Abstract: A speed control system for an AC electric locomotive of the type having a plurality of wheel-axle sets with each wheel-axle set being coupled to an independently controllable AC electric traction motor and each motor having a corresponding speed sensor, each speed sensor providing a pair of signals which are resolvable to determine the speed and direction of rotation of the associated motor rotor, wherein the control system is arranged for maintaining torque control during failure of one of the signals from an associated speed sensor. The system detects the presence of each of the pair of signals from each speed sensor and responds to detection of only one of the pair of signals from one of the speed sensors for setting motor speed in response to the detected one of the signals. Direction is then determined by using signals from another of the speed sensors.

Abstract: A system of an internal combustion engine (VM) with rpm actuator (DRS), a refrigerator (AM) and a direct drive mechanically coupling the engine to the refrigerator, and a control unit including a thermostat for maintaining the internal temperature of the refrigerator at a predetermined set point value (SW), is improved by (a) a refrigerator thermostat setting, (b) a refrigerator external temperature sensor coupled, and (c) an engine speed tachometer (DM), all coupled to the control unit; (d) the control unit determining an optimal engine rpm from the inputs and characteristic function stored in a memory device (ST) of the control unit; and (e) the rpm actuator adjusting the rpm to the optimal rpm value.

Abstract: A starter for a natural energy powered motor comprises, an electricity storage means connectable to be charged with electrical energy from a natural energy source, a voltage conversion means are provided to step up the charging voltage to the electricity storage means. An energy level sensor means is connected to the electricity storage means to sense a predetermined maximum charging level and to thereupon in use trigger discharge from the storage means of sufficient electrical energy to start to motor to be driven by electricity from the natural energy source in use.

Abstract: A starter which reduces the number of parts for a pinion rotation regulation and provides an accurate magnet switch operation. A concave portion is formed on the bottom side of a plunger to store a spherical body set on the rear end of a cord-shaped member, e.g., wire. A male screw is formed on the inner wall of the concave portion, and a fixing screw that fixes the spherical body is screwed into this male screw so that the length of the cord-shaped member is adjusted. The length of the string-shaped member is adjusted so that when a plunger shaft moves upward and a lower movable contact contacts a terminal bolt, the claw of the pinion rotation regulating member fits into the notch on the outer circumference of a pinion gear. Furthermore, the claw is is fit into the notch via the wire when the plunger moves.

Abstract: A wind power generator having a plurality of wind mill blades whose pitch angles stably vary depending upon the wind power. A plurality of spokes radially extend from a horizontal power shaft. A plurality of protrusions respectively projecting from the spokes and the wind mill blades are paired with opposite protrusions by connector shaft. Each blade is rockable within a range from an extremely inclined position to a plane perpendicular to the power shaft to neary 90 degrees to the plane. One side of the wind mill blade strikes on the spoke at the above extremely inclined position. A plurality of blade springs are sandwiched in a compressed state between the spokes and the wind mill blades, surrouding the connector shafts respectively. Thus, each blade is biased toward the closing direction relative to the plane. If the wind is not so strong, each blade faces it to rotate the power shaft.

Abstract: An engine control device comprises generation current detecting means for detecting generation current of the generator, current value fluctuation removing means for removing the fluctuation of the output of the generation current detecting means, and correction quantity calculating means for calculating the correction quantity of intake gas into said engine in accordance with the output of the current fluctuation removing means.

Abstract: Disclosed is a starter which is simplified in the structure of its pinion rotation regulating mechanism and is down-sized in its entire structure. A pinion regulating member abuts with a pinion and moves the pinion towards a ring gear by the rotation of an output shaft, while preventing rotation of the pinion. When the pinion abuts with the ring gear, the pinion regulating member bends and gradually rotates the pinion to mesh with the ring gear. By this arrangement and operation, generation of abrasion powder is reduced with reduced number of component parts.

Abstract: A solar chimney assembly including a chimney (1) for receiving fluid from a solar heat collector (6, 7), and a turbine (2) driven by the fluid. The solar heat collector, which increases the moisture content and the temperature of the air flowing past the turbine, has an evaporative area (6) and a non-evaporative area (7). The non-evaporative area acts as a heat absorbing area and has a first cover (8) which inhibits evaporation of a heat-absorbing liquid retained therein. The evaporative area has a second cover (4) connected to the chimney and arranged to contain vapor evaporating from a liquid in the evaporative area. The assembly is constructed to transfer thermal energy from the liquid of the non-evaporative area to liquid of the evaporative area, for high efficiency operation.

Abstract: In order to absorb the impact force produced when a pinion meshes a ring gear, a magnet switch is disposed apart from a pinion. The distance between a plunger of the magnet switch and a pinion rotation regulating member is lengthened so that a link mechanism having an elastic member such as a cord-shaped member or a spring is lengthened. As a result, the impact force produced when the pinion meshes the ring gear can be prevented from being directly transmitted to the plunger. Consequently, there is no vibration of the plunger and a movable contact can be reliably prevented from moving away from a fixed contact.

Abstract: Novel means for smoothing electrical power output from wind powered electrical generators is provided. The means utilizes at least some of the power output to convert water into hydrogen, store and burn the hydrogen to produce energy, and use the energy from the burning for the generation of electricity. The means includes a plurality of electrolysis modules consisting of electrolytic cells connected in series, with at least two modules connected in parallel by a switch means.

Abstract: An electrostatic actuator comprising:a first member (1) having a plurality of belt-like electrodes (4) insulated from one another and disposed in a predetermined direction with predetermined gaps between them;a second member (10) constituted by a resistance body on the opposed surface thereof coming into contact with the surface of the first member (1); andcontrol means (11) capable of changing an impressed voltage to be applied to each of a plurality of belt-like electrodes disposed on the first member;the control means (11) being constituted so as to move the first and second members relative to each other by applying a predetermined voltage pattern consisting of a pulse voltage to the belt-like electrodes.

Abstract: An electric power generating system employing a gas turbine (1) and a steam turbine (5) and a gasifier (9) supplying fuel-gas to the gas turbine (1) and to a steam generating fluidized bed combustor (37), the latter providing steam for the steam turbine (5). An auxiliary steam turbine (21), driving an electric generator (22), is also supplied by the circulating fluidized bed combustor steam generator (37). Since the gasifier (9) cannot be reversibly turned down easily, on a fall in load on the main steam turbine (5), the excess steam generated is diverted to the auxiliary steam generator (21) and the gasifier (9) kept running efficiently.

Abstract: Collector for thermionic energy converter of a new type with low electronic work function. A thermionic energy converter includes an emitter and a collector and a space provided therebetween to which is supplied vapor of a thermionic material, for example cesium or other alkali metal. The emitter is heated from an external heat source so that it emits electrons to the collector. The collector is at least partly covered by a thin layer of a material, for example carbon, which is capable of interacting with the thermionic material and form excited states of this and maintain a layer of excited thermionic material on the surface of the collector. The new collector for thermionic converters exhibits a very low work function, which implies diminished losses is the energy conversion.

Abstract: An electrical power generating arrangement (for example, in a combined heat and (CHP) system in is which fixed frequency AC electric power for supply to the mains or grid is output from a frequency converter supplied with a variable frequency AC power input from an electrical generator driven by an internal combustion engine. The speed of the engine is varied by operation of a throttle controlled by a controller containing a predetermined engine map representing variation of engine speed as a function of the variation in electrical power output from the frequency converter to meet the demand of an external electrical load. On the load demand changing, the controller signals the frequency converter to give a changed new power output to meet the changed demand. The controller consults the map to determine the new engine speed corresponding to the new power demand and operates the throttle to cause the engine to run at the new speed.

Abstract: A remote electrical energy generating and distribution system is provided wherein a plurality of combustion turbine generators are located at respective remote sites having deposits of fossil fuel. The fossil fuel is thereby converted into electrical energy for transmission to an energy utilization center or to a power grid. Electrical energy is preferably converted to DC energy at the remote sites, and is supplemented by thermoelectric energy recovered from the exhaust of the combustion turbines. Each such source of DC energy is coupled to a main transmission line by a diode coupling device for providing isolation of each source in the event of a reduction in output voltage. Local power for cooling the diode coupling device is provided by a forward conduction voltage drop within the coupling device. The DC transmission system allows each generator to be operated at any independent optional speed.

Abstract: An electric power generation control method in a hybrid vehicle. A target generator output is calculated based on a state of charge, a catalyst temperature, etc., and the target number of engine revolutions is calculated based on the target generator output. A field current is corrected in response to the comparison result between a control target range determined in response to the target number of engine revolutions and the detected number of engine revolutions, thereby performing target control of the number of engine revolutions. Then, a correction amount of a throttle angle is set in response to the comparison result between a control target range determined in response to the target generator output and the detected generator output and the throttle angle is corrected, thereby performing target control of the generator output of a generator.

Abstract: A motor based on the wobble motor provides pure rotary motion and can be used as a spindle motor for very small disk drives. The primary components of the motor are fabricated using thin film processes. The rotor has inner and outer rings that are interconnected by flexible members, such as semicircularly-shaped spring elements, with the rings and flexible members being formed of the same material. The rotor resides within the wobble motor stator elements that are circumferentially spaced on a substrate. The inner rotor ring is supported by a bearing structure that may be a ball bearing assembly or a pin bearing comprising a post and a restraining cap. The outer rotor ring functions as the wobble motor rotor and rolls around the inside of the stator as the stator elements are sequentially electrostatically activated. The flexible members act as a transmission to convert the wobble motion of the outer rotor ring to pure rotary motion of the inner rotor ring.

Abstract: An electrical power generating arrangement (for example, in a combined heat and power system) in which electric power for supply to mains or grid is output from a generator driven via a continuously variable transmission (C.V.T.) by an internal combustion engine having a throttle. The throttle opening and ratio of the C.V.T. are controlled by a controller comprising a computer programmed with an engine map which is consulted by the computer when there is a change in an external electrical load power demand. For any load, the map indicates at which speed the engine should be run for optimum engine efficiency, the throttle opening is varied to attain that speed, and the controller varies the ratio of the C.V.T. to a value consistent with the desired engine speed.

Abstract: A starter that can improve heat radiation efficiency and improve the brush life. An upper movable contact is set on the end of a plunger shaft fixed on a plunger. The upper movable contact moves together with the plunger due to the attraction force of an attraction coil and contacts a fixed contact set to face the upper movable contact and which is connected to a terminal bolt. The upper movable contact is directly installed and integrated with a brush, so the heat generated by the bush is efficiently dissipated through the brush, upper movable contact, fixed contact and terminal bolt out the battery cable connected to the terminal bolt.

Abstract: An improved air tool includes an integrated air motor and electrical generator wherein the stator is positioned on a side of the rotor body opposite the working end of the tool to reduce vibrations transmitted to the stator. The stator is also positioned between the compressed air inlet and the rotor body such that compressed air flows across the stator to prevent overheating of the stator. The air tool includes an indicating circuit connected to the battery charging circuit for indicating a battery charge condition, a battery discharge condition, and a low lubrication condition of the air vanes. A light ring assembly is attached to the working end of the tool housing to provide light at the working end of the tool. Materials chosen for the magnets and the poles of the stator increase the power capability of the electrical generator. An illuminating apparatus for a conventional air tool includes a light ring with integral generator.