Abstract: A protective, reflective, light diffusing sleeve is adapted to mount on a light element to protect the element and intercept light emitted therefrom. The sleeve comprises a tube adapted to telescopically receive the element and a reflecting member carried by the tube for reflecting light emitted from the element. The tube is adapted to mount on the element for free rotation relative thereto to move the reflecting member about the element to control the direction of reflective light. The sleeve further comprises an element carried by the tube opposite the reflecting member for diffusing light reflected therefrom. The diffusing element comprises a field of prisms formed on and extending along a longitudinally extending portion of the tube.

Abstract: An improved vehicle display apparatus in which both the display and pointer are illuminated for low ambient driver viewing by a common lightpipe apparatus positioned on the rear face of the display. The display comprises a generally opaque applique having a translucent region in registry with an emissive region of the lightpipe apparatus, and bright opaque graphic symbols painted or deposited onto a surface of the applique within the translucent region. A pointer disposed in proximity to the front surface of the applique is provided with juxtaposed bright opaque and transparent regions. In high ambient lighting conditions when the lightpipe apparatus is not lit, a viewer of the display perceives the bright opaque graphic symbols and pointer stripes against the relatively dark translucent background regions of the applique.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved solar powered sign including one or more solar panels used to charge batteries which power various components of the sign. The sign may include a rotary display which is electrically powered and may also include a lamp. The sign may be mounted on a base facilitating easy transport.

Abstract: A linear actuator comprising a linear motor, more especially in the form of a pneumatic motor, which has a housing containing an axially moving piston which is connected with an actuating rod extending out of the motor housing at a working end thereof, a control device, for instance in the form of valve means, for operation of the motor, and a sensor means responsive to certain positions of the actuating rods. In order to simplify and cheapen production of such an actuator while facilitating and speeding up installation of the linear motor, the control device and sensor device are permanently connected to form a readily handled working unit, and the control device and the sensor device are arranged on the control end, opposite to the working end, of the linear motor.

Abstract: A process is disclosed whereby the recovery of process heat contained in NOx gases which have been generated by the combustion of ammonia in the ammonia oxidation step of a nitric acid production process is improved and whereby the recovery of the process heat takes place at a low temperature range. The process involves using process heat contained in NOx gases to evaporate and superheat liquid ammonia which is circulated in a separate loop, then expanding the superheated ammonia in a turbine to generate mechanical energy and subsequently pressurizing, reevaporating and resuperheating the ammonia.

Abstract: The present invention provides a surface light source panel having superior brightness and uniformity of light. According to the present invention, diffused reflection sections are formed onto a transparent resin substrate by the printing of ink. Since the density of the diffused reflection sections and the area ratio thereof with respect to the transparent resin substrate, and also the containing ratio of additives in the ink are specified, the surface light source panel displays superior brightness and uniformity of light even when the substrate is a single plate which has ben laminated in a conventional panel. Moreover, although the surface light source panel of the present invention is provided with a light source at one end thereof, since the portion of the largest area ratio of the diffused reflection sections is arranged at a position deflected to the side of a reflecting part at the other end of the panel, the brightness and uniformity of the light can be more secured.

Abstract: A stirling engine is provided in which the heater comprises an extended part of the expansion chamber as defined by an expansion cylinder. The expansion cylinder extends from the expansion chamber toward an upper side of the engine. A hollow cylindrical member receives the extended part of the expansion cylinder. The arrangement permits a stirling engine to be provided which decreases the number of parts utilized in the heater section while at the same time increasing the heat transfer area of the heater.

Abstract: An intermitently operable non-fuel-consuming power generator, such as a photovoltaic array or a wind generator, is connected through a control circuit to a battery for charging the same and supplying current to a time-wise substantially constant electrical load. An electrical generator, connected to an intermitently operable prime mover, charges the battery and supplies current to the electrical load when the prime mover is operated. A sensor circuit senses at least one electrical parameter, such as a failure of the power generator to produce current, for controlling the operation of the primer mover (i.e., starting of the prime mover). The sensor circuit also senses a second electrical parameter, such as the charge level of the battery. The prime mover is made operational only if the battery capacity is less than a predetermined threshold level when the power generator fails to produce current.

Abstract: A display for a stage lighting control console provides colored display elements adjacent light control devices of the console. Each colored display element corresponds in color to the color of a stage light associated with the adjacent light control device. The colored display elements are replaceable or remountable whereby the display accommodates different stage lighting configurations by rearrangement or substitution of the colored display elements.

Abstract: Spectral filter means (20) in which filter elements (22) have elongated planar surface areas covered with patterns of filtering material (44, 84, 94). Filter elements are independently movable parallel to their respective surface planes to positions (32) where a given density pattern of filtering material is intersected by a beam of light and filters a given component of the light. Separate filter elements (22a, 22b, 22c) for each of the primary colors and an additional element (22d) for dimming all colors are used to control the color and intensity of a beam of light.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying medicament to an eye has an inner casing and an outer casing coupled to the inner casing and moveable relative thereto. An eyecup is supported on one end of the inner casing. The eyecup defines a surface shaped to conformably engage the facial tissue surrounding an eye. An ocular vial is supported within the inner casing. The ocular vial holds medicament for release into an eye. An eyelid displacing member is coupled to the outer casing and slideably mounted through the inner casing. The eyelid displacing member includes a depresser tab adapted to engage the facial tissue below an eye. The depresser tab engages the facial tissue upon moving the outer casing toward the inner casing, thus displacing the lower eyelid to expose the ocular cul-de-sac. A dispensing member is supported by the outer casing. The dispensing member is adapted to actuated the ocular vial upon moving the outer casing toward the inner casing, to release medicament onto the exposed ocular cul-de-sac of the eye.

Abstract: A shell having a closed upper end and an open lower end, and a weight in the form of a piston sealingly slidable in the shell. In one form partial vacuum is produced in the shell above the weight and atmospheric pressure consequently raises the weight. In another form, pressurized air lifts the weight, against the action of weight. The weight has driving connection with a load, such as a generator, and upon being permitted to drop, acting by its potential energy, drives the load. The partial vacuum is produced in one form, by heating and cooling units; and in another form, by natural heating and cooling. A plurality of power plants are utilized to drive a single load, so that one weight can be raised, and the power plant re-activated, while others continue to drive the load, thereby maintaining continuity of drive.

Abstract: A geothermal heat- and water supply plant comprises a geothermal well to remove brine which communicates with a separator which, in turn, communicates in the steam phase with a jet pump and a high pressure stage of an injector, and in the fluid phase--with the cooled side of a heat exchanger which communicates with the jet pump. Water is drawn from the injector outlet to water and heat supply systems, and once used therein, the water is fed to one inlet of the heat pump whose one outlet communicates with the injector high pressure stage. The other outlet of the heat pump communicates with the jet pump outlet, and the other outlet--with the well for pumping the brine.

Abstract: A vacuum brake power booster for a slip-controlled hydraulic brake unit in which a major reduction of the costs of manufacture and of mounting and simultaneously an increase of its reliability in operation is provided. A first movable wall (7) within the booster housing is movable independently of the brake pedal input member (11) and a second movable wall (15) is provided at the first control housing part (52).

Abstract: An improved electrothermally operated actuator of the type in which a piston is translatable in a piston housing in response to electrical heating of an expandable working fluid in fluid communication with one end of the piston. The working fluid is at least partially disposed in a tube assembly which is connected in an electric circuit which is closed and opened, in response to selected events, to heat or cool the working fluid to effect movement of the piston between retracted and extended terminal positions. An improved sealing assembly prevents leakage of working fluid from the piston housing. The actuator may be connected through a power translating assembly to a rotating element of an operable device translating linear movement of the actuator to rotating movement of the rotating element.

Abstract: To maximize the areas of a vanity mirror and an illumination lid and to allow the illumination lid to be adjustably pivoted to obtain a desirable illumination angle, a vanity mirror is attached to a bottom surface of a square recess formed in the sun visor body, and an illumination lid provided with a lamp is slidably fitted to and moved away from the square recess to expose the vanity mirror.

Abstract: A Stirling engine having multiple cylinders arranged in a square cluster with a gas combustor devices for each cylinder integrated into the engine. The combustor devices include individual combustion chamber tubes for each of the cylinder of the engine. Air is introduced into the chambers in a manner which generates a tangential air flow which mixes with a combustible gas injected from a gas nozzle in the center of the tube which provides a highly turbulent combustible gas flow regime. Combustion gases pass through the Stirling engine heat exchangers to transfer heat to the engine. Exhaust gas heats inlet air through a counterflow heat exchanger. The relatively small size of the combustion chamber tubes enables the components of the combustion chambers to reach an equilibrium temperature repidly and minimizes thermal distortion of the components.

Abstract: An actuator for use in an arm or hand of an industrial robot comprises a tubular elastic body of which interior is separated into a plurality of pressure chambers by an axially extending partition, and means for adjusting respective pressures of the pressure chambers to render the tubular elastic body to take a motion at a multi-degree freedom. At least the outer peripheral part of the tubular elastic body has an anisotropic characteristic with respect to modulus of elasticity. The axial direction of the tubular elastic body is a direction small in modulus of longitudinal elasticity, while the direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the tubular elastic body is a direction large in modulus of longitudinal elasticity.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the operation of a steam turbine system, which system includes a source of steam under a controllable pressure, a plurality of governor valves connected between the source and the turbine first stage, each governor valve being movable between two selected positions each creating minimum steam flow throttling losses, a system control device (2) for producing a system control signal representative of the desired power level to be supplied by the turbine system, and a governor valve control (8) connected for producing a valve control signal in response to an input signal and for positioning each governor valve in accordance with the value of the valve control signal. During operation, the input signal to the governor valve control (8) is given a value which is based on the system control signal and which causes the valve control signal to have a value which will place each governor valve at least approximately at a selected position.

Abstract: The invention concerns a procedure for improving the efficiency of a steam power plant process wherein damp fuel is used, which is dried by conducting at least part of the flue gas flow to a fuel drying process. In addition to the feed water the combustion air is preheated in steam power plants with tapped steams from the turbine, in counter-pressure power plants with tapped steams and/or counter-pressure steams, and in remote heating power plants with tapped steams and/or remote heating water. As taught by the invention, the temperature of the flue gas going to the damp fuel dryer installation (10), or the cooling of the flue gas flow by-passing it, is controlled by taking thermal energy from the flue gas and transferring it to the combustion air and/or the feed water, their quantity and/or temperature being controlled in accordance with the cooling requirements of the flue gases determined by the drying requirements of the damp fuel.