Abstract: A trolling motor on a bass boat is connected to batteries by closing a relay switch. Arcing at the switch contacts is suppressed by two capacitors, in series, nonpolarized relation, shunted across the relay switch. The relay coil is actuated to close the relay switch when a push button-type spring loaded control switch or a parallel connected toggle type control switch is closed. The two control switches are mounted on a somewhat flat control box for easy shoe clad foot operation. The wires from the control box are of sufficient length that the box may be placed at any convenient location on the boat. The trolling motor batteries may be charged without closing the control box switches.

Abstract: A plurality of spaced drive means are disposed along a conveyance path for running a carriage along the conveyance path by a forward or reverse propelling force created by the drive means. A main power source and an auxiliary power source are provided for switching a power source from the main power source to the auxiliary power source when the former becomes faulty for running and stopping the carriage at a selected one of the drive means for the purposes of preventing the carriage from stopping at an intermediate point between adjacent drive means.

Abstract: A motor operated valve, typically a butterfly valve driven by a synchronous electric motor (16), is provided with a torque sensing arrangement wherein an cyclic electrical signal representative of the rotational speed of the motor is produced by magnets (22) on disc driven by the motor and Hall effect switches (23,24). The frequency of this signal is compared in a circuit (43) with the frequency of current supplied to the motor to provide an indication of motor torque. Switches (46,47) define preset torque limits for the valve. If the limits are exceeded, a signal is fed to control logic (41) which operates switches (18) to control the supply current to the motor. The speed signal from the Hall effect switches is also fed to a counter (31) to develop a count representative of movement of the valve. The output of counter (31) is compared with preset valves defined by switch circuits (37,38) to define limits of travel for the valve.

Abstract: A programmable manipulator is provided in which the manipulator arm is counter-balanced in all of its major axes and these axes are provided with low friction joints so that a relatively small force is needed to move the arm in each of its principal axes. A separate low power driving source is then used to move the arm during the teaching operation, this low power driving source being capable of developing the relatively small force needed to move the arm at low speed during the teaching operation, but being incapable of moving the arm at high speed or exerting a torque on said arm which will be potentially harmful to programming personnel. After the desired path has been taught, the manipulator apparatus is switched over to a playback mode wherein a second relatively high power source is employed to move the arm at relatively high speed during successive playback cycles.

Abstract: An electric damper motor drive with a backup power pack is disclosed comprising a reversible electric motor operable in first and second opposite directions in response to first and second distinct forms of electrical energization, respectively. A primary power source normally supplies electrical power to energize the motor in response to a sensed environmental condition. A backup power pack is responsive to the absence of power from the primary power source to supply the first form of electrical energization to drive the motor in the first direction to a predetermined position.

Abstract: A frequency detector produces a pulse train from an emf generated across a three-phase induction motor in the decelerating mode with its pulse repetition frequency proportional to the speed of the motor. A phase locked loop synchronizes this frequency with that of a variable frequency oscillator for a variable frequency inverter and the synchronization is maintained by the phase locked loop and a ramp generator controlled with the signal from the detector. When the detected frequency equals a command frequency from a reference circuit, the inverter starts to operate the motor. When the start operation has been completed, the phase locked loop is disabled while the ramp generator is connected to the reference circuit to change the frequency of the inverter to the command frequency to complete the restart operation of the motor.

Abstract: An improvement in oscillatory line transfer switches of the type having mechanical drive between a drive motor and the shafts of two such switches plus a manual mechanical switch to supplement the drive motor and having a third shaft mechanically connected into the same drive which controls a neutral position. An oscillatory switch system is used to switch from utility power sources to emergency power sources when the normal line supply is temporarily not available. This condition is sensed, an emergency generator activated, and, when the latter is up to needed voltage, the line transfer switches are thrown. After normal line voltage is restored, the switches oscillate back to normal power sources. A gear train causes at least two switches to turn simultaneously.

Abstract: A multi-battery power supply has a battery adding circuit and a charging circuit for each battery, and a common heat sink bus.

Abstract: First to fourth windings are fitted in the slots of each phase of a three-phase AC motor. Those windings are connected in series to silicon controlled rectifiers (SCRs), respectively. The first and second windings having the SCRs form a first antiparallel circuit and the third and fourth windings having the SCRs form a second antiparallel circuit. Three first antiparallel circuits are connected in a delta connection. Three second antiparallel circuits are connected in a star connection with a neutral input terminal. The output terminal of the first three phase AC power supply is coupled with the input terminal of the delta circuit of the first antiparallel circuits and has a voltage lagged by .pi./2 behind the first power supply voltage. The output terminal of the second power supply of a star connection with the neutral point output terminal is coupled with the input terminal of the star circuit of the second antiparallel circuit.

Abstract: In order to drive an electrically operated vehicle provided with an electric drive motor supplied with energy by a plurality of rechargeable batteries carried by the vehicle, in a manner to achieve high electric power utilization efficiency, the feed voltage for the driving motor is increased in steps by successive connection of a progressively increasing number of batteries in series with the driving motor, a load-dependent steady state of the motor corresponding to each feed voltage and to a constant rate of motor rotation, and the batteries are switched to provide a lower feed voltage when the motor, and thus also the vehicle, has achieved a selected steady state, at which time the driving motor, due to the dynamic inertia of the moving vehicle, acts as a generator which changes the batteries until the voltage generated by the motor acting as a generator drops to the lower feed voltage value, whereby a large portion of the energy used for propelling the vehicle is recovered.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a direct current motor control or energizing circuit comprising a direct current motor, a bank of series connected batteries, which bank includes opposite ends, and a switching arrangement for electrically disconnecting and connecting the bank to the motor for energizing of the motor at selective levels of potential and so that successive energizations involve alternate connection of the motor from the opposite ends of the bank to at least one of the batteries.

Abstract: In a control system of an electric motor for driving an electric motor car of the type wherein the current supplied from a pair of batteries to the motor is controlled by a thyristor chopper, the series and parallel connections of the batteries is switched by switching means including a first thyristor connected between the batteries, a second thyristor for interconnecting the positive terminals of the batteries, and a third thyristor for interconnecting the negative terminals of the batteries. The current flowing through a powering thyristor is commutated by a commutation circuit connected across the powering thyristor and including a capacitor, a reactor and a braking thyristor.

Abstract: For recording instruments fed from a 50 Hz or 60 Hz supply mains it is proposed to use a control unit of substantially entirely digital structure for the transport of the record carrier, for example paper, with the use of a stepping motor. A simple 300 Hz or 600 Hz oscillator which is synchronized with the mains and a frequency divider enable various paper speeds to be set, slow or fast paper transport for adjusting purposes being simply realized by controlling the frequency of the oscillator. Several functions can be remotely controlled.

Abstract: Solar radiant energy and high-intensity light are converted to electrical energy to supply electrical power for propelling vehicles in a safe, economical and efficient manner.The radiant energy can be beamed from outer space by the use of satellites with collecting surfaces which can produce and store electrical power and which can distribute the electrical power to earth stations for redistribution to high-intensity light sources. High-intensity light-receiving cells or panels are fixed to the surface of a vehicle to collect the high-intensity light and to convert the light into useful electric power to operate the vehicle. Energy can be stored in batteries for subsequent use.A vehicle can also be powered by hybrid means including solar cells and gas turbines.

Abstract: A drive system for electrically driven vehicles in which an electric motor is adapted to be driven from a driving battery which is adapted to be switched by means of a switch from partial voltage to full battery voltage; an electronic control system is provided which acts on the switch as well as on the excitation of the motor and is controlled by the motor rotational speed, by a driving pedal and by a brake pedal; the electric motor then drives a hydraulic torque converter which is interposed between the electric motor and the driven wheels.