Abstract: A thermal machine that can function as either a refrigerator or an external combustion heat engine is disclosed. A working gas undergoes four thermodynamic processes that comprise a Brayton cycle. Two of these processes, adiabatic compression and adiabatic expansion, take place in the same cylinder, within which a piston, driven by a crankshaft, reciprocates. The remaining two processes, each of which is a transfer of heat at constant pressure, take place in a high pressure heat exchanger and a low pressure heat exchanger. A rotary valve, rotating at one-half crankshaft speed, creates passages between the cylinder and the heat exchangers, and is constructed so that compression and expansion ratios are equal.

Abstract: A cooled stator for an electric machine including a rotating rotor wherein the stator comprises an electric sheet metal stack and one or more flexible, deformable cooling channels for guiding the flowing cooling medium in a liquid or gas form, reacting with the stacks. The one or more cooling channels being formed from one or more flexible corrugated hoses made of metal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for automatically generating several electrical pulses using numeric default values, in particular for simulating an incremental encoder for a sequential, digital counting of linear or angular displacement values using said pulses. The method incorporates a value generator that outputs the default values repeatedly within each first cycle time, calculation and control means that detect the default values in a cyclic manner and a pulse switching interface that has one or more outputs for the pulses.

Abstract: Typical apparatus according to this invention comprises a host interface for receiving digital data interface input from a host computer and delivering digital data interface output to the host computer, the interface output data comprising a function of the interface input data; an optical storage device (herein sometimes called a “light drive”) for receiving the interface output data from the host interface and providing optical radiation (i.e. radiation of wavelength in the range at least of about ultraviolet to at least about infrared) to each of a series of pixels in a region of a member comprising an effective concentration of photoreceptive material (PRM) and wherein the wavelength and intensity of the radiation in each pixel are functions of the interface output data received from the host interface; and a transmission medium for providing a datum signal from each pixel via the host interface to the host computer.

Abstract: The free piston cooler transient temperature control system of the present invention eliminates collisions during the transient cool-down period in a free piston cooler upon start-up. The transient temperature control system incorporates a free piston cooler, having a cold head and a warm end, a cold head temperature sensor, a relational interface, and a temperature controller. The cold head temperature sensor senses the temperature of the cold head and generates a temperature signal. The relational interface is in communication with the temperature signal and contains a predetermined relationship between the cold head temperature and a maximum piston stroke during the transient cool-down temperature range. The relational interface generates a transient range maximum allowable stroke signal from the temperature signal and the predetermined relationship.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for diagnosis or control of the ignition or load state of a two or four cycle internal combustion engine. A generator rotating synchronously with the engine generates alternating voltages which are scanned by a control and the alternating voltage amplitudes correspond to the rotational speed of the engine. The control detects at least one of the voltage amplitudes each revolution and, based upon the detected amplitude, calculates a control or diagnosis value, sets one or more flags and/or triggers a control event at an ignition control and/or data output.

Abstract: A seed envelope includes an aperture covered by a transparent sheet. The aperture is particularly spaced from the bottom and two sides of the envelope. The aperture allows the purchaser to view the seeds which fill at least a portion of the seed envelope. In order to incorporate the transparent sheet, the envelope must be filled from the top, away from the transparent sheet and aperture.

Abstract: An automated, remote control/monitoring system for a cathodic protection system for a buried metallic object based on monitoring multiple coupon test stations, buried next to the metal object, by a central processor, which can individually control multiple cathodic protection rectifiers. Preferably, the reference for potential measurements is a buried coupon having a metallurgy substantially the same as the metallurgy of the buried object.

Abstract: An electrical ignition for internal combustion engines having coils and a magnetic generator that rotates synchronously with the engine. The generator's magnetic field passes periodically through the coils and induces a sequence of corresponding alternating-voltage half-waves. These charge an energy-storage element, that is discharged by actuation of an ignition switch to trigger an ignition spark and they form the voltage supply of a microelectronic and/or programmable control that actuates the ignition switch in an ignition time instant as a function of the detected half-waves and/or of a rotational state of the engine. Within one rotation, there is chosen, for the triggering of the ignition spark to prolong its burn-time, a time interval in which the primary and/or secondary coil winding is influenced by one of the half waves and the amount or range of the magnetic flux change used to prolong the burn-time is greatest within the respective sequence.

Abstract: A heat pumping machine, such as used for home heating and cooling, has a free piston Stirling engine driving a vapor compression heat pump. The engine is mechanically linked to the compressor inside a common hermetically sealed enclosure. A fluid conducting passage connects the refrigerant flow path in communication with a working gas space in the Stirling engine. Although carbon dioxide may be used in both as the refrigerant and the engine working gas, preferably both helium and carbon dioxide are used and separated by a phase separator so that helium rich gas is directed into the Stirling engine and carbon dioxide rich fluid is directed through the heat pump.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for detecting the direction of rotation of an internal combustion engine using a magnet wheel which moves past an electrical ignition coil. For each revolution, at least one current or voltage pulse is induced in the coil having a polarity dependent on the direction of rotation. The magnet poles and the coil have geometric relationships that, upon each magnet wheel revolution, the curve form of the current or voltage pulse has at least two prespecified extreme points with a curve characteristic which is substantially neither rising nor falling and at least one break point with a discontinuity. A direction of rotation signal is derived from these curve characteristics.

Abstract: A portable, switchable electric extension outlet having a manually actuable switch which is remote from the outlet enclosure and is connected to the enclosure by a remote control cord, other than the outlet's power cord. The enclosure end of the remote control cord is connected to an electrical circuit in the enclosure which connects an electrical power source to receptacles mounted to the enclosure. The manually actuable switch alternatively completes or breaks the electrical circuit's connection between the power source and the receptacles.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a tire retardant cellulose insulation with reduced density and reduced settling. The method consists of adding a material, the fibers of which have a positive electrostatic charge, onto a shredded newspaper base either before or after the addition of a pre-coat, consisting of a mixture of limestone and an antistat. A fire retardant agent is then added and the materials are ground in a finish mill. The newspaper fibers become positioned at an angle to the paper pieces, increasing the distance between the paper pieces, thereby lowering the density of the cellulose. Fibers such as ground cardboard, wood mulch, sawdust, and fiberglass fibers are examples of materials with electrostatically positively charged fibers.

Abstract: An improved fire retardant cellulose insulation with reduced density and reduced settling. A method consists of adding a material, the fibers of which have a positive electrostatic charge, is added onto a shredded newspaper base either before or after the addition of a pre-coat, consisting of a mixture of an inorganic, non-hygroscopic powder and an antistat. A fire retardant agent is then added and the materials are ground in a finish mill. The newspaper fibers become positioned at an angle to the paper pieces, increasing the distance between the paper pieces, thereby lowering the density of the cellulose. Increasing the amount of antistat will decrease settling at the expense of increasing density. Adding water to the insulation system will neutralize static electricity and minimize settling. Fibers such as ground cardboard, wood mulch, sawdust, and fiberglass fibers are examples of materials with electrostatically positively charged fibers.

Abstract: A lift truck having a parallel pair of drive trains, each powering a drive wheel on a different side of the lift truck. Each drive train includes a DC electric motor driving a variable displacement, hydraulic pump having a pressure output capacity of at least 3,000 psi. Each hydraulic pump is connected to a hydraulic motor, having a rotational speed capacity of at least 3,000 rpm and is connected through a transmission to the drive wheel on a different side of the lift truck. The DC motor is run continuously at full rpm and the torque/speed ratio of the drive train is controlled by controlling the displacement of the hydraulic pump.

Abstract: A method for mounting a wick within a wick sustainer is disclosed. The sustainer has a base, a barrel and a passage that extends through the sustainer. The passage has an upper region occupied by the wick and a lower region occupied, at least partially, by the sealant. Sealing the lower region of the passage is accomplished by injecting the sealant into the passage, thereby preventing the fuel from contacting the portion of the wick that is retained in the upper region of the passage. Fuel reaches the flame of the burning wick only through the portion of wick not held in the sustainer, so the flame is extinguished once the fuel descends below the top of the sustainer.