Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for extracting power from a buoyant source within a contained column of liquid. It is comprised of an endless chain of movable buoyant objects, a means to convert the movement of the chain into useful work and a tank filled with a constant volume column of water. The buoyant objects comprising the chain sequentially enter the bottom of the water column, move up through the column and emerge at the surface. The emerging buoyant objects leave the tank and are directed to the tank bottom were each buoyant object repeats the cycle. As the chain of buoyant objects cycle through the water column, the volume of water remains constant, with one buoyant object of the chain entering the bottom of the water column as one is exiting at the top surface. The movement of the chain is a function of the buoyancy of the buoyant objects and the movement is converted to work by any conventional means using a rotary drive or linear escapement motor.

Abstract: A remotely activated control device responsive to a specific transmitter operating in a frequency band assigned to radio telephone equipment, such as cellular telephone networks, cordless telephones, etc. The control device includes a radio receiver which provides a received pulse train to an assurance logic circuit. The assurance logic circuit determines if the received pulse train is limited to no more than a transmitter identification code and an action code, the combination of which is less than the code required to activate a relay network or initiate a radio telephone connection. Pulse trains accepted by the assurance logic circuit are compared to a stored code by a comparitor. The stored code includes the identification of a specific transmitter or group of transmitters and at least one action code. If the received pulse train matches the stored code, a switching circuit is activated to control a user supplied device.

Abstract: An air handling system including at least one terminal unit for maintaining a serviced volume at a predetermined temperature below the temperature of the air supplied by the central source of the air handling system is provided through the use of a refrigerant means in the form of a passive thermal energy recovery device which provides heat transfer between the outgoing and inflowing air streams provided by the a central air handling system. The heat transfer between air streams is regulated as a function of air velocity and temperature differentials as measured at various points in system which are related specifically to the serviced volume. Environmental control within the serviced volume is exercised by controlling face and bypass dampers to regulate the air flow through the passive heat exchanger and the air exchange rate is controlled by modulating the operation of the dampers or by regulating the air flow into or out of the serviced volume by way of supply and/or exhaust louvers.

Abstract: An exhaust particle and particulate containment system for a coffee roaster includes an exhaust duct for carrying exhaust coffee roasting by-products including air, gasses, smoke and chaff from the coffee roaster to a porous medium for separating chaff from the exhaust coffee roasting by-product flow and a filter for removing smoke particles from the exhaust coffee roasting by-product flow which passes through the porous medium.