Abstract: An electrical receptacle is connected to the alternator of an automotive vehicle to permit connection thereto of a power tool. A switching circuit senses the presence of an electric current through the tool to actuate relays in the switching circuit to cause the alternator to operate in a high voltage mode wherein the alternator provides power at a voltage level suitable for operating the tool at such times that the engine of the vehicle is operating. A unidirectional current path is provided between the battery of the vehicle and the receptacle to enable operation of the switching circuit at such times that the engine is not operating while isolating the battery from electrical power generated by the alternator in the high voltage mode of operation thereof.

Abstract: Means to provide additional electrical power in an electrically powered vehicle. An air scoop is mounted on the vehicle. The air scoop opens in a generally forward direction. A turbine wheel is mounted in the rear of the air scoop. An electric generator is connected to the turbine wheel, whereby air passing through the air scoop will generate additional electricity for the vehicle batteries. The air scoop is rotatable and means are provided to lock it in position.

Abstract: A system for extracting useful energy from sea currents. A pair of drag inducing devices is disposed in the sea current, and connected by cables to a windlass at a location upstream of the drag devices. Each drag device has a selectably variable drag resistance in the sea current, and the drag devices are controlled so as to reciprocate toward and away from the upstream location. The reciprocating movement of the drag devices is converted into rotary motion by the windlass, and the rotary motion is used to perform useful work.

Abstract: A non-pollution motor powered from a source of a low pressure liquified cryogenic is disclosed. A means for converting, upon demand, a quantity of the cryogenic into a high pressure gas is connected between a gas expander and a storage volume tank. The high pressure gas stored in the volume tank is used to power a gas turbine motor. The gas turbine in turn drives a DC-generator to produce a voltage that both charges a battery pack and drives an output DC-drive motor. When the battery pack is fully charged, the gas turbine is turned off, and the DC-drive motor is powered solely from the battery pack. When the batteries have discharged, the turbine is turned on to drive the DC-generator once again. Both the DC-generator and the DC-drive motor are contained in the cryogenic in heat exchange relationship to cool the units to essentially the temperature of the cryogenic.

Abstract: The wind powered mechanical and electric power generator, is a process and apparatus which uses the mechanical advantage of a lever arm to multiply the energy of a moving or mobile weight which is wind powered from a propeller drive, and converts by gravity and mechanical advantage said energy to useful work. The unit consists in its simplest form of a counter balanced wheel on one side of a centerline shaft and a concentrated weight on the opposite side, both kept rigid by a connecting structure beam, the entire unit made to revolve around the centerline shaft by moving a mobil weight around the wheel perimeter in concert with the units rotation so as to continually produce an off-balance of weights, which then uses gravity to cause the total unit to rotate. The mobile weight is driven around the wheel by a wind powered small propeller.

Abstract: A constant speed drive comprises a frictional variable speed drive controlled by a control system to produce a constant output speed. The drive includes a rotatable disc having a frusto-conical surface and being urged into frictional engagement with a rotatable annulus having a corresponding frustoconical edge, the annulus and disc being relatively movable between a position in which they are coaxial and provide a unity drive ratio and a position in which they are eccentric and provide a different drive ratio determined by the relative positions of their axes. Actuation means are provided for adjusting the positions of the axes of the annulus and disc relative to one another, and the control system controls the actuation means to vary the relative positions of the axes of the disc and annulus and thus the drive ratio to maintain a sensibly constant output speed.

Abstract: A dynamic, self sustaining and self perpetuating, device for the production of motive force by combining cryogenic and thermodynamic principles into one system, keeping the systems separated, two open to atmosphere, the other closed, sealed, pressurized and utilizing special compounded fluids, which when alternately exposed to the heat of atmospheric temperature, then, to the coldness of a liquid or an air cooled condensor, first evaporates, then condenses. Rapid expansion during evaporation produces a high pressure vapor which operates an engine and a generator, which are an integral part of the closed system. Rapid condensation drastically reduces back pressure on the aft side of the engine, and the engine operates on the difference between the two pressures, producing electricity, or, the engine can be used as a direct drive for vehicles or equipment. Built in safeguards and alternatives are a part of the systems, assuring continuance of operation despite adverse conditions.

Abstract: In the disclosed camera and power winder arrangement, a power winder winds the film and contains a rewinder. A detector responds to rewinding movement of the film past a predetermined position, and a control circuit responds to the detector's sensing that the film has stopped moving past the predetermined position by braking the film rewind source.

Abstract: A power producing system employs floats that move up or down in tanks that may be located wherever desired, to produce power.

Abstract: A wind powered generator rotatable about a vertical axis. A plurality of vertically disposed airfoils are provided, the airfoils being rotatable about a vertical axis parallel to the axis of the generator. The airfoils are selectively latched to be disposed perpendicularly of the wind direction during one phase of their revolution about the generator axis and are selectively unlatched to be permitted to rotate into a position generally parallel to the wind direction during other phases of their revolution. The latching and unlatching of the airfoils is determined by the wind direction and is effected by electronic means which determine the point of latching and unlatching as a function of the wind direction measured by a wind vane. The airfoils may comprise sails composed of a flexible material stretched into a predetermined shape on a frame.

Abstract: Disclosed is a wind power generating apparatus for producing megawatt levels of power. The apparatus comprises at least one endless flexible cable supported on the peripheries of two spaced apart wheels. Airfoils are attached to the cable and disposed for generating aerodynamic forces which cause the cable and supporting wheels to turn allowing for the generation of power.

Abstract: A power generation system and method of operation for generating electricity by utilizing temperature differences inherently present in the ocean between water near the surface and water from the ocean's depths. A pump provides relatively warm, surface ocean water to a flash evaporator where a portion of the water is flashed into steam. The steam is expanded through a subatmospheric pressure range turbine which exhausts into a condensing enclosure. The steam exhausting into the enclosure is condensed by relatively cold ocean water pumped thereinto. The turbine drives a generator and thus produces the electricity. The turbine speed and generator output are controlled by selectively introducing atmospheric air and relatively warm water into the exhausted motive steam flow. Such selective introduction into the exhausted steam flow of air and/or relatively warm water increases the absolute pressure at the turbine's exhaust end and thus reduces steam flow through the turbine.

Abstract: A reaction engine driven electrical generating system comprising an electrical generator having an armature and a reaction engine driven to rotate the armature for generating electricity. The reaction engine drive includes a generally cylindrical housing with an internal truncated cone which internally divides the housing into two sections. A drive shaft extends generally horizontally into the housing and a reaction force rotation unit carrying a plurality of reaction engines is mounted upon the drive shaft. An enlarged air port is fashioned within one end of the housing and cooperates with an air inlet disc fixedly connected to the drive shaft. A plurality of air inlet aperatures extend through the air inlet disc and air conduits connect the inlet aperatures directly to corresponding intakes of said plurality of reaction engines. A monitor is operably connected to the armature or drive shaft and serves to provide a readout of speed of rotation of the drive shaft and generator armature.

Abstract: Apparatus to convert wind energy into mechanical and electrical energy including a variable pitch air-foil supported by tension guy wires on a wheeled structure constrained to move upon a continuous track. The structure includes electrical generators powered by the rotation of the structure's wheels to convert movement of the structure into electrical energy. The air-foil is supported upright on the wheeled structure, which is designed to resist upward, downward and sideways forces, to capture wind energy at a higher elevation above the ground where winds blow stronger.

Abstract: The invention is an energy-saving means for providing turbulence as well as circulation to liquids in a controlled natural purification system for advanced waste water treatment and algae farming. The wind-powered impeller-mixers are used in the algae growing reactors of a controlled natural purification system. The invention consists of a vertical vane type windmill that turns an impeller blade to cause turbulence in waste water being treated. The impeller blade may be geared to operate from a horizontal position to a vertical position to provide circulation movement. A motor-generator hook-up is combined with windmill-impeller system so that generated energy may be stored for use in turning the impeller blade when there is no wind or not enough wind to operate the system. A clutch arrangement is used to disengage the impeller when the algae growing reactor is to be drained.

Abstract: A wind-turbine generator system which transforms the rotational energy of a wind driven turbine blade into rotation in opposite directions of a rotor and a stator of a dynamoelectric machine to generate electrical power. A bevel gear rotating with the turbine blade drives two pinion gears and associated concentric shafts in opposite directions. The two shafts combine with a planetary gear set to provide the desired oppositely directed rotation. One of the shafts is associated with a ring carrier and drives a ring gear in one rotational direction. The other shaft drives a planet carrier in the opposite rotational direction. The planetary gear set is arranged such that a sun gear is driven in the direction opposite to that of the ring gear. A rotor is affixed to the sun gear by a spider support structure, and a stator, affixed to rotate with the ring gear, surrounds the rotor. The rotor and stator are thus rotated in opposite, mechanically and electrically additive, directions.

Abstract: A method of tensioning a musical drum is disclosed using a device for torquing the tension rods of the drum. The device has a housing having a central aperture and a concentric upper recess. The upper recess has a first partial annular groove and a concentric second annular groove. A shaft assembly is rotatably disposed in the central aperture and the upper recess and is adapted to receive at its lower end means for gripping a tension rod. The shaft assembly has a stop portion disposed in the first partial annular groove for positive rotation of the shaft assembly beyond a predetermined range of rotation of the housing. Biasing means disposed in the second annular groove is connected between the shaft assembly and the housing, for applying torque to a gripped tension rod upon turning the housing within said predetermined range. The drum is tensioned, and thus tuned to pitch, by torquing the drum tension rods to a predetermined torque.

Abstract: An hydroelectric machine is disclosed wherein the rotor of an electric machine is arranged around the rotor of a hydraulic machine, the internal rotor comprising the turbine blades which engage the external rotor to transmit torque therebetween. Each of the internal and external rotors is mounted in a separate radial bearing and the turbine blades of the internal rotor are connected to the external rotor by means of an articulated coupling which permits relative radial movement therebetween. It is preferred to include force compensating means for transmitting circumferential forces between the rotors. Suitable such means comprise an hydraulic servo-motor associated with each blade of which the pressure chambers are interconnected by means of a ring conduit.

Abstract: The operation of an electric power plant is controlled by generating a control signal in response to the pressure at the throttle valves, the load demand signal and the megawatt output of the power plant. During the start-up, before the pressure ramp ends, the control signal varies in accordance with the difference between the pressure at the throttle valves and the pressure required at the throttle valves to produce the load represented by the load demand signal and, after the pressure ramp ends, the control signal is varied in accordance with the difference between the load represented by the load demand signal and the megawatt output of the power plant. Integral separators are employed during start-up to separate the water from the steam and a bypass system is provided to collect the water from the separators and recirculate it. The firing rate of the furnace is controlled in accordance with the control signal.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically controlling the active power produced by the generator of a hydraulic turbine-generator unit, comprising a frequency-responsive summing means having its inputs respectively connected to a reference signal source which develops an assigned power signal, to a power measuring means responsive to the active power produced by the generator, and to a gate opening sensing means responsive to the degree of opening of the hydraulic turbine gate apparatus, and its output connected to a control means for controlling the degree of opening of the gate apparatus. The frequency-responsive summing means is adapted to develop at its output a signal representative of an algebraic sum of the signal applied to its input connected to the reference signal source, the low-frequency components of the signal applied to its input connected to the power measuring means and the high-frequency components of the signal applied to its input connected to the gate opening sensing means.