Abstract: A device for prolonging the life of an incandescent lamp includes a rectifier unit adapted for attachment to a lamp base and subsequent insertion into an appropriate lamp socket along with the lamp. The rectifier unit employs a leadless diode chip which is positioned off center within the socket so that the forces applied to the rectifier unit as the lamp is being screwed into the socket will not be applied directly to the diode chip. The rectifier unit also employs a pair of recessed electrical contacts attached to the diode chip and designed to minimize the distance that the unit raises the lamp in the socket and to conduct away the heat generated by the diode chip.

Abstract: There is disclosed a heat-engine/battery-electric hybrid power system for use in a low-pollution, low-fuel consumption vehicle. The engine shaft is coupled by a fixed mechanical ratio to the shaft of a dynamotor, the field current of the dynamotor being controlled by the accelerator pedal for drawing power from a battery to aid the engine in the turning of the driveshaft or for drawing power from the driveshaft to recharge the battery. A feedback loop is employed for continuously adjusting the throttle so that the manifold vacuum remains constant. In this manner, the ratio of the engine exhaust to the driveshaft speed remains substantially constant. The engine exhaust is directed to a thermal reactor, secondary air for which is derived from an air pump driven by the engine shaft. The ratio of the exhaust gas to the secondary air is thus substantially constant independent of the shaft speed so that the thermal reactor is maximally effective at all vehicle speeds.