Abstract: There is described a rotor for a helicopter, having a hub rotating about a first axis; a number of blades projecting from the hub in respective longitudinal directions lying in a plane crosswise to the first axis, and each connected to the hub so as to be movable at least about a second axis crosswise to the first axis and to the relative longitudinal direction; and a number of damping devices for damping vibration of the helicopter, each interposed between a respective blade and the hub; each damping device has a plate member fixed, on one side, to the hub, elastically connected, on the opposite side, to the relative blade, and flexible, during movement of the blade, about a third axis coaxial with the second axis.

Abstract: Systems and methods for storing and releasing energy comprising directing inlet air into a vertical cold flue assembly, a portion of moisture being removed from the air within the cold flue assembly. The air is directed out of the cold flue assembly and compressed. The remaining moisture is substantially removed and the carbon dioxide is removed from the air by adsorption. The air is cooled in a main heat exchanger such that it is substantially liquefied using refrigerant loop air, The substantially liquefied air is directed to a storage apparatus. The refrigerant loop air is cooled by a mechanical chiller and by a plurality of refrigerant loop air expanders. In energy release mode, working loop air warms the released liquid air such that the released liquid air is substantially vaporized, and the released liquid air cools the working loop air such that the working loop air is substantially liquefied.

Abstract: A water hammer using a drive rod is provided.

Abstract: An off gas extraction system provides superior results to other systems for cleaning polluted soil. Off gas is extracted, followed by compression and condensation. Compression and condensation produce an off gas that must be further treated to produce pollutant-free exhaust. A regenerative adsorber cleans the influent gas/air by adsorbing residual chemical vapor and concentrates the removed chemical vapor and reprocesses them. Conventional scrubbers are used on the back end of the system to produce a final exhaust as prescribed by environmental regulation. Methods of accomplishing the same are similarly provided, including unique business methods for conforming extraction plans with current environmental regulations and compliance impact generation based on an evolved knowledge base.

Abstract: There is described a helicopter having a first member movable with respect to a second member; lubricated supporting means for supporting the first member with respect to the second member; and a primary lubricating circuit for lubricating the supporting means and in turn having primary storage means for accumulating a lubricating fluid, and primary fluid feed means for feeding the lubricating fluid to the supporting means; the helicopter also has an auxiliary lubricating circuit supplied continually by the primary storage means with a first lubricating fluid flow value, and itself continually supplying the supporting means with a second lubricating fluid flow value lower than the first value, so as to produce an auxiliary storage volume of lubricating fluid for use in the event of breakdown of the primary lubricating circuit.

Abstract: A securing apparatus that releasably secures two or more mechanical elements is provided. The securing apparatus may be attached to one mechanical element and include abutment surfaces that abut at least one additional mechanical element. Forces exerted by the at least one additional mechanical element and the securing apparatus on each other serve to maintain the securing apparatus in an engaged position. The securing apparatus may include a locking member that includes a protruded portion that extends at least partially beneath the securing apparatus and at least one mechanical element. A pull-ring may be provided to rotate the locking member and release the mechanical elements being secured.

Abstract: When entering an idling state, a master unit M transmits an optical signal for polling addressed to each slave unit S-1 to S-n. The slave unit S-n located at the lowest rank of a direct chain constituted by S-1 to S-n, when receiving the optical signal for polling for the self unit, responds by transmitting an optical signal representing a phase correction request signal to the other slave units. The slave units S-1 to S-(n?1) respond to the phase correction request signal, and initialize each clock signal to synchronize with the clock signal of the slave unit S-n at the lowest rank.

Abstract: A random number sequence output apparatus (101) includes a sequence acceptance unit (102) for accepting input of a numerical sequence, an initial value setting unit (103) for accepting an initial value and causing a storage unit (104) to store this, an output unit (105) for outputting a new value stored in the storage unit (104), a calculation unit (106) for applying a predetermined rational map stored in he storage unit (104) each time the output unit (105) outputs a value and further applying a predetermined calculation unit to the value and value extracted from the numerical sequence accepted by the sequence acceptance unit (102), and an updating unit (104) to store the value of the result of calculation performed by the calculation unit (106), thereby performing updating.

Abstract: The present invention provides an acoustic particle alarm comprising a particle sensor for indicating the concentration of particles exceeding a specified size and specified concentration, for particles entrained in a fluid flow impinging on a front face of the sensor, and a nozzle for directing the fluid flow such that the particles impact the sensor in a direction substantially normal to the front face of the sensor. Each particle impacting the front face of the sensor causes a response in an output of the sensor with amplitude that is monotonic in the momentum of the impinging particle.