Abstract: The invention relates to active impedance matching systems (AIMS) and methods for increasing the efficiency of a wave energy converter (WEC) having a shaft and a shell intended to be placed in a body of water and to move relative to each other in response to forces applied to the WEC by the body of water. The system includes apparatus for: (a) extracting energy from the WEC and producing output electric energy as a function of the movement of the shell (shaft) relative to the shaft (shell): and (b) for selectively imparting energy to one of the shell and shaft for causing an increase in the displacement and velocity (or acceleration) of one of the shell and shaft relative to the other, whereby the net amount of output electrical energy produced is increased. The apparatus for extracting energy and for selectively supplying energy may be implemented using a single device capable of being operated bi-directionally, in terms of both direction and force, or may be implemented by different devices.

Abstract: A magnetic braking system for inhibiting excessive motion between a float and a column intended to be placed in a body of water; with the float and column moving relative to each other as a function of the waves present in the body of water. The braking system includes a permanent magnetic assembly (PMA) mounted on, and attached to, one of the float and column and a coil assembly (or a conductive plate) mounted on, and attached to, the other one of the float and column. The braking system is mounted such that motion between the float and the column is inhibited when the displacement of the float relative to the column exceeds a predetermined operating range.

Abstract: A WEC includes a non-circular main central column positioned within a like non-circular central opening of a shell to contain the central column and prevent rotation or twisting of the shell relative to the column. In a particular embodiment, the central column is multi-sided (e.g., a square) and the central opening of the shell is likewise multi-sided (e.g., square). The facing sides of the column and shell are parallel to each other facilitating the layout of the components of a linear electric generator (LEG) between the facing sides and ensuring good magnetic coupling between the components of the LEG over the length of travel of the shell and column.

Abstract: A wave energy converter system comprises two floats; a first being generally flat and heaving up and down in phase with passing surface waves on a body of water, and the second being elongated and heaving up and down out of phase with the passing waves. Preferably, the first float is annular with a central vertical opening therethrough, and the elongated float, with a weighted bottom end, extends vertically through the central opening of the first float. The two floats thus move out of phase with one another, thus providing a relatively large relative motion between the two floats giving rise to highly efficient energy conversion. Each float serves as a “ground” for the other; thus avoiding the need for anchoring the floats to the floor of the body of water.

Abstract: A method facilitates assembling a turbine nozzle for a gas turbine engine. The method includes providing a turbine nozzle including a plurality of airfoil vanes that extend between an inner band and an outer band, and forming a compound radii fillet that extends between a first of the airfoil vanes and the outer band, such that at least a second of the airfoil vanes is coupled to the outer band only by a single radii fillet.

Abstract: A wave energy converter system comprises two floats; a first being generally flat and heaving up and down in phase with passing surface waves on a body of water, and the second being elongated and heaving up and down out of phase with the passing waves. Preferably, the first float is annular with a central vertical opening therethrough, and the elongated float, with a weighted bottom end, extends vertically through the central opening of the first float. The two floats thus move out of phase with one another, thus providing a relatively large relative motion between the two floats giving rise to highly efficient energy conversion. Each float serves as a “ground” for the other; thus avoiding the need for anchoring the floats to the floor of the body of water.

Abstract: A method facilitates assembling a turbine nozzle for a gas turbine engine. The method includes providing a turbine nozzle including a plurality of airfoil vanes that extend between an inner band and an outer band, and forming a compound radii fillet that extends between a first of the airfoil vanes and the outer band, such that at least a second of the airfoil vanes is coupled to the outer band only by a single radii fillet.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating fiber and shiv includes a pinned metering rotor and a pinned separation rotor adapted to rotate with surfaces moving in opposite directions and having fixed bearing locations, the final separation rotor being adjacent a shroud in which are a plurality of slots, and a pinned doffer rotor rotatable in either direction and having a bearing location which is adjustable relative to the separation rotor. A shell feed structure at the intersection of the metering rotor and the separation rotor has a surface adjacent the separation rotor substantially parallel to the surface of that rotor, and a surface adjacent the metering rotor having a curvature greater than that of the metering motor.

Abstract: A power supply system for thrusters (e.g., arcjet thrusters) in a spacecraft system comprises lightweight, redundant power supplies that share the power distribution function to the thrusters. Each power supply comprises a plurality of parallel-connected power supply subunits of which the combined power output capability exceeds the required maximum power demand by at least one subunit capacity for each arcjet thruster in the system. Each power supply subunit comprises a lightweight, high-frequency, soft-switching power supply. For arcjet systems comprising arcjet thrusters that do not operate simultaneously, relays are employed to switch between thrusters.

Abstract: Apparatus for feeding tobacco in or to a cigarette making machine comprises a number of carded rollers (10, 11, 12, 18) which transfer a metered stream of tobacco from one to the other while allowing relatively short strands or particles of tobacco to drop out from the transfer point or points, means (29, 30, 31, 32) for collecting and metering the tobacco shorts, and means (23, 24, 26, 28) for collecting and metering longer particles of tobacco which travel beyond the transfer point or points from which tobacco shorts drop out, the metered streams of tobacco shorts and longer particles being combined to form a cigarette filler stream which is to be enclosed in a continuous wrapper to form a continuous cigarette rod.

Abstract: A pinned opening roller for an open end spinning machine wherein the pinning pattern around the circumferential surface of the roller is provided by spaced pairs of rows of pins which may extend parallel to the rotational axis of the roller, the spacing between the pairs of rows being greater than the spacing between the rows in each pair and in any pair, the pins in one row being staggered relative to those in the other row.Preferably, for a 71/2" circumference roller approximately 1" wide the pins in each row are spaced 0.1" apart and the rows in a pair are 0.03" apart and there are 28 pairs of rows around the circumference.Preferably, the pins in one row of a pair are each spaced equidistant from their adjacent pins in the other row and the pins in the first row of each pair are helically arranged and those in the second row of each pair also extend helically around the circumference of the roller.

Abstract: A cleaning system for use with a fibre opening device used in connection with the spinning of fibres into yarns wherein an opening roller is mounted for rotation in a housing incorporating a trash separation zone and a fibre stripping zone and the roller has a cylindrical working surface with combing elements projecting thereform, wherein the roller is substantially hollow and has holes in the cylindrical wall defining its working surface to permit flow of air through the wall and the interior of the roller is divided into two or more compartments, and means are provided to remove air and entrained dust and trash from a compartment adjacent to the trash separation zone, and further means are provided to insert air or other gas into a compartment adjacent the fibre stripping zone.

Abstract: A method of securing a plurality o048268999 f replaceable segments to a base wherein a plurality of deformable supporting members are releasably fastened to the base and wherein co-operating means are provided on a rear face of the segments and on the supporting members, the arrangement being such that the means connecting the supporting members to the base are also used to cause the means on the supporting members to engage with the co-operating means on the rear of the segments.While it is envisaged the invention could be used for securing any working surface to a base member, the invention is particularly suited to securing replaceable segments on a rotary work member and also has particular utility in the textile field for connecting staves to a bas roller or the like.

Abstract: Novel enzymes exhibiting proteolytic activity in alkaline media and stability at high temperatures and under alkaline conditions are produced by a novel Bacillus strain designated GX6638 or its mutants or variants. These enzymes are especially well-suited for inclusion in washing compositions. A culture of GX6638 has been deposited with the American Type Culture Collection, Rockville, Md. as ATCC No. 53278.

Abstract: Filler material, particularly for cigarette filters, is produced by feeding a stream of substantially continuous fibres of filter material onto a pin roller having a surface carrying sharp projections in the form of pins and the pin roller is driven at a speed such that the fibres are rapidly accelerated so as to be broken by the pins into irregular lengths and are projected from the roller in random orientations. The broken fibres may be collected as a stream for delivery to a rod-making unit by showering onto a conveyor band, by continuously rolling the fibres between cooperating rollers, or pneumatically. More than one stream could be supplied to the pin roller, so that the broken fibres can comprise a mixture of fibres of different filter materials. The broken fibres may be received on a substantially continuous carrier stream, comprising similar or different filtering material, before the fibres and carrier stream are formed into filter rod.

Abstract: An opening roller for an open end spinning machine which may be formed in one or two parts, the opening roller having a central body or hub (1) preferably provided with a central cylindrical aperture (10) therein for mounting on a drive shaft of an open end spinning machine, there being an outer ring (2) having a cylindrical external surface (7), the ring (2) supporting suitable combing elements in the form of spaced pins (14) or card wire and wherein the ring (2) is spaced from and connected to the central body (1) by means of septal walls (3) which may either extend radially or be inclined to respective radial planes passing through them, and wherein the spaces between the septal walls may be filled with a suitable plastics medium (11) which may surround the pin tails (18) if these project from the rear face (19) of the ring (2). The roller may be machined from a one-piece extrusion (FIG. 2) or after suitable machining may be assembled from two parts which may themselves be extruded.

Abstract: Filler material, particularly for cigarette filters, is produced by feeding a first stream of substantially continuous filaments of filler material onto a pin roller which is driven at a speed such that the filaments are broken by the pins into irregular lengths and are projected from the roller in random orientations. The broken filaments are collected on a carrier stream, also comprising filamentary material, for delivery to a rod-making unit. More than one stream could be supplied to the pin roller so that the broken filaments can comprise a mixture of filaments of different filler materials. The carrier stream may comprise filler material which is different from that in the first stream and may comprise a fibrillated web.

Abstract: A cigarette making machine or feed apparatus for fibrous material other than tobacco includes a pinned conveyor (20) arranged to feed material from a supply and past refusing means (22) whereby the feed conveyor will carry a metered stream of the material, characterized in that the feed conveyor has relatively high pins (36) which are substantially evenly distributed among relatively low pins (38) or lie in obliquely extending rows (34, 40, 42, 44) between rows of relatively low pins.

Abstract: A lag or stave assembly for a Kirschner beater which replaces the traditional one-piece wooden lags and is preferably formed from extruded aluminium. The lag assembly is formed in two parts with a first support part which is preferably channel-shaped and can be secured to the free end of an arm or spider of the beater, and a second pinned working part removably secured along its leading and trailing edges to the upper ends of the arms of the support part, one edge, preferably the leading edge, of the working part being secured to the support part removably and hingedly, e.g. by a hook-shaped tongue engaging in a mating groove, and the other edge being fixedly secured to the other arm of the support part, e.g. by means of screws and/or any type of snap-fit or interlock. The arrangement preferably ensures that one of the parts is loaded in tension or compression when the two parts are secured together to prevent rattling.

Abstract: A cutting device for cutting sheets of material wherein a cutting member co-operates with a bed of upstanding pins which support the sheet. Although the cutting member may be a knife, it is preferably composed of a line of upstanding pins which are sufficiently long to penetrate through the material to be cut and to enter the bed of upstanding pins. The cutting device may comprise two drums mounted for rotation in opposite senses about parallel axes, one drum carrying the cutting member and the other the bed of pins, the tips of the pins being aligned with the cylindrical surface of their associated drum.