Abstract: A rotary solenoid having at least one AC coil and at least one DC coil where the AC coil and the DC coil are concurrently energized by an AC electrical source and a DC electrical source, respectively for enhanced actuation torque and low noise with decreased temperature rise and package size.

Abstract: An method and apparatus for damping the impact and noise of the anchor plate against the pole surfaces of the electromagnets in a electromagnetically-actuated, spring biased adjusting device for gas exchange valves wherein the actuator assembly is provided with a perimeter casing member which forms an air tight enclosed gap area between the pole surfaces of the electromagnets. The anchor plate is provided with a sealing member along its perimeter edge such that a fluid cushion is formed as the anchor plate approaches a pole surface of either electromagnet. The inner wall surface of the perimeter casing is provided with overflow openings about its middle region to permit communication of fluid from the chambers in the gap on either side of the anchor plate during its mid-point of travel to reduce resistance to anchor plate movement over a majority of its operating range.

Abstract: An improved solenoid wherein the end of the armature within the first coils has a predetermined length of rigid non-magnetizable material secured to it, and a second, electrically energizable coil being energizable in a manner opposite to that of the first coil, being secured to the other end of the length of non-magnetizable material so as to move therewith from a position adjacent the first coil when the arm is in extended position to one space therefrom when the arm is in retracted position. This coil provides magnetic repulsion between the two coils to produce good starting power for the armature when the first coil is energized, as a result of repulsive magnetic forces created between the two coils.

Abstract: A solenoid-actuated control cable comprising a solenoid having one moving core and one set of a first coil and a second coil disposed along the direction of movement of the moving core, wherein to energize one coil makes the moving core attracted in one direction while to energize the other coil makes the moving attracted in the opposite direction and at least one inner cable connected to one end of the moving core and at least one inner cable or a rod connected to the other end of the moving core.

Abstract: A two-axis force motor (10) has an armature (12) mounted within a body (11) for omni-directional pivotal movement relative to the body. The motor has an electrical section for causing the armature to pivot selectively in either or both of two mutually-perpendicular intersecting planes (x-x,y-y). The motor also has a fluidic section, which includes a plurality of valve members (64) spaced about the armature. These valve members are biased to engage the armature and are closed when the armature is in a null position. When the armature is pivoted off-null, some of the valve members will be opened, while others will remain closed.

Abstract: An electromagnetic linearly indexing actuator in which a shaft is mounted for linear motion in the direction of its axis. A pair of electromagnetic stator assemblies are carried in fixed position coaxially spaced from each other in the direction of the shaft axis. Each stator assembly has an associated armature which is slidably carried by the shaft, and a spring for urging each armature away from its associated stator. A latch is pivotally mounted at one end to each armature eccentrically of the shaft axis and has a central aperture which embraces the shaft. The stator assemblies are sequentially and alternately energized, so that the latches alternately grip and move the shaft during motion of the associated armatures. The shaft is returned to its initial position by a return spring, or by an opposing pair of armature and stator assemblies.

Abstract: An electromagnetic directional control valve for changing over flow paths of fluid comprises a plunger disposed in a case and being capable of moving from a neutral position in one axial direction by a first solenoid and in the other axial direction by a second solenoid to participate in the changeover of the flow paths. First and second stoppers bearing against the plunger are moved together with the plunger respectively in one axial direction and the other axial direction. First and second springs bias the first and second stopper respectively in the direction of abutting against the plunger. The plunger is stopped at the first neutral position held by the first and second springs, at a second position to which the plunger is moved in one axial direction by the first solenoid against the first spring and a third position to which the plunger is moved in the other axial direction by the second solenoid against the second spring.

Abstract: The invention relates to a print hammer bank of electromagnetic print hammer actuators in modular design of the type which includes a plurality of actuators each of which comprises a stator formed in two halves, each half including an electromagnet and a plurality of pole pieces, and means for positioning the stator halves relative to each other so that the ends of the pole pieces of the two halves are spaced apart in pairs so as to form a plurality of aligned operating gaps. The armature elements are designed so that the volume of each armature element is of the order of the volume of the associated operating gap.

Abstract: A modified electronic trip unit actuator provides remote trip and undervoltage release function without impairing the actuator reliability. One embodiment replaces the permanent magnet of a flux shift trip unit actuator with an undervoltage release coil for undervoltage facility and a further embodiment uses the combination of a permanent magnet with a shunt trip coil for remote tripping function.

Abstract: A transducer converts the amount of mechanical displacement of a member into an electrical signal by magnetic induction. Two fixed coils different in winding direction from each other are spaced apart from each other by a suitable distance and connected in series. Inside the fixed coils, a movable coil is disposed which moves in cooperative association with the member whose amount of movement is to be detected. With the movable coil supplied with an a.c. current, the fixed coils produce an induction current whose amplitude varies with the relative position of the movable coil. A signal processing circuit generates a pulse having a duty ratio corresponding to the amplitude of the induction current. This pulse is converted into a d.c. current in a smoothing circuit to obtain a d.c. voltage corresponding to the amount of mechanical displacement.

Abstract: A needle-carrying head for a printing machine has needles which are short and rectilinear, the distance separating them being greater than the distance which must separate the printed points produced in the printing operation. Hence, the needles do not have to be bent to enable electro-magnets which drive them to act thereon. The needle-carrying head is mounted in the printing machine in such a way that the plane of the needles is inclined with respect to the writing direction, which compensates for the effect of the distance separating the needles and permits, by appropriate choice of the said inclination, an overlapping of the printed points.

Abstract: A method of increasing immunity to externally generated transients and reducing the magnitude of internally generated transients in a relay uses a flat or pancake holding coil mounted axially from the operating (pickup) coil. Both operating and holding coils may be individually provided with conductive shields juxtaposed to the flat surface of each such coil and partially covering their respective peripheries.

Abstract: A switch device for controlling an electric motor which is used, for example, in a power window or sunroof of an automobile. The switch device includes a magnetically attractive piece, an electromagnet, sets of electrical switch contacts, and a spring coil of an alloy which, when heated to a predetermined temperature after being compressed, is restored to a released position.

Abstract: A two-stage solenoid valve uses a pair of stacked coaxial armatures separated by a predetermined gap which is maintained by a first spring therebetween. A coaxial connecting rod extends between a first armature and the second armature and is attached to the first armature. A head on the unattached end of the rod bears against a bottom surface of a recess in the second armature to limit the expansion of the first spring. A second spring is arranged to contact the head of the rod and to extend therefrom to a fixed plug in the end of a cylindrical housing surrounding the first and second armatures. The first armature is provided with a fluid sealing surface on a first end for sealing an adjacent fluid port in the valve in response to the spring force exerted by the second spring. A first and a second solenoid coil assembly are coaxially stacked to surround the cylindrical sleeve housing adjacent to respective ones of the first and second armatures.

Abstract: A motor controlling switch device in which, when the motor is stopped in locking manner, an operating member for operating the switch and for applying current to the motor is returned from an operating position to an original position. The magnetic force of a voltage coil holding the operating member at the operating position is cancelled out by a magnetic force of a current coil which is induced therein by the locking current of the motor.

Abstract: A solenoid having one or more windings, a plurality of alternate windings of which are connected in electromagnetic field bucking relationship. An alternative construction utilizes layers of bifilar windings. A first winding of each bifilar winding pair in a first layer is adapted to procduce a field to buck the field of a second winding in the same bifilar winding pair.

Abstract: An electrical circuit, controlled by an electromagnetic relay, comprising an electromagnetic relay having relay contacts for controlling current flow to a load in use, and a relay winding which, when energized, causes closure of said relay contacts. First manually operable switch means is provided for energizing said relay winding, and a feed connection is provided from said relay contacts to said relay winding whereby said winding is energized while said contacts are closed. A second manually operable switch means for short circuiting said relay winding is provided to permit said relay contacts to open. An overload protection winding is physically associated with the relay winding and connected in series with the contacts, said overload protection winding being such that when the current flowing therethrough exceeds a predetermined value the electromagnetic effect generated opposes the electromagnetic effect of the relay winding to a sufficient extent to permit said relay contacts to open.

Abstract: An electromagnet comprising an excitation coil wound as a solenoid and hag at least two windings which can be selectively supplied; a core fixedly mounted with respect to the coil, a movable core which can move axially with respect to the said coil, and an electric switch which can be actuated by the said movable core selectively to supply the two windings of the coil. The most important characteristic of the electromagnet is the fact that the switch includes a plurality of contact elements mounted fixedly with respect to the coil and the fixed core, and a plurality of movable contact elements carried by a small piston which can move axially with respect to the coil under the action of the said movable core.

Abstract: An electrically-powered expansion/contraction apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus preferably contracts and expands due to magnetic interaction within a plurality of motor units (20) or (21). Each motor unit (20) or (21) is in turn made up of a pair of interlinked subunits (22), (24). The subunits (22), (24) include inner elements (22) and outer elements (24) which contract when unlike magnetic poles are juxtaposed and expand when opposite poles are proximate to one another. A control circuit (44) for each subunit (22), (24) selectively prevents current flow or directs it in one of two directions to appropriately empower electromagnets (26) on the inner elements (22). Outer elements (24) can either include permanent magnets (40) or electromagnets (27). Mechanical stop means are provided by the nature of the interlinked design to give the motor unit (20) or (21) an "all-or-none" behavior akin to that of natural muscle.

Abstract: A particular overload protection is provided for a circuit which is normally closed by an electromagnetic circuit breaker energized by a relatively low level holding current. The overload protection is particularly provided through an auxiliary electromagnetic system connected to be responsive to the current in the circuit governed by the circuit breaker whereby the auxiliary electromagnetic system includes an armature carrying a plunger penetrating the circuit breaker such that upon occurence of an overload the auxiliary electromagnetic system is energized and its plunger pushes the armature of the circuit breaker into a contact opening disposition.

Abstract: An electromagnetic actuator is provided by an armature plunger which reciprocally shuttles between magnetic paths having common overlapping portions through the plunger. A magnetically permeable yoke directs the flux paths of a pair of coaxial coils. When either coil is energized, a first flux path is created around that coil through the plunger and a second flux path is created around both coils through the plunger. The first path pulls the plunger to close an axial magnetic air gap. The second path holds the plunger in place. The ratio of the permeances of the two paths is controlled such that one path always overpowers the other, to insure plunger movement in either direction.

Abstract: An electromagnetic actuator is provided by a single armature plunger that reciprocally shuttles between two magnetic paths provided by a pair of coils. Undesired retarding-flux is cancelled in overlapping linkage paths through the plunger, yielding increased net magnetic force in the intended direction of movement and faster plunger operation. When either coil is energized, a primary flux path is created around that coil through the plunger, and a secondary flux path is created around both coils through the plunger. The primary path attracts the plunger to close a magnetic air gap. The secondary path holds the plunger in place. Current to the ON coil is also supplied through a limiting resistor to the OFF coil to generate reverse polarity flux in the latter cancelling secondary flux from the ON coil.

Abstract: A solenoid comprises two coils wound on a common axis and a core within the coils which is supported for movement along the axis. Direct currents are applied substantially continuously to the two coils for resistively heating the solenoid to a temperature substantially above the ambient temperature. The direct currents are applied in the same direction to the two coils to produce additive magnetomotive forces when it is desired to energize the solenoid and in opposite directions to the two coils to produce subtractive magnetomotive forces which tend to cancel, when it is desired that the solenoid be in its unenergized condition.

Abstract: A bistable actuator comprising a magnetic member moveably mounted, in a housing of magnetic material, for movement between two positions. In each position such member is positively located adjacent a respective permanent magnet. Pole piece means is centrally located between the permanent magnets and extending from said housing to adjacent the moveably mounted member preferably extending to within a slot formed in the member. A separate coil is located within the housing between the pole piece means and each permanent magnet for energization to at least counteract the magnetic flux produced by the adjacent permanent magnet and allow movement of the member.

Abstract: A solenoid actuator having a plurality of electromagnets mountably oriented within a housing. The actuator further includes an armature movably disposed within the housing having a like plurality of magnetically responsive members disposed at determinable distances from each electromagnet and wherein each magnetically responsive member is telescopically received one into the other.

Abstract: A limited motion actuator which utilizes a moving permanent magnet as an armature. The drive is provided by the simultaneous repulsion and attraction of the movable permanent magnet within stationary coils. The magnetic circuit is formed to allow one pole of the armature to be simultaneously repelled from the coil of like polarity and attracted to the pole of opposite polarity. The preferred magnetic circuit configuration consists of two poles and a magnetic return path, which forms two additional poles. The movable permanent magnetic armature is always located within the regions of the coil poles thus allowing accurate control of the driving forces in both forward and reverse directions over the complete armature cycle.

Abstract: An automotive electrical master circuit breaker which upon command opens the battery power circuit instantly and harmlessly at the battery cable (equivalent to removing cable at the battery terminal) and which upon command can be closed again instantly, and which disconnects battery power to all accessories except for a fuse protected small gage wire circuit that powers the master switch, and thus the master circuit breaker eliminates all risk of electrical fire, the significance of the design being that a battery cable cannot physically be removed in time to prevent destruction of the electrical system or to prevent fire, which function the master switch accomplishes. The invention uses technology long established in the identical functional arrangement, however never before applied to the present circuit breaker function.

Abstract: An electromagnet including a magnetizable yoke, an exciter coil system, and a movable armature. The end surface of at least one pole shoe carried by the yoke is divided into at least two discontinuous partial surfaces separated by a space. At least one control coil system includes a coil at least partially within the space and arranged to produce magnetic flux passing through the partial surfaces in opposite directions.

Abstract: An electromagnetic motor is provided with a samarium cobalt permanent magnet comprising a plurality of radially abutting segments. A combination of linear and non-linear springs with a force gradient larger than the magnetic force gradient facilitate motor operation in proportion to currents in electrical coils positioned on each side of the permanent magnet. Servoamplifiers independently control the current in each electrical coil in response to an input command signal, a motor position feedback signal and an actuator position feedback signal. A failure detection circuit detects coil failure by comparing current in each coil on one side of the magnet with the current in a corresponding coil on the opposite side of the permanent magnet. The circuit produces output signals to disconnect a defective coil and initiate an alarm. The circuit also detects power supply and motor position transducer failures by comparing their respective output voltage signals against predetermined reference voltages.

Abstract: A multi-directional positioner for moving one element relative to another element wherein a socket in a housing receives a ball with a rotating fit with a portion of the ball projecting outwardly of the socket and being connected to one element and the housing being connected to the other element. An arcuate groove in the socket extends in a plane passing generally through the center of the ball and receives an electrically actuated power unit which is pivotally connected to the side of the ball. An arcuate groove in the outer surface of the ball extends in a plane passing generally through the center of the ball and perpendicular to the groove in the socket and receives an electrically actuated power unit which is pivotally connected to the adjacent portion of the housing. The power units are energized singularly and/or jointly to impart relative movement between the ball and the housing.

Abstract: A plurality of aligned magnets are movable with respect to each other and their polarities are changed to cause changing of the distances between adjacent magnets by opening and closing of air gaps therebetween. Driven magnets travel a distance which is greater than the air gap between any two adjacent magnets.

Abstract: An electromagnetic device includes a stator having a first closed flux carrying path including a core and an air gap opening in the core. Flux is generated in the flux carrying path by a coil, with the direction of flux flow across the air gap being perpendicular to pole surfaces defining the air gap. An armature is mounted to be movable between the pole surfaces and to overlap varying areas of the pole surfaces in dependence upon the position of the armature. The overlap areas are directly proportional to the position of the armature. In one embodiment a bi-directional device having two such closed flux carrying path simultaneously acts on a single armature. The equilibrium position of the armature is dependent on the relative flux flow through the two flux carrying paths. A further embodiment is disclosed in which an air gap opening is inclined to the direction of flux flow in the core of the flux path. The area of each pole surface defining the inclined air gap exceeds the cross-sectional area of the core.

Abstract: An electrical device in which a transformer and switch are cooperatively integrated, the magnetic field of an energized primary winding of the transformer performing the dual function of (1) energizing a magnetically coupled secondary winding to generate an induced voltage to power associated circuitry, and (2) determining the state of the switch. The associated circuitry may be control circuitry for controlling energization of a primary winding, or for changing the path or presence of the magnetic flux created by the energized primary winding electromagnetic field; or it may perform general functions such as indicating the state of energization of a primary winding, or of the state of the responsive switch or associated devices.

Abstract: A miniature relay having a large number of contacts is housed in a dual in-line plug compatible with integrated circuitry and the like. A pair of operating coils are disposed upon a central cylindrical core upon which an armature turns, said armature being positioned between the two operating coils. The coils generate a magnetic flux in opposite directions through the core which flux combines in the armature for rotating the armature against a frame in magnetic circuit with the core.

Abstract: Solenoid-actuated valve adapted for heavy duty use by having the coil of the solenoid divided into high and low power windings connected in and automatically energized in succession by a solid state control circuit for providing in sequence high power of predetermined short duration for opening the valve and low power of usually longer duration for holding the valve in open position.

Abstract: A rotary electromagnetic indicator having a stator with an annular arrangement of five equiangularly spaced radially inwardly extending salient poles, a winding on each stator pole and an indicating rotor having a permanent magnet with diametrically opposed north and south salient poles, each having an angular width equal to the included angle of a pair of adjacent salient poles of the stator.

Abstract: An electromechanical setting mechanism is disclosed, which uses a plurality of solenoid banks to set each print wheel of a postage printing drum. Each bank features two pairs of solenoids which are mounted upon a movable frame. One pair of the two pairs of solenoids cause the frame to move with respect to the meter housing. The moving frame in turn, positions a setting linkage which sets a postage value for a print wheel. The other pair of solenoids acts directly upon this setting linkage so as to also set a postage value for the print wheel. Each solenoid is actuated by coded electrical signals, and is offset from the center of a setting link a differing amount, to provide differing resultant settings. The actuation of any or some of the solenoids, will provide any given print wheel position from zero through nine.

Abstract: There is provided an indicator and a pair of cooperating vehicular lamps including a first lamp and a second lamp. An arrangement for activating the indicator when only one of the lamps is operating includes at least one cylindrical coil unit having a winding comprised of two wires including a first wire and a second wire. The first wire is connected to the first lamp in such a manner that when the first lamp is operating the first wire carries the first current producing a first magnetic field. The second wire is connected to the second lamp in such a manner that when the second lamp is operating the second wire carries a second current producing a second magnetic field which opposes and at least partly cancels out the first magnetic field.

Abstract: A finely adjustable table assembly is particularly useful, for example, as a light-exposing device for printing IC (integrated-circuits) patterns and comprises a base plate, a movable table, a plurality of curved plate springs for connecting the movable plate to the base plate, and a non-contact means for driving the movable table. The curved plate springs are arranged perpendicularly to their widths between the movable table and the base plate and, as a sesult, the mass of the movable table is supported by the curved plate springs. As the table driving means, use is made of a non-contact type drive such as an electromagnetic device. The table is capable of being displaced in any direction in a horizontal plane. This displacement can be effected in a highly precise manner because of the absence of mechanical sliding members.