Abstract: A combined cycle power generation system and method in which a fluidized bed reactor is incorporated in a combined cycle system to recover heat from the hot exhaust gases from the gas turbine and to drive a series of steam turbines. Additional heat is provided by a combustor receiving fuel gas from a fuel gas generator and the hot gases thus generated are used to drive the gas turbine. The hot exhaust gases from the gas turbine are used as the primary fluidizing gas for the circulating fluidized bed reactor. The reactor is used to recover heat from the hot exhaust gases from the gas turbine and to generate steam to power a series of steam turbines. Additional heat is recovered, and pollutants are removed from flue gases by a condensing lower economizer.

Abstract: A shaft (12) is connected to a disc (20) by a coupling which comprises a spigot (14) which extends from the shaft (12) and locates in a recess (22) in the disc (20). At ambient temperature there is an interference fit between the spigot (14) and the recess (22) which maintains alignment of the disc (20) and the shaft (12) so that they rotate concentrically. At elevated temperatures the interference fit loosens and alignment of the disc (20) and the shaft (12) is maintained by a plurality of ridges (27) on the face (25) of a flange (24) on the disc (20). The ridges (27) have a large radial component and engage with the confronting face (17) of a flange (16) on the shaft (12) to prevent lateral movement between the shaft (12) and the disc (20).

Abstract: Instead of creating hand railings by joining together sections of rectangular hollow tubing using mitre cuts and welding of the abutting cut ends, a metal knuckle is welded to the straight ends of such tubing. The knuckle has a body with a rectangular cross-section and in profile a circular sector with an included angle less than 180.degree.. Each end of the knuckle is formed as a pyramidal frustum that is adapted to enter the straight end of the tubing. A notch of generally triangular cross-section is created to hold welding bead between an end of the tubing and a respective frustum end of the knuckle. The notch size increases with the thickness of tubing inserted over the frustum end, and filling the notch with welding bead will automatically increase the joint strength as tubing thickness increases.

Abstract: A joint coupling for axially connecting together a first joint and a second joint, which includes first and second joints each having a complementary member sized and shaped so that, when the joints are properly aligned, the complementary members form an overlap structure which is effectively a continuation of the first joint or the second joint, and a sleeve which is slidable over the overlap structure to secure the joint coupling. The inside surfaces of the sleeve are tapered, as are the outside surfaces of the overlap structure such that when the sleeve is slid completely over the overlap structure, the inside surfaces of the sleeve make full contact with the outside surfaces of the overlap structure to firmly secure the joint coupling. Two or more joints may be joined at any desired relative orientation by use of a hub which has complementary elements which can accommodate the complementary members of the joints.

Abstract: An interior building sign for assisting sighted and visually impaired or blind persons to locate an escape route from point A to point B includes a first planar sheet printed in a first color with a floor plan corresponding to a building floor on which the sign is to be posted. The floor plan is also printed with two dimensional marks in a contrasting color indicating a route from point A to point B. A second planar sheet of substantially transparent material overlies the first planar sheet, the second planar sheet having three dimensional marks machined or routed thereon in substantially overlying relationship with the two dimensional marks to thereby provide a tactile representation of the route. Signs of similar construction have application in non-emergency situations and in other environments including, for example, convention centers, parks and the like.

Abstract: Iron ore, coal and oxygen are fed to a reactor to produce iron and a fuel gas. The fuel gas leaves the reactor at a temperature of at least 200.degree. C. and is passed through a hot filtration apparatus. The resulting hot, filtered gas then passes through a heat exchanger. A heat exchange fluid, preferably a stream of nitrogen at above ambient pressure passes through the heat exchanger countercurrently to the hot filtered as stream. The heat exchange fluid is thereby heated. The hot heat exchange fluid stream is then expanded with the performance of external work in an expansion turbine, for example it may be used in the generation of electrical power. The hot, filtered, fuel gas may be sent for power recovery downstream of the heat exchanger or may be separated into its constituent components. If the heat exchange fluid is nitrogen it may be separated from air in the same plant that is used to feed the reactor with oxygen.

Abstract: A bracket for mounting an accessory on an aircraft engine is disclosed. The bracket includes a mounting wedge (70) adapted to be secured to the engine, a carrier (120) which is supported by the mounting wedge and in turn supports an end of the accessory, and a lock (190) which is retained by the carrier and is longitudinally translatable with respect thereto between a closed position and a range of open positions. With the lock secured in the closed position, notched, inclined supporting and clamping surfaces (76), (90) on the mounting wedge cooperate with ridged, inclined mounting and locking surfaces (132), (200) on the carrier and lock respectively to clamp the carrier to the wedge. With the lock translated to an open position, the carrier can be mounted on or dismounted from the mounting wedge and the wedge can temporarily but reliably support the carrier and therefore an end of an accessory connected to the carrier.

Abstract: A vehicularly-mountable message board that can be automatically maneuvered between an upright message-displaying position and a retracted position by utilizing a side-mounted actuating motor and side-mounted moment arm. The vehicularly-mountable message board achieves the benefits of high-profile visibility of the message board in the upright position without obstruction by the actuating motor or the moment arm, while at the same time achieving the benefits of the location of the side-mounted actuating motor and side-mounted moment arm to achieve a low profile for the message board in the retracted configuration.

Abstract: A system and method are described for transferring excess air from the compressor of a combustion-gas turbine having a paired compressor and expander, to at least one separate combustor where it is mixed with fuel and burned to power at least one non-paired expander. In a preferred embodiment, the non-paired expander is an "off the shelf" unit which can be readily purchased and installed.

Abstract: A connecting mechanism has a reversely tapered fit portion, an elastically expandable collet chuck fitted on the fit portion, a locking sleeve surrounding the outer peripheral surface of the fit portion and axially slidably mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the collet chuck, and a spring for biasing the locking sleeve in its advancing direction. The locking sleeve advances with the collet chuck being fitted on the fit portion and locks the collet chuck such that the collet chuck cannot be expanded in the fit portion.

Abstract: A high speed control apparatus and method utilized in a system having a high pressure fluid supply for producing precisely controlled, amplitude and duration variable thrust are disclosed, the apparatus including a piezoelectric stack responsive to a control signal input, a displacement amplifier operatively associated with the stack, and a high pressure axial valve assembly coupled with the amplifier. A microprocessor control system and energy storage and power amplifier system provide the calibrated output voltage control signal which drives the piezoelectric stack in such a manner as to produce rapidly changing displacements in the stack (as frequent as 10 microseconds) which are subsequently amplified by the displacement amplifier. The valve assembly opens as the piezoelectric stack expands upon application of a step change in voltage, allowing fluid to expand through the valve assembly and create thrust that is substantially equal in duration and directly proportional in amplitude to the control signal.

Abstract: An apparatus for selectively and hydraulically locking a hollow cylinder body, such as a lathe cylinder body, onto, and unlocking the cylinder body from, a cylindrical shaft includes a tubular sleeve defining an axially extending passage therein, the sleeve including a centrally located exterior annular channel. The hollow body includes an axially extending cylindrical passage and a single female threaded bore formed to extend radially through the hollow cylinder body to bisect the axial passage thereof. The sleeve is inserted and fixed within the axially extending passage of the body so that the annular channel faces and is closed off by the walls of the axially extending passage to thereby form an annular cavity which is in fluidic communication with the female threaded bore.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a thruster for propelling a mass using a propellant gas which is repetitively converted to a pressurized plasma by pulses of electrical energy.

Abstract: An improved hanging display sign comprises boxes each having transparent e panels and a slot into which panels displaying letters are inserted to display a message. The letter panels are protected from inclement weather and from tampering by vandals by the transparent face panels and by sealing strips. A cable system is used to hold the boxes in a stack, with each box closing the opening in the top of the box below it. Drawing the cables tight holds the boxes together in a stack to form a weatherproof, vandal-proof display sign.

Abstract: A locking device for releasably securing a pair of members in relatively telescoped relationship is disclosed. The device comprises a body to be attached to the end of one member and having an internal bore to receive the other member. The body has a deflectable holding element to frictionally engage against a member to lock it against relative telescoping movement. A projection carried by a rotatable eccentric is moved into and out of engagement with the element to lock or release the members depending on the direction the eccentric is rotated.

Abstract: An improved termination for rope (2) in which ends of rope elements (4) are encapsulated in resinous material (6) to form a fiber-and-resinous-material composite-mixture plug (8) within a tapered cavity (16) that is divided by radial plates (36) into smaller segments (46) and is partially filled with a tapered body (32) to provide a constant cross-sectional area.

Abstract: A calendar and mail sorting structure which includes a series of monthly calendar sheets joined to a bottom sheet member by a binding along top edges of the sheets and with the sheets being rotatable on the binding enabling each sheet to be successively rotated into a front viewing position. Each of the sheets have a series of rows of slots. Indicia is mounted on front sides of the calendar sheets in adjacency to the slots for viewing when each sheet is successively rotated into the front viewing position at a front side of the calendar. Mail supports are mounted on the calendar and mail supporting structure between the bottom sheet member and the current monthly calendar sheet for supporting mail from behind the current monthly sheet when mail is inserted through the slots from a front viewing position of the current monthly calendar sheet while leaving a part of the mail protruding from the slot at a front side of the current monthly calendar sheet.

Abstract: A positive, variable speed transmission system comprising a pair of beveled plates and a plurality of slidable balls which are moved between said plates, the position of said slidable balls determining the speed variation of said transmission system.

Abstract: A quick release clamp includes a handle pivotally fixed on a U-shaped bracket via a pin. The U-shaped bracket has a central hole at a base therein and two plates integrally and perpendicularly extended from two sides of the base. A bolt device having a head portion and a rod portion is threadedly engaged with a nut by a lower end of the rod portion with the rod penetrating the hole of the U-shaped bracket and the head portion being slidably received in the U-shaped bracket. A transverse hole is formed in the head portion of the bolt device for receiving a middle portion of the pin. The pin has a recess formed at a middle portion thereof suitable to receive a peripheral portion of the transverse hole of the head portion of the bolt device. The pin is rotatable in concert with the handle thus allowing the bracket to be manually moved close to or away from the nut.

Abstract: A snap-over toggle linkage valve actuating mechanism for alternately opening and closing a gas inlet valve and a gas outlet valve, has a pair of spring preload arms pivotably mounted to a fixed mainframe within a sealed pressure vessel for pivoting about a first pivot axis. A first toggle link is pivoted at a first end to the mainframe about the pivot axis A. A second toggle link preferably a compression coil spring under precompression is pivoted at one end about a second pivot axis C parallel to the first pivot axis A on said pair of spring preload arms. The second end of the first toggle link is pivoted to a second end of the second toggle link for pivoting about a third axis B parallel to axes A and C.