Abstract: A combustor for a gas turbine utilizing a catalytic combustion system comprises a cylindrical outer casing, a combustion cylinder concentrically disposed inside the outer casing with an annular space between an outer periphery of the combustion cylinder and an inner periphery of the outer casing as a combustion air supply passage, the combustion cylinder having one end facing the closed one end of the casing with a space therebetween, and a catalyst unit disposed inside the combustion cylinder, the air for combustion being supplied to the catalyst unit. A heat exchanging device is formed in the air supply passage for heating the combustion air passing the air supply passage to a temperature more than a catalytic combustion starting temperature through a heat exchanging operation by a thermal energy of a combustion gas in the combustion cylinder.

Abstract: A pump and pump/oxygenator system including a generally cylindrical pump housing, a tube arranged in a helical turn within the pump housing, and a rotor assembly rotatably mountable in the housing for pumping fluid through the tube by peristaltic action. The tube may be preformed with a D-shaped cross-section, a helical turn of about 380.degree. and a compression portion having a decreasing volume per unit length in a direction from the proximal end to the distal end thereof. In one aspect, the rotor assembly includes a cam operated occlusivity adjusting mechanism for translating the drive roller in a radial direction of the rotor assembly from a non-occluding storage position to a tube-occluding operative position. In another aspect, the housing includes a door forming an arcuate portion of the sidewall of the housing.

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 specification describes several uses for pressure sensitive valves during extracorporeal pumping in one embodiment, an improved pumping loop for a roller pump is used in an extracorporeal circuit with a pressure relief valve and pump tubing. The inlet and outlet of the tubing are connected respectively to the outlet and inlet of said valve via two 3 way connections, across the outlet of the pump. The pumping loop allows recirculation of pumped liquid between the inlet and outlet of the pump when the outlet pressure generated by said pump exceeds a set value thereby limiting the pump outlet pressure to the set pressure. The pressure relief valve can also be placed at the inlet if the pump to protect the circuit from excess negative pressure that the pump can generate. The pressure relief valve in combination with the pump loop provides an accurate means to dynamically set the occlusion of the tubing within the roller pump.

Abstract: An integral disposable manifold and pump cassette, through which fluid is pumped from inlet tubes, forms a single disposable cassette which may be inserted into a single pump housing. The integral disposable manifold and pump cassette includes first and second sheets of flexible plastic material. Sealed inlet channels are formed between the first and second sheets of flexible plastic material, with the sealed inlet channels being connectable to inlet tubes for fluid passage therethrough. The sealed inlet channels can be individually pinched off to prevent fluid passage therethrough. A sealed main channel, which is connected between the inlet channels and an outlet tube is formed between the first and second sheets of flexible plastic material. The sealed main channel includes a pumping chamber which is also formed between the first and second sheets of flexible plastic material.

Abstract: A reciprocatory piston type compressor having a compressor body in which a low pressure suction chamber for the refrigerant before compression, a discharge chamber for the refrigerant after compression, and a plurality of axial cylinder bores receiving a corresponding number of reciprocatory pistons are provided therein, and a rotating plate suction valve capable of mechanically and forcibly opening suction ports in synchronism with the suction stroke of the reciprocatory pistons to thereby permit the refrigerant gas before compression to be drawn into the cylinder bores without time delay. A discharge valve capable of mechanically and forcibly open the discharge ports in synchronism with the discharge stroke of the pistons is also provided in the compressor body.

Abstract: An electro-pneumatic blower having an electric motor drive and a set of centrifugal blower blade and a set of compressed air turbine blades, both sets being an integral part of a single blower turbine wheel which is mounted on the shaft of the motor. A preferred embodiment is a 30 pound portable unit which which has been tested at flows of 250 CFM at 6.6 inches water gage pressure rise when driven by a 0.5 HP, 3600 RPM electric motor. The blower provides flows of 375 CFM at 13 inches water gage pressure when driven by a compressed air turbine at 80 psig. The compressed air turbine blades in this embodiment are cast along with the blower blades as parts of a single blower-turbine wheel.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a cable or rope restraining device which comprises a U-shaped member or U-bolt to engage two saddle clamps. The first saddle clamp is a friction clamp for securing a dead end section of the rope. The second saddle clamp provides a channel for loosely containing a live section of the rope.

Abstract: A rotary device employs an outer housing having an interior surface with a central axis associated therewith, an outer hub assembly, disposed inside said outer housing, having a central axis associated therewith located at a distance from the central axis of the outer housing, an inner hub, disposed inside the outer hub assembly, having a central axis associated therewith and being substantially coaxial with the outer housing, and a plurality of blades, hingedly connected at one end to the inner hub and radiating through the outer hub assembly, whereby a plurality of relatively airtight compartments are formed between the interior surface of the outer housing, the outer hub assembly, and pairs of blades, with the volume of said compartments varying as a function of the rotative position of the inner hub and outer hub assembly.

Abstract: A supercharger system for an internal combustion engine in a vehicle driveline that includes a catalytic converter for oxidizing undesirable exhaust gas emissions including a single, dual-purpose air pump for establishing combustion airflow for the engine as well as for the catalytic converter including an automatic control valve system having an electronic microprocessor that monitors varying engine operating conditions for establishing optimum airflow for fuel combustion purposes and for oxidizing exhaust gas emissions throughout a range of operating conditions for the engine, the system including a variable ratio mechanical drive between the engine and the air pump.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine having at least two external variable volume combustion chambers, each with a floating piston. A compressor provides pressurized gas selectively to a first or second end of the combustion chambers. The introduction of the pressurized gas into one end of the combustion chamber forces the floating piston to move to the opposite end. When a predetermined combustion chamber pressure is obtained combustion of previously injected fuel is initiated. At a peak pressure, water is injected in the combustion chamber increasing the pressure further. Valves at either end of the combustion chamber selectively and controllably release the pressure from the combustion chamber depending upon which end the floating piston is located. The pressure released from the combustion chamber is used to drive a plurality of pistons or a turbine, thereby creating useful work such as rotating a shaft. A rotating shaft is used to drive the compressor for supplying the pressurized air to the combustion chamber.

Abstract: A scroll fluid machine in which, even if volute bodies on the orbiting side and on the fixed side are different in material from each other, the volute bodies can be brought to their respective strengths equal to each other, dimension can be miniaturized or reduced, and internal leakage is reduced so that an attempt can be made to improve performance. In the scroll fluid machine, a curve of either one of a orbiting outward curve and a orbiting inward curve of a volute body on the orbiting side is formed by an algebraic spiral expressed by the following equation in the form of polar coordinates r=a.multidot..theta..sup.k (here, r: radius vector, .theta.: angle of deviation, a: coefficient, k: exponent). This curve and any one of a fixed outward curve and a fixed inward curve of the volute body on the fixed side are arranged with a phase difference of about 180 degrees. Thicknesses of respective volute walls on the orbiting side and on the fixed side are adequately or suitably changed.

Abstract: A compressor assembly is disclosed including a compressor mechanism mounted within a hermetically sealed housing. A cylinder block assembly, containing a plurality of reciprocating pistons within compression chambers, is covered by cylinder heads. The compression chambers include a discharge valve which permits compressed refrigerant to empty into a common discharge chamber. A pressure relief mechanism, formed by cylinder heads yieldably attached to the crankcase, is included within the compressor to eliminate damage caused by high pressure conditions such as slugging. Alternatively, pressure relief may be created in the common discharge chamber by a yieldably attached cage bearing or a valved port.

Abstract: The lens of a pair of sunglasses may be quickly replaced in its associated frame by inserting the top portion of the lens within an arcuate-shaped recess of the frame and snap fitting a plurality of dowels carried by the frame into corresponding sockets formed in the lens. Notches provided on opposite sides of each dowel facilitate engagement of the dowel within the recess. A V-shaped nose bridge is also secured to a correspondingly shaped notch in the lens and prevented from removal therefrom by a pair of lugs directed inwardly from opposite edges of the notch. A nose support is secured to the bridge by inserting pegs carried by the bridge into homes formed in the support.

Abstract: A peristaltic pump tube holder has a body having first and second pump tube connectors extending outside of it. The pump tube connectors extend at an acute angle relative to a surface of the body to receive a flexible tubing loop and orient the tubing loop for engagement with an external peristaltic pump rotor.

Abstract: A pair of control valve assemblies for alternately actuating a pair of fluid-driven free-piston devices by using fluid pressure communication therebetween. Each control valve assembly is switched by a pressure signal depending on the state of its counterpart's piston. The communication logic is arranged to provide overlap of the forward strokes of the pistons, so that at least one of the pair will always be pressurized. Thus, uninterrupted pumping of liquid is made possible from a pair of free-piston pumps. In addition, the speed and frequency of piston stroking is entirely dependent on the mechanical power load applied. In the case of a pair of pumps, this enables liquid delivery at a substantially constant pressure over the full range of flow rates, from zero to maximum flow. Each of the valve assemblies uses an intake-exhaust valve and a signal valve with the signal valve of one pump being connected to be pressure responsive to the piston of the opposite cylinder or pump.

Abstract: An electric contactor for the motor of a reciprocating pump such as an oil well walking beam pump, and other cyclic loads, uses the power drawn by the load to determine the phase angle of the pump without the need for a separate phase signalling sensor. The contactor couples the electric pump motor to a power line, and has a power sensor and peak detector. The power sensor can be responsive to RMS AC power or simply to current amplitude and polarity. The motor passes through a minimum power at the extreme top and bottom of a pump stroke, and the phase position at the top of the stroke is preferably detected by sensing for the power reversal that occurs as the momentum of the pump causes regeneration by the motor. The contactor can have overcurrent and/or undervoltage protection features, can include contacts for rearranging the motor windings to vary pump operation, and can report the phase to a pump control and monitoring system, whereby process variables are assessed as a function of phase.

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 optical bilge pump apparatus has two optical fibers with gaps cut therein and associated light transmitters-receivers. The apparatus is responsive to high and low liquid levels in the pump such that the pump is turned on when both gaps in the optical fibers are submersed in liquid, and the pump is turned off when both gaps in the optical fibers are not submersed in liquid.

Abstract: A gas turbine fuel nozzle and method of fuel flow provide resistance to coking of the fuel by means of a multiple passage heat transfer cooling circuit. Fuel streams to primary and secondary sprays of pilot and main nozzle tips are arranged to transfer heat between the pilot primary fuel stream and each of the main secondary fuel stream and the pilot secondary fuel stream. This protects the fuel in the streams from coking during both low flow, lower engine heat conditions and high flow, high engine heat conditions. This nozzle and flow can protect engines with both single tip and dual tip nozzles.