Abstract: A belt tensioning device includes a first element having a threaded opening and a first pulley supported on the first element. The device further includes a second element having an opening in substantial alignment with the threaded opening of the first element and a second pulley supported on the second element. A belt is secured around and between the first and second pulleys. The belt tensioning device also includes an element for applying a tension force to the belt. In one preferred embodiment the element for applying a tension force to the belt includes a rotatable screw extending between the first and second support elements. The screw has a first end including a threaded portion adapted for threadably engaging the threaded opening of the first element and a second end remote therefrom adapted for extending into the opening of the second support element. The element for applying a tension force also includes a shoulder fixed to the screw, between the first and second ends thereof.

Abstract: A fluid compressor comprising a compression module for producing a compressed fluid, said compression module being enclosed in a compressor housing having a first side; and a hose reel assembly movably attached to the compressor housing, the hose reel assembly movable between a first position where the hose reel is adjacent the first side of the compressor housing and a second position wherein the hose reel assembly is located away from the first compressor housing side. The hose reel assembly may be moved to the second position away from the first housing side by swinging the hose reel assembly up away from the first side or pivoting the hose reel assembly to the side of the compressor.

Abstract: An enclosure has an outer surface and an inner surface and an opening extending between the outer and inner surfaces. The outer surface of the enclosure includes a curved region surrounding the opening; the curved region having a radius. The enclosure includes a resilient cover which is hingedly secured to the enclosure for selectively covering the opening. The resilient cover moves between a first open position and a second closed position. The resilient cover is molded to normally have a first radius which is greater than the radius of the curved region of the enclosure. When in the first open position, the resilient cover defines an arch having the first radius. When in the second closed position, the resilient cover is compressed and flexes so as to conform to the shape of the curved region of the enclosure. Thus, in the second closed position, the resilient cover defines an arch having a second radius which is smaller than the first radius.

Abstract: A compressor including a prime mover having an output element which supplies a motive force produced by the prime mover; a compression module having an input element; a tensioned belt connecting the prime mover output element and the compression module input element to transmit the motive force from the prime mover to the compression module, and a self-adjusting belt tensioning member for applying a substantially constant tensioning force to the belt to maintain substantially constant the predetermined required belt tension. The compressor also includes an anchor bracket connected to the compression module, and a locator plate connected to the anchor bracket, the locator plate being movable relative to the anchor bracket, the anchor bracket having a stop member for limiting movement of the locator plate.

Abstract: An hydraulic turbine includes a rotatable turbine runner. The turbine runner has a circumferential inlet for receiving a fluid and an axial outlet for discharging the fluid. The turbine runner also includes a conical-shaped hub rotatable about a central axis, the hub having a diameter that decreases in size from the inlet to the outlet, the conical-shaped hub including a base having a circumference adjacent the inlet and a surface sloping inwardly toward the central axis, the surface including a concave section facing the inlet when viewed in the meridional cross-section. The turbine runner also includes at least two helical turbine blades connected to the conical-shaped hub, each turbine blade having a leading edge adjacent to the inlet, a trailing edge adjacent to the outlet, a blade running length therebetween having a pitch, each turbine blade further including an outer edge, wherein each turbine blade winds at least halfway around the conical-shaped hub.

Abstract: A side branch resonator for attenuating sound waves of first and second frequencies, the side branch resonator comprising a discharge branch; a resonator branch; an inlet branch flow connected to the discharge branch having an axis, the resonator branch having a wall which defines a resonator branch interior; the resonator branch having an open resonator branch end and a closed resonator branch end; the resonator further comprising an attenuation member for attenuating the first frequency sound waves. The attenuation member is located in the resonator branch interior a first distance from the axis and upstream from the resonator branch closed end. The closed resonator branch end is located a second distance from the axis to provide attenuation of the second frequency sound waves.

Abstract: An apparatus for supplying high pressure atomizing and purging fluid to the fuel system of a gas turbine engine. The apparatus is comprised of a turbocompressor, multiple flow conduits and associated valves and controls. Alternative versions of the fundamental apparatus may include heat exchangers for heating and cooling the atomizing and purging fluid within the apparatus. The apparatus works with all types of gas turbine engine cycles well known to one skilled in the art. The apparatus includes a first conduit for extracting a small percentage of the fluid compressed by the turbine engine compressor, and the first conduit is further divided into second and third conduits for supplying portions of the small percentage of compressed fluid to the turbocompressor compressor and turbine.

Abstract: A heat exchanger for transferring heat between an external fluid and an internal fluid includes two or more heat exchange cells, each heat exchange cell having a top plate with an inlet aperture at one end thereof and an outlet aperture at the other end thereof, the top plate including a first surface, a second surface and peripheral edges. The heat exchange cell also includes a bottom plate juxtaposed with the top plate, the bottom plate having an inlet aperture at one end thereof and an outlet aperture at the other end thereof. The bottom plate includes a first surface, a second surface and peripheral edges. The peripheral edges of the top and bottom plates are attached to one another, the second surfaces of the top and bottom plates confronting one another and the inlet and outlet apertures of the top and bottom plates being in substantial alignment with one another. The attached top and bottom plates define a high pressure chamber between the second surfaces thereof.

Abstract: A portable trailer movable over a surface, includes a frame and a support leg connected to the frame. The support leg has a flexible joint including a first support member, a second support member separate from the first support member and a flexible member spanning a gap between the first and second support members. The flexible member preferably joins the first and second support members so that said first and second support members are capable of moving into one or more non-parallel orientations relative to one another for preventing damage to the support leg when the support leg comes in contact with the surface or an object on the surface. The support leg may also include a second flexible joint.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for restarting a generator set following a nuisance shutdown.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making a pretrip diagnosis and identification of generator set problems which could cause shutdown or undesired operation of the generator set.

Abstract: A method for detecting the occurrence of surge in a centrifugal compressor includes the step of calculating a time rate of change of a discharge pressure of the fluid discharged from the compressor. In one preferred embodiment, the time rate of change of the discharge pressure is calculated by initially setting PREV PRESS and RATE PRESS variables equal to zero (0), and commencing a RATE PRESS subroutine having a time limit for cycling therethrough. The RATE PRESS subroutine includes the steps of obtaining a discharge pressure reading for the fluid discharged from the compressor, subtracting the discharge pressure reading from the PREV PRESS variable to establish the RATE PRESS variable, and resetting the PREV PRESS variable equal to the value of the discharge pressure reading. After the RATE PRESS variable has been determined, the RATE PRESS is compared with an acceptable set time point rate of change for the discharge pressure.

Abstract: A method for controlling modulation of at least one compressor in a compressor system includes the steps of providing a host controller including a microprocessor for controlling overall operation of the compressor system. The host controller includes a microprocessor and memory for storing system values and transmitting load, unload and modulation commands to the at least one compressor. The at least one compressor includes a compressor controller having a microprocessor in communication with the host controller, a discharge port for discharging compressed fluid from the compressor, and a pressure sensor in communication with the discharge port for sensing the pressure of the compressed fluid discharged therefrom. The sensor is in signal sending relation with the compressor controller. The method also includes transmitting a modulation command from the host controller to the compressor controller of the at least one compressor upon the occurrence of a predetermined event.

Abstract: A gas compressor includes a compression module, an adjustable inlet valve for precisely controlling the supply of a compressible gas to the compression module, and a pressure sensor for sensing a pressure of the gas discharged from the compression module. The gas compressor also includes an internal combustion engine for driving the compression module, the internal combustion engine having a cooling system including an engine coolant, a coolant sensor for sensing a temperature of the engine coolant, the coolant sensor being in signal sending relation with the electronic control module, a fuel control device for controlling the amount of fuel supplied to the internal combustion engine and an electronic control module (ECM) having a memory and a logic routine for controlling operation of the compressor. The ECM has a set point speed for the engine and a set point minimum coolant temperature for the engine stored in the memory.

Abstract: A reciprocating pump, including: a hollow tube having a first end; a hollow foot valve connected to the tube, the tube and foot valve defining a chamber, said foot valve having a first foot valve end and at least one inlet port formed at the first foot valve end; reciprocating member adapted to be movable in the chamber along a path defined by an axis; drive motor for moving the reciprocating means between a first retracted position and a second extended position; and a primer element connected to the reciprocating means, said primer element having a first dimension and a second dimension, said second dimension being equal to at least half of the first dimension.

Abstract: A rotary vane motor for efficiently extracting mechanical energy from an expanding gas at low rotational speeds is provided. The motor includes a housing having a cylindrical enclosure, a rotor having a plurality of radially oriented slots, a plurality of vanes slidably movable in the slots, a shaft for rotatably mounting the rotor in an eccentric position within the housing enclosure, and a slidable connection between the rotor and the shaft for equilibrating close clearances between the rotor and the side edges of the vanes and the inner surfaces of the housing to minimize inefficiencies due to blow-by and friction. Additionally, the materials forming the rotor, the vanes, and the housing are all selected to have the same thermal coefficient of expansion so that the vanes tightly interfit within their respective slots and the sealing surfaces of the housing over a temperature range spanning the cryogenic temperatures associated with the prefeffed drive gas, and maximum ambient temperatures.

Abstract: A refrigerated mobile trailer is provided that includes a trailer body having an opening present in both its front wall and roof for receiving a transportable refrigeration unit. The refrigeration unit includes a housing having a roof panel and a side panel, a condenser assembly disposed within the housing that includes a condenser coil, an air inlet located in the side panel of the unit housing for receiving ambient air for circulation over the condenser coil and at least one air outlet for discharging circulated air to remove waste heat from the coil. The condenser coil is located adjacent to the roof panel of the refrigeration unit, and all air outlets for removing waste heat from the coil are advantageously located in the unit roof panel directly above the coil. The fact that all of the waste heat air outlets are located in the roof panel advantageously prevents air discharged from these outlets from recirculating back into the condenser air inlet when the mobile trailer is in a stationary position.

Abstract: A control method is provided for a cryogenic refrigeration system having an evaporator-heater coil, an electronically controlled valve for regulating the amount of cryogen to the coil, and a vapor motor driven by the cryogen that is coupled to both an alternator for recharging a battery, and a fan for generating a discharge air flow through the coil and into a conditioned space. The shaft rpms of the vapor motor is determined by a rectified output of the alternator, and the electronically controlled valve is incremented or decremented so that the shaft rpms stay above a preselected amount sufficient to both to recharge the battery of the system, and to circulate sufficient air in the conditioned space to avoid undesirable temperature non-uniformities therein. The pressure of the cryogen in the system is further continuously measured, and the electronically controlled valve is incremented or decremented in order to maintain a sufficient pressure to maintain the cryogen in a gaseous state.

Abstract: Both an system and method are provided for transferring liquid carbon dioxide from a storage tank pressurized at 300 psi to a truck-transportable tank pressurized at about 110 psi. The system includes an inlet conduit having a hose portion connected between the storage and transportable tanks for conducting a flow of liquid carbon dioxide therebetween, and a vent hose connected to the transportable tank for venting gaseous carbon dioxide. Pressure regulators are connected to the inlet and vent hoses, respectively. In operation, the pressure regulator connected to the inlet conduit reduces the pressure of the flow of liquid carbon dioxide entering the transportable tank from 300 psi to 175 psi, while the pressure regulator connected to the vent conduit maintains a back pressure of 110 psi in the transportable tank while the allowing the venting of gaseous carbon dioxide.