Abstract: A pistol-like hand-operated gas lighter comprises an elongated casing having an extended fuel supply/ignition tube secured to thereto in the manner of a barrel on a pistol. An electrically actuated igniter/burner is secured to the free end of the fuel supply/ignition tube. A liquid gas tank is contained within the elongated casing and has a gas tube leading from the tank through the fuel supply/ignition tube to the igniter/burner. An on-off valve is disposed on the tank. A piezoelectric generator is positioned in the elongated casing adjacent the on-off valve. A center balanced lever interconnects the on-off valve to the piezoelectric generator whereby upon the piezoelectric generator being physically operated, the valve is opened and allows fuel to flow through the gas tube to the igniter/burner.

Abstract: The hitherto known indirect moxing instruments are relatively difficult to handle, so that they are frequently not used. This problem is eliminated by the present invention, which provides an instrument which can be easily and rapidly applied by self-therapy to even difficultly reachable points of the body and which ensures optimum effectiveness. Reference is made to the main claim and FIG. 1.

Abstract: A multiple volume compressor for use in a hot gas (Stirling) engine having a plurality of different volume chambers arranged to pump down the engine when decreased power is called for and return the working gas to a storage tank or reservoir. A valve actuated bypass loop is placed over each chamber which can be opened to return gas discharged from the chamber back to the inlet thereto. By selectively actuating the bypass valves, a number of different compressor capacities can be attained without changing compressor speed whereby the capacity of the compressor can be matched to the power available from the engine which is used to drive the compressor.

Abstract: A mean pressure power control system for a hot gas (Stirling) engine utilizing a plurality of supply tanks for storing a working gas at different pressures. During pump down operations gas is bled from the engine by a compressor having a plurality of independent pumping volumes. In one embodiment of the invention, a bypass control valve system allows one or more of the compressor volumes to be connected to the storage tanks. By selectively sequencing the bypass valves, a capacity range can be developed over the compressor that allows for lower engine idle pressures and more rapid pump down rates.

Abstract: A tilted, fixed kiln with rotory steam gasifier having a fixed elongated, pressurizable kiln body member with an input end and an output end and with the center axis supported at an angle to the horizontal so as to bring into effect gravitational forces acting on high moisture content biomass material fed into the input end and travelling through the kiln to the output end and having in the kiln body an axially extending rotor and a motor, radially spaced-apart scoop-like blade elements extending along the axial length of the kiln for tumbling the material, means for increasing the temperature from its input to its output end, spaced-apart blades and chains disposed in the rotor kiln cavities for stirring the biomass material as it travels through the kiln to prevent agglomeration, a plurality of parallel, axially extending hot gas counter-flow feedback pipes arranged around the kiln body and along the backsides of the scoop-like blade elements, a metering auger mounted vertically to the input end of the kiln

Abstract: New and improved techniques, systems and equipment for the practical underground mining of petroleum from both virgin and depleted oil fields under certain geological conditions, are described. A method of drilling relatively small diameter, drainage-type oil wells using a fluid and cutting control assembly from within an access underground drilled tunnel, is provided. The fluid and cutting control assembly facilitates the safe underground drilling and installation of the small diameter, drainage-type oil wells which can be operated either under the natural pressures occurring in the geological strata, as gravity drain wells or by suitable secondary treatment measures artificially pressurized to faciliate drainage of oil from oil bearing strata into which such wells are drilled.

Abstract: A dynamic display for automatic sound signal analyzing equipment that displays the closest recognized musical note to that being played or sung by a musician, whether the note is sharp or flat or on tune and if sharp or flat, the extent to which it is sharp or flat by means of a strobe-like moving bar pattern.

Abstract: An annular heat exchanger assembly includes a plurality of low thermal growth ceramic heat exchange members with inlet and exit flow ports on distinct faces. A mounting member locates each ceramic member in a near-annular array and seals the flow ports on the distinct faces into the separate flow paths of the heat exchanger. The mounting member adjusts for the temperature gradient in the assembly and the different coefficients of thermal expansion of the members of the assembly during all operating temperatures.

Abstract: A piston ring design for a Stirling engine wherein the contact pressure between the piston and the cylinder is maintained at a uniform level, independent of engine conditions through a balancing of the pressure exerted upon the ring's surface and thereby allowing the contact pressure on the ring to be predetermined through the use of a preloaded expander ring.

Abstract: An automatic narrow-fabric needle loom weaving system employing a hook secured to the mounting plate of the loom on the side thereof into which the needle enters the shed and around which the weft thread is wound in order to form a straight edge without contraction of the warp threads during beat-up on the side of the woven material opposite the knitted selvage edge produced by a latching needle pick. An improved weft thread feed is provided with a simple, relatively inexpensive mechanical drive disk that can be easily adjusted to vary the amount of weft thread fed during each pick. A weft thread support spring structure provides tensioning support for the weft thread and reduces wear on the leaf spring members. An improved header frame assembly prevents undesired twisting of the header elements and makes it easier for a technician to change the machine over from one weaving pattern to the next. Eccentrically mounted drive disks are provided for the respective sets of oppositely reciprocated header frames.

Abstract: The invention provides charge electrode means for an ink jet printer, comprising a pair of members which are preferably planar members of electrically insulating material, mounted in spaced relation to one another so as to provide a gap between opposed surfaces thereof, opposed charge electrode layers of electrically conductive material on said opposed surfaces and means electrically connecting said opposed charge electrode layers.

Abstract: An externally excited resonant free piston Stirling engine thermal amplifier system which is over damped at all load levels and will not freely oscillate and wherein the displacer/piston system of the Stirling engine is externally driven by a separate drive motor. The system includes means for sensing at least one preselected operating parameter of the Stirling engine thermal amplifier and/or the load driven by the Stirling engine thermal amplifier and deriving feedback signals indicative of such operating parameters. The system further includes feedback means responsive to the operating parameter sensed signals and operative to develop control signals for variably controlling the drive motor to thereby precisely, variably and stably control the operation of the Stirling engine thermal amplifier system.

Abstract: A blower having a stationary casing for rotatably supporting a rotor assembly having a series of open ended chambers arranged to close against the surrounding walls of the casing. Pistons are slidably mounted within each chamber with the center of rotation of the pistons being offset in regard to the center of rotation of the rotor assembly whereby the pistons reciprocate in the chambers as the rotor assembly turns. As inlet port communicates with the rotor assembly to deliver a working substance into the chamber as the pistons approach a top dead center position in the chamber while an outlet port also communicates with the rotor to exhaust the working substance as the pistons approach a bottom dead center position. The displacement of the blower is varied by adjusting the amount of eccentricity between the center of rotation of the pistons and the center of rotation of the rotor assembly.

Abstract: A yarn tension device comprises a ball 10 resting on an annular seat 12 to define therebetween a yarn path whereby yarn 14 drawn along that path is tensioned. A preloaded torsion spring 22 acts on the ball 10 to exert a resilient bias thereon to urge the ball 10 against the seat 12. A control 28 is provided for varying the preloading of the torsion spring 22. The device provides a readily variable yarn tension that has a surprising constancy from one device to the next.

Abstract: A method and system is described which employs a thermal energy accumulator in which a thermal energy fluid and hot water coexist with each other. Hot water is taken out of the accumulator and supplied as thermal energy to an energy utilization compound arrangement of a total flow turbine and a steam turbine driving an electric power generator. The thermal energy fluid may be in the form of saturated steam, for example.

Abstract: A simple, low mass, low cost, articulating/articulating and rotating wrist assembly for use on automatic machine tools to provide two important degrees of freedom of movement of an end effector tool in the form of an articulating motion either alone or in conjunction with a rotating motion. Where both rotation and articulation are used the sequence is important in order to obtain new and different movements of the end effector tool for transcribing cones, etc. The fundamental articulating motion is achieved through the kinematics of a primary, parallelogram-type pantograph driven remotely from the automatic machine tool and employing a secondary restraining mechanism either in the form of a secondary parallelogram-type restraining pantograph or a cluster of sun, idler and planet gears.

Abstract: A virtual balancing axis arrangement is described for multi-cylinder reciprocating piston machines for effectively balancing out imbalanced forces and minimizing residual imbalance moments acting on the crankshaft of such machines without requiring the use of additional parallel-arrayed balancing shafts or complex and expensive gear arrangements. The novel virtual balancing axis arrangement is capable of being designed into multi-cylinder reciprocating piston and crankshaft machines for substantially reducing vibrations induced during operation of such machines with only minimal number of additional component parts.

Abstract: An all mechanically operated device for preventing the theft of motor vehicles having automatic transmission gears and having a main transmission oil line provided between the pressure outlet of a transmission oil pump and the automatic transmission gears for supplying transmission oil under pressure to the automatic transmission gears; said device comprising a branch transmission oil line connected between said main line and a transmission oil sump, and a selectively operated bypass valve connected in said branch line so that when said bypass valve is open, the transmission oil pressure to the automatic gears is neutralized thereby preventing transmission drive for the motor vehicle.

Abstract: A multistage resonant reciprocating compressor having opposed cylinders that are driven by a plunger unit. The plunger unit is suspended between a pair of spaced apart flexure springs and is electrically coupled to a linear motor mounted between the springs. The forces acting on the cylinder piston located on one side of the plunger unit are balanced against the piston forces acting on the other side of the unit and the stiffness of the flexure springs arranged so that the natural frequency of the plunger is at or near the exciting frequency of the motor.