Abstract: A luminaire capable of directing a high percentage of light source output in a downward direction includes a housing base, a light source mounted and electrically coupled to the housing base and a dome-shaped lens member made of light transmissive material disposed in surrounding relation to the light source. The lens member has a first region formed adjacent the housing base on which is disposed a first plurality of prismatic surfaces which both reflect and refract light in the downward direction. A second region is formed on the lens member adjacent the first region and includes a second plurality of prismatic surfaces which refract light output.

Abstract: A lighting unit particularly for airports includes a base unit (1) for securing at ground level, and a demountable module (2) including a lamp (9) and a pair of oppositely disposed optical elements (11, 12, 17) for directing the light beam along prescribed light emitting paths. Electrical contacts (6, 16) are respectively mounted on the base (1) and the module (2) for mating together when the module (2) is in place, and are situated in a position which is above ground level when the unit is secured to the ground.

Abstract: A lighting fixture substantially comprising a lamp housing and an illuminant disposed therein, with a transparent decorative body being provided below the illuminant and spaced from the lamp housing, and a plate reflective on the side facing away from the illuminant and having a central bore being disposed between the illuminant and the decorative body.

Abstract: A lean NOx reduction catalyst capable of reducing NOx through reaction of H.sub.2 with NOx at low temperatures below 350.degree. C. is installed in a downstream portion of an exhaust pipe of an internal combustion engine in or near a muffler. Such an NOx reduction catalyst comprises, for example, Pt/zeolite catalyst. An H.sub.2 generator is installed so as to supply the H.sub.2 to an inlet side of the NOx reduction catalyst. The H.sub.2 generator may include a reforming catalyst for reforming methanol, LPG, or natural gas to generate H.sub.2. The generated H.sub.2 flows to the NOx reduction catalyst where it reacts with NOx to purify the exhaust gas.

Abstract: A method for illuminating explosive, flammable, and other hazardous environments. The method employs electroluminescent lights heaving controlled dielectric strength and capacitance, which when matched with the low current and voltage from an intrinsically safe power supply, and the controlled capacitance of each lighting circuit, produces an emergency lighting system which is both safe and effective.

Abstract: A fixture for portable quartz floodlights in which a plurality of clips are secured to the periphery of the housing.

Abstract: An improved cycle arrangement for a steam turbine system in which an auxiliary turbine drives a boiler feedwater pump. The turbine system includes a primary turbine driving an electric power generator. The primary turbine includes a high pressure section and a low pressure section. A boiler supplies steam to drive the primary and auxiliary turbines. A condenser recovers exhaust steam from the LP section and a plurality of feedwater heaters preheats condensate collected at the condenser and pumped back to the boiler. The system extracts steam from the HP turbine section for operating the auxiliary turbine. Extracted steam from the auxiliary turbine is isolated from the primary turbine by coupling the steam to a feedwater heater supplied solely from a corresponding extraction point of the auxiliary turbine. The exhaust steam from the auxiliary turbine is coupled directly to the condenser.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a reflective surface for high efficiency collection, transmission and emission of light. Light collected by an ellipsoidal and hyperboloidal portion of the reflective surface is directed into a light guide. Additionally, a paraboloidal portion may be added and used in combination with a lens element to distribute the light reflected by the reflective surface in a beam pattern. When used as an emitter lens profile is smaller than the overall diameter of the reflective surface. When used as a collector, the reflective surface receives and concentrates light onto the end of a light pipe.

Abstract: A vehicular cornering lamp system in which the amount of electric power consumed by the lamp is minimized. Until the angle of rightward (leftward) steering with respect to the position of straight-ahead steering reaches a predetermined angle .theta..sub.R (.theta..sub.L), the right (left) SI lamp remains turned off and the illuminating angle thereof is fixed to 30.degree. in the right (left) direction. After the point of time when the steering angle reaches .theta..sub.R R (.theta..sub.L), the right (left) SI lamp is turned on and the illuminating angle is changed in accordance with steering direction.

Abstract: A combination searchlight, which includes a searchlight, which has a lamp case covered with a rim and a lens and connected to a lamp case supporting arm thereof at the top of a handle thereof, a carrying strap fixed to the handle and lamp case supporting arm of the searchlight, and a mount fixed to the lamp case supporting arm to carry a compass and a reflecting bar, wherein the rim is fastened to the lamp case through a screw joint and has a plurality of pins perpendicularly extended from the front side thereof and spaced around the periphery for protecting the lens.

Abstract: A receptacle for light emitting diodes includes a housing defining an opening at one end and having a bottom at another end; a first positioning device being a disk adapted to be received in substantially a middle inner periphery of the housing, defining a plurality of holes each of which receives a corresponding light emitting diode; and a second positioning device being a disk including a plurality of holes each of which encloses a head portion of a corresponding one of the light emitting diodes, thereby retaining an axis of each light emitting diode in a same direction.

Abstract: A flashlight having a switch and beam adjustment mechanism located in the tailcap whereby the flashlight may be turned on and focused with one hand without changing the grip on the flashlight by that hand. Batteries of "AAAA" size are contemplated for use in one embodiment of the flashlight.

Abstract: An optical display apparatus includes a plurality of optical elements of acrylic material and an additive. Each optical element is shaped into cylindrical body with a first convex end and a second convex end to improve light receiving and transmitting efficiency of the optical element. By activation of a fluorescent lamp, the optical elements can emit ultra-bright color light. A light reflective chamber encloses the fluorescent lamp and the optical elements. Through a panel of the chamber and the optical elements mounted on the panel via apertures of the panel, various desired display patterns may be accomplished. The additive may be fluorescent color dyes or bleaching power. The optical display apparatus further includes a convex lens, a color disc and a motor. The motor drives the color disc to rotate so that light rays focus by the convex lens have variable colors.

Abstract: An electrothermal actuator includes a housing containing a working fluid and a heater disposed in the fluid within the housing. A piston is slidably disposed in the housing for movement in response to heating and cooling of the working fluid. An output member is coupled to the piston and movable between first and second positions for transmitting a drive force from the piston to a load. A latch mechanism is operatively connected to the output member for releasably latching the output member in the second position without continuously heating the working fluid. The latch mechanism includes a coil and a magnetic member that releases the latch in response to a force produced by a magnetic field generated when a current flows through the coil. The output member can move linearly or rotationally.

Abstract: Rotary actuators and other mechanical devices incorporating shape memory alloys are provided herein. Shape memory alloys are a group of metals which when deformed at temperatures below their martensite temperatures, resume the shapes which they had prior to the deformation if they are heated to temperatures above their austensite temperatures. Actuators in which shape memory alloys are employed include bias spring types, in which springs deform the shape memory alloy (SMA), and differential actuators, which use two SMA members mechanically connected in series. Another type uses concentric cylindrical members. One member is in the form of a sleeve surrounding a cylinder, both being constructed of shape memory alloys. Herein two capstans are mounted on a shaft which is supported in a framework. Each capstan is capable of rotating the shaft. Shape memory wire, as two separate lengths of wire, is wrapped around each capstan to form a winding around that capstan.

Abstract: An explosive powder charge operated setting tool uses compressed propellant gases for returning a piston (1) from an end position to a starting position. The piston (1) is axially displaceable by the propellant gases within an axially extending guide bore (2a) in a piston guide (2). The propellant gases flow from the guide bore (2a) through a first opening (6) into an axially extending channel (5) outside the piston guide (2) and then through a second opening (7) in the region of the end position of the piston (1) back to the guide bore. After the piston (1) is driven into the end position, compressed propellant gases within the guide bore (2a) return the piston to the starting position where it impacts against the base (4c) of a cartridge carrier (4) located at the starting position. When the piston (1) is stopped, the cartridge carrier (4) is displaced to a limited extent opposite to the setting direction of the tool.

Abstract: A Stirling cycle engine having its cylinders ganged together by connecting through a cross connect passage and valve the cold variable volume chamber of one cylinder with the compression chamber of a cylinder in which the displacer piston and the power piston are ninety degrees (90.degree.) out-of-phase with the pistons in the first cylinder.The displacer piston and power piston in each cylinder are connected by a sealed piston rod so that the two pistons move in unison. Each cylinder's power piston is connected by means of a connecting rod to a means for converting the reciprocating motion of the power piston into rotational motion. Each cross connect passage is provided with a valve which allows a working fluid to pass from the cold variable volume chamber of one cylinder to the compression chamber of any cylinder which is ninety degrees (90.degree.) out-of-phase with the displacer piston of the first cylinder. This valving feature allows the engine to be reversed and throttled.

Abstract: Athletes' shoes or other analagously selectable footwear conventionally having opposed vampwalls is modifiably augmented to provide at least one firstly transversely outwardly extending and secondarily longitudinally rearwardly extending part that is terminally rearwardly provided with an energizeable luminaire. A parallel plurality of such terminally rearwardly luninaire-type hollow tubes might emanate from vertically-arranged vampwall-openings and extending semi-rigidly cantileverly from each such vampwall-opening.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed to provide a fuel efficient source of readily converted energy to an isolated or remote energy consumption facility. External heat from any of a large variety of sources is converted to an electrical, mechanical, heat or cooling form of energy. A polyatomic working fluid energized by external heat sources is dissociated to a higher gaseous energy state for expansion through a turbine prime mover. The working fluid discharge from the turbine prime mover is routed to a recouperative heat exchanger for exothermic recombination reaction heat transfer to working fluid discharged from the compressor segment of the thermodynaic cycle discharge. The heated compressor discharge fluid is thereafter further heated by the external heat source to the initial higher energy state.

Abstract: The Stirling engine uses an annular cam for converting the reciprocating movements of the pistons of the engine in a rotating movement. The annular cam is concentric with the engine block and provides movement to a first piston located in a first radial cylinder. A second piston located in a second radial cylinder provides work to the annular cam. A working gas circuit located between the first and the second cylinders is provided for powering the engine. The circuit comprises a cooling assembly, a regenerator and a heating assembly. The pistons are operatively connected to the annular cam by means of a radial rod at the end of which are located rollers engaged with the inner cam path and maintained by an inner guide parallel to the cam path. The engine provides a very simple and economical construction of the Stirling engine.