Abstract: A secondary battery equipped power supply is provided with charging and related circuitry such that when placed in a location, such as in a DC powered electrical transit system, where there are normal, surge and continuous peak demands placed on the primary DC supply, the battery charges during normal operation and discharges to provide additional power on the occasion of a surge or peak demand.

Abstract: The power supply system for a DC powered electrical transit system is adapted to accommodate normal, surge and continuous peak demands by locating battery equipped secondary power supplies at locations which create excess power demands such as at passenger stations, at the beginning of an uphill grade and at midpoints between the primary power supplies. During normal operation, the batteries are charged and during surge or peak demand periods, are discharged to provide additional power to the system.

Abstract: A soldering tip is provided with a protrusion extending from its operative region to permit an opening to extend therethrough. Thermocouple wires are disposed in the opening and mechanically urged into thermal contact with the operative region. One embodiment of the present invention provides a protrusion extending from the central region of the soldering tip which is deformed by compression after thermocouple wires are inserted into an opening extending through the protrusion. An alternative embodiment of the present invention incorporates two protrusions to define a gap therebetween into which the thermocouple wires can be disposed. After disposing the wires in the gap, an annular member is placed around both protrusions and a spring urges the annular member downward to press the thermocouple against the bottom of the gap and in thermal contact with the central region of the soldering tip.

Abstract: A high current carrying connector plug and receptacle are disclosed. The plug comprises a body of electrical insulating material with plurality of shaped passages extending therethrough, electrical conductors having a flat blade contact portion, a stop means and a hollowed cylindrical portion for receiving and securing a current carrying electrical cable. The passages include stop engaging means. A retainer means engages the flat bladed portion preventing axial movement of the conductors in the plug body.The receptacle comprises a body of electrical insulating material having shaped passages therethrough, electrically conductive conductor contact engaging assemblies in each passage at the front face of the body. The contact assemblies comprise movable jaws having a front contact engaging portion and a rear coupler engaging portion and a spring retainer means converging at least one pair of jaws.

Abstract: The resistance of an inductive load is measured by connecting an inductor to the load and applying a pulse of energy to the load and the inductor. The voltage across the inductor is monitored and the load voltage and current are measured when the inductor voltage passes through zero. The ratio of the voltage and current at the instant of zero crossing is equal to the load resistance value. An apparatus for performing this method is disclosed.

Abstract: A diode assembly includes a base plate in which a plurality of diodes are mounted in a circle, uniformly spaced. A heat pipe within the diode circle extends perpendicular to the plate and is surrounded by radiating, heat-dissipating fins extending radially outwardly to support rings. Insulators mounted on these support rings support conductive straps which are connected through fuses to the other sides of the diodes. The assembly provides complete electrical and thermal symmetry for the diodes. Three such assemblies can be mounted on a single, triangular base plate.

Abstract: A light source is arranged with a light sensing device in such a way that the sensing device receives transmitted light for a translucent medium or reflected light for an opaque medium. The reading of the sensor is stored, then the same source and sensing device are moved over a reference medium whose absorptivity varies unidirectionally. A comparator compares the reading of the sensor with the stored reading and indicates when they are equal. The relative position of the reference and sensor indicates the absorptivity of the medium. One embodiment uses multiple devices and filters to determine composite color.

Abstract: An angularly adjustable vehicle mirror with vibration damping. A casing, adapted to be secured in a mirror housing, supports a mirror back member for pivoting by a mechanism within the casing. Two rigid projections from the casing have surfaces extending generally in the direction the back member moves when it pivots relative to the casing. Vibration dampers are carried by the mirror back member remote from the pivot point of the mirror. Each damper extends rearwardly of the mirror into contact with the surface of a projection to inhibit vibration of the mirror. The vibration damping members are rigid in the direction the mirror moves but are flexible or articulated for movement transversely of the direction of mirror movement and are biased against the surfaces in slidable, frictional, engagement.

Abstract: A multiphase to single phase electrical energy converter wherein the frequency is converted from a relatively high frequency, in order of 1,000 hertz, to a relatively low frequency, as for example, normal household frequency of 60 hertz. A three-phase alternator is driven by an internal combustion engine, the output of the alternator being fed to a full-wave bridge circuit and finally to an inverter. The output of the bridge circuit is acted on by a resolver. The resolver is utilized to control the delivery of energy from the alternator to the inverter to provide an average current or power to the inverter which increases and decreases in a unipolar sinusoidal form at a frequency which is twice the desired output frequency. The inverter is utilized to invert every other cycle of the output from the resolver. Thus, the power from the inverter will take the form of an alternating sinusoidal waveform at 60 hertz.

Abstract: A multiphase to single phase electrical energy converter wherein the frequency is converted from a relatively high frequency, in the order of 1,000 hertz, to a relatively low frequency, as for example, normal household frequency of 60 hertz. A three-phase alternator is driven by an internal combustion engine and in one form of the invention the output of the alternator is fed to a controllable, full-wave bridge circuit and finally to an inverter. The controllable bridge circuit is controlled by a resolver, the resolver, alternator rotor and internal combustion engine all operating at the same rotary speed. In the one form the resolver is utilized to control the conduction of a plurality of controlled semiconductor devices interconnected between the output windings of the alternator and the invertor to control the delivery of energy from the alternator to the inverter. In another form the controlled semiconductor devices are replaced by a modified resolver.

Abstract: A mirror assembly for a motor vehicle, in which a mirror backplate is angularly adjustable by an electric motor and drive mechanism. The mirror backplate is pivotably connected to a motor drive casing with a secure yet releasable interconnection that includes a central stud on the backplate, locating structure for the stud on the casing, and a coupling member for releasably securing the stud to the casing. The central stud and two extending screws on the backplate are universally pivotable and integrally formed with the backplate. The screws are driven axially relative to the casing by motor driven rotated nuts within the casing to pivot the backplate and a supported mirror about the central stud.

Abstract: An assembly, specifically a mirror assembly for a motor vehicle, in part angularly adjustable by an electric motor and drive mechanism. A fixed motor drives a worm that is angularly movable through a flexible coupling into selective engagement with one of two nuts to drive adjusting screws that cause a mirror element to pivot about one of two mutually perpendicular axes. The screws and pivot structure for the mirror are integrally formed as part of a mirror supporting plate. The nuts are yieldably coupled to the threads of the adjusting screws to permit slippage between the two when forces exceed the wormed driving force. Operating noise is reduce by a vibration-damping motor mounting and by structure limiting worm engagement with the nuts. Projections are carried by the mirror supporting plate resiliently biased against a fixed support to reduce vibration.

Abstract: An assembly, specifically a mirror assembly for a motor vehicle, in part angularly adjustable by an electric motor and drive mechanism. A fixed motor drives a worm that is angularly movable through a flexible coupling into selective engagement with one of two nuts to drive adjusting screws that cause a mirror element to pivot about one of two mutually perpendicular axes. The screws and pivot structure for the mirror are integrally formed as part of a mirror supporting plate. The nuts are yieldably coupled to the threads of the adjusting screws to permit slippage between the two when forces exceed the wormed driving force. Operating noise is reduce by vibration-damping motor mounting and by structure limiting worm engagement with the nuts. Projections are carried by the mirror supporting plate resiliently biased against a fixed support to reduce vibration.

Abstract: An assembly, specifically a mirror assembly for a motor vehicle, in part angularly adjustable by an electric motor and drive mechanism. A fixed motor drives a worm that is angularly movable through a flexible coupling into selective engagement with one of two nuts to drive adjusting screws that cause a mirror element to pivot about one of two mutually perpendicular axes. The screws and pivot structure for the mirror are integrally formed as part of a mirror supporting plate. The nuts are yieldably coupled to the threads of the adjusting screws to permit slippage between the two when forces exceed the wormed driving force. Operating noise is reduced by a vibration-damping motor mounting and by structure limiting worm engagement with the nuts. Projections are carried by the mirror supporting plate resiliently biased against a fixed support to reduce vibration.