Abstract: A transportation system including a group of elevator cars under the control of a group supervisory dispatcher function, and people mover apparatus arranged to serve the group of elevator cars. The group supervisory dispatcher function includes call assigning control which has different selectable strategies for serving different types of elevator service requirements, including at least one travel direction oriented strategy for expediting elevator service in a predetermined travel direction. The people mover apparatus provides signals responsive to loading and travel direction for use by the dispatcher function, enabling proper strategies to be selected without waiting for actual elevator traffic to trigger such selections.

Abstract: A stop control circuit for a DC motor causes the motor to stop precisely by purely electrical action. A DC motor is provided with a bidirectional driving circuit, a servo circuit for controlling the driving circuit, and a rotation detector associated with the motor shaft to provide a phase signal that depends, in magnitude and polarity, on the particular rotational angle of the shaft, regardless whether the motor is turning. A stop control circuit then includes an amplifier whose output varies according to the phase signal, and a switch that normally provides the servo signal to the driving circuit, but, upon command, switches over to provide thereto the output of the amplifier as a brake signal. Alternatively the rotation detector can include two sensor elements separated by .pi./2, and the stop control circuit can include an inverting amplifier, a non-inverting amplifier coupled to one of the sensor elements, and a switch circuit with inputs coupled respectively to these amplifiers.

Abstract: A control unit for automatically controlling the angular position of a reversible, motorized device, such as an antenna rotor, in response to a signal from an external sensor, such as a potentiometer coupled to the rotating shaft of a windvane. The unit includes integrated circuits and other electronic components for monitoring the windvane signal and for activating the rotor, as necessary, to maintain its alignment with the sensed wind direction. The unit also comprises means for providing: a no-response zone of adjustable width about the momentary, average wind direction; an adjustable, time delayed response to changes in wind direction; an automatic reversal of rotation if the rotor approaches the .+-.180.degree. position while searching for the wind direction; an automatic disabling of the rotor for windspeeds less than a selectable, threshold value.

Abstract: A linear actuator for providing a thrust force for actuating various movable members, such as, for example lever arms, cranks, slides and valve flaps. The thrust force is applied by an extension rod that is arranged within a housing so as to extend in an axial direction along the housing and out from the housing. The extension rod has a load connector mounted on the end outside of the housing for connection to the movable member to which the thrust force is to be applied. A drive screw is attached to the extension rod so that rotation of the drive screw is translated into an axial displacement of the extension rod. A drive motor serves to rotate the drive screw. Either when a blockage of the movable member occurs or when the extension rod has reached the end of its path of travel, any attempt for continued movement of the extension rod significantly increases the thrust force applied to the rod.

Abstract: An automatic door closer providing for use as a light duty door opener and having a slip clutch for protecting the electric gear drive power unit from damage due to overspeeding on excess loads applied by overriding manual door operation. Zener diodes across the power supply to the electric drive motor effectively throw a heavy electrical load on the motor and cause the clutch to slip if the motor is sufficiently oversped and caused to act as a higher voltage bucking generator, as by manually forcing the door substantially faster in the direction in which it is being driven. A direct current motor is used at considerably lower than its rated voltage so that electrical power may be safely applied continuously for holding the door closed with the motor stalled, and without the clutch slipping, with the clutch set to slip only when the force applied thereto is significantly higher than the force required to stall the motor yet safe for the drive unit.

Abstract: A braking system for transportation apparatus, such as an escalator, having an electrical drive. The braking effort applied when the transportation apparatus is to be stopped is inversely proportional to the electrical energy being consumed by the electrical drive at the time the stopping decision is made.

Abstract: Disclosed is a brake timing control method and apparatus for use with a press machine including a press slide driven through a crank shaft by a variable speed motor to stop the moving press slide at its top dead center regardless of the speed of rotation of the crank shaft. The motor speed is detected and converted into a voltage proportional to the motor speed which is then integrated as a first voltage. A second voltage is provided in accordance with a line or curve representing as a function of motor speed the approximation of the slip angle through which the crank shaft will continue to rotate after braking is initiated. The first and second voltages are additively combined and compared with a reference voltage to provide a stop signal for initiating braking on the press machine when the sum of the first and second voltages reaches the reference voltage.

Abstract: A circuit breaker motor operator control circuit utilizes the voltage developed across a dynamic braking resistor during breaking of a permanent magnet DC motor to prevent re-energization of the motor until it has been braked to a virtual stop. The control circuit also includes a timing network operating to prevent continued pumping of the breaker operating mechanism by the motor operator should the operating mechanism for some reason fail to become charged within a prescribed time period.

Abstract: A guidance system for positioning a welding apparatus with respect to a seam or joint to be welded by sensing changes in the surface of the seam. The torch of the apparatus is mounted upon and positioned by a motor-driven cross-slide providing both horizontal and vertical movement.A probe is adapted to follow the reference surfaces. Two variable resistors within the probe detect horizontal and vertical deviations of these surfaces. A voltage on each variable resistor is used to generate pulses which are applied to a SCR network through which power is supplied to the corresponding slide positioning motor. The voltage supplied to the motor corresponds in magnitude and polarity to the deviation in the direction of the path being followed by the probe and welding apparatus.The invention also includes a circuit for disabling the motors when the respective cross-slides reach the limits of their travel.

Abstract: An a-c series motor with a switching device for changing from motor to braking operation has a series circuit consisting of a capacitor and a charging diode associated therewith, in which, in order to avoid an additional resistor for limiting the charging current for the capacitor, the capacitor and the charging diode are connected in such a manner that the armature winding is shunted by the series circuit consisting of the capacitor and the charging diode, a switch contact being arranged between the center of this series circuit and the external terminal of the field winding, so that in motor operation, a series circuit consisting of the capacitor, the charging diode and the field winding is connected between the terminals of the a-c series motor and in braking operation, the armature winding in series with the field winding is shunted by the capacitor.

Abstract: A variable delay windshield wiper control system is provided in conjunction with a conventional windshield wiper system of an automobile to control the operation wiper drive source and wiper drive mechanism at predetermined variable intervals. The variable delay wiper control system operates independently of the conventional wiper switch and is effective to provide an adjustable delay interval between successive windshield wiper sweeps or reciprocative paths as is desirable during light rain or precipitation conditions.The wiper control system includes a timing circuit which generates variable duration intervals and directly effects operation of the drive source at the end of each of the intervals, and a delay control adjusted by the operator. A control switch is also provided for disabling the variable delay wiper control system and for effecting operation of the timing circuit.

Abstract: An interlock circuit is provided for tape and film machines which, when the high speed forward or reverse motors are in operation, prevents the main power from being turned off even though the operator might actuate the power switch. Instead of the power going off when the main power switch is operated during high speed operation, the machine continues to operate until the operator takes his hand off the fast forward or reverse drive switch, and then the brake is energized to stop the motion of the film or tape. When the brake cycle is complete, the power is then automatically turned off.

Abstract: In a control circuit for an electrically driven vehicle, there is an accelerator pedal which when depressed sets the armature current of a traction motor, and a brake pedal which when depressed provides electrical braking of the vehicle. The electrical braking is inhibited unless the vehicle speed is above a predetermined value.