Abstract: In the most preferred form, a microwave/steam sterilizer and its method of operation are disclosed including a waveguide having a waveguide conduit including a terminal aperture located one quarter wavelength from the bottom of a water reservoir and including a series of subapertures spaced in the range of one quarter wavelength from each other. The waveguide further includes a mitered corner moveable to shift the microwave standing waves to communicate with the terminal aperture and/or the series of subapertures in response to conditions sensed in the working cavity. The waveguide and the walls of the working cavity are angled with respect to each other to avoid reflection of microwave energy back to the microwave energy generator. The sterilizer hydrates potential pathogens and subjects them to relatively uniform electromagnetic energy without arcing and without self-destruction of the microwave source by reflected microwave energy.

Abstract: An electric motor operating on the reluctance principle employs spaced rotor discs presenting rings of inwardly fcing poles of alternating polarity, typically by means of permanent magnets, and an annular stator between the discs consisting of a ring of H shaped cores, with the stems of the H's extending peripherally. Two sets of windings on these cores are energized alternately so as to provide alternating polarization of pole pieces presented by the cores to the rotor discs, with a timing such as to produce continuous rotation at a controlled rate, of the discs as their magnets seek a minimum reluctance position.

Abstract: In an electric motor having a stator with phase windings selectively energized to produce a progressively moving electromagnetic field and a magnetized rotor which seeks a minimum reluctance position within that field, energy withdrawn from a phase winding after de-energization so as to collapse the field produced by that winding passes from one end of the winding through a first connection to a capacitor where it is stored and re-applied through an alternative connection to the other end of the winding when it is next energized whereby to provide fast rise and fall of current in the winding without restricting the current which can intermediately be drawn by the winding from a principal power supply.