Abstract: A redundant inertial measuring system includes three strapdown platforms each having two inertial sensors. The sensitive axes of the sensors are discretely disposed relative to the faces of a dodecahedron. The sensors and their associated electronics are physically and electrically separated from each other within each of the platforms.

Abstract: The invention provides a "COORDINATED HEAT PUMP SYSTEM" which simultaneously satisfies the thermal needs of both the heat source and the heat sink. The heat pump system of the present invention is adapted to continuously withdraw heat from a heat source and continuously deliver heat at a required rate to a heat sink such that the ratio of heat delivered to heat withdrawn may be controlled by a cooling means, said heat pump system comprising a compressor adapted to compress at least a portion of refrigerant vapor from an evaporator thereof wherein a refrigerant withdraws heat from said heat source, a condenser in which refrigerant vapor so compressed is condensed and delivers heat at the required rate, cooling means for balancing the rates of heat delivery and heat withdrawal, and an expansion valve for expanding liquid refrigerant from said condenser into said evaporator.

Abstract: A hydride fuel system is disclosed for use with a motor vehicle or other apparatus having a combustion unit and a mixing device for mixing hydrogen gas with air for introduction into the combustion unit. The system includes a hydride storage tank having a housing and a plurality of containers disposed in the housing for holding hydride material. The containers are spaced apart to enable the flow thereabout of fluid introduced into the housing of the hydride storage tank. Either exhaust gases or combustion unit cooling fluid is delivered into the hydride storage tank housing to heat the hydride material in the containers and cause the material to release hydrogen gas which is then conveyed to the mixing device. The pressure of the hydrogen gas in the containers is monitored and the amount of exhaust gases or cooling fluid delivered to the hydride storage tank is controlled accordingly.

Abstract: An improved piston assembly for high-power internal combustion engines such as supercharged diesel engines. The piston includes separate head and skirt portions. An elongated tubular-shaped bearing member having an internal bearing surface and an external journal surface is formed across the bottom of the piston head. A connecting rod passes through an opening in the lower center of the bearing member and is attached to a wrist pin which rotates against the internal bearing surface of the tubular-shaped bearing member to permit rotational movement between the connecting rod and the piston head. The wrist pin is supported by the bearing surface along its entire length to prevent any flexing of the wrist pin when high compressive forces are applied to the piston head. The skirt is connected to the piston head by thrust bearings which engage the external journal surface of the bearing member substantially along its entire length to permit rotational movement between the piston head and the piston skirt.

Abstract: A piston for a heat engine has a chamber adjacent the piston head, for receiving cooling oil for cooling parts of the piston that in operation are subjected to elevated thermal stress. An oil inlet and an oil outlet provide for a suitable flow of oil into and out of the chamber, to ensure controlled cooling of the piston in particular of the piston head surface and the piston ring area. The chamber can be of annular shape so that the central part of the head surface remains uncooled.The invention is particularly suitable for a composite-structure piston.

Abstract: Reciprocating piston machine having a pair of spaced, parallel, double-ended cylinders straddling a crankshaft with a single crankpin. First and second double-ended pistons reciprocate within respective cylinders and are connected to crankshaft by T-shaped connecting member journalled on crosshead. Crosshead reciprocates on the crosshead guides positioned between and parallel to the cylinders. Connecting member has outer ends of piston connecting arms slidably and rotatably connected to pistons to accommodate changes in angle of connecting member, with outer end of crank connecting arm journalled on crankpin. Clearance openings extend between inner side walls of cylinder and crankcase to accept piston connecting arms, outer ends of openings serving as inlet ports. Exhaust ports are provided on generally opposite side of cylinder to inlet ports to permit efficient scavenging of spent charge.

Abstract: The pressure and temperature and in some cases the flow rate of fluids such as polymers are controlled by reducing the cross-sectional area of the conduit carrying the fluid to provide a flow channel communicating with the inner surface of the conduit whose cross-sectional area is less than that of the conduit. A valve housing is provided containing a chamber which communicates with the flow channel. The pressure and temperature and in some cases the flow rate of the fluid is controlled by adjusting the position of a valve member slideably disposed in the chamber. As the valve member slides within the chamber, it enlarges or reduces the cross-sectional area of the flow channel to change the flow resistance of the channel, thereby changing the pressure and temperature upstream of the channel and in some cases the flow rate through the channel.

Abstract: A compressed oil burner which includes an operating nozzle having a valve body which is yieldingly loaded against a valve seat in a direction opposite to the flow direction so that fuel is supplied at a pulsating pressure, a sleeve surrounding the operating nozzle with adjustable dampers for supplying air thereto and check valves for exhausting fuel and air mixtures, a separate starting nozzle having an air fuel mixing chamber with outflow apertures positioned on the sleeve in front of the operating nozzle and fuel and air inlets into the chamber to supply fuel and air thereto when the fuel supply to the operating nozzle is closed.

Abstract: In a spark-ignition engine of the type having a main combustion chamber and an auxiliary combustion chamber so as to ignite the lean air-fuel mixture, a passage intercommunicating between the main and auxiliary combustion chambers has a bent portion between the ends thereof, and the spark gap of a spark plug is placed at or in the vicinity of the bent portion in the passage.

Abstract: This invention provides a method and apparatus for maintaining the operating temperature in a device in which exhaust gases are passed from an engine through a fuel reformer in indirect heat exchange with fuel and steam in contact with a catalytic bed for steam reforming the fuel, the reformed fuel is brought into heat exchange relationship with the fuel and water entering the fuel reformer and thereafter the engine is operated utilizing this reformed fuel for lowering the amount of pollutant species from the engine.

Abstract: Gas generator for mounting on an automobile, said generator comprising a float chamber for holding a liquid fuel, a gas tank to hold an inflammable gas generated through partial oxidation and steam-reforming of said liquid fuel after passage through catalyst beds, and a valve for opening and closing a duct which carries said liquid fuel from said float chamber to the carburetor in response to the pressure within said gas tank, characterized in that when starting, only the liquid fuel is supplied from said float chamber to the carburetor to drive the engine, and when said catalyst beds are heated up and the inflammable gas fills the gas tank, said inflammable gas is used as the fuel supply for the engine.

Abstract: A control system for controlling the opening of a throttle valve of a vehicle comprises a throttle valve actuating mechanism and a diaphragm apparatus including a diaphragm member which divides the casing of the diaphragm apparatus into two chambers, the first chamber being communicated through an orifice and air chamber with an intake manifold leading to an engine while the second chamber being communicated directly with the intake manifold.When a vehicle is decelerated, the vacuum in the intake manifold is increased with the result that the vacuum in the second chamber is increased while the vacuum in the first chamber does not increase, because of the presence of the orifice and air chamber so that the vacuum in the second chamber will become higher than that in the first chamber, pulling the diaphragm member toward the second chamber, which drives the throttle valve actuating mechanism to actuate the throttle valve to open to feed more air fuel mixture, thus preventing misfire.

Abstract: An opposed piston engine includes pistons mounted at opposite ends of a piston rod which is pivotally coupled to one end of a rocker arm coupling the piston rod to a connecting rod in turn coupled to an eccentric drive mechanism. The rocker arm is pivotally coupled to the engine block by pivot means permitting necessary lineal movement of the rocker arm during operation. Counterbalance arms are pivotally coupled to the engine block at one end and include weighted portions positioned to provide counterbalancing for the opposed pistons. Pivot means couple the rocker arm and the counterbalance arms for providing the desired relative motion between these elements. A hollow drive shaft is coupled to the eccentric drive mechanism and a transmission shaft extends through the drive shaft to permit positioning of a clutch at one end of the engine and the transmission at the other.

Abstract: An intake system for an internal combustion engine has been developed to include a translationally movable throttle to cause cross-sectional passage of the intake manifold of the engine cylinders to vary. This throttle utilizes a substantially rigid plate which is pierced with orifices adapted to be connected with each of the intakes corresponding to the various engine cylinders. A movable blade is provided with apertures corresponding in number and spacing to the orifices which contacts with a control and guide means so that the blade is allowed to move parallel to the plate from a running position in which the apertures of the blade are substantially opposite the orifices of the plate to an idle position in which at least the majority of the orifices of the plate are obturated by the blades.

Abstract: The disclosure concerns an internal combustion spark ignition engine including a cylinder; a reciprocating piston in said cylinder and defining a combustion chamber therewith; dividing means for dividing the combustion chamber into a main and an auxiliary section, said auxiliary section being in communication with only the main section, an orifice in said dividing means for connecting the said sections, the volumes of the main and auxiliary sections and the size of the orifice being selected to be such that, during a compression cycle, part of the combustible mixture of air and fuel enters into the auxiliary section in such a manner as to cause great turbulence therein, and a spark plug provided in the auxiliary section for causing ignition.

Abstract: An engine includes a block having at least one cylinder in which a piston reciprocates. The piston is connected through a piston connecting rod to a lever arm, and the lever arm is in turn connected to the eccentric crank pin of a crankshaft through a crank connecting rod. The lever arm is positioned and moved not only by the piston and crankshaft, but also by a positioning cam which bears against one end of the arm. The arrangement is such that throughout the entire power stroke the force transmitted to the crankshaft is applied through a relatively large moment arm, thus providing greater torque for the engine. The arrangement results in a relatively large angle between the crank connecting rod and the crank arm and permits greater eccentricity on the crank arm.

Abstract: In an internal combustion engine carburetor the idle mixture adjusting valve is supported in a guide member. A sleeve slides on the guide member and carries a closure portion engageable with a seat surrounding the idle fuel discharge port. A solenoid energized during deceleration moves the sleeve to engage the closure portion with the seat and interrupt fuel flow through the discharge orifice.

Abstract: In an internal combustion engine carburetor the idle mixture adjusting valve has a tapered metering portion disposed in the idle fuel discharge orifice and a separate closure portion engageable with a seat. A solenoid energized during deceleration moves the valve to engage the closure portion with the seat and interrupt fuel flow through the discharge orifice.

Abstract: A vent valve allows a combustion chamber arranged to burn a swirling lean mixture to communicate with either an intake manifold or exhaust manifold through a vent port by-passing the intake or exhaust valve, for a short period just before ignition to discharge a fraction of the mixture from the combustion chamber. The discharge weakens the turburent flow of the mixture and results in a decreased combustion temperature, which is advantageous for suppression of NOx formation and prevention of combustion noise generation.

Abstract: A caging mechanism for a gyro in which a flat split ring lying in a plane perpendicular to the gyro rotor spin axis is deformable so that its inside diameter is enabled to capture the gyro rotor. A gas activated piston separates tabs formed on the split ring causing it to cage or uncage the rotor.