Abstract: A treadmill having a track assembly that allows a user to navigate in any arbitrary direction. A movable user support has a plurality of rotatable members that rotate about axes normal to the direction of movement of the user support. Separate power drive mechanism concurrently move the user support and rotate the members to omni-directional user movement. A control for the power driven mechanism is responsive to the directional orientation of the user on the user support to cause the user support to operate in the direction of the orientation of the user.

Abstract: Machine tools combine material addition via ultrasonic object consolidation and subtractive techniques for imparting high-dimensional accuracy to a finished object. A material supply and feeder, ultrasonic horn, and feedstock cutting device are integrated with a material removal subsystem preferably including a cutting tool and an excess material removal system. Any metal, plastic or composite material suitable for ultrasonic joining may be employed as a feedstock, and these material may assume the form of tapes, sheets, wires, filaments, dots or droplets, with the feeding and material cutting components being designed for the specific feedstock employed. The cutting tool for excess material removal, may be a knife, drill/mill, grinding tool, or other tool capable of accurately cutting the external contour of a cross section of the part being built, and for removing excess feedstock remaining following the application process.

Abstract: Machine tools combine material addition via ultrasonic object consolidation and subtractive techniques for imparting high-dimensional accuracy to a finished object. A material supply and feeder, ultrasonic horn, and feedstock cutting device are integrated with a material removal subsystem preferably including a cutting tool and an excess material removal system. Any metal, plastic or composite material suitable for ultrasonic joining may be employed as a feedstock, and these material may assume the form of tapes, sheets, wires, filaments, dots or droplets, with the feeding and material cutting components being designed for the specific feedstock employed. The cutting tool for excess material removal, may be a knife, drill/mill, grinding tool, or other tool capable of accurately cutting the external contour of a cross section of the part being built, and for removing excess feedstock remaining following the application process.

Abstract: A treadmill (1) having a track assembly that allows a user (3) to walk or run in any arbitrary direction. A movable user support has a plurality of rotatable members that rotate about axes normal to the direction of movement of the user support (2). Separate power drive mechanism (7) (8) concurrently move the user support (2) and rotate the members to omni-directional user movement. A control (4) for the power driven mechanism (7) (8) is responsive to the directional orientation of the user on the user support (2) to cause the user support (2) to operate in the direction of the orientation of the user (3).

Abstract: The invention provides a motion simulating device which provides the user with full freedom of motion. Ideally, the motion is coordinated with the user's senses. The motion simulating device may include a generally spherical capsule supported by a number of rollers, at least one of which is a multi-directional active roller which frictionally engages the spherical capsule. This causes the spherical capsule to rotate in any desired direction. The capsule may have mounted within it an interactive solid, which may take the form of an omni-directional treadmill for supporting the user.

Abstract: A treadmill having a track assembly that allows a user to walk or run in any arbitrary direction. A movable user support has a plurality of rotatable members that rotate about axes normal to the direction of movement of the user support. Separate power driven mechanisms concurrently move the user support and rotate the members to omni-directional user movement.A control for the power driven mechanisms is responsive to the directional orientation of the user on the user support to cause the user support to operate in the direction of the orientation of the user.

Abstract: A motion simulating device which is capable of creating motion with up to six degrees of freedom; three rotational degrees of freedom and three linear-translational degrees of freedom. The motion simulating device includes a generally spherical capsule abuttively supported on a plurality of rollers that are connected to a translatable frame. At least one of the rollers is a multi-directional active roller that frictionally engages the capsule to impart rotational motion to the capsule in any direction. The frame is optionally attached to a number of actuator legs which are capable of translating the frame along three orthogonal axes. Optimally, sights, sounds and physical sensations may be electronically coordinated and reproduced in the capsule so that a user may interactively control and respond to a variety of environments while simultaneously experiencing the corresponding motion and physical sensations associated with the interactive environment.

Abstract: A water purification system including both a filter and a body of biocidally active material for microbiologically purifying biologically contaminated water. The system provides for the production of microbiologically purified water during both upstroke and downstroke of the plunger and includes a brush which can be reciprocated within the system for cleaning the filter.

Abstract: An energy recovery pump-motor including an energy recovery pump and a mixed-phase motor for replacing conventional valves in fluid circuits such as an absorption refrigeration system. The energy recovery pump pressurizes a first liquid by recovering flow work energy from a second liquid. The mixed-phase motor recovers flow work energy and expansion energy from a high pressure, saturated third liquid and transfers the energy along a shaft to the pump to aid in pressurizing the first liquid. The energy recovery pump is shown in a single effect absorption refrigeration system, while the pump-motor is shown in both single effect and double effect systems.

Abstract: An energy recovery pump-motor including an energy recovery pump and a mixed-phase motor for replacing conventional valves in fluid circuits such as an absorption refrigeration system. The energy recovery pump pressurizes a first liquid by recovering flow work energy from a second liquid. The mixed-phase motor recovers flow work energy and expansion energy from a high pressure, saturated third liquid and transfers the energy along a shaft to the pump to aid in pressurizing the first liquid. The energy recovery pump is shown in a single effect absorption refrigeration system, while the pump-motor is shown in both single effect and double effect systems.