Abstract: A turbine includes a stack of substantially parallel disks, the rotation of which causes rotation of a shaft. The disks are separated by peripheral spacers, each peripheral spacer having the shape of an airfoil. Each peripheral spacer defines a chord which is angled radially inward, towards the axis of rotation of the disk. The peripheral spacers are located only in the vicinity of the periphery of the disk. Air, or other fluid, entering the turbine engages the airfoil shaped peripheral spacers, and the flow of air generates lift, and associated drag, causing the energy of the fluid to be more efficiently converted into mechanical, and ultimately, electrical power. The turbine is especially useful in harnessing wind energy for the generation of electric power.

Abstract: A solar-powered aircraft uses solar energy to electrolyze on-board water to produce hydrogen. The hydrogen fills various on-board tanks, causing the aircraft to become lighter than air. The hydrogen is also used to operate a fuel cell which provides power for electrical equipment, including a motor for turning a propeller. Water produced as waste by the fuel cell is recycled for use in the production of hydrogen. When hydrogen is removed from the tanks, either because it is consumed by the fuel cell or because it is compressed and pumped out of the tanks, air returns to the tanks, and the aircraft becomes heavier than air. The aircraft can thus be made to climb and descend by making it lighter than air, or heavier than air. The aircraft emits no harmful substances into the environment. The aircraft can remain aloft indefinitely, limited only by an insignificant amount of leakage of hydrogen and water.

Abstract: A turbine includes a stack of substantially parallel disks, the rotation of which causes rotation of a shaft. The disks are separated by peripheral spacers, each peripheral spacer having the shape of an airfoil. Each peripheral spacer defines a chord which is angled radially inward, towards the axis of rotation of the disk. The peripheral spacers are located only in the vicinity of the periphery of the disk. Air, or other fluid, entering the turbine engages the airfoil shaped peripheral spacers, and the flow of air generates lift, and associated drag, causing the energy of the fluid to be more efficiently converted into mechanical, and ultimately, electrical power. The turbine is especially useful in harnessing wind energy for the generation of electric power.

Abstract: A solar-powered aircraft uses solar energy to electrolyze on-board water to produce hydrogen. The hydrogen fills various on-board tanks, causing the aircraft to become lighter than air. The hydrogen is also used to operate a fuel cell which provides power for electrical equipment, including a motor for turning a propeller. Water produced as waste by the fuel cell is recycled for use in the production of hydrogen. When hydrogen is removed from the tanks, either because it is consumed by the fuel cell or because it is compressed and pumped out of the tanks, air returns to the tanks, and the aircraft becomes heavier than air. The aircraft can thus be made to climb and descend by making it lighter than air, or heavier than air. The aircraft emits no harmful substances into the environment. The aircraft can remain aloft indefinitely, limited only by an insignificant amount of leakage of hydrogen and water.

Abstract: An electronic controller is provided to control the energization of an electrical actuator to readjust a valve which controls the flow of a fluid in a controllable process. The controller is responsive to two signals, one of which is produced by a process sensor to represent the instantaneous magnitude of a predetermined process parameter and the second of which constitutes a set signal representative of a desired magnitude of the parameter. The signals are compared, and the sense of any resulting error signal is used to control the direction of movement of the actuator while the instantaneous magnitude of the error signal, during a succession of equal time intervals, is used to control the rate of movement of the actuator by controlling the extent of movement of the actuator during each of the time intervals.