Abstract: A sea thermal power plant is provided with pumps of the propeller type for bringing up cold water and forcing it through suitable condensers or heat exchangers and for drawing a continuous flow of warm water from a surface layer of the sea and forcing it down through suitable heat exchangers or boilers of the plant. The water so drawn from the sea flows through the heat exchangers and is subsequently discharged therefrom, which action creates thrust thereby producing forces to move the plant over the water surface. The heat exchangers are provided with deflectors which control the direction of discharge to produce a reaction force in any desired direction to drive the power plant. The pumps have associated therewith pipes which have located therein, downstream of the pumps, bypass louvres or vanes which can be opened to discharge water directly into the sea to produce a higher thrust for moving or positioning the power plant.

Abstract: A fluid actuated power device which includes a reciprocal cylinder rotatably mounted on a central, tubular shaft for back-and-forth movement along the shaft between a pair of end support members. The cylinder has first and second sets of spiral grooves on its outer surface, the first set of spiral grooves being in mesh with the spiral teeth of a first ratchet gear and the second set of spiral grooves being in mesh with the spiral teeth of a second ratchet gear, the ratchet gears being carried by a cylindrical body fixed relative to the shaft. The ratchet gears permit the cylinder to rotate only in one direction relative to and about the shaft as the cylinder moves back and forth along the length of the shaft. The cylinder is coupled by spline means to a gear assembly which, in turn, is connected to a rotatable second shaft, the latter serving as a power takeoff means which can be connected to external work-producing apparatus.

Abstract: There is shown a safety control system for a self-propelled road roller having hydrostatic transmission, which includes a prime mover, an hydraulic pump driven by the prime mover and included in a main hydraulic circuit incorporating a motor with a power-off brake device, a check valve bridge with a ventable relief valve and a main control valve, and means for selecting automatically the speed and a predetermined operating speed, the speed selecting means comprise a secondary hydraulic circuit including means operatively connectible with the prime mover speed control means and controllable by the ventable relief valve in accordance with the operation of the main control valve.

Abstract: An internal explosion engine, having a vessel with an interior space and inlets and outlets for respectively introducing fluid into said space at relatively low pressure and removing said fluid from said space at relatively high pressure; an electric discharge explosion in situ sparking device having spaced electric discharge elements that are disposed in said space, said discharge sparking device further including an applied electrical potential of opposite polarities to said discharge elements, a fluid reservoir for holding said fluid, and a drive adapted to be driven by the pressurized fluid to do work; wherein said electrical discharge device is adapted to explode in said fluid, said exploded fluid expanding in volume to increase the internal pressure in said system, to provide said pressurized fluid whereby said drive is driven by said increased internal pressure.

Abstract: Auxiliary control of fluid actuated steering apparatus for ships, boats and the like (hereinafter, "water vessels") includes isolating the existing steering control system from the steering apparatus and providing flow-communication between fluid under pressure and the steering apparatus through an auxiliary directional control sub-system enabling control of the steering apparatus independently of the main steering control system. According to a preferred embodiment, the source of the fluid includes a quantity of fluid stored under pressure and another quantity of fluid adapted to be provided under pressure. Isolation of the existing steering control system is carried out by coupling the source of fluid to a by-pass control sub-system preferably adapted both to isolate the main steering control system and to couple the auxiliary directional control sub-system to the steering apparatus.

Abstract: A fluid system (10, 10A, 10B) which supplies two work systems (26, 38) with respective different fluid flow rates, including a pressure-flow compensated pump (12), a first control valve (18) for delivering the fluid to one of the work systems, a second control valve (28) for receiving the fluid from the first control valve and delivering the fluid to the other of the work systems (38), a first device ([20,42,50] or [20,56,58] or [20,90,96]) coupled between the pump output and the first control valve, for providing one control signal causing the pump to produce one flow rate of fluid for activating the one work system (26), and a second device ([20,40,44,46,50] or [22,58,66,72,78] or [22,88,92,96,102]) for overriding the first device for providing another control signal causing the pump to produce another flow rate of fluid for actuating the other work system.

Abstract: A device for extracting energy from sea waves by the motion of a submerged cylinder held normal to the direction of motion of the waves by tie members at each end of the cylinder. The tie members at their other respective ends are moored to the sea bed. Changes in the load on the tie members are arranged to turn in one direction a drum drivably connected to a vane pump. A spring, or a counterweight acting on a cam-shaped pulley, is arranged to apply a biasing load to the drum in the other direction so as to produce an oscillatory movement of the drum from changes in load on the tie members and drive the pump. A hydraulic motor connected to an electric generator is driven by the pump.The drum may be situated at the moorings on the sea bed, or at the cylinder.

Abstract: A device for extracting energy from gaseous or liquid fluid flows, comprising two or more foils having openings on the foils' outer surface to tap the low and high pressures created by the fluids passing around them; within each foil there is a partition to keep the pressures separated and each chamber is vented to a manifold; the manifolds channel the pressures to a device which produces mechanical or electrical energy utilizing the pressure differential which has been created.

Abstract: An hydraulic motor having as an energy source a cyclically controlled rising and falling level of liquid in a working tank in which is provided a piston element having a liquid-tight hollow chamber that is arranged to move vertically with the rising and falling liquid level in response to buoyant and gravitational forces acting thereon. The liquid level in the tank is varied by using a plurality of liquid-tight exchange receptacles located adjacent the tank in vertically spaced relationship between the lower and upper liquid levels in the tank, with each exchange receptacle communicating with the tank through an opening including a normally closed valve. A control means for varying the liquid level in the tank includes a system for sequentially and individually opening and closing each of the valves from the uppermost to the lowermost exchange receptacle, and vice versa.

Abstract: A valve block for hydraulic excavators having at least two sets of valves which are each coupled to their pump. The valves are of the type which, in the unactuated state, allows the passage of pressure medium. The hydraulic devices for executing working movements of the excavator are each coupled to their valve in each set. The valves in the one set are coupled in series, counted from the pump in the sequence the valve which is coupled to the hydraulic device for the first working movement of the excavator, the valve which is coupled to the hydraulic device for the second working movement of the excavator, and the valve which is coupled to the hydraulic device for the third working movement of the excavator.

Abstract: More specifically, the invention includes a single lever control mechanism for controlling the operation of hydraulic cylinders and including a control housing, a manually operable lever, and a support member housed in the control housing and having a supporting surface. The single lever control mechanism also includes a pivot member rigidly connected to the lower end of the lever and supported on the supporting surface of the support member for rocking movement from a neutral position in a first pivotal direction and in a second pivotal direction transverse to the first direction. The control mechanism also includes a first cable attached to one side of the pivot member and being adapted to be operably connected to a first hydraulic cylinder for actuating that hydraulic cylinder in response to pivotal movement of the lever and the pivot member in the first direction.

Abstract: A single hand held and operated tool comprising a housing; a hydraulic fluid reservoir located in the housing; a hydraulic pressure cylinder located in the housing; a hydraulic piston moving with respect to the pressure cylinder in response to hydraulic pressure produced therein; a hydraulic pump operable by a single hand while grasping the housing and coupled to the fluid reservoir and to the pressure cylinder for forcing hydraulic fluid received from the reservoir into the cylinder; and valve apparatus governing fluid communication between the hydraulic pump and the pressure cylinder and operative in response to hydraulic pressure in the cylinder for lowering the quantity of hydraulic fluid supplied to the cylinder by each pump stroke when the pressure in the cylinder exceeds a predetermined pressure, thus providing two-speed tool operation.

Abstract: A novel tidal and wave-power collection apparatus is disclosed which is well suited for oceanic installations. In the preferred embodiment, a matrix of power collection units is easily assembled at sea, each being bridged and reinforced by catwalks extending therebetween which form trilateral power collection modules having such units at each of the corners thereof. Each power collection unit comprises a central tubular pilaster embedded in the ocean floor around which is disposed a toroidal float which moves up and down with the waves and tide and which acts to drive an air compressor while rising and falling. The output of the air compressor, i.e. compressed air, is stored in the float's chamber and is transmitted through conduits in the bridging structure to a remote power consumption site. The apparatus is efficient, economical and capable of capturing and storing large quantities of power which may be utilized to satisfy peak load power demands.

Abstract: Three embodiments of a hydraulic safety mechanism are adapted to adjust the speed setting for an engine upon a reduction of pressure in a chamber, due for example, to loss of lubricating pressure, overspeeding of the engine or overheating, for example. In each embodiment, a speed control element for the engine is maintained in a normal operating position by a piston and cylinder combination which hydraulically blocks the chamber from the fluid drain in a normal operating position, the piston responding to reduced pressure in the chamber by communicating the chamber with the drain the piston thereby being hydraulically unlatched and permitting the speed control element to be repositioned to a reduced speed setting. A restrictive orifice, preferably of variable size and self-cleaning construction, regulates communication between the hydraulic circuit and the chamber. In another embodiment the safety mechanism includes a solenoid and accumulator chamber to adapt it for remote operation.

Abstract: A device for efficiently extracting hydrodynamic energy from ocean waves, comprising a floating platform structure, an anchoring means which is connected to piston shafts of an array of hydraulic cylinders having pistons therein within the platform structure which act through a network of check valves as piston pumps for transferring hydraulic fluid from an air cushioned low pressure reservoir to an air cushioned high pressure reservoir, a hydraulic motor or turbine mechanically coupled to an electric generator and hydraulically connected between the two reservoir tanks which produces electricity as fluid is allowed to flow through the motor or turbine from the high pressure reservoir to the low pressure reservoir.

Abstract: A drive system useful for driving reciprocating equipment such as saw mill log carriages or the like is disclosed. The drive system includes a plurality of fixed displacement pumps driven by a prime mover. The pumps in turn drive one or more fixed displacement hydraulic motors which drive the carriage. The pumps are provided with pressure responsive unloading valves which unload at different pressures so that as pressure on the system builds up one or more pumps are sequentially unloaded. An accumulator is charged at low pressures and provides fluid for driving the motors when required at the higher pressures. The inertial forces in the heavy carriage, during the time when the carriage is slowing down, are used to drive the fixed displacement motors as pumps. During this portion of the cycle, the motors are interconnected with the accumulator so that the pumping action of the motors is used to recharge the accumulator.

Abstract: The closure and trip pilot valves of a circuit-breaker control unit are actuated by a hydraulic device controlled by a pressure drop which appears in control lines in response to the transient opening of a drain electrovalve within a control cubicle. Thus the pressure-drop hydraulic signal transmitted from a single central control cubicle for closing or tripping a circuit-breaker dispenses with the need for any electrical system and permits the control of a plurality of circuit-breakers or breaker modules solely by means of small-section lines providing hydraulic connections between the central control cubicle and each breaker control unit.

Abstract: A torque-amplifying hydraulic servo-mechanism of the kind including a rotary hydraulic motor and a hydraulic distributor, said motor being of the sliding vane type and the distributor of the "face", open center type. According to the invention, the rotor (50) of the hydraulic motor includes two diametrically opposite cylindrical surfaces (90) in contact with the stator bore and each extending over an arc equal to that between two adjacent vanes (24), and two interconnecting portions each having two flat faces (106, 108) interconnected by a cylindrical surface portion (104); and the number of vanes (94) is advantageously four times the number of said surfaces ( 90), that is eight. The servo-mechanism thus designed may be advantageously used in power steering systems for motor vehicles, and produces an output torque substantially constant irrespective of the relative position of the rotor and stator of the hydraulic motor.

Abstract: The inflow of fluid from a motor driven pump is divided into two flow streams at a flow rate ratio selectively adjusted through a manually actuated flow divider valve. The adjusted flow rate ratio is maintained constant by a pressure control device within two outflow conduits interconnected by secondary throttling branches to regulate pressure as a function of outflow rates.

Abstract: A control mechanism for controlling a reversible pump that selectively supplies fluid to two different motors forming separate functions includes a control lever pivoted about a fixed axis and having said pump connected thereto. A control console is located adjacent the control lever and cooperates therewith to define a plurality of distinct operating positions on opposite sides of a neutral position for said control lever. The control lever and control console also have releasable interlock means defining the neutral position for the control lever and the pump.