Abstract: Briefly stated, floating rings which rotate around their vertical axis with predetermined relation to the azimuthal velocity of the sun are prevented from getting out of range by maintaining a desired spatial orientation between at least three fixed rollers circumferentially positioned. The present disclosure keeps floating rings together by encircling them.

Abstract: The invention describes large solar power plants, which consist of groups of rotating platforms. Three of said platforms comprising a triad having an interstitial pillar, said pillar has means to transmit torque to rotate the platforms and means to maintain the position of the platforms.

Abstract: Disclosed is a floating altazimuth-tracking array of point-pocus lenses that concentrate direct sunlight on the upper ends of optical-homogenizer rods bonded to high-efficiency multi-junction photnvoltaic cells. The cells are on heat sinks in altitude-tracking linear troughs holding multiple lens-rod-cell assemblies. Swiveling on horizontal axes, the troughs have their heat sinks always submerged in the water of a circular pond. Only knee-high al-together, the troughs and their floating frame rotate in the shallow pond for azimuth tracking. Closely packed floating platforms comprise solar electric farms with maximal land utilization.

Abstract: In installations with water circuits such as domestic hot water or hydronic heating circuits a circulator pump is connected with a temperature sensor which energizes the pump as soon as the temperature of the water in the system falls below a predetermined temperature close to freezing.

Abstract: In installations with water circuits such as domestic hot water or hydronic heating circuits a circulator pump is connected with a temperature sensor which energizes the pump as soon as the temperature of the water in the system falls below a predetermined temperature close to freezing.

Abstract: In a hot and cold water distribution system, cooled down water in the hot water distribution line is automatically drained toward the cold water distribution line by a connection system consisting essentially of a centrifugal pump in series with a valve oriented to prevent the flow of cold water into the hot water distribution line or of hot water into the cold water distribution line by the same valve.

Abstract: Installation for the sterilization of a body of water wherein the water is conveyed through a heat exchanger to a heat source, where it is heated up to the sterilization temperature. This stream of hot water transfers its heat to the incoming stream of water, leaving the heat exchanger at a temperature that is only slightly higher than that of the incoming water.

Abstract: In a hot and cold water distribution system wherein the hot water is delivered from a water heater to a distant hot water tap adjacent a cold water tap, a hot water recirculation pump assembly purges the hot water line of any cooled-down water in order to assure instant hot water delivery when the hot water tap is opened. The volume of water drawn from the hot water line is flushed back through the hot water line by admission of an equal amount of water that was stored within a tank. That volume of water is pumped back into the tank, and automatically replaced by hot water drawn from the water heater.

Abstract: A solar power plant consists of a multitude of elongated concentrator channels floating on a layer of water, and being covered by linear lenses, which concentrate the solar rays onto photovoltaic cells. These photovoltaic cells are in good heat conducting contact with one vertical wall-element of the concentrator channels near its deepest point, therefore the wedges of rays are penetrating only a triangular portion of the enclosed space, the remaining triangular portion being used as a passage for ambient air which extracts the stored waste heat of the photovoltaic cells from the water layer. There are mechanical means to turn the concentrator channels around a center bearing in such a way that they run parallel to the direction of the wind.

Abstract: In a device designed as a rotatably mounted platform (a) for recovering solar electricity, the focusing roof layer (3) further deflects the incident radiation so that the light beams (122, 123, 126) formed by the concentrating optical system are incident approximately perpendicularly on the radiation converter (112) arranged underneath.

Abstract: An induction motor for a motor-centrifugal pump unit has a stator shaped to provide a spherical airgap. The stator winding lies between teeth which extend radially of the spherical stator surface. The teeth are formed of built up strips of magnetic laminations wound in a spiral and placed against the stator yoke.

Abstract: Process for the manufacture of rotors for asynchronous electrical motors with spherical air gaps. These rotors are designed as permanent magnets with low coercive force and comparably high electrical conductivity so that eddy currents can be formed as long as rotor rpm is different from the frequency of the rotating field of the stator while these rotors convert to permanent magnets running under synchronous conditions at rated performance. The process steps are the following:1. Milling an iron alloy with at least 5% cobalt to a sheet metal strip.2. Producing of rings by stamping.3. Annealing the rings to at least 1050.degree. C.4. Forming the rings to semi-spherical caps by a deep-drawing process at the annealing temperature pursuant to 3.

Abstract: A long-period storage accumulator for storing heat water is used as a storing medium. The water is enclosed in large thinwalled containers which are arranged under the ground. The water pressure forces acting on the container walls are carried by the surrounding of the container.

Abstract: A warm water storage system for supplying warm water to a network with water under pressure characterized in that the storage is pressureless and takes place in a ventilated container, and that between the take-off region of the container and the warm water supply network is incorporated a booster pump.

Abstract: A long-period storage accumulator for storing heat water is used as a storing medium. The water is enclosed in large thin-walled containers which are arranged under the ground. The water pressure forces acting on the container walls are carried by the surrounding of the container.

Abstract: A pump-motor unit of the type having an impeller connected to an armature and where the armature is separated from a stator by an air gap. The armature comprises a magnetic material having sufficient residual flux density whereby when the torque load on the impeller-armature structure is low, the magnet will act as a permanent magnet to provide synchronous rotation of the armature with respect to magnetic flux generated by the stator and when the torque load on the impeller-armature structure is high, will allow magnetic reversal whereby the armature will rotate asynchronously with respect to the magnetic flux generated by the stator.

Abstract: A solar power station comprising two groups of solar collectors joined together to form an annular platform which floats on a body of water. Each of the collectors of one group has a solar absorbing layer which is in thermal communication with heat carrier fluid ducts and a plurality of spaced upstanding walls are included on an upper surface of the solar absorbing layer. Each of the collectors of the second group includes means for concentrating solar radiation onto ducts carrying a heat carrier fluid. Heat storage areas submerged in water are thermally connected to the groups of collectors and are positioned beneath the platform. Means are provided for rotating the platform so that the spaced parallel walls remain parallel to sun rays throughout the day.

Abstract: A heat pump having a rotatable casing and impeller. The pump includes a liquid heat exchanger and an air heat exchanger both connected to the casing so as to form a rotatable unit therewith. A magnetically active rotor is magnetically coupled to the inpeller to provide a drive force for the pump. Rotation of the impeller causes the casing and heat exchanger to also rotate under the influence of reaction forces.

Abstract: For the purpose of improving the utilization of remote heating grids, particularly for space air heating, at least one heat storage device is connected in series with the heaters of a hot water heating circuit, whereby the water conduit from the remote heating grid to the heating circuit can be operated 24 hours a day at its full capacity, so that for any given diameter of the conduit approximately twice the heat quantity previously transmitted can be transmitted with a consequent increase in the rating of the remote heating grid.

Abstract: In the walls of a fire resistant enclosure such as a cabinet for storing heat sensitive, valuable goods or a room or shelter in a building in which persons can find refuge in the event of a fire, hollow bodies of large area contain substances which melt at a temperature which is still acceptable to the contents of the cabinet or physiologically acceptable to the persons in the room or shelter. The invention also provides various appliances for alleviating conditions in a said room or shelter, for providing a breathing air supply at an acceptable temperature for persons trapped therein and for facilitating the evacuation of persons therefrom, all such appliances involving the use of substances adapted to absorb heat from their environment by utilizing the latent heat of fusion of the substances.