Abstract: An actuator including a motor, clutch, gear train, solenoid, clock spring, and air brake is provided. The motor is configured to drive a control valve. The clutch is operably coupled to the motor and configured to prevent the motor from transferring more than a predetermined amount of torque. The gear train is operably coupled to the clutch and configured to receive the predetermined amount of torque from the motor. The solenoid is operably coupled to the gear train and configured to disengage one of the gears in the gear train from adjacent gears. The clock spring is operably coupled to another of the gears in the gear train, configured to store mechanical energy supplied by the motor, and configured to drive the control valve. The air brake is operably coupled to the gear train and configured to dissipate a portion of the mechanical energy released by the clock spring.

Abstract: A ball valve having reduced torque requirements for rotation is presented. Torque reduction is realized by providing a shaped sealing back member to provide a back force behind essentially the entire sealing surface of the downstream seal. Torque reduction is also realized by providing a dynamic sealing configuration that varies the sealing force over the valve's operating pressure conditions. An initial bias sealing force is applied by a spring member which also provides a low uniform as-assembled valve torque. As fluid pressure increases, the sealing pressure also increases as an o-ring is forced along a ramped surface of the seal. As inlet pressure decreases, the o-ring is allowed to back down the ramped surface to reduce the sealing force against the valve member. This sealing configuration allows for reverse flow or improper installation of the ball valve, and bottoms out to maintain a sealing force at higher back pressure conditions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for operatively connecting a controller to an external circuit, by connecting the external circuit to a circuit card mounted for slidable movement into operative engagement with a connection element disposed on a side surface of the controller. The circuit card is slidably supported in a receiver adapted for positioning the controller with respect to the circuit card.

Abstract: An actuator including a motor, clutch, gear train, solenoid, clock spring, and air brake is provided. The motor is configured to drive a control valve. The clutch is operably coupled to the motor and configured to prevent the motor from transferring more than a predetermined amount of torque. The gear train is operably coupled to the clutch and configured to receive the predetermined amount of torque from the motor. The solenoid is operably coupled to the gear train and configured to disengage one of the gears in the gear train from adjacent gears. The clock spring is operably coupled to another of the gears in the gear train, configured to store mechanical energy supplied by the motor, and configured to drive the control valve. The air brake is operably coupled to the gear train and configured to dissipate a portion of the mechanical energy released by the clock spring.

Abstract: A ball valve having reduced torque requirements for rotation is presented. Torque reduction is realized by providing a shaped sealing back member to provide a back force behind essentially the entire sealing surface of the downstream seal. Torque reduction is also realized by providing a dynamic sealing configuration that varies the sealing force over the valve's operating pressure conditions. An initial bias sealing force is applied by a spring member which also provides a low uniform as-assembled valve torque. As fluid pressure increases, the sealing pressure also increases as an o-ring is forced along a ramped surface of the seal. As inlet pressure decreases, the o-ring is allowed to back down the ramped surface to reduce the sealing force against the valve member. This sealing configuration allows for reverse flow or improper installation of the ball valve, and bottoms out to maintain a sealing force at higher back pressure conditions.

Abstract: A thermal isolator assembly that provides rigid construction, linearly and rotationally, is presented. The thermal isolator assembly includes a collar and a sleeve that are thermally isolated one from another but held in rigid mechanical relation. When constructed for actuated valves, the collar forms an actuator arm coupling member while the sleeve forms a valve stem coupling member. A pair of thermal isolators provide thermal isolation between these members. A polyphenylene sulfide compound, and preferably a fiberglass reinforced polyphenylene sulfide compound is used because of its high mechanical strength and low thermal conductivity for these thermal isolators.

Abstract: A thermal isolator assembly that provides rigid construction, linearly and rotationally, is presented. The thermal isolator assembly includes a collar and a sleeve that are thermally isolated one from another but held in rigid mechanical relation. When constructed for actuated valves, the collar forms an actuator arm coupling member while the sleeve forms a valve stem coupling member. A pair of thermal isolators provide thermal isolation between these members. A polyphenylene sulfide compound, and preferably a fiberglass reinforced polyphenylene sulfide compound is used because of its high mechanical strength and low thermal conductivity for these thermal isolators.

Abstract: A quick-calibrate control module for use in a heating and cooling system is provided which responds to setpoint signals from a control potentiometer to drive a remote actuator to corresponding positions. The control module comprises a motor coupled to the actuator and a feedback potentiometer coupled to the motor for producing a feedback signal relating to the actuator position. Operational amplifiers combine the setpoint signal and the feedback signal to produce an error signal, and a comparator responds to the error signal and drives the motor to minimize the error signal. A reference supply is connected to the control potentiometer, the reference supply having a zero setting potentiometer which calibrates the closed position of the actuator to a corresponding zero setting of the control potentiometer. A stroke adjustment potentiometer scales the feedback signal to calibrate a desired open position of the actuator with a corresponding setting of the control potentiometer.

Abstract: The piston of a reciprocating hydraulic actuator carries a pump which is driven by an electric motor and which supplies oil from the low pressure chamber of a cylinder to the high pressure chamber thereof in order to advance the piston. An exhaust valve in the piston is normally held in a closed position by magnetic force created by energizing a coil and, when closed, enables pressurization of the high pressure chamber of the cylinder. When a second coil is energized, the magnetic field of the first coil is negated and the valve is opened by a spring to permit oil to exhaust from the high pressure chamber to the low pressure chamber and permit a second spring to retract the piston. If both the pump motor and the second coil are de-energized, the first coil keeps the valve closed and causes the piston to remain in a commanded position.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus by which a transducer is employed to create a digital signal representing numerically the value of a changeable physical parameter. The signal from the transducer is subject to large and unpredictable amounts of offset due to either or both (i) manufacturing tolerance departures from the desired target of creating a zero output signal value when the sensed parameter is zero and (ii) changes in offset due to changes in one or more physical conditions (other than the sensed parameter) to which the transducer and its associated electrical components are subjected. A bistate device is associated with the transducer and controlled so as (a) to first apply substitutionally to the transducer a known, and preferably zero, value of the parameter--with the output signal value being stored so as to represent the then-existing offset, and then (b) to apply the changeable physical parameter to the transducer.

Abstract: A lockout control system locks out the lag load upon occurrence of a predetermined condition in a dual load system set up in a lead-lag configuration. The lockout control system utilizes a lead-lag memory circuit for insuring that only the lag load is locked out when the lockout condition exists irrespective of which load is lead and which load is lag.

Abstract: Fanfold paper is progressively withdrawn from the bottom of a container, fed past a printing mechanism, transported upwardly and deposited in fanfold configuration at the top of the container.

Abstract: A thermal printhead has heating elements arranged for multiplexing so as to limit the number of leads required to selectively energize the heating elements. Current diverting resistors are utilized to act as a shunt path to divert current from certain of the heating elements to prevent unwanted shadows from being produced on the thermal sensitive paper.