Abstract: Pedal-wound step-conveying devices employing lever- or diaphragm-type pedal-pressure-receiving mechanisms and epicyclic-gear-train or hydraulic transformers to produce a torque to wind a reinforced elastomeric strip, or a number of generally parallel strips, backwards to produce a forward motion in a pedal-pressure-applying appendage engaged in bipedal or quadruped locomotion. Next, the lifting of the device along with the appendage in bipedal or quadruped locomotion allows the spring-driven unwinding of the strip or strips to ready for the next pedal-pressure application by the appendage to produce another forward motion in the appendage, and so on. Small motors-cum-electric generators mechanically linked to the torque produced by the epicyclic-gear-train or hydraulic transformers augment the torque or convert an undesired torque into electricity for auxiliary purposes, accordingly.

Abstract: Energy conversion devices employing gases and/or liquids as medium, constructed with a hollow, preferably toroidal cylinder having two ports and two, or more, identical ferromagnetic pistons moveably sealing the hollow cylinder. Movements of the pistons are electromagnetically selectable from the outside of the cylinder to either impart varying unidirectional forces on the medium and/or to influence a magnetic circuit placed outside the cylinder for the generation of motive or electromotive forces. In a pump, a compressor and an externally heated engine, the selective movement of the pistons always maintains a piston between the two ports. In an internal-combustion engine, addition is made of more pistons and one piston is selectively stopped and approached by the adjacent piston, compressing a gaseous mixture to effect combustion; electronic detection of the combustion allows the rapid electromagnetic release of the stopped piston and stops the adjacent piston which was compressing prior to the combustion.

Abstract: A single-, two- or three-axis opto-electronic encoder, or error-inputting device, with an optical scale which is overall cylindrical, spherical or volumetric, as opposed to extant planar, circular optical scales; mostly parallel rays of light enter from the cylindrical or spherical surface of the scale, travel, with or without being modulated in intensity due to rotation/rotations of, or distortion/distortions in, the scale, along elliptical and/or circular sectional planes of the scale and exit to fall upon an obstructing opto-electronic sensor or a plurality of such sensors.

Abstract: A vehicle with zero turning radius employing a minimum of two generally parallel matching annular wheels mounted with independent pneumatic toroidal suspensions fixed coaxially on a chassis. The wheels have mounted on their inner hub sides frictional linings along which run a respectively equal number of circumferentially distributed truncated-bicone-shaped rotors of brush-less dc motors with stator shafts fixed on to the axles of the wheels. Addition of a number of large holonomic wheels in tandem on either side of the two generally parallel wheels makes the vehicle longer and more stable. The large holonomic wheels have tires formed by a toroidal unanimity of disc-like rollers with magnetic or electromagnetic elements radially distributed evenly to make each disc-like roller rotate or resist rotation perpendicular to the holonomic wheel axis by acting as a rotor to motor stator windings attached to the chassis in proximity with the ground-engaging portion of the tire.