Abstract: In an example, a system for determining a power factor of an electric device powered by an alternating current (AC) power is described. The system includes a current sensor configured to: (i) remotely sense, at a position external to the electric device, a magnetic field formed by the AC power in the electric device, and (ii) determine, based on the sensed magnetic field, a current of the AC power. The system also includes a voltage sensor configured to, at a position external to the electric device, remotely measure a voltage of the AC power. The system further includes a computing device communicatively coupled to the current sensor and the voltage sensor, the computing device being configured to: (i) determine a phase delay between the current and the voltage, and (ii) determine, based on the phase delay, a power factor of the electric device.

Abstract: An example electric motor including a conductive winding, a switching device, a rotor, and a controller is disclosed. The switching device is configured to selectively energize, by an AC source, a first portion of the conductive winding in a first state and a second portion of the conductive winding in a second state. The conductive winding generates a magnetic field having a first strength in the first state and a second strength in the second state. The rotor magnetically interacts with the magnetic field such that a torque is applied to the rotor. The amount of torque applied is related to the strength of the magnetic field. The controller is configured to: (i) determine a metric indicative of a load condition of the electric motor; and (ii) based on the determined metric, cause the switching device to switch between the first state and the second state one or more times.

Abstract: An electric motor including a first conductive winding, a second conductive winding, a rotor, and a controller is disclosed. When energized by an AC source, the first conductive winding generates a first magnetic field. The second conductive winding, which is configured to be selectively energized by the AC source via one or more switches, is arranged so as to generate a second magnetic field superimposed with the first magnetic field when so energized. The rotor magnetically interacts with the first magnetic field, or the superimposed first magnetic field and second magnetic field, such that a torque is applied on the rotor. The controller is configured to: (i) obtain a measurement of a voltage of the AC source; (ii) make a determination, based on the measurement, whether to energize the second conductive winding; and (iii) energize the second conductive winding in accordance with the determination.

Abstract: An example electric motor including a conductive winding, a switching device, a rotor, and a controller is disclosed. The switching device is configured to selectively energize, by an AC source, a first portion of the conductive winding in a first state and a second portion of the conductive winding in a second state. The conductive winding generates a magnetic field having a first strength in the first state and a second strength in the second state. The rotor magnetically interacts with the magnetic field such that a torque is applied to the rotor. The amount of torque applied is related to the strength of the magnetic field. The controller is configured to: (i) determine a metric indicative of a load condition of the electric motor; and (ii) based on the determined metric, cause the switching device to switch between the first state and the second state one or more times.

Abstract: An electric motor including a first conductive winding, a second conductive winding, a rotor, and a controller is disclosed. When energized by an AC source, the first conductive winding generates a first magnetic field. The second conductive winding, which is configured to be selectively energized by the AC source via one or more switches, is arranged so as to generate a second magnetic field superimposed with the first magnetic field when so energized. The rotor magnetically interacts with the first magnetic field, or the superimposed first magnetic field and second magnetic field, such that a torque is applied on the rotor. The controller is configured to: (i) obtain a measurement of a voltage of the AC source; (ii) make a determination, based on the measurement, whether to energize the second conductive winding; and (iii) energize the second conductive winding in accordance with the determination.

Abstract: A system and method for regulating the root mean square (RMS) voltage delivered to a load by an alternating current (AC) electrical circuit having a line voltage. To avoid radio frequency interference (RFI), the load is disconnected from the AC electrical circuit when energy stored in the load is at or near zero and is reconnected when the line voltage is at or near zero. Inductive loads are disconnected when the line current is at or near zero while capacitive loads are disconnected when the line voltage is at or near zero. The duration of the disconnection does not exceed one half-cycle of the fundamental frequency. Disconnections alternate between removing positive voltage half-cycles and negative voltage half-cycles to avoid a direct current (DC) bias. A system incorporating digital logic elements is provided for implementing the method and for detecting whether the load is inductive or capacitive.

Abstract: A system and method for regulating the root mean square (RMS) voltage delivered to a load by an alternating current (AC) electrical circuit having a line voltage. To avoid radio frequency interference (RFI), the load is disconnected from the AC electrical circuit when energy stored in the load is at or near zero and is reconnected when the line voltage is at or near zero. Inductive loads are disconnected when the line current is at or near zero while capacitive loads are disconnected when the line voltage is at or near zero. The duration of the disconnection does not exceed one half-cycle of the fundamental frequency. Disconnections alternate between removing positive voltage half-cycles and negative voltage half-cycles to avoid a direct current (DC) bias. A system incorporating digital logic elements is provided for implementing the method and for detecting whether the load is inductive or capacitive.

Abstract: When the hardware needs to perform a disruptive hardware action, such as a stop of one or more central processors, the hardware provides advance notification to all affected operating systems. The advance notification includes the time that the proposed disruptive action is intended to be initiated and its projected duration. In one instance, the hardware does not proceed with the disruptive action until it receives return acknowledgment from the operating systems that the disruptive action can be performed. The operating systems may respond back to the hardware to proceed as planned with the disruptive action or to reinitiate it only after a specified delay. This allows the operating systems time to prepare for any consequences of the disruptive action.

Abstract: A dynamic capability exchange mechanism permits two processing entities to notify each other of initial properties, or processing capabilities, as well as subsequent changes to those properties or capabilities. Before requesting a service, or function, of the other entity, one entity consults a mutual characteristic field (constructed from the current properties, or characteristics) to determine if the service, or function, is jointly available. A transport layer, acting as the communication mechanism between the two entities, provides for bidirectional communications between entities including a Control Program and a Service Call Logical Processor. The transport layer provides multiplexing, priority, failure, pacing, and buffer spanning support.

Abstract: A program executing on a first processor in an MP configuration awaiting the release of a resource held by another processor, detects the expiration of a fixed time interval, and initiates a hierarchy of recovery actions designed to cause the resource to be freed. These actions, targeted at a processor believed to be the one currently holding the resource, are taken only if that processor is not executing an "exempt" routine. The actions, taken in order of increasing severity, are: wait for a second fixed time interval; terminate the routine on the resource-holding processor, allowing retry; terminate the routine without allowing retry; invoke Alternate CP Recovery. The hierarchy is escalated against the target processor until that processor releases the resource, and against other processors in the configuration until the resource is acquired by the first processor. These actions may proceed in parallel for multiple detecting and target processors within an MP environment.

Abstract: Modular fire fighting apparatus includes a power module having a turbine driven by fluid, such as water, introduced at a supply inlet to a housing for the module, a drive shaft driven by the turbine and extending from a coupling face of the housing and a fluid outlet disposed at the coupling face of the housing, and various penetrating and extinguishing tool modules each having a housing within which are disposed a fluid receiving inlet and a driven member. The penetrating and extinguishing tool modules are each adapted to be mounted on the power module such that the driven member is releasably engaged with the drive shaft and fluid supplied to the power module housing is delivered to the penetrating and extinguishing tool module housing via the fluid outlet of the power module housing and the fluid receiving inlet of the penetrating and extinguishing tool module housing.