[R-390] Cosmos PTO, spring-loaded linearizing core?

[Tim Shoppa]

Cecil wrote:

>         I can't tell you exactly how it works because I haven't torn
mine 
> down that far but I can tell you it does move the core.  First lets be
sure 
> you are looking at the right inductor...which you probably are.

Oh, definitely.

> the aluminum main framework of the pto.  You should be able to push
the core 
> easily I would think because the metal ring that rides the end of the
core 
> shaft is pretty thin I would think to be formed by the screws only in
their 
> little area and not the next on either side.  I haven't actually seen
that 
> part but I can't imagine the screws riding directly on the end of the
shaft.

In my unit, the metal ring has a triangular "screw rider" that obviously
is
shaped so that it is riding at least one and usually two screws at any
point
in its travel. Then I guess the back of the ring pushes up against the
"slug
rider" that is supposed to slide the slug in and out (I guess, in my
case it's
not sliding!)

As to the triangular screw rider: see how the screws zig-zag in and out?
The backs of the screws look to be enlarged such that the triangular
rider is always on at least one and usually on two of the screw backs.

> Anyway to cut to the chase what I did to verify function was to drop a

> plastic alignment tool through the hole in the rear end plate into the
coil 
> form for the that coil.  I marked a ring around the point where it 
> intersected the end plate and I ran the pto from end to end and
watched the 
> movement of the alignment tool through that process.  It moves...mine
didn't 
> move more than probably 1/8 of an inch total...maybe not that much but
it 
> moved.  As long as yours is doing that I wouldn't sweat it....

Thanks Cecil, to verify that there is really supposed to be movement
:-).

Looking at how adjustable the screws are I would be surprised if there
could
be an eigth inch of travel, but that's a good upper limit. If you turned
one in an
eight of an inch it would probably fall off inside :-(.

But I'm getting no sliding.  Maybe I should soak the metal inductor
base in some kind of solvent to free up that so-far-hypothetical slider.
I can sort of conceptually see that there's a cylinder in there, with
internal threads that the core sits in, and that the cylinder and thus
the
slug are supposed to be sliding in and out.

There's a lot of mechanisms with a lot of screw holes and I really don't
understand how they kept all those holes closed to pressurize this thing
with nitrogen.

Tim.