Abstract: Low-cost off-peak electric energy or electric energy from natural energy sources is used for heating of cooling of system air, which is moved in a closed circuit to heat or cool the energy storage medium of permeable concrete and sized gravel in the exterior walls of the structures. The heated or cooled system air is pressurized by a blower, and is moved horizontally outward through the energy storage medium, to store energy therein, as heat or cold. When stored heat or cold is required inside the structure, system air is moved horizontally, inward, through the energy storage medium, and is heated or cooled thereby, thus moving heat or cold to the material forming the interior surfaces of the exterior walls. Those surfaces then provide radiant heat transfer and convection heat transfer, with materials of the interiors of the structure, and with contents and occupants thereof. The energy storage walls are constructed of large energy storage blocks, lapped for added strength.

Abstract: Gasification, slagging, melting, and vaporizing components of waste materials and reactive carbon fuel, in variable proportions, at low pressures, using oxygen and steam reactants, effects very high temperatures, producing syngas (hydrogen and carbon monoxide), molten slag and molten metals. Integration provides steam and electricity from cogeneration plants. Thermal separation of coal-methanol suspensoids, delivered by pipeline, provides reactive carbon fuel. Methanol produced from cleaned syngas and ethanol produced by corn fermentation are blended, some gasoline or diesel fuel and other additives are used, safer, cleaner-burning, cost-competitive automotive fuels are produced. Light-weight, rock-like nodules (aggregates) and rock wool are produced from slag. Recovery of metals effects optimum recycling. Some metals are produced by reducing reactions. Ethanol coproducts combined with corn, other grains, alfalfa, molasses, minerals and vitamins, provide superior feeds for ruminant animals.

Abstract: Methacoal Integrated Combined Cycle Power Plants comprise a thermal separation plant for producing condensate liquid fuel and particulate carbonaceous fuel from Methacoal fuels, coal-methanol suspensoids or slurries; gas turbine generator plants for burning the liquid fuel to produce electric power; steam turbine generator plants for producing electric power; a boiler plant for producing steam for steam turbines; a small firebox for burning reative particulate carbonaceous fuel, with minimum retention time for high temperature combustion gases and minimum oxygen required for combustion, thus minimizing emissions of nitrogen oxides and hazardous ultra-fine particulates; and means for controlling ash fusion and slagging problems. The two generating plants are respectively sized to provide the capacity required, and to consume the two fuels in the proportions produced from the Methacoal fuels, during normal operations, allowing fuel inventory control.

Abstract: Fluctuating prices and conservation of oil demand substitution of coal therefor, but coal as currently used, produces unacceptable amounts of nitrogen oxides. The problem arises from the inherently poor combustion characteristics of such pulverized solid fuels, the long combustion time intervals required, and the great amounts of excess combustion air required to complete combustion. The methods of the present invention minimize the formation of nitrogen oxides by modifying or adding several steps in the combustion process. Heating the coal to evacuate the pores and capillary openings in the coal structure prepares it for suffusion and storage in an inert atmosphere of carbon dioxide to prevent partial oxidation of coal constituents and adsorption or permeation of nitrogen from the air. Many advantages are gained by replacing carbon dioxide in the pores and capillary openings with methanol.

Abstract: A torque orientation device (10) selectively orients a space craft without the use of jets or the ejection of any material. Pedestals (12, 14) support a gimbal (16) which is selectively driven by a motor (20). The gimbal (16) includes a frame (24) which supports an axle (30), a motor (26) and a commutator (28). Mass members (36, 38) are driven about the axle (30) by the motor (26). The moment of inertia about the primary axle (18) of the gimbal (16) is a function of the angular position of the mass members (36, 38) about the axle (30). The motor (20) applies selective torque impulses at periods (T1, T2) to the primary axle (18) in synchronism with the angular position of the mass members (36, 38) about the axle (30). The resulting counter torque from the motor (20) is passed to the space craft to cause the space craft to rotate toward the desired angular position.

Abstract: A watercraft (10) operates as a conventional displacement vessel or as an airborne craft. In the airborne mode water is drawn upward through a drogue (18) by operation of a pump (42) which is driven by a motor (44). Pressurized water from the pump (42) is directed downward as water jets by nozzles (64-70). The reaction force on the nozzles (64-70) serves to lift the watercraft (10) above the surface of a body of water (16). The watercraft (10) is further equipped with fore and aft nozzles (84, 90) as well as transverse nozzles (86, 88) to provide full directional control and propulsion for the watercraft (10). A control computer (100) operates through a bus (102) to position the drogue (18) as well as control the thrust produced by the nozzles (64-70) and (84-90). The altitude of the watercraft (10) is measured by altimeters (94, 96). The height of forereached waves is measured by a wave height radar (92).

Abstract: Structures fabricated from modules of permeable concrete provide heat storage and transfer capability. Such structures derive solar energy directly, store it within the modules for future use in a building, or it can withdraw heat from a building and dispose of it to the sky with little utility derived energy. After erection without mortar both surfaces are coated with fiber filled mastic for strength and to enclose an air circulation system. Each module has a central bin filled with gravel and two planar ducts between each end and the central bin. Air injected into the first, from the outside end, duct removes heat from the surface, distributes the heat by uniform transverse flow to warm the gravel and exits through the third duct. Similarly, at useful times, it removes heat from the gravel and warms the interior surface. At other times and by the same process heat is removed from the interior surface and stored; later it is transferred to the exterior surface and radiated into space.

Abstract: Apparatus is described for restoring the original comprehension of sounds reaching a human ear, including direction, elevation and frequency. An enclosure surrounds the pinna of the ear to substantially exclude exterior sounds. First and second speakers are placed in a chamber, within the enclosure, anterior to the pinna, such that each transducer radiates to the entire pinna. The speakers are mounted on the inner surface of the anterior wall of the enclosure along a vertical line which is generally parallel to the vertical axis of the pinna. First and second microphones are mounted on the anterior surface of the enclosure also along a vertical line and are connected respectively to the first and second speakers through amplifying means. The speakers reproduce the received sounds and through the dissimilarities in the sound provide the hearer with the sense of the angular elevation of the source.

Abstract: A rotory motion transformer (10) is disclosed which has a cylindrical housing (12) and a rotatable shaft (36). A cam (14) having ascending and descending segments (22-28) forming lobes (30, 32) is included in the housing and axially aligned with the shaft. Equal angular pistons (42-48) are spaced about the shaft (36) and are keyed therewith while remaining axially slidable thereto. The pistons (42-48) have helicoid faces on the surfaces facing the cam (14), the helicoid faces on the pistons mating with the ascending segments of the cam (14). Spring means (52-58) are provided to bias the pistons against the cam (14). When the pistons (42-48) rotate over the cam surface the space between each piston and the cam increases and decreases in volume periodically for each rotation. Intake port means (15, 16) adjacent the lobes (30, 32) provide fluid flow into the rotary transformer (10). Exhaust port means (17, 18) provide for removing fluid from the rotary transformer (10).

Abstract: A system for utilizing sensing abilities of human hearing, including horizontal and vertical directional acuity, to represent visual aspects of the environs by converting incoming signals to audio waves, transmitted in response to an array of electroacoustic transducers in a plane parallel to a medial plane and then to the ears. Translation by the subject of incoming sound waves to location of their source and apperception of intelligence, including speech, are normal functions of human hearing. In use of the present invention, no additional cerebral translations are involved. Additional information may be superposed by means of pitch, intensity, timbre, chords and arbitrary signals requiring very simple translations by the brain, which signals may thereby be interpreted as color, brightness, texture and/or distance.

Abstract: An air support mattress includes elastic upper and lower main support walls interconnected by a multiplicity of ties to restrain separation of the walls by internal air pressure, the upper wall having inner and outer layers with patterns of perforations to provide controlled conformability and air stream flow to support a recumbent patient.

Abstract: A flexible hollow glass tube of optical fiber dimensions provides a central light passage and serves as an optical transmission line characterized by substantially less absorption and distortion of signals superposed on transmitted light waves. A metal rod located within a preform evaporates as the preform is heated and drawn, providing a convenient method of reflectively coating the internal surface of small tubes.