Abstract: A powered valve actuator assembly converts a manually operated valve without removal of the valve handle for automated valve operation in response to detection of a preselected condition. The design incorporates a motor, motor control circuit, drive shaft, valve handle engaging member and anti-rotation member. The motor is supported by its drive shaft, which is mounted on the valve handle via an adaptor. The motor, when operated, applies rotational torque to the drive shaft, and is secured from counter rotation about the drive shaft by the anti-rotation member, which extends between the motor and a fixed reference point with respect to the valve body such as the conduit or an extension thereof. The control circuit may incorporate a monitoring sub-circuit and power regulator, which operates at reduced power levels depending on the sensed state of the sensor or sensors.

Abstract: A powered valve actuator assembly converts a manually operated valve without removal of the valve handle for automated valve operation in response to detection of a preselected condition. The design incorporates a motor, motor control circuit, drive shaft, valve handle engaging member and anti-rotation member. The motor is supported by its drive shaft, which is mounted on the valve handle via an adaptor. The motor, when operated, applies rotational torque to the drive shaft, and is secured from counter rotation about the drive shaft by the anti-rotation member, which extends between the motor and a fixed reference point with respect to the valve body such as the conduit or an extension thereof. The control circuit may incorporate a monitoring sub-circuit and power regulator, which operates at reduced power levels depending on the sensed state of the sensor or sensors.

Abstract: A transformer in which a magnetic medium provides flux paths within the medium, two or more windings enclose the flux paths at separated locations along the paths, and an electrically conductive medium, arranged in the vicinity of the magnetic medium and the windings, defines a boundary within which flux emanation from the magnetic medium and the windings is confined and suppressed. In a transformer constructed in accordance with the present invention, both controlled values of leakage inductance and the benefits of separated windings can be achieved. The conductive medium can be configured to reduce the leakage inductance of a controlled-leakage inductance transformer (e.g. for use in a zero-current switching power converter), having separately located windings, by at least 25%, and can be configured to reduce the leakage inductance of a low-leakage inductance transformer (e.g. for use in a PWM power converter), having separately located windings, by at least 75%.

Abstract: A transformer in which a magnetic medium provides flux paths within the medium, two or more windings enclose the flux paths at separated locations along the paths, and an electrically conductive medium, arranged in the vicinity of the magnetic medium and the windings, defines a boundary within which flux emanation from the magnetic medium and the windings is confined and suppressed. In a transformer constructed in accordance with the present invention, both controlled values of leakage inductance and the benefits of separated windings can be achieved. The conductive medium can be configured to reduce the leakage inductance of a controlled-leakage inductance transformer (e.g. for use in a zero-current switching power converter), having separately located windings, by at least 25%, and can be configured to reduce the leakage inductance of a low-leakage inductance transformer (e.g. for use in a PWM power converter), having separately located windings, by at least 75%.

Abstract: A transformer in which a magnetic medium provides flux paths within the medium, two or more windings enclose the flux paths at separated locations along the paths, and an electrically conductive medium, arranged in the vicinity of the magnetic medium and the windings, defines a boundary within which flux emanation from the magnetic medium and the windings is confined and suppressed. In a transformer constructed in accordance with the present invention, both controlled values of leakage inductance and the benefits of separated windings can be achieved. The conductive medium can be configured to reduce the leakage inductance of a controlled-leakage inductance transformer (e.g. for use in a zero-current switching power converter), having separately located windings, by at least 25%, and can be configured to reduce the leakage inductance of a low-leakage inductance transformer (e.g. for use in a PWM power converter), having separately located windings, by at least 75%.

Abstract: A transformer in which a magnetic medium provides flux paths within the medium, two or more windings enclose the flux paths at separated locations along the paths, and an electrically conductive medium, arranged in the vicinity of the magnetic medium and the windings, defines a boundary within which flux emanation from the magnetic medium and the windings is confined and suppressed. In a transformer constructed in accordance with the present invention, both controlled values of leakage inductance and the benefits of separated windings can be achieved. The conductive medium can be configured to reduce the leakage inductance of a controlled-leakage inductance transformer (e.g. for use in a zero-current switching power converter), having separately located windings, by at least 25%, and can be configured to reduce the leakage inductance of a low-leakage inductance transformer (e.g. for use in a PWM power converter), having separately located windings, by at least 75%.

Abstract: A generally helical cut is made in a tubular conductive piece to form a winding, the winding having spaces between successive turns. The winding is axially compressed to reduce the spaces. One or more of the windings may be combined with one or more pieces of permeable or non-permeable material to form electromagnetic structures (for example, inductors or transformers) which have very high fill factors. A succession of such devices, each having possibly different numbers of turns on their windings, may be easily manufactured on a "lot-of-one" basis in an automated manufacturing environment.

Abstract: Boost switching power conversion involves an apparatus for controlling transfer of power from an input voltage source to an output voltage sink. The apparatus includes a switch for controllably permitting or inhibiting delivery of current from the source to the output sink when the switch is off or on, respectively. Circuit elements of the apparatus define a characteristic time scale for time variation of the flow of current in the switch after the switch is turned on, and a switch controller is provided for turning the switch on and off at times when the current in the switch is zero. The rate at which the switch is turned on is controlled to regulate the ratio of the voltage across the output voltage sink to the average value of voltage across the input source such that the ratio is greater than or equal to one.

Abstract: An improved forward converter switching at zero-current incorporates a mechanism for selectively regulating the amount of forward energy which is delivered to a load during each converter operating cycle. Energy is transferred from a voltage source toward a load in discrete packets via a small effective inductance (specifically the small effective leakage inductance of a transformer) and a capacitor, the combination of which define a characteristic time scale for the rise and fall of current such that a switching device connected in series with the voltage source can be cycled on and off at zero-current. The capacitor is connected to the load via a second inductor.

Abstract: A voltage-compliant power converter module which converts power from an input source for delivery to a load, the load being external to the voltage-compliant converter module and including an external filter capacitance of value Ce for providing ripple filtering of the load voltage delivered to the load, the load being connected to the voltage-compliant converter module via load interconnections external to the voltage-compliant power converter module, the load interconnections being characterized by a total parasitic load inductance of value L1. The converter module includes input terminations for connection to the input source and output terminations for connection to the load interconnections. Switching power conversion circuitry is connected to receive input power via the input terminations from the input source, the power conversion circuitry including one or more switching devices, the switching devices delivering a pulsating voltage waveform at switching frequencies within a nominal operating range.

Abstract: By providing an input/output module which incorporates post means formed thereon and slider means connected thereto and movable into and out of locking engagement with the post means of an adjacent module, a unique input/output module is achieved that is rapidly mounted to an adjacent module as well as rapidly disconnected therefrom. Preferably, each input/output module incorporates mating connector means positioned on opposite surfaces thereof, whereby each input/output module electronically directly connects to an adjacent module for communication with a central processor.

Abstract: By providing a retaining surface, upon which a solid state device is positioned, and a device securing means movable into and out of compression engagement with a portion of the solid state device, for securely mounting and retaining the device in sandwiched interengagement between the securing means and the retaining surface, a unique solid state device mounting assembly is achieved which eliminates fastening means extending through the solid state device for secure mounting thereof. In addition, the assembly incorporates heat dissipating means cooperatingly associated with the retaining surface for absorbing and dissipating heat generated by the solid state device. In the preferred embodiment, an elongated unitary one-piece bracket member is employed for securely mounting a plurality of solid state devices in the single bracket member, with the bracket member being mountable to a heat dissipating surface.

Abstract: By providing an input/output housing which incorporates paired slider assemblies for supportingly maintaining a printed circuit board in secure electronic engagement between a central processor and external devices, with said printed circuit board being quickly and easily removable from the electronically engaged position, an input/output system for a programmable controller is achieved which is capable of being quickly and easily expanded as well as capable of rapid field assembly and field disassembly for removal or replacement of any required parts. In addition, the external equipment wiring is made to a terminal block which is mounted between the paired slider assemblies and pivotally engaged therein to provide readily accessible contact points for initial interconnection thereto, while also being pivotally movable and slidingly advanceable into the housing for continuous maintenance therein in a secure, hidden, easily accessible storage zone.

Abstract: By providing a plurality of input/output housings which are removably connected to a controller interconnecting duct, with each input/output housing accommodating a plurality of input/output modules that are quickly and easily removably connected thereto, an input/output assembly for a programmable controller is achieved capable of rapid field assembly and field dis-assembly for removal or replacement of any necessary parts. In the preferred embodiment, all connectors in the programmable controller assembly are solderless connections, thereby allowing complete removal and replacement of connectors in the field without soldering. Furthermore, the input/output modules are lightweight and easily handled for quick insertion or removal from the plugged-in housing connections.