) in the manner necessary to provide the load with a desired phase rotation sequence.