Abstract: A pollution-free thermodynamic engine system and method for converting thermal potential energy to useful mechanical energy employing an isothermal or quasi-isothermal primary working fluid thermodynamic expansion cycle. A relatively cold primary working fluid is conducted from a low temperature storage tank, through a plurality of engine stages each comprising a heat exchanger and an expansion engine operated on an isothermal of quasi-isothermal expansion cycle, and finally exhausted. A relatively warm secondary fluid is circulated through the engine stages to provide a heat input thereto. The engine stages are connected to the primary working fluid path in parallel to operate on a first isothermal expansion cycle; the engine stages are cascaded to operate on a second serial isothermal expansion cycle.

Abstract: An electric power plant having dual turbine-generators connected to a steam source that includes a high temperature gas cooled nuclear reactor. Each turbine comprises a high pressure portion operated by superheat steam and an intermediate-low pressure portion operated by reheat steam; a bypass line is connected across each turbine portion to permit a desired minimum flow of steam from the source at times when the combined flow of steam through the turbine is less than the minimum. Coolant gas is propelled through the reactor by a circulator which is driven by an auxiliary turbine which uses steam exhausted from the high pressure portions and their bypass lines. The pressure of the reheat steam is controlled by a single proportional-plus-integral controller which governs the steam flow through the bypass lines associated with the intermediate-low pressure portions.

Abstract: The apparatus described comprises two rotating heat exchangers, which serve as a heat source and a heat sink respectively, and which are designed to act simultaneously as fans. Owing to a very small separation between the annular rotating heat-exchange surfaces, the fans function with extremely low noise. These heat exchangers form a unit with a casing rotatably supported in bearings and their heat-exchange surfaces communicate with the inside of the casing. An expansion engine is located inside the casing and may be designed as a high-speed turbine or as a high-speed displacement motor.

Abstract: Steam is removed from the steam cycle of a turbine when the back pressure on the turbine exceeds a predetermined level. Heat is then extracted from the removed steam and dissipated in a cooling tower of a cooling system for the turbine's condenser. Increased temperatures in the cooling tower augment thermal fan action, resulting in lower coolant temperatures and limiting the back pressure on the turbine. When the back pressure on the turbine decreases to an acceptable level, the steam is redirected into the steam cycle.In a preferred embodiment, heat is extracted from steam by passing the steam through the high temperature coil of a vapor-absorption generator. The high temperature vapor formed in the generator transfers the heat to the heat dissipating surfaces of a cooling tower or into heat-exchange relationship with an exhaust coolant discharged from a steam condenser.

Abstract: A rotary displacer mechanism of the rotary-abutment type utilizes improved piston and sealing rotor design to reduce internal leakage and increase volumetric efficiency. A rotary-abutment positive displacement mechanism typically comprises a housing which encloses a rotary piston having a plurality of lobes and a cylindrical sealing rotor having a plurality of cavities for accepting the piston lobes during rotation. The improved piston design consists of a cylindrical stationary block around which only the lobes of the piston are rotatable. This design reduces bearing loads and allows for improved sealing characteristics. In addition, the sealing rotor is constructed with two axial sections of unequal diameter to provide a valving operation on either the intake or the discharge ports of the displacer, as required, and, at the same time, maintain communication between working volumes in the main rotor and sealing rotor bores.

Abstract: A power plant, e.g. for an automotive vehicle, comprises a rotary heat exchanger and an engine mounted coaxially therewith on a stationary support, the engine having two relatively rotatable members (e.g. a turbine rotor and a turbine stator) driven in opposite directions by the vapor pressure of a working fluid passing in a closed circuit through an evaporator section of the heat exchanger, the engine housing, and a condenser section of the heat exchanger. One of the counterrotating members, generally the stator, is rigid with the housing whereas the other one is operatively coupled with a load, e.g. by magnetic flux traversing a magnetically pervious wall of the housing. The coupling may include an armature winding of an electric-current generator disposed outside the engine housing for excitation by one or more magnets carried by the rotor inside the housing. With a suitable step-down ratio between the load and the rotor, the latter may turn at a speed substantially higher than that of the stator.

Abstract: Waste heat in the form of the sensible heat of flue gases, sensible and latent heat of geothermal sources, etc., is converted to usable energy. When the energy source consists solely of sensible heat of a gas or a liquid which is not the working fluid, the liquid working fluid is heated by the energy source and then expanded in a hot liquid turbine wherein partial vaporization occurs with decrease in pressure. The working fluid is thereby accelerated as thermal energy is converted to kinetic energy and internal energy of the vapor. The hot liquid turbine can be a hot liquid impulse turbine wherein the expansion occurs in the inlet nozzles and the mixed phase working fluid then impinges on the moving buckets of the impulse turbine transferring the kinetic energy to shaft work.

Abstract: A booster operated master cylinder piston for use in an anti-skid braking system includes a modulator piston located between the master cylinder piston and the booster valve assembly. In the event of a skid the pressure of booster fluid acting on the modulator piston is equalized across the modulator piston.

Abstract: A partitioning sleeve is positioned in the main body of a thermal actuator to form a separate internal liquid reservoir from which fluid may be supplied to the actuator heater. The heater is part of a heater sub-assembly that is sealed in an opening formed in the main body of the actuator so that the coil-type electric resistance heater is accurately positioned for submersion in liquid in the variable volume chamber formed in the main body of the actuator. Moreover, the recycling or cool down time for the thermal actuator is reduced by thermal transfer between an appreciable contacting surface area of an extensible diaphragm that partly forms the actuator chamber and a guide cap that also supports and guides the diaphragm during its extension to enlarge the variable volume chamber.

Abstract: A device for converting thermal energy into mechanical energy in a cycle process. A gaseous working medium is pushed from a hot space through a line containing a heater, regenerator and cooler through a cold space and thereafter pushed back through the same line into the hot space by a piston. The cold space is connected to a high pressure tank and a low pressure tank by two check valves operating in opposite directions. The pressure tanks are connected in turn to the inlet and the outlet respectively of an expansion engine.

Abstract: The operation of a geothermal well power-generation system is monitored by sensor, communication, and performance monitoring equipment permanently associated with the operating power generation system. Sensors detect changes in well water temperature, in water pressure below and above the pump, and in pump rotating speed. This data is transmitted by multiplex communication to receiver and utilization means at the earth's surface. A novel permanent magnet generator system supplies the signal representative of pump rotation speed and also supplies electrical power for the multiplex communication of the sensor output signals.

Abstract: A combined fluid motor and pumping apparatus including a unitary multi-land piston device having a motor piston end slidably mounted in a motor portion of an elongated tubular housing and an opposite pump piston end slidably mounted in an opposite pumping portion of the housing wherein the working area of the motor piston end is provided with a greater effective working area than the pump piston end so that upon directing a source of fluid at a predetermined pressure against the motor piston end of the piston device the pumping portion is effective to pressurize a work system to a higher pressure than the pressure at the source of fluid with the housing incorporating a fluid reservoir in the motor portion for making up fluid losses in the pumping portion.

Abstract: In a combined reservoir made of a plastic material such as nylon or polythene and master cylinder housing assembly, a bolt is screwed into coaxial openings of the housing and the reservoir to fasten each other. A metallic sleeve is secured to the opening of the plastic reservoir to limit the compression of plastic reservoir when the bolt is rotated. Thus, a seal rubber provided between the plastic reservoir and the housing is properly compressed to make effectively fluid-tight therebetween due to a proper fastening force exerted on the metallic sleeve.

Abstract: A multi-circuit brake installation for vehicles, in which two transmitter brake pistons which possess differently large effective brake pressure piston areas and which are hydraulically connected with each other, operate within a master brake cylinder actuatable at will by means of a servo-assist; these two transmitter brake pistons are connected into a respective brake circuit and are provided with corresponding means for limiting the relative movement with respect to one another, whereby control means are provided independent of the brake circuit for disengaging the hydraulic drive connection between the two transmitter pistons, which are displaced positively into the disengaging position exclusively upon the occurrence of a critical value of the servo-assist.

Abstract: The arrangement comprises a brake valve for controlling servo pressure which is proportional to the actuating force at a brake pedal and first and second displacement pistons each actuating a different brake circuit. The second displacement piston is actuated on its rear surface under control of the brake valve by the servo pressure introduced into a chamber behind the second displacement piston. The chamber is defined by the second displacement piston and an ancillary piston in a common housing bore. The ancillary piston has connected to its surface remote from the second displacement piston a tappet which in its end position rests against a housing stop. The first displacement piston is actuated by a balance arm, which is pivotably supported by the first displacement piston and the tappet, and a force transmitting member which is displaced by servo pressure when the servo pressure is present.

Abstract: A chamber of an actuating mechanism is hydraulically connected to the under-the-piston cavity of the cylinder adjacent to the housing of a pulsator. Built into the piston is a spring-loaded valve serving as a device for compensating for the leakage of liquid from the chamber and for protecting the latter against overload pressure. During the operating stroke of the piston, the valve is brought in contact with it by an eccentric, and in case the pressure is increased or it is necessary to compensate for the leakage of liquid, a clearance is formed between the valve and the piston for the liquid to pass the direction of the liquid flow being dependent on the pressure differential on the valve.

Abstract: A hydraulic braking force multiplying device has a:A body coupled to a master cylinder;A projecting portion provided in the body and projecting toward the master cylinder;A cup-shaped power piston one open end of which receives the outer periphery of the projecting portions slidably and sealingly relative thereto, and the other closed end of which is adapted to actuate a piston of the master cylinder;A working chamber defined between the power piston and the projecting portion;A bore extending through the body and coaxial with the piston of the master cylinder;A valve member slidably fitted in the bore and having one end extending into the working chamber;A spring urging the valve member in the direction away from the working chamber;A bore provided in the valve member coaxially therewith and communicating with the working chamber;A first pressure chamber defined between the bore of the body and the outer periphery of the valve member and normally communicating with a pressure source;A normally closed first v

Abstract: A pressure transducer formed as a three-dimensional body is rendered flexible in order to permit fine adjustment of a machine tool seat formed thereon by the formation of holes and slits in the transducer body which cause portions of the body to operate as spring-like webs. An expansion box is located within the transducer and a pressure transmitter separate therefrom is connected thereto to enable pressure from the transmitter to be applied to the expansion box to cause flexing of the transducer body and fine adjustment of the position of the tool seat. Because of the particular arrangement of the holes and slits in the transducer body, the tool seat is able to be moved parallel to itself during the adjustment process.

Abstract: In a power-operated hydraulic booster for a vehicle braking system pressurization of a power chamber in a housing on one side of a boost piston is controlled by an assembly of at least two separate spool parts which work in bores in the boost piston and the housing, and a boost chamber is defined in the housing between the power chamber and an output piston having an effective area less than that of the boost piston.

Abstract: A vapor generating system for use in a power plant having a steam turbine and a condenser connected in a series flow relationship, in which a vapor generating section receives a heat exchange fluid and passes the fluid in a heat exchange relation to a source of heat to raise the temperature and pressure of the fluid to predetermined values. The vapor generating section operates at substantially constant pressure during start-up and a pressure reducing station is provided for reducing the pressure of the fluid before it is passed to a plurality of separators in the main flow path for receiving the fluid and separating the fluid into a liquid and a vapor. The separators are connected to a vapor circuit and to a liquid circuit for passing the vapor and liquid to the turbine and condenser, respectively. A method of starting up a vapor generating system in a power plant.