Robertshaw Controls Company

Burke E. Porter Machinery Company

Gregory J Momber

James R Lehman

Mark S Hoenke

Dwain F Moore

Todd K Menkveld

Thomas D Smith

Jack A Hulbert

An apparatus for determining wheel assembly alignment comprises a contact assembly, a light source, and a light beam receiving assembly. The contact assembly engages the wheel assembly to define a plane of orientation of the wheel assembly and the light source projects a beam of light with respect to the contact assembly. The light beam receiving assembly receives the light beam and forms an image of the light beam indicating the orientation of the wheel assembly with respect to a predetermined position. The receiving assembly may include a Fresnel lens for directing the received light beam to a target and a camera device for imaging the light beam on the target, with the camera device adapted to provide toe and camber information of the wheel assembly based on the location at which the light beam impinges upon the target. The contact assembly may be pressed against the wheel assembly without being secured thereto.

Apparatus and method for determining the orientation of an object such as vehicle wheel alignment

The positive half-cycle for an ac input signal is applied to a wave rectifier (), a filter () and a voltage regulator () for generating a dc output signal. The ac input signal is also applied to a transistor () in either the common emitter or common source configuration which shifts the ac input signal by 180 degrees. This signal is then applied to another rectifier () for converting the shifted ac input signal into a pulsating dc output signal. Then shifted dc output signal is applied to a second capacitor filter to reduce the signal variations. The final stage for the second output stage is also a voltage regulator () (i.e., two series zener diodes). The transformerless power supply produces either a dual positive or dual negative dc voltage supply. In addition, the voltage supply circuits may include a relay voltage, which may be controlled by a control circuit.

Transformerless power supply, dual positive or dual negative supplies

A water heater control modifies a temperature differential setting in a hot water heater according to elapsed time between calls for heat. This allows the temperature setting of the hot water heater to remain low, which reduces the risk of scalding, yet allows the hot water heater to deliver hot water consistently. For example, a hot water heater temperature setting is 120.degree. F. and the temperature differential is normally set to 20.degree. F. After six hours without a call for heat, during which time period the water in the tank has destratified, the water heater control could set the differential to 15.degree. F., which would cause a call for heat when the water temperature drops to 105.degree. F. Once a call for heat is generated, the temperature differential can be set back to 20.degree. F. Thus, water stratification is reduced because a wide temperature differential is maintained during periods when there are repeated calls for heat, but cool water is avoided because the differential is narrowed during periods of inactivity.

Water heater control

A fuel control system, parts therefor and methods of making and operating the same are provided, the fuel control system comprising an ignition unit for igniting fuel issuing from a burner, and a flame detecting unit for detecting flame at the burner, the flame detecting unit comprising a sensing device for receiving an electrical signal caused by flame rectification at the burner, and an output device for cycling the signal to the sensing device in an on and off manner in each cycle of operation of the output device, the control system having a modulating unit for modulating the on time and the off time of the output device in each cycle of operation thereof.

Fuel control system, parts therefor and methods of making and operating

A control system for a water softener, control device therefor and methods of making the same are provided, the system comprising a microcontroller operatively interconnected to an output of a comparator to effect a subsequent operation of a recycling unit for the water softener when the output signal is at a certain condition thereof, the system causing the output signal to have a phase shift relative to the phase of an A.C. power supply of the system when a sensing electrode unit in the ion exchange bed of the water softener is at a certain resistance value relative to the resistance value of a reference electrode unit that is also disposed in the ion exchange bed, the phase shift comprising the certain condition of the output signal, the microcontroller determining the certain condition by comparing the phase of the output signal to the certain phase.

Control system for a water softener, control device therefor and methods

A heat exchanger system, a fuel control system therefor and methods of making the same are provided, the fuel control system having an electrical circuit means that comprises an ignition trial portion, a flame sensing control portion and a timer portion that comprises a counter having a plurality of outputs and a timer that clocks the output of the counter on each discharge of the timer, the timer portion also comprising a capacitor, a trial time resistor and a wait time resistor that are selectively placed in series with the capacitor by the counter when clocked to certain outputs by the timer to determine an ignition trial time period and a wait time period, and a transistor operatively interconnected to the capacitor to discharge the capacitor when flame is sensed by the flame sense portion.

Growing community of inventors

Grand Rapids, MI, United States of America

Gregory J Momber