Abstract: A heat pump system, utilizing a multi-component refrigerant blend in which a low pressure component is zeotropic with respect to the remainder of the blend, separates the low pressure component by rectification to enhance heating capability in low ambient temperatures. Vapor is separated from liquid in the effluent of the condenser of a heat pump, at a pressure in equilibrium at a temperature midway between the evaporator and condenser effluent temperatures, the vapor being applied to an auxiliary inlet at a mid pressure point in the compression stroke of the compressor.

Abstract: A heat pump system, utilizing a multi-component refrigerant blend in which a low pressure component is zeotropic with respect to the remainder of the blend, separates the low pressure component by rectification to enhance heating capability in low ambient temperatures. Vapor is separated from liquid in the effluent of the condenser of a heat pump, at a pressure in equilibrium at a temperature midway between the evaporator and condenser effluent temperatures, the vapor being applied to an auxiliary inlet at a mid pressure point in the compression stroke of the compressor.

Abstract: The turbocompressor comprises a power turbine (14) and a compressor turbine (16) having respective rotors (18) and (20) on a common shaft (22), rotatably supported by bearings (26) and (28). A first working fluid is supplied by a power loop (32) and is expanded in the turbine (14). A second working fluid is compressed in the turbine (16) and is circulated in a heat pump loop (70). A lubricant is mixed with the second working fluid but is excluded from the first working fluid. Bearings (26) and (28) are cooled and lubricated by a system which circulates the second working fluid and the intermixed lubricant through the bearings (26) and (28). Such system includes a pump (126), a thermostatic expansion valve (150) for expanding the working fluid into the space (152) between the bearings (26) and (28), and a return conduit system (154, 156, 158) for withdrawing the expanded working fluid after it passes through the bearings and for returning the working fluid to the evaporator (82).

Abstract: Welding apparatus featuring a right angle beam handling tube for directing a fixed laser beam from an entrance to the tube to a rotatably supported output reflector in a focus head mounted on an outlet of the tube. The tube has upstream and downstream duct sections which are independently extendible and retractable relative to their juncture, the juncture and a laser beam translating mirror mounted therein being movable only in a linear direction coincident with the incoming beam axis along the upstream duct section to ensure beam alignment with the entrance and outlet of the right angle beam handling tube while permitting the distances therebetween to vary to selectively position the focus head relative to a workpiece.

Abstract: A chemical laser having means for repeatedly circulating the gaseous working medium in a portable, self-contained system is disclosed. An excited laser species is formed by chemical means and after passing through the optical cavity, the working medium is purified by selective absorption and adsorption processes, increased in pressure, supplemented with makeup feed reactants and recycled. The operation of a system using deuterium and sulfur hexafluoride gases is discussed in detail although various combinations of other suitable reactants which provide a halogen and hydrogen or an isotope thereof are disclosed.