Abstract: Valve systems include a valve and a valve actuator assembly for operating the valve. The valve actuator assembly includes a controller that uses stored information and signals from a sensor to open and close the valve. The controller can manipulate, analyze, evaluate, store, and communicate information related to the history of the valve, performance of the valve, valve settings, and the like. The controller can send information to a replacement controller or a replacement valve actuator assembly. Various types of wired and wireless connections can establish communication between the controller and the replacement controller or replacement valve actuator assembly.

Abstract: A vehicle for use in transporting heavy equipment having a hydraulic system including a hydraulic pump, which vehicle has a hydraulic motor arranged to drive a pair of railroad track wheels. The vehicle also has an arrangement such that the hydraulic motor of the vehicle can be releasably interconnected with the hydraulic system of the heavy equipment to drive the former from the latter. A ramp can be reversibly lowered to an inclined position to facilitate loading and unloading of the heavy equipment onto the vehicle. The railroad track wheels are each electrically insulated from their corresponding axles.

Abstract: A luggage cart dispensing machine having a vertically oriented rotatable conveyor assembly which defines a path for the movement of the luggage carts, a series of pivotally attached vanes extending from the conveyor assembly, the vanes forming an interlocking engagement with the luggage carts to lift and hold the luggage carts in consecutive alignment, and a vertically oriented stationary bar which cooperates with the conveyor assembly to prevent the lateral release of the luggage carts. The dispensing machine also utilizes a drive mechanism engaged with the conveyor assembly which may be actuated by a coin-operated control or a switch, and is operable in a reversible manner.

Abstract: A valve operator utilizes a disconnectable worm gear arrangement to drive a valve spindle. An hand crank may be used to disengage the power-driven worm gear arrangement and to manually drive the valve spindle, if necessary, by pivoting a bracket holding the end of the worm shaft. The worm gear is self-locking so that reaction forces from the valve cannot move the worm gear. A torque-sensing lever, responsive to axial movement of a highly torqued drive shaft, pivots against the force of a biasing spring to operate a microswitch to cut off electrical power to the drive motor for the valve operator should the torque exceed a predetermined amount. Additional protection against torque overload is provided by an adjustable mechanical clutch which operates in the event of control element failure or misadjustments. One or more microswitches, adjustable in position, are engaged by a traveler which moves along a lead screw driven by a gear arrangement coupled to the valve spindle to control operation of the actuator.

Abstract: A system for controlling the spacing between a plurality of saw blades. Precise control is insured by cascading an electrical feedback system in series with a mechanical feedback system.The electrical feedback system includes a position register for recording the actual location of each saw blade, a command register for recording the desired position of each saw blade, a comparator for generating an error signal corresponding to the difference between the actual and desired saw positions, and a stepper motor responsive to the error signal. The stepper motor drives a control shaft having a shaft encoder secured thereto which feeds pulses back to increment or decrement the position register, thereby synchronizing the contents of the position register to the actual position of the stepper motor.