Abstract: Methods and apparatus for flexibly and elastically creating a nonbinding downhill effect is disclosed. The downhill effect physically translates the center-of-mass of rotating apparatus in a forward direction circumferential to the direction of motion which aids in the rotational motion. The downhill effect method and apparatus may be applied to electrical generating apparatus, rotational power takeoff apparatus, belt driven apparatus and even a wheel.

Abstract: An electric power generating plant with an electric motor (11) driven by an internal combustion engine (4) is arranged in a chamber enclosed in a housing (1) surrounded by an insulating material (13) via a water jacket. A heat exchanger through which the exhaust gases (18) of the internal combustion engine flow is arranged inside this water jacket.

Abstract: A vehicle engine speed controller for automatically determining the electrical load demand made of the engine electrical system from portable auxiliary and vehicle mounted electrically operated or controlled equipment, singly or in combination, and controlling the engine throttle speed setting through a governor with certain fail safe control mechanisms.

Abstract: An integrated aircraft power unit providing the electrical and other forms of energy needed during auxiliary power unit operating conditions-while the aircraft is on the ground, and also providing airborne or emergency power including high altitude flight emergency conditions power wherein the power unit uses an oxidant supply carried by the aircraft. In this high altitude operating condition the power unit provides lower electrical output, but lower losses and improved efficiency over previous power units. The disclosed power unit includes separate electromechanical transducers or motor generator devices coupled to a segregated pair of rotational shaft members, one for the inlet or compressor fan and one for the outlet or exhaust turbine fan with electrical coupling and then friction clutch coupling of these shafts accomplished for low altitude high energy output operation of the power unit.

Abstract: A jogging electric current generator which comprises a drum-shaped rotatable exercising unit operatively connected to an electric current generator. The drum-shaped unit is constructed so that a jogger can enter the unit and jog for purposes of exercising and also simultaneously therewith generate an electric current through operation of the generator. The jogging generator may be located closely adjacent to a dwelling structure so that one may leave a dwelling structure and immediately enter the jogging generator. The drum-shaped unit may also be constructed so as to operate as a water vane with water being moved during the jogging activity. A hand-held control unit may also be employed by the user of the apparatus.

Abstract: A wind turbine power converter is disclosed herein that smooths the output power from a variable speed wind turbine, to reduce or eliminate substantial power fluctuations on the output line. The power converter has an AC-to-DC converter connected to a variable speed generator that converts wind energy to electric energy, a DC-to-AC inverter connected to a utility grid, and DC voltage link connected to an electrical energy storage device such as a battery or a fuel cell, or a photovoltaic or solar cell. Also, an apparatus and method is disclosed herein for controlling the instantaneous current flowing through the active switches at the line side inverter to supply reactive power to the utility grid. The inverter can control reactive power output as a power factor angle, or directly as a number of VARs independent of the real power.

Abstract: A coaxial engine starter comprises an electric motor having an armature winding of a single turn and a hollow armature rotary shaft for generating a rotational force for starting an engine. The starter also comprises an over-running clutch mechanism disposed within the hollow armature rotary shaft for preventing the occurrence of an excessive-speed of the armature and having a pinion having a gear teeth number equal to or less than seven for engaging with a ring gear of an engine upon starting of the electric motor. A solenoid switch is also disposed behind the electric motor for moving a pinion shaft forward and supplying an electric power to the electric motor.

Abstract: An electromagnetic push-out unit which controls engagement and disengagement between a pinion gear and a ring gear for an engine in a starter device via a non-magnetic cylindrical member disposed concentrically with a pinion shaft mechanically coupled to an electrical motor.

Abstract: In a planet gear speed-reducing starter in which the rotation of the armature rotary shaft is applied through a planet gear speed-reducing mechanism to the output rotary shaft coupled to the planet gear speed-reducing mechanism, a carrier supporting the planetary gears of the planet gear speed-reducing mechanism is fitted on the rear end portion of the output rotary shaft with its rearward movement limited in such a manner that the output rotary shaft is limited in rearward movement while the carrier is limited in forward movement, and the carrier and the output rotary shaft are slidable with a predetermined torque with each other, whereby the impact occurring therewith is absorbed sufficiently.

Abstract: A starter of an engine which comprises a starting motor, a detector which generates a voltage corresponding with a revolution of the engine, an electromagnetic switch having a coil which draws a plunger that supports a moving contact so that fixed contacts are shorted by the moving contact, and a magnet which retains the drawn plunger, a main switch and a usually open touch switch for activating the electromagnetic switch in starting up of the engine, a voltage comparator which compares a weak inverse direction current flown in the coil when the fixed contacts are closed, with the voltage from the detecting means and outputs a current when the voltage is higher than the weak inverse direction current, and a switch device for stopping the starting motor which makes ON and OFF according an output from the voltage comparator and generates an inverse drawing force by flowing a strong inverse direction current in the coil.

Abstract: An apparatus for converting the energy contained in the wave motion of a body of water to alternate forms of energy. The apparatus comprises a main water pipeline, a water inlet for directing water into the main water pipeline from a plurality of water inlet positions along a path in the direction of wave propagation. A vertical water flow riser is connected to, and receives water from, one end of the main water pipeline. The flow riser includes a cylinder and sealed piston arrangement, the piston movable upwardly in the cylinder responsive to the positive pressure of incoming water beneath the piston, and movable downwardly in the cylinder under the influence of gravity acting on the cylinder and on the water in the cylinder beneath the piston. A drain is provided for allowing a regulated amount of water to drain from the main pipeline on the downward stroke of the piston.

Abstract: In a starter motor, its electromagnetic switch has a movable contact cooperating with normally open contact member and normally closed contact member, and a part of a stationary contact in the normally closed contact member is formed into a locking piece to prevent the movable contact from contacting the passage formed in the cap of the switch, or the electromagnetic switch has a first movable contact cooperating with normally open contact member and a second movable contact cooperating with normally closed contact member, and an insulating partition wall is disposed between the first and second movable contacts, whereby the creeping distance between the normally open contact member and the normally closed contact member is increased as much, and the occurrence of current leakage is prevented.

Abstract: A starter motor for an engine which does not readily admit water into a casing thereof and which allows water to be discharged promptly from the housing. The starter motor comprises a seal member for closing a gap between an outer periphery of a pinion moving member on an output rotary shaft or of an overrunning clutch and the casing, and the casing has two communicating holes formed therein for the communication with the atmospheric air outside the casing. One of the communicating holes is formed at a lower portion of the casing so that water may be discharged outwardly from within the casing therethrough. The other communicating hole is formed at a higher location of the casing and may be a communicating groove formed in an end face of a front bracket of the casing along which the front bracket is coupled to a yoke of an electric motor which is mounted in the casing and operatively coupled to the pinion moving member by way of the overrunning clutch.

Abstract: A combined starter motor and alternator for a vehicular engine system can be positioned for direct coupling to an engine power shaft between the engine and transmisson. A pair of axially offset magnetically permeable disks are bolted to the power shaft. These disks form an annular channel therebetween. A plurality of rare earth permanent magnets are mounted on the inside face of one of the disks in the channel. Positioned within the channel is a stationary, ironless stator assembly having stranded conductive wire windings embedded in an insulation matrix. These windings alternatively pass from the perimeter of the disk towards the interior of the disk as each winding forms a single pass around a longitudinal axis of the power shaft. In a starter mode of operation, a polarity sensor, such as a Hall-effect switch mounted adjacent each stator phase winding, is used to control the driver switches of a conventional H-type arrangement for providing drive current to a starter motor stator coil.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for controlling fuel flow in a combustion turbine, wherein a speed reference signal is given and wherein an actual speed signal is given, is shown to include a fuel flow regulator for regulating the flow of fuel in response to a control signal, a controller for generating a control signal representative of the difference between the actual speed signal and the speed reference signal, a first adjustment member for modifying the speed reference signal to account for droop prior to generation of the control signal, and a second adjustment means for modifying the speed reference signal to account for speed error also prior to generating the control signal. A load condition specifically envisioned for use with the present invention is the point of closure of the generator breaker.

Abstract: A power plant for generating electric power and pneumatic pressure includes an internal combustion engine, an electrical generator, and a compressor and pneumatic supply tanks. Both the electrical generator and the compressor are driven by the engine, however, the engine drive is so coupled and controlled that the engine drives the generator as its primary load, and the compressor as its secondary load and apportions the engine power between these units according to need. When the generator uses all the engine power, pneumatic power is supplied by the pneumatic supply tanks, permitting a smaller than normal drive engine.A quick start and quick kill mechanism is provided for the engine by using the air supply from the pneumatic supply tank and an air motor, and a time delay shut down relay when no power is being used. Also the generator can be used as an electric drive motor for the compressor in place of the internal combustion engine, where 110 volt power is available on the job site.

Abstract: A coaxial engine starter comprising an electric motor (1) having a hollow armature rotary shaft (2) rotatably supported by a housing (17) and an output rotary shaft (3) coaxially slidably disposed within the armature rotary shaft (2) and having a pinion (4) at a front end thereof. The motor housing has a central bore within which the armature rotary shaft (2) and the plunger rod (6a) are disposed to define an annular clearance between the housing and the plunger rod (6a). Disposed behind the motor (1) is a solenoid switch (5) having a magnetically movable iron core (6) including a plunger rod (6a) coaxially slidable relative to the armature rotary shaft (2) for operatively pushing forward the output rotary shaft (3) within said hollow armature rotary shaft (2).

Abstract: In a vehicle vibration reduction control apparatus for controlling an alternator driven by an engine to charge a battery in such a way that vehicle body vibration due to the engine can be cancelled by alternator vibration, the reference voltage applied to an alternator field coil is reduced by a predetermined value for a predetermined time period, whenever battery terminal voltage exceeds a predetermined level. Since the battery charging rate can be reduced automatically at battery overcharge due to cancellation of engine vibration by alternator vibration, it is possible to prevent the battery from being overcharged when engine vibration increases at idling, for instance.

Abstract: An integrated turbine-generator or compressor-motor having a turbine/compressor mounted radially inwardly of a generator/motor or a generator/motor mounted inward of the turbine/compressor with the turbine, for example, sharing a common rotor with the generator.

Abstract: A variable speed wind turbine is disclosed comprising a turbine rotor that drives an AC induction generator, a power converter that converts the generator output to fixed-frequency AC power, a generator controller, and an inverter controller. The generator controller uses field orientation to regulate either stator currents or voltages to control the torque reacted by the generator. The inverter controller regulates the output currents to supply multi-phase AC power having leading or lagging currents at an angle specified by a power factor control signal.