Abstract: A table of sequential call statements is used to organize various program portions of the operating system of an industrial controller. This organizing structure allows troubleshooting of individual program portions of the operating system as are intimately related to the controlled process and the control hardware on an individual basis without the need to generate dummy programs or “stubs” to replace the unexecuted program portions. Those program portions not being executed have their call instructions replaced by NOP instructions. The call table may be edited to provide for different operating modes of the industrial controller without the need for mode test flags otherwise dispersed within the program code of the operating system.

Abstract: A dispenser is programmed to automatically dispense a beverage into a plurality of different size containers by storing therein a volume designation for each size container. The flow rate of beverage through the dispenser is determined. To do so, a user manually operates the dispenser to fill a given container with the beverage while the dispenser measures the filling time. The dispenser calculates a beverage flow rate from the volume designation for the given container and the filling time. Then the flow rate and volume designations are used thereafter by the dispenser to derive a dispensing time for each different size container. Thus the dispenser is able to derive dispensing times for each container size from filling only one of the containers. A unique dispenser valve also is disclosed.

Abstract: A frequency determination system and method for frequency determination. A programmable controller responds to receipt of a sequence of pulses. A number of interrupts of different priority level perform rate or frequency calculation in an efficient manner. Pulses are counted upon receipt but the actual rate calculation is performed by a low priority software routine. By performing only essential counting functions when pulses occur, the programmable controller can perform other tasks in addition to the rate calculations. In the disclosed design, the controller can monitor serial communications in addition to performing the rate calculation task.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting cracks in a flexible rotating coupling is disclosed in which the flexible coupling includes a flexible element having a plurality of flexible discs. An electrically conductive, normally continuous, line is affixed to at least one of the flexible discs and connected to a circuit. The conductive line becomes discontinuous if the disc cracks. The circuit is mounted on the coupling and transmits a signal indicative of the continuous or discontinuous condition of the conductive line and thereby the intact or cracked condition of the flexible disc. The transmitted signal is received by a stationary circuit which provides an output indication of the disc's intact or cracked condition.

Abstract: A motor (M) supplied by AC full-wave voltage is controlled by a triac (Q2) under the control of a double-time constant triggering circuit which has a speed setting branch (R3-C2) connected at the triac (Q2) side of the motor (M) and the other time constant branch (R1-C1) connected at the supply side of the motor (M) to provide a feedback function as well as a first time constant. A unidirectional diode (D1) is incorporated in the feedback sensing time constant branch for rendering feedback signals only on alternate half cycles to prevent oscillation and overcompensation of motor speed due to the feedback signal. A soft-start circuit, usable also in half-wave applications, is incorporated in the branch containing adjustable speed setting resistor and comprises a transistor (Q3) having its collector-emitter circuit connected in series with the adjustable resistor (R3).