Abstract: A method for transferring heat from a lower temperature heat source to a higher temperature heat sink using only the energy in the heat source and heat sink. The method uses a converting material which is adapted to receive external radiation from the lower temperature heat source, absorb the external radiation exciting an element of the converting material, non-radiatively transfer heat within the converting material by relaxing an element of the converting material, and conductively transferring heat from the converting material to the exterior of the converting material, where the heat can be used for an external process or application.

Abstract: A fireplace assembly comprises a base defining a recess and an electric fireplace having wheels which are received in the recess when the fireplace is mounted on the base. The electric fireplace is removable from the base so that the fireplace can be rolled on its wheels to other locations. The base is typically configured to serve as a functional piece of furniture when the fireplace is removed.

Abstract: A reflective device for use in an electric fireplace and a fireplace incorporating the same. The reflective device includes a shaft having a first and a second end cap mounted at opposite ends. An intermediate member extends outwardly from the shaft between the first and second end caps. One or more reflecting strips extend longitudinally between the first and second end caps and are spaced a distance away from the shaft. The reflecting strips are separated from each other by longitudinal gaps and are mounted so that they angle downwardly relative to the shaft from the intermediate member toward the first and second end caps. The shaft is rotated about its longitudinal axis so that it reflects light from a light source toward one of a screen, simulated ember bed and artificial log display in the fireplace housing.

Abstract: A fireplace assembly comprising a base defining a recess for receiving a fireplace, a fireplace releasably held within the recess, and wherein the base is a functional piece of furniture when the fireplace is removed. A method of removing and replacing a fireplace comprising the steps of providing a first base defining a recess, locating a fireplace within the recess, removing the fireplace from the first base to provide a functional piece of furniture, and locating the fireplace within the recess.

Abstract: A propellant ignition testing apparatus having a compressively sealable chamber. A fixed end plate assembly is fixedly mounted on a support structure. A test chamber assembly having a combustion chamber for accommodating propellant is provided, and an initiator ignites propellant accommodated in the combustion chamber. A moveable end plate is disposed adjacent to the test chamber assembly on a side thereof remote from the fixed end plate assembly. A device is mounted on the support structure for generating a compressive force, with the moveable end plate being operatively connected to a moveable component of the device for moving the moveable end plate toward the test chamber assembly for sandwiching the combustion chamber of the test chamber assembly in a compressively sealed manner between the fixed end plate assembly and the moveable end plate.

Abstract: A reflective device for use in an electric fireplace and a fireplace incorporating the same. The reflective device includes a shaft having a first and a second end cap mounted at opposite ends. An intermediate member extends outwardly from the shaft between the first and second end caps. One or more reflecting strips extend longitudinally between the first and second end caps and are spaced a distance away from the shaft. The reflecting strips are separated from each other by longitudinal gaps and are mounted so that they angle downwardly relative to the shaft from the intermediate member toward the first and second end caps. The shaft is rotated about its longitudinal axis so that it reflects light from a light source toward one of a screen, simulated ember bed and artificial log display in the fireplace housing.

Abstract: A pump for providing high volume flows with a low hydrostatic head. The pump is particularly suited for heated fluids such as those from a solar collector and the like.

Abstract: A fireplace assembly comprising a base defining a recess for receiving a fireplace, a fireplace releasably held within the recess, and wherein the base is a functional piece of furniture when the fireplace is removed. A method of removing and replacing a fireplace comprising the steps of providing a first base defining a recess, locating a fireplace within the recess, removing the fireplace from the first base to provide a functional piece of furniture, and locating the fireplace within the recess.

Abstract: A propellant ignition testing apparatus having a compressively sealable chamber. A fixed end plate assembly is fixedly mounted on a support structure. A test chamber assembly having a combustion chamber for accommodating propellant is provided, and an initiator ignites propellant accommodated in the combustion chamber. A moveable end plate is disposed adjacent to the test chamber assembly on a side thereof remote from the fixed end plate assembly. A device is mounted on the support structure for generating a compressive force, with the moveable end plate being operatively connected to a moveable component of the device for moving the moveable end plate toward the test chamber assembly for sandwiching the combustion chamber of the test chamber assembly in a compressively sealed manner between the fixed end plate assembly and the moveable end plate.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed to convert low temperature thermal energy to electricity. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes an electrical generating unit to receive heat energy to produce electricity, a concentrator including a heat engine, a liquid piston operatively coupled to the heat engine, and a heat pump operatively coupled to the liquid piston, the heat engine adapted to collect thermal energy, and the heat pump operatively coupled to the electrical generating unit to provide heat to the electrical generating unit. The example apparatus disclosed herein also includes a heat engine floating piston disposed in the heat engine, a heat pump floating piston disposed in the heat pump, and wherein the heat engine floating piston and the heat pump floating piston oscillate.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to a method for creating a refrigeration system comprising a piston device for the compressor and expander functions normally provided by a Carnot cycle. Solutions for modifying the overall system to utilize the pulsed nature of the piston action are provided.

Abstract: A piston and chamber system to be used in connection with a heat concentrator such as those used for converting low grade thermal energy into useful energy. The example apparatus disclosed herein includes a heat engine floating piston which inhibits condensation normally associated with thermodynamic cycles which run at or near vapor saturation. The resulting improvement allows increased efficiency for lower temperature systems.

Abstract: In a packet data transmission system, correctly received information packets are acknowledged by piggybacking their sequence numbers onto information packets being transmitted. The control field of each information packet includes a bit which indicates whether or not there is a piggybacked acknowledgement. Acknowledgements can also be transmitted separately in control packets having no information field. Each acknowledgement consists of not only the sequence number of a correctly received information packet, but also the acknowledgement status of a plurality of preceding information packets whereby these can be negatively acknowledged if necessary. The sequence numbers can have any one of three different sizes, for efficient transmission of sequence numbers on transmission links of arbitrary transmission speed and length (and hence delay).

Abstract: In a bubble memory system having storage loop architecture, means for buffering both read and write requests in order to improve performance including, in the embodiment disclosed, two sets of short or buffer loops, one for the write section and one for the read section, which are virtually asynchronous with respect to each other and to the main memory storage loops and in which data may be temporarily stored prior to transfer into the main storage loops or prior to transfer into an output track.

Abstract: In a bubble memory system having storage loop architecture, means for decoupling the write-in means and the read-out means from the propagation cycle of the storage loops so that data may be transferred in and out of said storage loops independently of each other and of the propagation cycle thus decreasing the access time of a bubble memory.