Torvec, Inc.

General Signal Corporation

Warren R Alexander

Vernon E Gleasman

Keith E Gleasman

Robert C Horton

Russell M Hartung

Larry Appleman

A spool valve is provided with a stem portion that defines a fluid passageway formed by either (a) a single central support having a non-cylindrical curved surface shaped hydrodynamically, or (b) only a pair of sidewalls with, preferably, interior surfaces that are also shaped hydrodynamically. These stem passageways, which are designed to facilitate the flow of high-speed/high-pressure fluids controlled by the valve, are maintained in a predetermined orientation relative to the ports of the valve cylinders by a mechanism preferably including (a) a cam-following roller supported in a tang fixed to each spool and (b) a two-element cam that captures the roller within two of the parallel sides of a cam-track groove formed on the respective interior surfaces of each cam element.

Spool valve for fluid control

A steer-drive for vehicles primarily operated in fluids (e.g., boats and planes) interposes respective left and right orbital gear drives into the vehicle drivetrain between the engine/transmission or/speed-reducer and the vehicle's respective port and starboard propulsion elements. The orbital drive units comprise only an input gear and an output gear interconnected by at least one orbiting cluster gear that is supported in a rotating housing and also meshes only with the input and output gears. The orbital units are designed so that (a) when rotation of the housing is prevented, driving torque is transferred at speed ratios selected to be as close to 1:1 as is practical, and (b) when steering torque causes rotation of the housing, the steering torque is added or subtracted from the driving torque. Steering torque is applied simultaneously in equal and opposite directions to the orbital units, causing the vehicle's respective propulsion element on one side of the vehicle to speed up and the vehicle's respective propulsion element on the other side of the vehicle to slow down at the same rate.

Steer-drive for boats and planes

A steer-drive interposes respective left and right orbital gear drives into the vehicle drivetrain between the engine/transmission and the respective propulsion axles associated with each side of the vehicle. The orbital drive units comprise only an input gear and an output gear interconnected by at least one orbiting cluster gear that is supported in a rotating housing and also meshes only with the input and output gears. The orbital units are designed so that (a) when rotation of the housing is prevented, driving torque is transferred at speed ratios selected to be as close to 1:1 as is practical, and (b) when steering torque causes rotation of the housing, the steering torque is added or subtracted from the driving torque. Steering torque is applied simultaneously in equal and opposite directions to the orbital units, causing the drive on one side of the vehicle to speed up and the drive on the other side of the vehicle to slow down at the same rate.

Steer-drive for vehicles

An electrical switch mechanism which operates in response to deceleration or acceleration for use on board trains for brake assurance purposes. High sensitivity to deceleration or acceleration with low hysteresis is obtained by actuating a switch, when a pendulum swings a predetermined distance, through a force transfer system providing a mechanical advantage enabling a pendulum of reasonable size and mass to actuate commercially available switches which require appreciable actuating force. The motion of the pendulum is damped by an eddy current damper having a plurality of magnets establishing a magnetic field which alternates in direction along the path traversed by a vane of conductive material carried by the pendulum to reduce overswing in response to acceleration or deceleration, to reduce pendulum response to high frequency components of the acceleration and deceleration and help in preventing transient motion of the pendulum which might arise from other than deceleration or acceleration events which are to be detected by the switch mechanism.

Electrical switch mechanism

In order to provide for automatic replacement of lamp bulbs (lamps) when they fail to illuminate and to enhance the reliability of signal lamps, such as those which signal oncoming trains as they move along railway tracks, a plurality of lamps are disposed angularly spaced from each other on one side of a turntable which is rotatable under spring bias to bring the lamps successively into positions in alignment with the lens of the signal lamp. A latching mechanism having a latch member incorporated into the turntable and a detent member operated by a solenoid provides for releasable engagement of the turntable so as to enable it to move between the successive positions. The primary one of the lamps is wired directly into the signaling system while the secondary lamp or lamps is wired to be operated by a circuit responsive to the illumination of the lamp which is in alignment with the lens and which controls actuation of the solenoid and release of the turntable as well as switching of power to the secondary lamp or lamps.

Growing community of inventors

Pittsford, NY, United States of America

Warren R Alexander