Other

Cubic Corporation

United States Elevator Corp.

Richard Edwin Watt

A system for reading or sensing the position of an elevator relative to a landing and for providing corresponding control signals to a controller for controlling the elevator movement in response to the sensed position comprises a tape veritically mounted in an elevator shaft and having reflective vanes positioned on it to indicate position relative to a landing. Sensors are mounted on the elevator car and produce predetermined output signals in response to detection of vanes, and suitable control circuitry responds to predetermined combinations of the sensor output signals to produce suitable output control signals to a controller which controls the car's speed, direction and positioning. The system is installed by first vertically mounting a suitable tape in an elevator shaft so that it runs through a sensor unit mounted on an elevator cab, and positioning vanes on the tape at predetermined positions relative to each floor.

Elevator position reading sensor system

An audible warning device is disclosed that is for use with internal combustion engines to monitor engine temperature and oil pressure and produce an audible warning signal if an over-temperature or oil pressure loss situation develops. An integrated circuit voltage comparator compares the output of a variable resistance temperature sensor against a reference voltage that is generated by a resistor network. The comparator drives an audible signal transducer to warn an operator of an over-temperature condition. Additionally, an input to the comparator from an oil pressure switch causes an audible warning to be produced if a loss of oil pressure is encountered. Self-test features are included to produce momentary audible signals each time the engine is started to indicate proper circuit functioning. An alternate embodiment of the invention uses digital techniques and a microprocessor as a digital comparator to monitor the engine's temperature and oil pressure and operate the warning transducer if a dangerous situation develops.

Engine over-temperature and oil pressure loss audible warning device

An isothermal process solar collector panel is disclosed. The panel includes a collector plate for absorbing radiant heat; and a plurality of isothermal process heat pipes in an array over a surface of the collector plate. Each heat pipe is closed at both ends and contains thermodynamic working fluid for transferring heat energy from the collector plate to a second fluid flowing through a manifold pipe for conducting the heat energy from the collector panel. The manifold pipe is coupled to the heat pipes. One end of each heat pipe is coupled to the collector plate and has an evaporator section wherein heat energy is transferred from the collector plate to the thermodynamic working fluid; and the other end of each heat pipe is positioned within the manifold pipe and has a condenser section wherein heat energy is transferred from the thermodynamic working fluid to the second fluid flowing through the manifold pipe.

Isothermal process solar collector panel

A solar collector panel wherein heat absorbed in a collector plate having a broad, uniformly flat surface area may be conducted by a plurality of thermal conductors to a fluid flowing through pipes that are arrayed over the flat surface area of the collector plate. Each of the thermal conductors has broad flat surfaces in contact with the flat surface of the collector plate on opposite sides of the pipe, and an inner surface in mating contact with most of the pipe. The thickness of the thermal conductor increases from the extreme ends of its broad flat surfaces toward its inner surface. The thermal conductors are aluminum extrusions. A thermal joint compound is applied between the thermal conductors and the contacted surfaces of the pipes and the collector plate.

Flat plate solar collector panel having extruded thermal conductors

A measurement system wherein a given quantity such as distance, is determined by measuring the phase shift between a transmitted signal and a signal received from a transponder in response to the transmitted signal. The system includes a transmitter, a receiver, a digital phasemeter for measuring the phase shift and for providing a count representative thereof, and a calibration system for making the measurement system insensitive to temperature variation induced change in internal phase shifts present in the transmitter and receiver.

Measurement system calibrated to be insensitive to temperature variation

Ambiguities in counts contained in overlapping bit positions of fine and coarse data measurement digital signals that are combined to provide a composite digital signal representative of a measured quantity, such as distance or angle, are resolved by comparing the counts in the most significant overlapping bit position of the fine and coarse data signals and comparing the counts in the next lesser significant overlapping bit positions of the fine and coarse data signals; and by adjusting the count in the non-overlapping more significant bit positions of the coarse data signal in accordance with such comparisons. The count in the non-overlapping more significant bit positions of the coarse data signal is reduced by one bit when the count in the most significant overlapping bit position of the fine data signal is greater than the count in the most significant overlapping bit position of the coarse data signal, and the count in the next lesser significant bit positions of the fine data signal is greater than the count in the next lesser significant bit positions of the coarse data signal; and the count in the non-overlapping more significant bit positions of the coarse data signal is increased by one bit when the respective compared counts in the fine data signal are both less than the corresponding compared counts in the coarse data signal.

Resolution of ambiguities in counts contained in overlapping bit

The inherent phase ambiguity that results from the measurement of the phase difference between a reference signal and a data signal having a zero phase relationship is eliminated by adding 360.degree. to phase differences between 0.degree. and 180.degree.. Phase differences between 180.degree. and 360.degree. are measured in the conventional manner. Both the reference signal and the data signal are divided in frequency and the phase difference between the divided signals are compared. The data signal is inhibited for only 180.degree. of the original reference signal to prevent an initial comparing of phase differences between the data signal and the reference signals to establish the proper polarity relationship between the half rate data signal and the half rate reference signal.

Ambiguity free digital averaging phase meter

An integrated circuit dc-comparator compares voltage signals representative of sump water and collector water temperatures in a solar energy conversion system and continuously provides a direct current voltage signal from the time that it is sensed that the collector water is 11.degree. F warmer than the sump water, until such time as it is sensed that the collector water is only 2.degree. F warmer than the sump water. The integrated circuit is latched to provide the continuous dc signal notwithstanding variations in noise level, by a resistor connected between the integrated circuit output terminal and the integrated circuit input terminal at which the collector water temperature is sensed. The direct current voltage signal gates-on a sensitive gate thyristor which in turn provides a gating signal to a high power thyristor connected in cascade therewith to enable the high power thyristor to energize a pump motor for pumping water between the solar energy system collector and sump until a temperature difference of only 2.degree. F between the collector water and sump water temperatures is sensed. The integrated circuit may be inhibited from providing the direct current voltage signal for enabling the pump motor whenever the sump water temperature exceeds a certain upper limit notwithstanding the difference between the sump water and collector water temperatures.

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San Diego, CA, United States of America

Richard Edwin Watt