Abstract: Hot gas engine units of the type having parallel cylinders in two parallel rows and containing pistons connected to two parallel crank shafts engaging a common third output shaft are juxtaposed into an assemblage of four such units. The output shaft is common to all four units and each of four crank shafts is connected to pistons in cylinders of adjacent rows of neighboring units. In such assemblage the total number of crank shafts in four units is reduced from eight to four and one output shaft will replace four output shafts.

Abstract: A system for recovering otherwise lost power from a compressor and prime mover utilizing a Rankine cycle. While heat recovery from prime movers has been done, much energy is wasted by compressors which convert all the driving power to heat which has not been recovered. Thus, this invention provides for power recovery from both the prime mover and the compressor. A working fluid is pre-heated utilizing waste heat from the prime mover and compressor, such as that in the cooling medium, oil cooler, and the like. The pre-heated working fluid is passed to a boiler where it is vaporized and super heated and then is passed to a turbine or other type of expander. From the turbine, the working fluid goes to a condenser and is then pumped to the heat exchanger, or heat exchangers, to begin another cycle. The turbine or other type of expander is used to supplement the prime mover in driving the compressor or for any other suitable application of power.

Abstract: A motor is provided of the piston or diaphragm type in which vacuum is constantly applied to one side of a piston or the like and air under pressure is constantly applied to the opposite side to drive the piston through a stroke. The vacuum and pressurized air may be obtained from sources outside the motor. A valve mechanism driven by the motor reverses the application of vacuum and air pressure when the piston reaches each end of its stroke so that power is continuously applied to both sides of the piston during both forward and reverse movement thereof. Different pistons are arranged out of phase with one another to provide a smooth flow of mechanical power. In one version, the motor drives an air pump having a vacuum inlet and an air pressure outlet, and by connecting such inlet and outlet to the valve mechanism, the motor will drive a load as well as itself. In another version, the motor has an internal combustion apparatus incorporated therewith.

Abstract: A drive system for use in a press in which a pneumatic cylinder and hydraulic pressure transformer are coupled together and connected by separate valves to respective gas and hydraulic sources. The valves are controlled by position transducers arranged along the path of movement of the output member of the transformer.

Abstract: A marine Diesel engine consists of parallel left and right engines mounted on a common bed plate having integral independent columns on which the cylinders of the engine are supported, the bed plate and columns forming the crank chambers of the engines. The exhaust and scavenging pipes for the engines are constructed as common parts, the scavenging pipe being mounted between the engines and being flexibly connected to at least one of them so as to permit relative movement between the engine upper portions. A single propeller shaft is driven at a desired low r.p.m. from the crank shafts of the engines through a gearing device consisting simply of a gear on the propeller shaft meshing with a pair of pinions each connected to one of the engine crank shafts by an elastic coupling.

Abstract: An internal combustion-electric motor hybrid power plant for an automotive vehicle. The power plant includes an internal combustion engine and a direct current electric motor generator which are connected to a drive shaft for the vehicle. A clutch mechanism is provided to connect the internal combustion engine, the direct current electric motor generator and the drive shaft for selectively engaging and disengaging the drive shaft with the internal combustion engine and the motor generator. A storage battery is electrically connected to the motor generator to supply current to and receive current therefrom. Thermoelectric semi-conductors are arranged to be heated by the waste heat of the internal combustion engine. These thermoelectric semi-conductors are electrically connected to the battery to supply current thereto.

Abstract: A multiple input, single output, mechanical actuator including a housing, an actuator rod reciprocably mounted in the housing and having one end projecting therefrom, a plurality of aligned, signal responsive elements in the housing, each independently mounted for reciprocation therein towards and away from the rod, a plurality of signal input structures in the housing, one for each of the elements, for applying a force to reciprocably move the associated element toward or away from the rod, and a plurality of aligned, interengaging links reciprocably mounted within the housing, one for each of the elements, and operatively associated with the rod, each of the links being relatively movable with respect to its element and slidable with respect thereto for one direction of movement of the element and movable therewith in the other direction of movement of its element.

Abstract: Two gas turbine helicopter engines are coupled together for isochronous operation to supply a common load. A control circuit assures that the power delivered to the common load is equally divided between the two engines. The torque of each engine is detected and the torques are compared to established control signals for the engines.

Abstract: This is a method, and an apparatus for performing said method, wherein the latent energy in expansible fluids is utilized in a multi stage series of expanders, or energy extractors, wherein succeeding expanders or energy extractors derive energy from fluid emanating from a preceding expander from which some energy was previously derived; and, wherein, important features are: the ability to maximize the torque output from the combined units as necessary for special load conditions by bypassing the primary fluid around one expander and into a succeeding expander with the bypassed expander being immmobilized; and differential coupling of the mechanical output of the expanders for utilization of maximum output and efficiency under varying conditions of capacity of the expanders due to changes in fluid and load conditions.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for extracting energy from the motion of water waves during both the ebb and flow of such waves. The apparatus includes a screw propeller which is disposed to contact the waves and to be driven thereby in opposite directions depending on the direction of movement of the waves. A pair of ratchet wheel and pawl assemblies, mounted on a common drive shaft with the propeller, provide transmission of the rotational forces for both directions of rotation. A pair of force transmitting connections disposed between the drive shaft and a driven shaft provide rotation of the driven shaft in the same direction for both directions of rotation of the drive shaft. A plurality of such apparatus are preferably used to drive a single common shaft which serves as a drive shaft for an utilization device such as a dynamo.

Abstract: A plurality of base members are seated on an ocean bed adjacent the shore and they support at their shore ends normally expanded compression cylinders provided with fluid inlets and outlets controlled by check valves. The outlets are connected by conduits with the inlet of a turbine that is operatively connected with an electric generator. Rigid pressure plates are disposed above the base members and the cylinders thereon and are inclined downwardly from their shore ends to their opposite ends, where they are hinged to the off-shore ends of the base members. Waves passing over the pressure plates will force their upper ends down to compress the cylinders to force fluid through the conduits to the turbine, after which spring means will expand the cylinders and raise the pressure plates. The base members are located in such positions on the ocean bed that the pressure plates will be depressed in succession to provide substantially constant flow of fluid to the turbine.

Abstract: A motor offering usable energy which comprises a number of power sources which are powered solely by their reaction to the evaporation of water or by their reaction to the atmosphere's normal characteristic of temperature decrease with increase in elevation.

Abstract: A vapor generator organization arranged for operation in a marine reheat power plant is described in which the reheater tube bundle is disposed in the rear gas pass section of the unit where it is subjected only to low temperature combustion gas during periods of ship maneuvering when no vapor flow occurs through the reheater tubes. A separately fired burner arrangement is operably disposed in the rear gas pass and adapted to be fired at times when the reheater is operative in the system.

Abstract: An electric motor and an in-line speed-responsive clutch are arranged so as to provide dual drive for selectively driving a refrigerant compressor by either an internal combustion engine or by the electric motor. The rotor of the electric motor is journalled for relative rotation on the output shaft of the engine, and the motor rotor can be driven through the clutch when the output speed of the engine output shaft exceeds a predetermined minimum. By having both power sources adapted to drive the compressor with the motor rotor journalled on the engine output shaft and by employing a single clutch, economy of parts, relative ease in assembly, and a more compact arrangement may be achieved.