Abstract: A system for gas extraction is provided with a flap valve coupled to a bore with a pivot axis offset from an axis of the bore. The valve includes a higher mass on a shorter side of the pivot axis. A valve surface on the shorter side is inclined above a horizontal plane when the valve closes. The valve opens during liquid and gas flow to extract gas from the flow. As liquid flows over the valve, the valve is forced to close. The center of gravity of the valve relative to the offset pivot point ensures that the valve remains closed during liquid flow. As gas flows over the valve, closing forces are reduced and under internal vacuum, the mass distribution about the offset pivot axis allows the flap of the valve to tilt; opening the valve and allowing gas to enter the bore.

Abstract: In the embodiments described in the specification, a rim-driven propulsion pod arrangement has a cylindrical housing with a duct providing a flow path for water and a rotor assembly supported from a central shaft and containing a rotating blade row and driven by a rim drive permanent magnet motor recessed in the housing. An array of vanes downstream from the rotating blade row is arranged to straighten the flow of water emerging from the rotating blade row. Radial bearing members on the rotor have a hardness less than that of the shaft on which the rotor is supported and relatively soft protrusions are provided in the space between the rotor and the housing to limit excursion of the rotor. A thrust bearing has wedges arranged to form a water wedge between facing surfaces of the rotor and the rotor support during rotation of the rotor.

Abstract: In the embodiments described in the specification, a rim-driven propulsion pod arrangement has a cylindrical housing with a duct providing a flow path for water and a rotor assembly supported from a central shaft and containing a rotating blade row and driven by a rim drive permanent magnet motor recessed in the housing. An array of vanes downstream from the rotating blade row is arranged to straighten the flow of water emerging from the rotating blade row. Radial bearing members on the rotor have a hardness less than that of the shaft on which the rotor is supported and relatively soft protrusions are provided in the space between the rotor and the housing to limit excursion of the rotor. A thrust bearing has wedges arranged to form a water wedge between facing surfaces of the rotor and the rotor support during rotation of the rotor.

Abstract: A multi-channel motor winding configuration providing low harmonic distortion and a PWM inverting controller for this type of winding configuration are disclosed. The motor winding configuration includes a plurality of individually insulated conductors wound in a group through the stator slots of a synchronous or induction type alternating current (AC) motor. Depending on the winding configuration, the group of conductors may constitute a portion of or the entire current carried by one phase of a single or polyphase motor. The PWM controller for this type of winding configuration connects each conductor in the group to its own dedicated set of power switching devices in an H-bridge configuration. The H-bridge configuration is powered by a direct current (DC) or rectified AC source.

Abstract: In the propulsion arrangement for an axisymmetric vehicle described in the specification, four propulsion modules are removably mounted at the rear of a vehicle in symmetric disposition about the vehicle axis, each module having an inlet section at its forward end which draws in the vehicle hull boundary layer without separation from the vehicle hull and supplies it uniformly to a rotating blade section driven by a rim drive motor. Control vanes for the vehicle are mounted between adjacent pairs of propulsion modules.

Abstract: In the external electric drive propulsion module arrangement described in the specification, two parallel propulsion units are mounted in a housing affixed beneath the stern of a ship and having a surface contour conforming to the contour of the adjacent surface portions of the ship's hull. Each propulsion unit is disposed substantially horizontally to provide maximum propulsion efficiency and has a rotating blade section for driving water rearwardly from an inlet and a fixed blade section following the rotating blade section. The inlet receives water from a wraparound array of screened intake openings near the forward end of the module housing which draws in the surface boundary layer of the ship's hull. In addition, vertical vanes are affixed to the stern of the ship to straighten the flow of water from the propulsion units.

Abstract: In the embodiments described in the specification, a SWATH vessel has a superstructure supported by strut members from a pair of pontoons and each pontoon has a propulsion module removably attached to the rear end of the pontoon. The propulsion module has a self contained propulsion system including a module body with a longitudinal water passage, a rim drive electric motor, a row of rotatable blades, and an inlet opening at the forward end of he cowl member which is arranged to draw in the boundary layer of water flowing along the pontoon to which the propulsion module is attached. Spaced vanes are provided at the inlet opening to block objects from being drawn into the longitudinal passage.

Abstract: A method and arrangement for propelling fluidborne vehicles is disclosed that results in reduction in the overall form drag of certain classes of vehicles. The method and arrangement consists of using a propulsion system with an inlet that circumscribes the transition region between a forebody section containing the widest part of the vehicle and a tapered afterbody section of the vehicle to remove fluid from the viscous boundary layer that is generated by the forward portion of the vehicle, and accelerates this boundary layer fluid through a propulsion system in the afterbody portion of the vehicle. Removal of boundary layer fluid can reduce momentum losses which occur in the wake created by various classes of vehicles.

Abstract: A fault-tolerant control system for a magnetic bearing arrangement which maximizes dynamic response of the control system is disclosed. The arrangement includes a main digital signal processor responsive to rotor position/velocity signals to supply control signals to bearing control coils and a secondary digital signal processor responsive to accelerometer signals to provide open-loop vibration control for correction of mass imbalance of the rotor system. In addition, sources of vibration which have fundamental frequencies at some multiple of the rotor system rotational frequency can also be controlled.

Abstract: A turbine air sealing and condenser air removal system for use in steam plant equipment is arranged to increase steam plant efficiency, reduce oxygen concentration in condensate being returned to the steam generators, and simplify system arrangement and maintenance. This system incorporates dry running shaft seals at the high and low pressure turbine shaft glands. The turbine shaft glands are exhausted to a vacuum header which is exhausted by vacuum pumps. Air from the condenser is also exhausted to the common vacuum header. Non-rotating air seals on the turbine such as valve stem seals, which must only accommodate linear movement, can incorporate metallic bellows or conventional packings to prevent air leakage into the steam path or steam leakage out into the surrounding environment.

Abstract: A fault-tolerant control system for a magnetic bearing arrangement which maximizes dynamic response of the control system is disclosed. The arrangement includes a main digital signal processor responsive to rotor position/velocity signals to supply control signals to bearing control coils and a secondary digital signal processor responsive to accelerometer signals to provide open-loop vibration control for correction of mass imbalance of the rotor system. In addition, sources of vibration which have fundamental frequencies at some multiple of the rotor system rotational frequency can also be controlled.

Abstract: A turbine air sealing and condenser air removal system for use in steam plant equipment is arranged to increase steam plant efficiency, reduce oxygen concentration in condensate being returned to the steam generators, and simplify system arrangement and maintenance. This system incorporates dry running shaft seals at the high and low pressure turbine shaft glands. The turbine shaft glands are exhausted to a vacuum header which is exhausted by vacuum pumps. Air from the condenser is also exhausted to the common vacuum header. Non-rotating air seals on the turbine such as valve stem seals, which must only accommodate linear movement, can incorporate metallic bellows or conventional packings to prevent air leakage into the steam path or steam leakage out into the surrounding environment.

Abstract: In one embodiment described in the specification, a surgically implantable reciprocating pump employs a check valve as the piston, which is driven by a permanent magnet linear electric motor to assist either side of the natural heart. The pump is implanted in the aorta or pulmonary artery using vascular attachment cuffs such as flexible cuffs for suturing at each end with the pump output directly in line with the artery. The pump is powered by surgically implanted rechargeable batteries. In another embodiment, pairs of pumps are provided to replace or assist the natural heart or to provide temporary blood flow throughout the body, for example, during operations to correct problems with the natural heart.

Abstract: In one embodiment described in the specification, a surgically implantable reciprocating pump employs a check valve as the piston, which is driven by a permanent magnet linear electric motor to assist either side of the natural heart. The pump is implanted in the aorta or pulmonary artery using vascular attachment cuffs such as flexible cuffs for suturing at each end with the pump output directly in line with the artery. The pump is powered by surgically implanted rechargeable batteries. In another embodiment, pairs of pumps are provided to replace or assist the natural heart or to provide temporary blood flow throughout the body, for example, during operations to correct problems with the natural heart.

Abstract: In one embodiment described in the specification, a surgically implantable reciprocating pump employs a check valve as the piston, which is driven by a permanent magnet linear electric motor to assist either side of the natural heart. The pump is implanted in the aorta or pulmonary artery using vascular attachment cuffs such as flexible cuffs for suturing at each end with the pump output directly in line with the artery. The pump is powered by surgically implanted rechargeable batteries. In another embodiment, pairs of pumps are provided to replace or assist the natural heart or to provide temporary blood flow throughout the body, for example, during operations to correct problems with the natural heart.

Abstract: A turbine air sealing and condenser air removal system for use in steam plant equipment is arranged to increase steam plant efficiency, reduce oxygen concentration in condensate being returned to the steam generators, and simplify system arrangement and maintenance. This system incorporates dry running shaft seals at the high and low pressure turbine shaft glands. The turbine shaft glands are exhausted to a vacuum header which is exhausted by vacuum pumps. Air from the condenser is also exhausted to the common vacuum header. Non-rotating air seals on the turbine such as valve stem seals, which must only accommodate linear movement, can incorporate metallic bellows or conventional packings to prevent air leakage into the steam path or steam leakage out into the surrounding environment.

Abstract: A method for producing a delaminated kaolin clay having a G.E. brightness of at least 85, a solids content of at least 67 percent by weight, and a viscosity below 500 cps is disclosed. An aqueous slurry of kaolin clay is subjected to agitation in the presence of a hard grinding media. The slurry is then subjected to agitation in the presence of a soft grinding media. The result is that at least 80 percent of the delaminated kaolin has an equivalent spherical diameter of less than or equal to 2 microns.

Abstract: In one embodiment described in the specification, a surgically implantable reciprocating pump employs a check valve as the piston, which is driven by a permanent magnet linear electric motor to assist either side of the natural heart. The pump is implanted in the aorta or pulmonary artery using vascular attachment cuffs such as flexible cuffs for suturing at each end with the pump output directly in line with the artery. The pump is powered by surgically implanted rechargeable batteries. In another embodiment, pairs of pumps are provided to replace or assist the natural heart or to provide temporary blood flow throughout the body, for example, during operations to correct problems with the natural heart.

Abstract: In one embodiment described in the specification, a surgically implantable reciprocating pump employs a check valve as the piston, which is driven by a permanent magnet linear electric motor to assist either side of the natural heart. The pump is implanted in the aorta or pulmonary artery using vascular attachment cuffs such as flexible cuffs for suturing at each end with the pump output directly in line with the artery. The pump is powered by surgically implanted rechargeable batteries. In another embodiment, pairs of pumps are provided to replace or assist the natural heart or to provide temporary blood flow throughout the body, for example, during operations to correct problems with the natural heart.

Abstract: In one embodiment described in the specification, a surgically implantable reciprocating pump employs a check valve as the piston, which is driven by a permanent magnet linear electric motor to assist either side of the natural heart. The pump is implanted in the aorta or pulmonary artery using vascular attachment cuffs such as flexible cuffs for suturing at each end with the pump output directly in line with the artery. The pump is powered by surgically implanted rechargeable batteries. In another embodiment, pairs of pumps are provided to replace or assist the natural heart or to provide temporary blood flow throughout the body, for example, during operations to correct problems with the natural heart.