Abstract: A gas dissociation solar thermal power system in which SO.sub.3 in a solar furnace is heated by a sun ray reflector. The SO.sub.3 dissociates into SO.sub.2 + O.sub.2 + absorption of heat. The SO.sub.2 + O.sub.2 gas is directed through a salt-heat chamber where it recombines into SO.sub.3 and gives off heat. The SO.sub.3 is directed back to the solar furnace and repeats the cycle. Useful heat is taken from the salt-heat chamber for operation of an electrical generator or other desired equipment.

Abstract: A cover for a retention chamber in a master cylinder reservoir which will permit a probe to pass through a tab and pressurize a piston in a pressurizing chamber with a test fluid under pressure. This test fluid will allow an operator to visually inspect the master cylinder for fluid failures at various pressures. In the normal operation, the tab of the cover will allow fluid to flow from a supply chamber into the retention chamber. However, during a brake application when fluid is transmitted through the compensator port as the pressurizing piston moves past the compensator port, the tab will prevent this fluid from being squirted into the supply reservoir. This will assure that a minimum quantity of fluid is always present in the retention chamber to operate the brake system even though a low fluid level indicator in the supply chamber presents a failure warning signal to the operator.

Abstract: A substantial part of the superheating surface is shifted out of the pressure vessel and into the flow of exhaust gases from the gas turbine in order to reduce the size of the pressure vessel. The superheating surface outside the pressure vessel is located in the same housing as the feedwater preheating surfaces and can be bypassed by a suitable by-pass line. A supplementary burner can also be positioned in the gas turbine exhaust flow upstream of the displaced superheating surface.

Abstract: A device for utilizing wave energy that is otherwise lost, or spent in eroding shore lines and/or shore facilities, having a combined trough-turbine arrangement is disclosed. Inclined ramp means, curved and triangular deflectors, bucket-wheel combinations, and turbine guards combine with a flywheel to provide smooth-flowing power from wave energy. The interrelationships of the various parts reduces turbulence and increases the thrust of an incoming volume of wave energy, to rotate a shaft from which power can be derived.

Abstract: A pressure source for providing a stream of liquid at a substantial pressure. The pressure source includes pressurizing means such as a piston-cylinder assembly to which a force is applied to expel the contents thereof under pressure to form the stream. Weight means moving from an upper elevation to a lower elevation provides the said force. The pressure source also includes means to release, in discrete quantums of mass, the weight means for downward movement, in the preferred embodiments, without substantial impediment other than the pressurizing means. This provides sufficient force to supply a stream at a usefully high pressure, for example one which can drive a turbine wheel or a linear actuator at a useful velocity. In a preferred form, the weight means is a buoyant body, and the pressure source includes lift means to float the buoyant body to the upper elevation, and then to permit it to descend to the lower elevation.

Abstract: An arrangement for retaining an actuating member in an extreme position which has a connecting element held in permanent engagement with the actuating member and received between a pair of supports to which the connecting element is pressed by at least one coil of wire wound about the supports with an effort sufficient for retaining the actuating member in its extreme position. The wire is selectively connectable to a source of power so that the wire is heated up whereby the pressure of the supports against the connecting element is reduced, and the connecting element is released to move relative to the supports, thus releasing the actuating member, so that the latter moves through its working stroke.

Abstract: In a hydraulic brake booster, wherein a body, to which is coupled a master cylinder, is provided with a projecting portion extending outwardly towards the master cylinder; a power piston adapted to operate the piston of the master cylinder extends through the projecting portion to define a working chamber positioned on the side remote from the master cylinder; a pressure chamber, to which is introduced a pressure fluid from a pressure source, is provided in the middle portion of the body; and a first valve which is normally closed for controlling the communication of the pressure chamber with the working chamber and a second valve which is normally open for controlling the communication of the working chamber with a reservoir are operated by means of a valve stem member and an input shaft adapted to operate the valve stem member; the improvement in which a stop slidingly provided within the pressure chamber and adapted to receive pressure from the pressure chamber in the direction opposite to the moving direc

Abstract: An expansion chamber is provided and heated heat exchange surfaces are disposed in the expansion chamber. An expandable fluid supply is provided together with structure for selectively admitting the expandable fluid into the chamber in good heat exchange relation with the heat exchange surfaces. Further, energy conversion structure is provided and communicated with the expansion chamber and operable to convert the energy of the fluid expanded in the chamber into mechanical energy.

Abstract: Fluid within a pressure chamber is displaced and pressurized by reeling a flexible cable or filament into the pressure chamber. A movable piston or similar pressure-responsive member in fluid communication with the chamber is moved by the displacement of fluid in the chamber, so as to perform useful work. The flexible cable or filament is wound on a motor-driven reel located in the pressure chamber.

Abstract: A regenerative heat engine designed to produce power for the operation of equipment such as an artificial heart is disclosed. The heat engine includes a temperature control heat pipe located around the periphery of the engine cylinder and a temperature distribution heat pipe located around the periphery of the heat source. A flywheel and bellows seal is included as part of the displacer piston drive, and a flexure support is positioned on the hot end of the displacer piston to allow the piston to move longitudinally while restricting lateral motion.

Abstract: The disclosure concerns a hydraulic slack adjuster useful in the brake circuits of railway as well as road vehicles, and improved brake circuits and apparatus particularly suited to the needs of railway rapid transit service. One type of circuit incorporates the slack adjuster in combination with a simple air-to-hydraulic booster and defines a portion of a service brake, and another type utilizes this apparatus in combination with a hand brake control unit and a double check valve and enables the brake cylinders to perform both service braking and hand braking functions.

Abstract: A master cylinder having a secondary piston for absorbing rapid initial pressure increases in proportion to the stroke of the primary piston. The master cylinder includes a housing having a first cylinder formed therein. A first piston is movable within the first cylinder. A second cylinder is formed in the first piston. A second piston is movable within the second cylinder.

Abstract: In a system for converting heat energy to mechanical energy, a working fluid is vaporized and then permitted to expand in an expander. The vaporized working fluid is introduced to a condenser including a container and a conduit for guiding the working fluid through the container. A condensing medium in a generally solid state is disposed in the container in contact with the conduit to absorb heat from and thereby condense the working fluid. In response to the absorbed heat, the condensing medium liquifies, in which state it can be supercooled at ambient temperatures and stored for an extended period of time. The supercooled condensing medium can be triggered at a predetermined time to release the absorbed heat to the system. The provision of a super-coolable condensing medium in the condenser minimizes the heat loss thus providing a significant increase in the overall efficiency of the system.

Abstract: Hydraulic control apparatus for automatic remote control of a hydraulic actuating ram. The apparatus has a double-acting slave cylinder connectable hydraulically to an actuating ram, and a double-acting master cylinder the piston of which is mechanically connected to the piston of the slave cylinder, the master cylinder being operable by hydraulic pressure supplied via a pilot-operated valve arranged automatically to reverse the stroke of the master ram at limits set according to the desired stroke of the actuating ram. The control apparatus may be used for controlling actuating rams which effect reciprocating pivotal movement about one or more axes of a water jet monitor.

Abstract: A regenerative heat engine designed to produce power for the operation of equipment such as an artificial heart is disclosed. The heat engine includes a temperature control heat pipe located around the periphery of the engine cylinder and a temperature distribution heat pipe located around the periphery of the heat source. A flywheel and bellows seal is included as part of the displacer piston drive, and a flexure support is positioned on the hot end of the displacer piston to allow the piston to move longitudinally while restricting lateral motion.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating power by compressing and expanding a first fluid in inward and outward extending first fluid passages within a centrifuge type rotating rotor. In a closed form of the turbine, heat is supplied to the first fluid by circulating a second fluid in a heat exchanger within the rotor, and heat is removed from from the first fluid by circulating a third fluid through another heat exchanger. A regenerator type heat exchanger is provided for removing heat from the first fluid during compression and adding heat into said first fluid during expansion; thus, heat is taken from one stream of the first fluid and the same heat is added into another stream of of the first fluid within the rotor. Alternately, two rotors may be used, with a second rotor serving as the power output rotor. Also, in an open form, the cooling heat exchanger may be deleted, with the first fluid entering from outside of the rotor and being discharged to outside said rotor.

Abstract: A fluid pressure amplifier for intensifying fluid pressure, the amplifier comprising a housing including a gas-hydraulic interface piston; a first chamber includes a slave piston mounted for reciprocation therein and for abutting engagement with a work piece. A hydraulic fluid path extends intermediate the interface piston and the first chamber so as to apply hydraulic pressure thereto. A second chamber is disposed in the path intermediate the first chamber and the interface piston and includes a check valve in the path intermediate the second chamber and the first chamber. A third chamber, includes a fluid intensifier piston having a head end and a tail end, the head end being mounted for reciprocation in the third chamber and the tail end being mounted for reciprocation in the second chamber. The head end of the intensifier piston has a larger diameter than the tail end and is exposed to gas pressure while the tail end is exposed, in the second chamber, to hydraulic pressure.

Abstract: A master cylinder for a dual hydraulic braking system has two pistons arranged end-to-end in respective bore sections, each piston having sealing valves which close off communication between front and rear brake circuits and respective reservoirs when displaced by operation of a brake pedal to cause pressurization of respective compression chambers connected to the brake circuits. This invention provides two seals in the inner piston between the two compression chambers and an auxiliary chamber defined between these seals into which small quantities of brake fluid escape in the event of leakage from either compression chamber to give visual warning of such leakage.

Abstract: An oil-hydraulic servo-motor, usable with an automotive brake, including a control piston slidably extending through the rear end wall of a power cylinder in aligned opposite relation to an output piston therein and forming together with the cylinder end wall a spool-type control valve which is operable to energize and de-energize the power cylinder. The control piston is axially movable normally within definite limits under the operator's input, and abutment means provided to limit the extent of advancing movement of the control piston is rendered inoperable automatically upon failure of an associated oil pressure circuitry to enable the control piston to drive the output piston directly under the operator's input. The oil pressure circuitry may be formed in two independently operable systems. Major features include simplicity of the valving mechansim and hence of the entire structure of the servo-motor and a highly improved reliability in operation.

Abstract: Supplementary means for heating liquid in a steam producing boiler comprising an electrical heating unit located in the boiler, the current for which is produced by an electric generator driven by a steam operated turbine. The turbine may utilize all or only part of the steam output of the boiler. Where the turbine uses substantially all of the steam, the generator driven by the turbine will have excess capacity to be used to drive a motor. Where the turbine uses only enough steam to drive a generator sized to meet the needs of the heating unit, the balance of the steam will ordinarily be used to drive some major prime mover or to supply heat to a heating system.