Abstract: A hydro-buoyant electrical power generating plant is provided which generates electricity from a source of hydraulic pressure. The energy that pressurizes the hydraulic fluid is derived from movements of a crane-like class II lever that has its fulcrum fixed to a stationary land mass so that the fulcrum's position is fixed relative to the lever's opposite "movable" end where the applied load is established. The movable end of the lever is attached to an "applied force vessel" that alternatively can be filled with water (or other liquid) so as to sink due to gravity, and then can be evacuated of water so as to rise due to buoyancy. When the applied force vessel is at its position of greatest elevation, the interior chamber of the vessel initially would be filled with air, typically at atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: An improved area monitor for detecting gas concentration is provided that requires a very infrequent calibration, and works reliably in detecting a particular target gas using only two semiconductor sensors. One of these sensors will exhibit a drift that is constantly monitored and automatically compensated for, while the other sensor exhibits a stable, repeatable response over very long periods of time. Once the "stable" has been initially calibrated, the concentration of the target gas can be discerned directly from the resistance of this sensor, although more that one particular chemical gas may cause the stable sensor to change resistance. The second sensor is then used to discern whether or not the change in resistance of the stable sensor was due to the actual target chemical, or due to some other similar chemical. The second sensor is selected to be of a type that responds in one direction (i.e.

Abstract: An antenna arrangement for a portable transceiver is disclosed as including a printed circuit antenna mounted on the transceiver and coupled to be driven by circuitry of the transceiver. An extendable monopole antenna is also mounted on the transceiver and is adapted to be electrically coupled to the printed circuit antenna when in an extended position and to be electrically decoupled from the printed circuit antenna when in a retracted position. A connector is fixedly attached to the printed circuit antenna at a first end and maintains contact with the monopole antenna at a second end as the monopole antenna slides between the extended and retracted positions. The monopole antenna includes a conductive portion which is in contact with the connector in the extended position and a non-conductive portion which is in contact with the connector in the retracted position.

Abstract: A system for interfacing at least one peripheral device with a personal computer is disclosed as including a personal computer microcontroller, a keyboard microcontroller directly connected to the personal computer microcontroller by means of a clock line and a data line, a switching device positioned between the personal computer microcontroller and the keyboard microcontroller, and a wedge microcontroller to which the peripheral device may be connected. The wedge microcontroller further includes a first set of connections to the clock and data lines positioned between the switching device and the keyboard microcontroller, a second set of connections to the clock and data lines positioned between the switching device and the personal computer microcontroller, and a switch control connection to the switching device for opening and closing the switching device.

Abstract: A printed monopole antenna is disclosed having a printed circuit board with a first side and a second side, a monopole radiating element comprising a first conductive trace formed on the printed circuit board first side, and a conductive element comprising a second conductive trace formed on the printed circuit board adjacent the first conductive trace. The second conductive trace defines an extended ground plane which prevents the radiation of currents from that portion of the first conductive trace aligned with the second conductive trace. The second conductive trace may be formed on either side of the printed circuit board. The printed monopole antenna may be modified to operate within two separate frequency bandwidths.

Abstract: An RF capacitor circuit having a plurality of capacitors and a method of electronically tuning such circuit is disclosed. The method includes the steps of connecting the capacitors in parallel relation so as to have common nodes and electronically eliminating any number of the capacitors in order to obtain a desired total capacitance for the circuit. The method further includes either connecting a fuse in series relation with each capacitor, wherein each fuse has a designated current rating above which it prevents current from passing to its associated capacitor, or providing each capacitor with a unique breakdown voltage/current. Thus, when a voltage is provided to an input of the circuit, either the current rating of a designated number of fuses or the breakdown voltage/current of a designated number of capacitors is exceeded. Such capacitors are then electronically eliminated and the circuit is tuned to the desired total capacitance.

Abstract: A magnetically-powered linear displacement device is disclosed which can be used as the highly efficient pollution-free prime mover. The linear displacement device utilizes a permanent magnet whose flux density can be readily shifted from one of two parallel magnetic paths within the displacement device. A pair of pole pieces made of magnetically soft material abuts portions of the permanent magnet and conducts the magnetic flux in two different magnetic circuit pathways such that the permanent magnet's flux can flow in either direction, and if the magnetic flux is travelling along a first of these parallel paths through a movable armature, that armature will be attracted toward the ends of the pole pieces. If the magnetic flux is then shifted to the second path of these two parallel paths, then that movable armature will not be attracted to the pole pieces, and a compression spring can be used to push that movable armature away from the pole pieces.

Abstract: A printed monopole antenna is disclosed including a first printed circuit board having a first side and a second side, a first monopole radiating element in the form of a conductive trace formed on a side of the first printed circuit board, and a second monopole radiating element in the form of a conductive trace positioned adjacent the first monopole radiating element, wherein the first monopole radiating element is resonant within a first frequency band and the second monopole radiating element is resonant within a second frequency band. In order for the first and second radiating elements to be resonant within different frequency bands, the conductive traces for each have different electrical lengths. No direct electrical connection exists between the monopole radiating elements, but the second radiating element dominates at a frequency in which the second radiating element is approximately a half-wavelength so that coupling with the first radiating element occurs.

Abstract: A coaxial cable assembly for connecting at least one antenna element with RF signal circuitry of a portable phone is disclosed. The portable phone includes a base portion in which the RF signal circuitry is located and a flip cover rotatably secured to the base portion in which the antenna elements are located. The flip cover is rotatably secured to the base portion by means of a support bracket assembly. The coaxial cable assembly provides a separate coaxial cable for each antenna element, with a first end thereof being coupled to the antenna element and a second end being coupled to the RF signal circuitry. Each coaxial cable is shaped to extend through the support bracket assembly so as to withstand bend stresses associated with rotation of the flip cover, with certain locations of the coaxial cable being formed to maintain such shape.

Abstract: A magnetically powered linear displacement device is disclosed which can be used as the highly efficient prime mover. The linear displacement device utilizes a permanent magnet whose flux density can be readily shifted from one of two parallel magnetic paths within the displacement device. A pair of pole pieces made of magnetically soft material abuts portions of the permanent magnet and conducts the magnetic flux in two different magnetic circuit pathways such that the permanent magnet's flux can flow in either direction, and if the magnetic flux is travelling along a first of these parallel paths through a movable armature, that armature will be attracted toward the ends of the pole pieces. If the magnetic flux is then shifted to the second path of these two parallel paths, then that movable armature will not be attracted to the pole pieces, and a compression spring can be used to push that movable armature away from the pole pieces.

Abstract: An electronic cash register system is disclosed as including a personal computer, a display peripheral directly connected to the personal computer which has a wedge interface incorporated therein, a keyboard connected to a first input of the wedge interface so that keyboard data is transmitted to the personal computer via the connection between the display peripheral and the personal computer, and at least one external peripheral device connected to separate inputs of the wedge interface so that data therefrom is wedged into the keyboard data and transmitted to the personal computer via the connection between the display peripheral and the personal computer.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine combustor includes radially spaced outer and inner liners disposed coaxially about an engine longitudinal centerline axis with each liner having forward and aft ends. An annular dome is fixedly joined to the forward ends of the outer and inner liners. The outer liner has a substantially uniform thickness and is arcuate in a longitudinal plane from the forward to aft ends for providing buckling resistance of the outer liner.

Abstract: A fuel delivery system for a turbine engine having a primary fuel flow circuit and a secondary fuel flow circuit. The primary fuel flow circuit has a unstaged-first manifold and a staged-second manifold. A control valve and flow meter regulate the amount of fuel flow to the unstaged and staged manifolds with a first mode of operation providing fuel to the unstaged manifold only, and a second mode of operation providing fuel to both the staged and unstaged manifolds. When high power is required of the engine, a secondary fuel circuit is provided with a secondary manifold which is connected to a distribution valve which opens when fuel flow is at a predetermined level. The invention allows fuel to be efficiently atomized at various levels of powered operation by having a control center which controls the opening and closing of the distribution valve and control valve based upon fuel flow rates fuel/air ratios and air start core speed.

Abstract: An industrial gas turbine engine includes in serial flow relationship a booster compressor, core engine, power turbine, and flow channel, with the power turbine having a first shaft, joined to the booster compressor, and an output shaft, and the flow channel having an outlet. Means for selectively varying flow area of the channel outlet are provided for controlling stall margin of the booster compressor in an exemplary embodiment of the engine and method of operation. The flow area varying means is effective for providing a minimum area of the channel outlet for controlling booster compressor stall margin at least at a synchronous speed associated with powering an electrical generator. In one embodiment, the flow area varying means effects a minimum horsepower from the output shaft for allowing lock-on and lock-off of the electrical generator at synchronous speed.

Abstract: A double annular combustor having concentrically disposed inner and outer annular combustors is provided with inner and outer domes. A one-piece cowl is provided upstream of the inner and outer domes in order to form a high pressure region. The one-piece cowl has an inner annular portion, an outer annular portion, and a radial middle portion connecting the inner and outer annular portions. The inner and outer annular portions include scalloped areas therein to facilitate insertion and removal of fuel tubes and nozzles. The cowl middle portion includes a shield to isolate the scalloped areas and the fuel tube from the high pressure region, thereby preventing leakage of air flow and consequential pressure loss from the high pressure region.

Abstract: A double annular combustor having concentrically disposed inner and outer annular combustors is provided with inner and outer dome plates. Each dome plate has an inner portion and an outer portion. A cowl structure having an inner portion, an outer portion and a middle portion is also provided. The cowl outer portion is connected to the outer dome plate outer portion, the cowl inner portion is connected to the inner dome plate inner portion, and the cowl middle portion is connected to the outer dome plate inner portion and the inner dome plate outer portion. at an outer end, an inner end, and a middle portion. Additionally, the inner and outer annular combustors may lie in distinct radial planes, whereby the dome plate of the downstream annular combustor includes a section extending upstream to the cowl middle portion.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for film cooling of an aerodynamically shaped airfoil uses a plurality of curved slots extending through the airfoil in an area upstream of the high curvature region of the airfoil, i.e., in an area of low Mach number of the gas stream passing over the airfoil surface. The curved slots are configured to inject cooling air at an angle of about 16.5 degrees. The cooling air is injected at a blowing ratio in excess of 1.0 and yet is effective to form a film on the vane surface.

Abstract: An industrial gas turbine engine includes in serial flow relationship a booster compressor, a core engine, a power turbine having a first shaft joined to the booster and an output shaft, and means for independently varying the radially outer and radially inner booster flow areas. The means for independently varying the radially inner and outer booster flow areas can include a dual panel variable booster inlet guide vane assembly having first and second variable vane portions. The vane assembly can include a first variable vane portion rotatably supported with a first vane panel extending in a cantilevered manner adjacent a second vane panel to provide a closely spaced radial clearance therebetween. Varying means can be positioned outward of a casing for independently varying the first and second vane portions. The variable vane assembly can be operable with compressor bleed means or power turbine outlet area varying means.

Abstract: Improved operation can be achieved from an enhanced gas turbine engine having a segmented annular shroud which radially expands and contracts to match the expansion and contraction of engine rotor blades. The segmented annular shroud is supported by a structure which includes an annular ring having two radially outwardly extending flanges, and forward and aft annular segmented brackets which attach the segmented shroud to the forward and aft side of the ring respectively. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, two circumferentially extending separate and distinct air impingement manifolds surrounds each of the outwardly extending flanges. Each manifold is provided with a valve for controlling the amount and temperature of the airflow entering each manifold. The air from each manifold then impinges upon each of the outwardly extending flanges, thereby controlling the radial movement of the corresponding shroud segments and the associated clearances with the rotor blade tips.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine combustor is provided with a combustor liner film cooling means having a slotted nugget or ring for starting a cooling film on and upstream of a multi-hole single wall sheet metal combustor liner which is generally annular in shape and having disposed therethrough a multi-hole film cooling means which includes at least one pattern of small closely spaced film cooling holes sharply angled in the downstream direction. In one embodiment the cooling holes are angled in a circumferential direction which generally coincides with the swirl angle of the flow along the surface of the liner. Another embodiment provides a that the annular liner is corrugated so as to form an axially extending wavy wall to help resist buckling which is particularly useful for outer liners in the combustion section of aircraft gas turbine engines and in the exhaust section of gas turbine engines and afterburners.