Abstract: Apparatus for recovering energy from water is disclosed. Water is heated by application of electrical energy to heaters and contacting the water with the heaters in a manner and under pressure and temperature conditions such that it is instantaneously converted to gas.

Abstract: A cavitation engine configured to produce superheat steam from injected liquid water. The cavitation engine includes a funnel shaped impact chamber having an impact surface having a temperature of at least 375 degrees Fahrenheit, a small diameter opening at a bottom of the impact chamber, and an expansion chamber below the small diameter opening. The engine includes a fluid injector having an outlet positioned adjacent a largest diameter of the impact chamber and located to inject hyperbaric liquid water onto the impact surface of the impact chamber at supersonic velocities such that cavitation bubbles are present in the injected water. The outlet of the fluid injector and the impact surface are located relative to one another such that the outlet is spaced a distance from the impact surface of between 0.150 and 0.450 inches and the injected water hits the impact surface at an angle of between 85 and 95 degrees.

Abstract: Apparatus for generating steam, the apparatus including a source of liquid water, an injector in flow communication with the source of water for injecting liquid water from the source of water at a pressure of at least about 10,000 psia, and an impact chamber having a contact surface onto which the injected water is contacted. upon impact of the injected water with the contact surface of the impact chamber, the injected water undergoes a virtually instantaneous phase transition from the liquid state to a gaseous state following the contact of the water with the contact surface, thereby generating steam.

Abstract: A cavitation engine configured to produce superheat steam from injected liquid water. The cavitation engine includes a funnel shaped impact chamber having an impact surface having a temperature of at least 375 degrees Fahrenheit, a small diameter opening at a bottom of the impact chamber, and an expansion chamber below the small diameter opening. The engine includes a fluid injector having an outlet positioned adjacent a largest diameter of the impact chamber and located to inject hyperbaric liquid water onto the impact surface of the impact chamber at supersonic velocities such that cavitation bubbles are present in the injected water. The outlet of the fluid injector and the impact surface are located relative to one another such that the outlet is spaced a distance from the impact surface of between 0.150 and 0.450 inches and the injected water hits the impact surface at an angle of between 85 and 95 degrees.

Abstract: Apparatus for generating steam, the apparatus including a source of liquid water, an injector in flow communication with the source of water for injecting liquid water from the source of water at a pressure of at least about 10,000 psia, and an impact chamber having a contact surface onto which the injected water is contacted. upon impact of the injected water with the contact surface of the impact chamber, the injected water undergoes a virtually instantaneous phase transition from the liquid state to a gaseous state following the contact of the water with the contact surface, thereby generating steam.

Abstract: Apparatus for recovering energy from water is disclosed. Water is heated by application of electrical energy to heaters and contacting the water with the heaters in a manner and under pressure and temperature conditions such that it is instantaneously converted to gas. Energy in excess of that supplied to the heaters results from the rapid conversion of water to gas.

Abstract: An adjustable speed winch includes a winch housing, a winch drum rotatably connected to the winch housing, a winch motor, a drive shaft, motor shaft coupling means, direct drive means, first gear reduction means and selection means. The motor includes a motor shaft rotating at a first speed. The motor shaft is coupled to the drive shaft by way of the motor shaft coupling means so that the drive shaft rotates at a second speed. In some embodiments, the second speed is the same as the first speed, while in some embodiments the second speed is less than the first speed. The direct drive means couple the winch drum to the drive shaft so that the winch drum also rotates at the second speed when the direct drive means is engaged. The first gear reduction means couple the winch drum to the drive shaft so that the drum rotates at a third speed that is less than the second speed when the first gear reduction means is engaged.

Abstract: A multi-speed winch is attached to a motor vehicle and is hydraulically powered by the vehicle's power steering system or other hydraulic source innate to the host vehicle. The winch operates in either a low-speed, high-torque mode for moving heavy loads, a high-speed, low-torque mode for quickly releasing or retrieving cable, a free-spooling mode for manually releasing cable, and a brake mode for holding the cable and load at a fixed position. The high-speed mode is enabled by coupling the drive shaft directly to the winch drum. The low-speed mode is enabled by coupling the drive shaft to the winch drum through a planetary gear assembly. In an alternate embodiment, high-speed mode is enabled by coupling the drive shaft to the winch drum through one of two planetary gear assemblies. Free-spooling mode is achieved by disengaging the drive shaft from the winch drum, and brake mode is achieved by engaging both the direct drive coupling and the sun and planet gear arrangement.

Abstract: A hydraulic winch assembly is attached to a motor vehicle and hydraulically powered by the vehicle's power steering system. A four-way, dual solenoid-operated valve controls the flow of pressurized hydraulic fluid. During normal driving operations while the winch is not in use, hydraulic fluid flows through the valve with no diversion of fluid away from the power steering system. With either of the solenoid coils energized, the valve diverts hydraulic fluid to the winch motor for operation of the winch. Return hydraulic flow from the winch motor maintains sufficiently high pressure to enable the power steering system to function safely during operation of the winch. In this manner, the winch is fail-safe because power steering system operation will not be adversely affected in the event of an inadvertent activation of the winch. Hydraulic fluid is continuously cooled by a cooler, even when the winch is not in operation.

Abstract: A limited fixed torque slip coupling for connecting rotatable shafts. In one embodiment, a first rotatable member is coupled to a second rotatable member to enable rotation of the first and second rotatable members without substantial relative movement of the members during normal operation when the torque experienced does not exceed a predetermined break-away torque. The coupling of the present invention also enables detection and comparison of the rotational rates of the rotatable members to permit a user to avoid damage to equipment in the event torque greater than that experienced under normal operating conditions is encountered.

Abstract: The specification discloses a transfer case for four-wheel-drive vehicles. In one embodiment, the transfer case includes a fluid coupling and rotation of an input shaft is transferred to a front drive shaft by a pair of opposed rotatable rings having interleaved fins. The interleaved fins provide fluid filled chambers and relative movement of the fins compresses the fluid and increases the ability of the fluid to transfer torque.

Abstract: The specification discloses a fluid coupling for connecting rotatable shafts. In one embodiment, rotation of an output shaft is transferred to a drive shaft by a pair of opposed rotatable rings having interleaved fins. The interleaved fins provide fluid filled chambers and relative movement of the fins compresses the fluid and increases the ability of the fluid to transfer torque.

Abstract: The specification discloses a fluid coupling for connecting rotatable shafts. In one embodiment, rotation of an output shaft is transferred to a drive shaft by a pair of opposed rotatable rings having interleaved fins. The interleaved fins provide fluid filled chambers and relative movement of the fins compresses the fluid and increases the ability of the fluid to transfer torque.