Abstract: The cooling system for a power transformer is activated by sensing and processing the frequency characteristic including the harmonic contents, of the inrush current into the transformer, when the transformer is first energized. The cooling system may include motors operating devices such as oil circulating pumps and fans causing a coolant to flow about the power transformer. The cooling system is deactivated by sensing when the transformer is de-energized and when its temperature is below a predetermined level.

Abstract: The exhaust system of an internal combustion engine includes a duct having an input end coupled to the engine for passing and processing the exhaust gases and fumes emitted by the engine such that the duct functions as an anti-explosion and fire arrester device. The duct includes a reinforced filter structure securely and firmly mounted within and across the duct opening. The filter structure is coated with a noble metal to enhance oxidation of the gases and fumes passing through the duct. An insulator layer is attached about and along the outer surface of the duct and a jacket for carrying a coolant is mounted above and about the insulator layer. The insulator layer isolates the coolant from the duct to ensure that the temperature on the external side of the jacket is less than a predetermined value. Simultaneously, the insulator layer isolates the duct from the coolant to enable the temperature within the duct to have a sufficiently high value to sustain oxidation of the gases and fumes.

Abstract: A chemical mixture for treating biodegradable materials which when subjected to anaerobic decomposition generate environmentally harmful gases such as methane and hydrogen sulfide. The chemical mixture includes chemicals for inhibiting the production of methane and hydrogen sulfide (H2S). The mixture may be formed by: (a) combining compound(s) which inhibit the production of methane gas with compound(s) which inhibit the generation of hydrogen sulfide; and/or (b) using one or more compounds which can perform both functions. The biodegradable materials include all types of paper products. A liquid may be added to the chemical mixture to form a solution which may be applied, in any suitable manner, to biodegradable materials at any point during the manufacture of the materials and/or after the biodegradable materials are disposed of and ready for decomposition.

Abstract: For reducing the number of anchors required for mooring a plurality of WECs in a body of water, the WECs are arrayed in two patterns enabling the sharing of anchors among the WECs. One pattern comprises pluralities of WECs disposed in polygonal shaped cells with an anchor disposed beneath each cell connected to all the WECs in the cell. A second pattern comprises a tessellated pattern of contiguous cells with WECs at the interface between contiguous pairs of cells being common to both cells of the pairs.

Abstract: Protective devices, to protect a body part having a bony portion with a soft tissue layer between the bony portion and an outer skin layer, have an inner surface which conforms to the body part to be protected and are applied to the body part to reduce pressure exhibited at the interface between the bony portion and the soft tissue layer, across the soft tissue and outer skin layers and at the interface between the outer skin layer and a support surface. The protective devices may be made of any material suitable for distributing the weight of the body part over an extended area and volume and may include a mushy material, a hard shell, a hydro absorptive material, and a wound dressing with medication. The body-part to be protected includes at least one of the heel, trochanter, knee, sacrum, coccyx, ischium, scapula, elbow, ankle, buttocks and occiput; The protective devices may be secured to the body part directly or via a garment or any other suitable securing means.

Abstract: An underwater substation pod (USP) adapted to collect and process the electrical outputs of an array of offshore power generating devices includes a voltage boosting transformer for combining and transmitting with increased efficiency an amplified version of the collected electrical outputs to an on shore facility. Combining the outputs and transmitting at a higher voltage reduces transmission losses and the number of cables required to transmit the electrical outputs. The USP is mounted on the seabed but operated at atmospheric pressure to accommodate standard components. The pod may be designed to include remotely controlled operation and to have a long service life since few, if any, moving parts are used. Also, the equipment may be designed to have a high degree of redundancy to provide greater reliability.

Abstract: A bed is described having a support member for supporting an individual thereon; a base member configured to support the support member above a surface; a primary height adjusting mechanism operable to adjust the height of the support member with respect to the base member. The primary height adjusting mechanism includes an arrangement of a plurality of link arms drivably coupled to one or more actuators which raises the support frame member. During raising of the support frame member from its lowermost position to its fully raised position there is an initial lifting stage when the lifting force applied by the associated actuator to the arrangement of link arms acts at a shorter distance from a fulcrum of the arrangement of link arms to the support frame and therefore with a greater moment of force than during a later stage of lifting movement. A secondary height adjusting mechanism is operable to adjust the height of the base member with respect to the surface.

Abstract: For reducing the number of components required for mooring (by means of three, 120° spaced apart mooring lines) multiple floating wave energy converters (WECs), a group of six WECs is disposed in a hexagonal pattern with each WEC being disposed at a corner of the hexagon. The WECs are connected to one another by mooring lines extending along sides of the hexagon, each WEC thereby being connected by two, 120° spaced apart mooring lines and with each WEC serving as a mooring point for each of its two adjacent neighbors. A third mooring line for each WEC, spaced 120° from the other two mooring lines, is connected to an auxiliary surface buoy and thence to an anchor.

Abstract: In a wave energy converter (WEC) for capturing energy contained in surface waves on large bodies of water, one or both of the floats used in the WEC has an internal spring system including a weight suspended from a spring mechanism having a selectively variable spring constant for allowing vertical oscillations of the weight in response to bobbing motions of the float The mechanical impedance of the system is a function of the oscillations of the weight, hence the system is tunable to selected values of mechanical impedance for optimal coupling with the prevailing waves.

Abstract: A deformable mirror (DM) embodying the invention includes a reflective layer attached to the front surface of a solid monolithic block of a ceramic material. A plurality of holes is drilled from the back surface with the top end of each hole being terminated a predetermined distance below the front surface. Conductors, functioning as actuators, are inserted into each hole to apply a localized electric field at the top end of the hole. Each one of the electric fields is used to create local deformation of the front surface of the block and the corresponding portion of the reflective layer.

Abstract: A wave energy converter (WEC) for converting energy contained in surface waves on a body of water to useful energy comprises two floats movable relative to one another in response to passing surface waves. Both floats comprise expandable outer envelopes which have been expanded into full and firm shape. In one process, expansion is obtained by filling the floats with fluids, for example, air and water. The fluids can be pumped into the floats, or the floats can be mechanically expanded in the presence of the fluids for self filling owing to pressure differentials. In one embodiment, a float envelope can comprise of plurality of end to end connected length sections in nested or telescoped relationship. Expansion is obtained by pulling the telescoped sections out from one and other, for example, by pumping fluids into the telescoped sections.

Abstract: A superconducting switching amplifier embodying the invention includes superconductive devices responsive to input/control signals for clamping the output of the amplifier to a first voltage or to a second voltage. The amplifier includes a first set of superconducting devices serially connected between a first voltage line and an output terminal and a second set of superconducting devices serially connected between the output terminal and a second voltage line. The first set and the second set of devices are operated in a complementary fashion in response to control signals. When one of the first and second sets is driven to a superconducting (zero resistance) state the other set is driven to a resistive state. In accordance with the invention, the devices of each set are laid out in a pattern and driven in a manner to enable all the devices of each set to be driven to a selected state at substantially the same time.

Abstract: A load tap changer (LTC) having a plurality of windings is coupled to one of the primary and secondary windings of a power transformer in order to regulate the output voltage of the power transformer. The LTC includes a plurality of taps physically and electrically connected to the LTC windings and the transformer's output voltage is increased/decreased by moving along the taps a contacting element whose movement is controlled by a rotating shaft driven by a motor. The tap being contacted is determined by sensing the direction and number of shaft rotations and by checking the number of shaft rotations specified to go from a tap to the next tap being contacted. The time for a full rotation of the shaft is also measured. Also, the temperature of the tanks containing the LTC taps and the power transformer is measured for each tap position.

Abstract: A card embodying the invention includes marks which are randomly formed within a dedicated region of the surface of the card. The randomly formed marks may, for example, include; (a) partial-holes extending a short distance from a surface of the card; (b) through-holes extending between the top and bottom surfaces of the card; (c) burn marks, or (d) ink marks. The marks are of a size and nature such that they are not readily visible to the naked eye. The invention includes illumination apparatus for illuminating the card to reliably sense the optical pattern of the randomly formed marks. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a reader/writer includes apparatus for generating an array of light to uniformly illuminate the back surface of the card so as to pass light through the through-holes or through the partial holes.

Abstract: In a linear electric generator (LEG) which includes apparatus for passing a permanent magnetic assembly (PMA) along linearly disposed sections of coils of an induction coil assembly (ICA) for generating voltages and power, a switching arrangement for coupling only selected sections of coils of the ICA across the power output lines of the LEG. The selected coil sections include the sections of coils of the ICA in close proximity to the passing PMA. In accordance with different embodiments, the non selected coils of the ICA may be either short circuited or disconnected (open circuited) from the power output lines.

Abstract: An ocean wave energy converter (WEC) utilizes the relative motion between permanent magnet and induction coil assemblies to generate electricity. The permanent magnet assemblies and induction coil assemblies are separately housed in watertight enclosures, enabling a wide range of wave energy converter configurations, nearly unlimited stroke and obviating the need for a common magnet/coil enclosure with seals. The magnet assemblies are constructed with surface or buried magnets. The wave motion moves a magnet assembly relative to a stationary coil assembly, or vice versa. Either the magnet assembly or the induction coil assembly are made long enough to provide the generation of electricity over a desired operational range of travel. Various means are provided to maintain the spacing (“gap”) between the magnetic and coil assemblies relatively constant.

Abstract: A load tap changer (LTC) having a plurality of windings is coupled to one of the primary and secondary of a power transformer in order to regulate the output voltage of the transformer. The LTC includes a plurality of taps physically and electrically connected to and along the windings and a contacting element is selectively moved along the taps to increase or decrease the output voltage of the transformer. The power transformer and the LTC windings are placed in a main tank and the taps are placed in an LTC tank. The temperature in the main tank and the temperature in the LTC tank are monitored by means of first and second temperature probes whose outputs are used to sense the temperature differential (TDIFF) between the main tank and the LTC tank and to determine if the LTC tank temperature exceeds the main tank temperature for a period of time exceeding a specified time period. Also included is circuitry for sensing the rate of change of TDIFF and determining if it exceeds a predetermined value.

Abstract: The invention relates to active impedance matching systems (AIMS) and methods for increasing the efficiency of a wave energy converter (WEC) having a shaft and a shell intended to be placed in a body of water and to move relative to each other in response to forces applied to the WEC by the body of water. The system includes apparatus for: (a) extracting energy from the WEC and producing output electric energy as a function of the movement of the shell (shaft) relative to the shaft (shell): and (b) for selectively imparting energy to one of the shell and shaft for causing an increase in the displacement and velocity (or acceleration) of one of the shell and shaft relative to the other, whereby the net amount of output electrical energy produced is increased. The apparatus for extracting energy and for selectively supplying energy may be implemented using a single device capable of being operated bi-directionally, in terms of both direction and force, or may be implemented by different devices.

Abstract: Documents embodying the invention include a sandwich-like structure comprised of a core layer on which information may be printed using inks, a buffer layer bonded to each surface of the core layer for protecting the printed information and a laser reactive layer on, or in, which information can be written with a laser, bonded to each one of the buffer layers. The core layer may be formed of PVC (polyvinyl chloride) or PC (poly carbonate) material or any other suitable material on which information can be printed. The buffer layer may be formed of amorphous polyester material (e.g., PETG) or any other suitable material which can readily bond to the core layer and the laser reactive layer. The laser reactive layer may be polycarbonate (PC) or may be any other suitable plastic material (e.g., PVC, PET, PC, etc.) which includes a chemical which can react with a laser to produce desirable markings.

Abstract: A power generating system comprises a bluff (non-streamlined) body placed in a fluid stream at ninety degrees to the flow direction for creating a von Karman vortex street behind the body. In the process, feedback forces are generated that excite the bluff body into oscillation. The bluff body oscillatory movements are coupled to and energize a power generator. An impedance matching system is employed for electrically varying the natural frequency characteristics of the bluff body such that, over a relatively wide range of fluid flow velocities, the bluff body oscillates at a resonant frequency of the body for maximum energy transfer from the fluid stream to the bluff body.