Abstract: A viscosity sensor operates by measuring the time taken for a piston to fall within the measuring chamber of a calibrated tube immersed in a bath, and an apparatus comprising the sensor is used for the continuous control of a quenching bath. A cam or an equivalent mechanism is used to lift a mobile assembly having a sensor in its upper part and a piston in its lower part. The sensor detects the passage of a pair of shoulders and passes the data on to a regulator for further processing.

Abstract: A Stirling engine design which is solar powered is disclosed. A solar receiver converts solar radiation to thermal energy, which is stored in a storage chamber. The engine includes a displacer chamber with a displacer piston which divides the chamber into hot and cold subchambers, the hot subchamber being heated by the storage chamber. A mechanism is provided for cooling the cold subchamber. The engine also includes an alternator chamber with an alternator piston which divides the chamber into working and bounce subchambers, the working subchamber being in fluid communication with the cold subchamber of the displacer. The working fluid circulates through the cold subchamber and the working subchamber and obtains heat from the storage chamber. The working fluid is displaced by the displacer piston to drive the alternator piston, and work output is obtained from the alternator piston.

Abstract: A Stirling engine design which is solar powered is disclosed. A solar receiver converts solar radiation to thermal energy, which is stored in a storage chamber. The engine includes a displacer chamber with a displacer piston which divides the chamber into hot and cold subchambers, the hot subchamber being heated by the storage chamber. A mechanism is provided for cooling the cold subchamber. The engine also includes an alternator chamber with an alternator piston which divides the chamber into working and bounce subchambers, the working subchamber being in fluid communication with the cold subchamber of the displacer. The working fluid circulates through the cold subchamber and the working subchamber and obtains heat from the storage chamber. The working fluid is displaced by the displacer piston to drive the alternator piston, and work output is obtained from the alternator piston.

Abstract: A constant temperature element for heating or cooling a working gas to the temperature of a control fluid is disclosed. The element includes a plurality of hollow concentric tapered rings of conductive material having a serrate configuration in section with tips projecting into the working fluid. A plate is typically attached to and generally flush with the base of the rings except for a central elongate plenum spanning the rings and having inlet and outlet ends respectively and a barrier at the center. The temperature control fluid enters at the inlet of the plenum so that it circulates through the rings and exits through the outlet of the plenum to maintain the rings, and thereby the working fluid adjacent the rings, at the temperature of the temperature control fluid.

Abstract: A fluid pressure ratio transformer which may be utilized to couple pressure variations in a working fluid operating at a given input pressure ratio to a fluid coupled load operating at a different required output pressure ratio. The device is self-modulating to pump-load, whether operating at fixed stroke or fixed frequency. The pressure ratio transformer comprises a housing and a positive displacement element within the housing dividing the housing interior into first and second chambers, each of which is filled with a compressible fluid. The working fluid in the first chamber is subjected to periodic pressure oscillations while the fluid in the second chamber is either coupled to a fluid load or may itself be the pumped fluid. The effective spring coefficients and the mass of the piston are matched to the frequency of operation so that the piston oscillates at its natural frequency.

Abstract: A linear electromagnetic machine has a stator with a coil mounted thereon. A reciprocating element has permanent magnet segments of alternating polarity so that reciprocation of said element relative to said stator in an axial direction causes periodic flux reversal through the coil to induce an alternating voltage therein. The magnetized segments are of equal axial extent and are axially spaced by transitional regions that are of axial extent substantially less than that of the magnetized segments. Flux return and core elements associated with the stator provides a relatively low reluctance magnetic path for flux lines resulting from magnetization of the permanent magnets wherein the reluctance is generally independent of the position of the reciprocating element.

Abstract: A construction of a variable volume chamber that allows cycling of a working fluid to occur substantially isothermally is disclosed. The present invention provides a fixed, rigid heat conductive element within the chamber. The heat conductive element has a surface area which is large relative to that of the chamber itself. The volume of the chamber is varied by a mechanism which meshes with the heat conductive element to minimize dead volume. As a result the heat conductive element absorbs and returns heat energy to and from the working fluid in an efficient fashion, resulting in a high degree of isothermalization of the working fluid.

Abstract: A thermomechanical oscillator for generating electricity, pressurizing fluid or pumping heat is disclosed. The device includes a heat source and sink, positive displacement oscillating elements that subject a working fluid to a thermodynamic cycle in which work and heat are exchanged, and a load that extracts enthalpic energy from the working fluid by positive displacment oscillating elements. A thermodynamic cycle produced by such oscillator is also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention concerns the solubilization of phosphate values in phosphate bearing rock which contains high contents of aluminium and/or iron by attacking the phosphate rock with a nitric acid leach solution for a time suitable to produce a phosphate rich leach solution containing no more than 10 parts Fe and Al in solution calculated as R.sub.2 O.sub.3 per 100 parts of P.sub.2 O.sub.5 in solution.

Abstract: A material processing device and method for milling, emulsifying, dispersing, blending, polymerizing and hydrogenizing flowable materials. The device includes a processing chamber through which flowable material flows, an oscillating surfacing of the processing chamber which produces an oscillatory squeezing action on the flowable material within the chamber, an oscillating motor which drives the oscillating surface, a chamber inlet for dispersing the flowable material into the chamber and a chamber outlet for discharging and displacing the flowable material from the chamber.