Abstract: A surface luminous lighting unit has a light panel comprising a plurality of light guiding plates laminated in different lengths. The longer side of the light panel is made shorter than the distance between filaments of a lamp, and longer than the distance between the portions where a luminance of the lamp is equal to 75% of the maximum luminance of the lamp. The surface luminous lighting unit comprises a light guide which comprises a plurality of light guiding plates in different length laminated in such a manner that the sides of those plates where light enters are made level with each other, where the other sides thereof are arranged in a step-like. A linear light source is affixed to the light entering side of the light guide, and a reflector is affixed to the light exiting side of the light guide in such a manner as to extend thereover.

Abstract: An illuminated safety helmet including a protective core and a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) disposed around the protective core. The LEDs are sequentially illuminated by control circuitry. A housing encloses the control circuitry and a power source for powering the control circuitry and the LEDs. The housing is electrically connected to the LEDs and is removably attached to the protective core of the safety helmet. An impact resistant shell or a skin of stretchable material is disposed on the external or internal surface of the protective core.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a flashlight for use by firefighters and for use in other specialized areas. In particular, the present invention relates to a flashlight comprising a body of substantially parallel, spaced tubular members that each contain a plurality of dry cell batteries for powering the flashlight. A lamp is connected at one end of the pair of tubular members for pivoting movement relative to the members through at least 90.degree.. A support base is connected across the opposite ends of the tubular members and is configured to support the flashlight on a surface with the pair of tubular members positioned upright and elevating the lamp above the surface. The support base is removable from the ends of the tubular members to provide access to interiors of the members for inserting or removing dry cell batteries to power the flashlight. Adapters are provided for each of the tubular members to adapt their interiors to accommodate either D-size dry cell batteries or C-size dry cell batteries.

Abstract: A relatively hot and a relatively cold chamber are air evacuated and contain a low boiling point liquid. The temperature differential between the chambers results in a vapor pressure differential between the chambers. The vapor pressures inside the chambers transmit a vector force to a movable wall of each of the chambers. The vapor pressures in the chambers are equalized intermittently by an intermittent communication between the chambers. The chambers are positioned relative to each other so that the movable wall of one chamber transmits an opposing vector force to the movable wall of the other chamber. This brings the walls to a position which is determined by the the resultant of the opposing vector forces upon the walls. When the resultant of the vector forces changes during the intermittent communication between the chambers the movable walls change their position. The movements of the walls between different positions perform useful work through standard mechanical links to a force receiving means.

Abstract: A mirror assembly including an enclosure having an aperture, and defining a cavity, a light source or lamp for emitting light in predetermined wavelengths or an instrument for emitting or receiving light having predetermined characteristics, borne by the enclosure and positioned in the cavity; and a dichroic mirror borne by the enclosure and disposed in substantially occluding relation relative to the aperture, the dichroic mirror reflecting ambient visible light and being substantially transparent to the light emitted by the light source and instrument, or received by the instrument as the case may be.

Abstract: A lighting system employs luminaires having reflectors with a fluorescent lamp support frame at the base end of the inside of the reflector. The support frame includes a plurality of extensions for holding the bases of compact fluorescent lamps arranged in a general star configuration around the center line of the reflector. The extensions are at an angle to cause the compact fluorescent lamps to follow the outwardly-flared inside surface of the reflector. A system of luminaires then provides a substantially uniform volume of light in a facility due to the patterns of overlapping light contributed by the individual luminaires.

Abstract: An indicator element comprising a light permeable cap (6) having a light source (26, 50) at least partially disposed therein, and a protective sleeve (32) with connecting conductors (54, 55) for the light source (26, 50) disposed in the interior thereof, the cap (6) and the protective sleeve (32) being at least partially surrounded by and fastened in a sleeve (2) in such a way that with a compact construction, a reliably operating signal of sufficient brightness is assured and the safety requirements for direct connection to line voltage are satisfied.

Abstract: A boiler plant, comprising at least a first boiler and a second boiler. The first boiler comprises a first superheater and a first reheater for generation and heating of steam. The second boiler comprises a second superheater and a second reheater for generation and heating of steam. A first high-pressure turbine is driven by steam generated by the first superheater and fed to the first high-pressure turbine. The steam is delivered to the first reheater after having been expanded in the first high-pressure turbine. A second high-pressure turbine is driven by steam generated by the second superheater and fed to the second high-pressure turbine. The steam is delivered to the second reheater after having been expanded in the second high-pressure turbine. An intermediate-pressure/low-pressure turbine is driven by reheated steam generated by the first and second reheaters fed to the intermediate-pressure/low-pressure turbine.

Abstract: A portable electric lamp has a flat sided body that contains one or more batteries to power a lamp bulb, and an enclosure which has a light-transmitting lens portion, the enclosure housing the lamp bulb. The enclosure is mounted for sliding movement on and with respect to the body. A switch, a battery contact of which is carried by the enclosure, moves with the enclosure, into and out of contact with the battery to energize and de-energize the lamp bulb. In the embodiment described, the body is made up of two cavities, hinged along a long edge. An opposite long edge is provided with tabs on which mounting lugs are provided that fit into channels in the enclosure to permit sliding and to mount the enclosure on the body. The assembled lamp has no protrusions, as distinguished from lamps with switch buttons extending from them.

Abstract: A lighting system for a surgical operating room comprises a light source for emitting electromagnetic radiation, a support for holding the light source above an operating table in the operating room, the light source being movably mounted to the support, and a drive operatively coupled to the light source for automatically moving the light source relative to the support. An activator or control disposed in proximity to the operating table is operatively connected to the drive for controllably energizing the drive in response to manipulations by a surgeon working at the operating table.

Abstract: A combined water purification and power generating plant is disclosed having special features designed to maximize the cycle thermal efficiency and salt recovery, with little or no concentrated brine produced therefrom. Using the plant, a volume of salt water is delivered to a plurality of indirect and direct contact feed heaters. Within the direct contact heaters, the salt water is heated and diluted by condensation therein by super-heated steam delivered thereto. Any alkaline salts having reverse solubility characteristics particulate and are filtered therefrom. From the last direct contact feed heater, the diluted salt water is delivered to a plurality of high pressure, high temperature evaporators arranged in a series which are used to further heat, evaporate and filter the salt water in multiple stages thereby improving the plant's efficiency. A steam heater is used to super-heat a steam which delivered to various areas of the plant to heat and evaporate the salt water.

Abstract: A combined flashlight-baton having a stick portion and a handle orthogonal thereto. The stick portion includes a hollow cylindrical chamber having a flashlight mechanism at one end thereof. The flashlight mechanism comprises a longitudinally slit metallic cylindrical member spring-biassed to widen the diameter thereof and the slit and fitably engaged with the inner chamber wall. Electrical contacts, first and second electrical contact members, a switch and a flashlight bulb are provided for energization. The handle has an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the stick portion and housing the switch. The handle portion has a housing for maintaining the location of the switch for operation with the same hand of the individual holding the combined flashlight-baton. Internal contacts and electrical connections are provided in the hollowed-out cylindrical chamber and the handle, the cylindrical member being part of the electric circuitry for the light mechanism.

Abstract: An improved lamp-mounting elongate roof fixture having a support, a beam over the support and suspended above the roof, and a light source under the beam, and characterized by a mounting plate extending along the support and movably, preferably pivotably, attached to it in a manner facilitating relamping, a lamp socket mounted to the bottom of the mounting plate to support a lamp along an axis perpendicular to the plate, and a reflector and preferably a light-transmissive protective jar, in fixed position on the support. The lamp and reflector are positioned to cast direct and reflected light below the beam and across the roof to illuminate the roof brightly with improved evenness and reduced glare. The mounting plate pivots to move the lamp from its use position in the jar and adjacent to the reflector to a raised position for relamping.

Abstract: A housing for a tubular lamp having a generally rectangular configuration with parallel side walls and end walls forming a box with an open top and bottom. The side walls provide a channel at a bottom end and an inwardly directed flange at a top end along their length. A V-shaped reflector having straight segments with horizontally turned end portions is resiliently inserted against each side wall where one of the horizontally turned end portions presses against the inwardly directed top flange and the opposite end portion of the reflector fits into the channel. The invention provides for quick assembly and change-out of reflectors depending on conditions.

Abstract: A contraction-extension mechanism type actuator is provided which operates with a small and simple mechanism, offers no hindrance to other work units, adopts a construction capable of fine adjustment, and enables only the leading end of a module to be freely moved while producing virtually no motion of the module itself. These objects are accomplished by a contraction-extension mechanism type actuator which is a joint array formed of a shape-memorizing alloy and provided with a contraction-extension mechanism having shape-controlling heaters integrally attached to the component joints of the array and having the joint array itself serving as its own a drive source.

Abstract: A housing is inserted from the rear side of a case having an indicating plate. The housing has a plurality of illuminating cells corresponding to the indicating plate, and a plurality of bulb insertion holes communicating with the illuminating cells, respectively. A common electrode plate passes through the vicinities of the bulb insertion holes while a plurality of control electrode plates pass through the vicinities of the bulb insertion holes opposite to the common electrode plate. A plurality of bulbs are inserted in and engaged with the bulb insertion holes and are electrically connected to the common electrode plate. One end of each of a plurality of wires are electrically connected to the control electrode plates.

Abstract: Athletes' shoes, or other selectable footwear conventionally having a flexible forward tongue, is modified into a tongue forward-fold provided with a horizontal aperture and in forward alignment with the incandescent lamp portion of a luminaire system so that such lamp might beam directionally forwardly from the tongue of the worn footwear. The directionally forward light beam is not only aesthetically attractive, but also can illuminate the directionally forward pathway being taken by the wearer. In preferred embodiments, the luminaire system is a unifiabie incandescent lamp and storage battery power source therefor, and with such unit being securely and replaceably positioned immediately behind the tongue forward-fold.

Abstract: A lighting apparatus for use with in line blade type skates ("Rollerblade" or ice skates) may be temporarily applied to the sides of the blade below the arch of the skate, with the control box temporarily secured within the opening in the arch. The control box may contain the battery power supply, an on/off switch, and optionally may include a circuit providing for the intermittent flashing of the light(s). The lights are included in one or more small tubes which are applied to one or both sides of the skate. Each tube preferably contains a series of lights (preferably light emitting diodes) wired up to the switch, power supply and (optional) flasher circuit. When the switch is turned on, the light display provides an attractive addition to a skating performance and may substantially increase safety when a skater is skating outdoors at night.

Abstract: A system (100) for integrating a driving light (120) with a vehicle's external rear viewing mirror assembly (10) is provided. The driving light system (100) includes a lamp housing (110) having a pair of open opposing ends (104, 106) formed by a wall (102) having a tubular contour. The lamp housing (110) is mountable to an external rear viewing mirror assembly (10) by means of a tab (112) having a portion (116) thereof engageable within a recess portion (16) of the vehicle's rear viewing mirror frame assembly (14), and a fastener (108) which extends through a through opening (117) formed in the tubular wall (102) for engagement with a through opening (18) formed in a portion of the frame assembly (14) of the rear viewing mirror assembly (10). A lamp assembly (120) is disposed in the open end (104) of tubular housing (110), and coupled to the tubular wall (102) for displacement in two orthogonal directions, independent of an adjustable mirror (12) of the rear viewing mirror assembly (10).

Abstract: A light assembly for outdoor purposes utilizing a supportive and corrosion protective housing allowing below grade placement. Individualized lamp and electrical component assemblies are separately sealed from water infiltration and are located within the housing with electrical connections provided by submersible rated cable and connectors. A potting material in the lamp assembly encapsulates the electrical wires which are further surrounded by a solid soldering compound barrier. A closure assembly separately seals the electrical components using a mounting base, a harness and a potting body which form one body through molding of the potting body about the remainder of the elements. A harness assembly wicking barrier is employed which further isolates the transformer from water infiltration. Bare metal strips forming conductors are encapsulated in the potting material. A face ring with slotted openings permits air flow and water entry into the housing for cooling the lamp assembly.