Abstract: The valve assembly includes a body having a communication passage with an inlet and an outlet and a combustion chamber having a propellant and one or more openings, an igniter in communication with the propellant, and a valve means movable within the body. The igniter is adapted to ignite the propellant to provide a force to move the valve means from a closed position to an open position. The valve means has a first restricting element to restrict and permit passage of a pressurized gas through the outlet and a second restricting element to restrict and permit passage of heat from the burned propellant through the openings of the body, wherein the heat/gases cause a pressurized gas within the receptacle to expand causing the gas to quickly expunge from the receptacle. A biasing means may be used with the valve means to retain the valve means in the closed position.

Abstract: A high capacity lightweight compact vane motor or pump system which utilizes vanes with extensions to improve efficiency of the system overall. The present invention generally includes a rotor housing, a rotor, a housing cover. The rotor housing will generally include a central opening in which the rotor is positioned. The rotor will generally include a plurality of radially spaced vane slots. A rotor vane will generally be positioned within each vane slot. Each rotor vane will generally include a first extension and a second extension, wherein the first extension extends into slidable engagement with a groove on the housing cover and the second extension extends into slidable engagement with a groove on the interior surface of the rotor housing. As the rotor is rotated within the housing, the vanes will slide into and out of the slots to create voids to hold oil to be expelled at the outlet.

Abstract: A helicopter auxilary anti-torque system for efficiently supplying thrust and control at the tail of a helicopter during failure of the helicopter tail rotor. The helicopter auxilary anti-torque system generally includes a fluid thrust assembly selectively engageable onboard the helicopter, an auxiliary tail rotor selectively engageable onboard the helicopter, and at least one controller to operate the fluid thrust assembly and the auxiliary tail rotor to effect a controlled anti-torque force of the tail boom during failure of the conventional helicopter tail rotor. The fluid thrust assembly projects a non flammable fluid from the tail boom of the helicopter. The auxiliary tail rotor is collapsible within the tail boom of the helicopter when not in use. The fluid thrust assembly and the auxiliary tail rotor may be automatically activated in the case of the primary tail rotor failure, or activated by the pilot of the helicopter via one or more switches.

Abstract: The valve assembly includes a body having a communication passage with an inlet and an outlet and a combustion chamber having a propellant and one or more openings, an igniter in communication with the propellant, and a valve means movable within the body. The igniter is adapted to ignite the propellant to provide a force to move the valve means from a closed position to an open position. The valve means has a first restricting element to restrict and permit passage of a pressurized gas through the outlet and a second restricting element to restrict and permit passage of heat from the burned propellant through the openings of the body, wherein the heat/gases cause a pressurized gas within the receptacle to expand causing the gas to quickly expunge from the receptacle.

Abstract: A helicopter auxilary anti-torque system for efficiently supplying thrust and control at the tail of a helicopter during failure of the helicopter tail rotor. The helicopter auxilary anti-torque system generally includes a fluid thrust assembly selectively engageable onboard the helicopter, an auxiliary tail rotor selectively engageable onboard the helicopter, and at least one controller to operate the fluid thrust assembly and the auxiliary tail rotor to effect a controlled anti-torque force of the tail boom during failure of the conventional helicopter tail rotor. The fluid thrust assembly projects a non flammable fluid from the tail boom of the helicopter. The auxiliary tail rotor is collapsible within the tail boom of the helicopter when not in use. The fluid thrust assembly and the auxiliary tail rotor may be automatically activated in the case of the primary tail rotor failure, or activated by the pilot of the helicopter via one or more switches.

Abstract: A centrifugal separator has a rotating tub with annular dams to trap the heavier components of the slurry fed into the tub through a centrally located feed tube. The latter rotates at a speed slightly different from that of the tub and supports radially extending spokes that have depending tines provided with lower nozzle defining ends in the annular spaces between the dams. Water under pressure emanates from these nozzles. An alternative tub configuration has annular water manifolds inside these annular spaces to provide water under pressure to nozzles in the tub itself for supplementing the action of the nozzles in the depending tines.

Abstract: A device for splitting wood including worm driven parallel threaded shafts, which shafts mount the wood splitting wedge. Threaded nut means cooperate with the shafts and with the splitting wedge for effecting movement of the wedge along the shafts. A box frame is provided for supporting the wood to be split and for mounting the parallel shafts therein.

Abstract: Apparatus for splitting logs including a base, a platform for supporting on end a log to be split, and a post mounted on the base. An axe head with a downwardly directed cutting edge is slideably received on the post which, in turn, is provided with a plurality of recesses facing in the direction of the cutting edge. A link extends between a handle and the axe head and is pivotally connected at its ends to the handle and the axe head. A fulcrum pin at one end of the handle is receivable in one of the recesses when the cutting edge is rested upon an upper end of the log. When a transverse force is applied to the end of the handle distant from the fulcrum pin, the handle is caused to rotate about the fulcrum pin from a raised position toward a lowered position forcing the cutting edge to enter the upper end of the log. With continued rotation of the handle, the cutting edge advances into the log toward its lower end at an ever faster rate, but with ever decreasing force.

Abstract: An attachment is disclosed for assembly with a conventional paint brush, and more particularly with the metallic collar of the paint brush used to assemble the bristles with the handle portion. A clamp assembly comprising front and rear plates attached to the collar and defines upwardly projecting pintles for pivotally receiving a hinge pin oriented parallel to the free edge of the bristles. A guard is pivotally mounted to the pin and has a bevelled free edge which is located adjacent to the free edge of the bristles in order to serve as a guide for striking a painted line or the like. The bias of a small compression spring must be overcome to urge the free edge of the guard against the bristles, and the guard can be pivoted to an inactive position in order to permit the user to insert the brush in a paint can of the like in a conventional manner.

Abstract: One or more heat absorbing panels are arranged on a generally flat area provided over an underground fluid storage reservoir, and the fluid is pumped from the reservoir through finned tubes in each panel and thence back to the reservoir or is pumped through a distribution system to heat one or more houses or the like. Each panel has reflective surfaces associated with each tube to efficiently capture the suns rays, and each tube has projecting fins so oriented as to absorb both direct sun light and also any rays reflected from these surfaces.