Combining an ac motor with a speed reduction setting, the Ultima adjustablespeed drive can deliver larger starting torques than available with many other drive types. This enables starting fully loaded pumps, mixers, and conveyors without oversizing.

Offering output speeds adjustable over an 8:1 range, units are available from ¾ to 10 hp. All include cast-iron structures designed to survive damp and corrosive environments, and a new belt-disc design that enables changing belts in less than 3 min. To prevent corrosion, critical parts are constructed of cast iron, chrome plated, made of stainless steel, or separated by Nylatron bushings.

The adjustable-speed unit accepts off-the-shelf NEMA Cface or IEC B5 flanged motor inputs. This enables worldwide motor availability.

Options include retrofit kits for converting existing Reeves Drives to the Ultima belt cases, remote controls for open-loop speed control, interface with electronic controls, speed indicators, protective finishes, extensive motor selection, and many motor modifications.

DODGE/Reliance Electric, Greenville, S.C.

Miniature and custom seals

MicrOring seals come in over 1,000 miniature sizes including a 0.008-in. ID version, said to be the world’s smallest Oring. The company also offers standard seals as well as custom-engineered Microshapes for applications such as molded inserts, diaphragms, lip seals, piston cups, and bushings. Sealing solutions are available in all popular elastomers including medical grade silicone.

Apple Rubber Products Inc., Lancaster, N.Y.

Front-wheel drive differential cuts design, production costs

A new installation mode for a viscous limited- slip differential for front-wheel drive vehicles gets the viscous couplings outside the transaxle. In front-wheel drive applications the coupling typically is inside the automatic or manual transaxle.

The new approach puts an external viscous coupling on the intermediate shaft so that the inner plates adjoin the shaft. The housing, as outer plate carrier, couples to the differential carrier. External application has been introduced in Europe and Japan with applications targeted in North America for manual and automatic transmission vehicles, which typically have intermediate shafts.

The external approach can substantially reduce engineering and manufacturing costs. A key cost saver: the housing case seldom needs modification.

GKN Viscodrive, Auburn Hills, Mich.

Open styles expand plain bearing line

European Standard and European Compact Thin Wall Series metric Simplicity bearings now include open-style metric bearings. Bores are 12 to 80 mm. Load ratings are from 400 to 12,000 kg. The bearings interchange with European linear ball bearings.

Bearings are of solid aluminum body lined with Frelon, a Teflon compound. They are self-lubricating and carry three times the load of ball bearings. Temperature range is 2400 to 500 F.

Pacific Bearing Co., Rockford, Ill.

DC drive offers plug-in option modules

Installable at the factory and in the field, plug-in option modules enable the Saber DC 3306 adjustable-speed dc drive to meet different application requirements. Six modules — including Test Meter, Signal Follower, S-Curve Acceleration, and Damping for driving high-inertia loads — are available for the drives rated 5 to 75 hp for operation on 230 Vac, and 7.5 to 1,000 hp on 460 Vac.

MagneTek, New Berlin, Wis.

Continue on Page 2

Induction heaters help mount bearings safely

A line of induction heaters avoids overheating or preloading, and heats only the bearing — not the unit or yoke, according to the manufacturer. An automatic demagnetizing cycle eliminates residual magnetism, which can attract contamination by drawing metal particles into bearing raceways.

The TIH120 system heats large bearings, couplings, and other components with recommended maximum weight of 550 lb. It includes a 0 to 60-min timer. The TIH060 has a capacity of 8 kVA and a 50% reduction key for small components, making it versatile. Maximum bearing weight is 132 lb. The TIH030 is for bearings in the 66-lb range and has a 0 to 60- min timer. The portable TIH025 comes with a dial timer. The compact TIH010 is for bearings of 10 lb or less.

SKF, King of Prussia, Pa.

Solenoid-operated indexing clutch

The SP-1611 series integral solenoid wrapped-spring stepping clutch is unidirectional, for CW or CCW operation. Torque capacity is to 20 lb-in. and indexing accuracy is 62 deg. Errors are noncumulative. Indexing increments are from 1 to 4 steps. Bores are 0.250 and 0.312 in., and 6 and 8 mm. Options include an output anti-overrun and a phasing clamp for infinite phasing. Machine Components Corp., Plainview, N.Y. Plated roller chain resists rust Nickel-plated, rust-resistant roller chain is well-suited for drives that are used outdoors, such as agricultural equipment, or for indoor washdown equipment. All chain parts are nickel plated to protect against water-induced corrosion. Single or double pitch is available in 10-ft lengths with a light petroleum lubricant. Chain is also available unlubricated and in custom lengths.

Diamond Chain Co., Indianapolis.

Superfast programmable control

A programmable industrial computer, the PiC900 Turbo2, uses 80486SX/DX microprocessors to achieve high-speed information sensing, logic, and process control combined with easy programming and networking. Two versions are available: a 25-MHz configuration with math coprocessor, and a 16-MHz model without a coprocessor. The faster unit scans ladder diagrams at 78 msec per Kbyte.

The 16-MHz version operates at 96 msec per Kbyte. The faster version scans application programs up to seven times faster than the standard PiC900, assisted by a cache memory. It also features linear and circular interpolation of up to 16 axes. Potential applications for the new units include packaging, paper converting, printing, food processing, plastic injection molding, plastic film production, and metal cutting.

Giddings & Lewis Inc., Fond du Lac, Wis.