A transducer for generating a feedback signal representative of the position of a movable member includes a signal generating mechanism for providing an electrical feedback signal representative of the position of the movable member. The signal generating mechanism includes a first shaft portion having a first longitudinal centerline and a drive mechanism having a shaft member coupled in driving engagement to the first shaft portion. The drive mechanism is adapted to be cable connected to one of a plurality of movable members having maximum travel spans different one from the other. The shaft member has a shaft longitudinal centerline which is concentric with the first centerline, the centerlines defining a first axis. An alignment mechanism is coupled to the drive mechanism and the signal generating mechanism and permits limited movement of the first axis with respect to a reference axis. The alignment mechanism thereby isolates the signal generating mechanism from misalignment reaction forces.
The present invention is a method and system for preventing voltage spike feedback with switched inductive loads connected to isolated redundant power supplies. A voltage clamp circuit of the present invention may clamp the voltage spikes caused by inductive loads within a power supply system to a safe voltage level. When the common output voltage of the redundant power supplies becomes too large, the voltage clamp circuit of the present invention may clamp the common output voltage to a safe voltage level at or slightly above the higher voltage of the parallel connected power supplies.
A fail-safe electronic position monitoring system for a motor is specifically described in a flame safeguard system. The same fail-safe system could be used more generally in any type of positional monitoring system using a potentiometer. The potentiometer and its wiper are monitored by a microcomputer which has stored in its memory a profile of at least three critical parameters. The parameters are a low voltage parameter, a high voltage parameter, and a parameter that deals with the rate of the voltage level change. The rate voltage level change includes monotonocity function.
