Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus having a base, a shaft, a swivel joint assembly and plural stories. The base is fixed relative to the ground. The shaft extends vertically through the apparatus. The shaft is mounted to the base. The swivel joint assembly is mounted in the base coaxially with the shaft. The swivel joint rotatably connects fixed utility lines extending into the base with corresponding utility lines secured within the apparatus. Each of the plural stories defines an enclosed living area and is rotatably supported, at least in part, via the shaft. Each story has a drive mechanism adapted to rotate the story about the shaft at a speed controllable within the story.

Abstract: A swivel joint apparatus for supplying utilities to a rotating building rotatable about a central axis has a first, fixed member for securing to a fixed base of the building to extend co-axially with a central axis of rotation of the building, and a second member rotatably mounted on the first member for securing to the rotatable part of the building. The first member has a series of spaced annular chambers and at least one ring seal mounted on the peripheral edge of each flange for rotatable sealing engagement with the outer casing so that the casing forms an outer wall of each of the annular chambers. A lower end wall of the spindle has a plurality of ports for connection to fixed utility lines in the base for fluid supply to and from the building, each port connected through the spindle to a respective annular chamber.

Abstract: A swivel joint apparatus for supplying utilities to a rotating building rotatable about a central axis has an inner, fixed spindle for securing to a fixed base of the building to extend co-axially with a central axis of rotation of the building, and an outer casing rotatably mounted on the spindle for securing to the rotatable part of the building. The spindle has a series of spaced annular flanges defining a series of annular chambers and at least one ring seal mounted on the peripheral edge of each flange for rotatable sealing engagement with the outer casing so that the casing forms an outer wall of each of the annular chambers. A lower end wall of the spindle has a plurality of ports for connection to fixed utility lines in the base for fluid supply to and from the building, each port connected through the spindle to a respective annular chamber.

Abstract: A method and system for heating a space includes circulating refrigerant in a closed loop system having a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger. The circulating step includes pressurizing liquid refrigerant to a first pressure and heating the liquid refrigerant in a third heat exchanger to form a refrigerant vapor. The method further includes compressing refrigerant by a compressor to a second pressure, wherein the compressor is at least partially driven by refrigerant vapor received from the third heat exchanger, and supplying one of the first and second heat exchangers with refrigerant from the compressor. The method further includes supplying refrigerant from the other of the first and second heat exchangers to the compressor and selectively supercharging the refrigerant supplied to the compressor from the other of the first and second heat exchangers.

Abstract: A swivel joint apparatus for supplying utilities to a rotating building rotatable about a central axis has an inner, fixed spindle for securing to a fixed base of the building to extend co-axially with a central axis of rotation of the building, and an outer casing rotatably mounted on the spindle for securing to the rotatable part of the building. The spindle has a series of spaced annular flanges defining a series of annular chambers and at least one ring seal mounted on the peripheral edge of each flange for rotatable sealing engagement with the outer casing so that the casing forms an outer wall of each of the annular chambers. A lower end wall of the spindle has a plurality of ports for connection to fixed utility lines in the base for fluid supply to and from the building, each port connected through the spindle to a respective annular chamber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a lightweight reinforced beam which utilizes a tendon system to provide tension on a rigid panel structural frame made from wood, wood composite, plastic or other material. An alternative embodiment uses a tendon system to provide tension on a precast form made from a castable material such as concrete by post tensioning a shielded tendon. This tendon, made from steel, carbon fiber or similar materials, will resist a load imposed on the reinforced beam and will support a large load relative to the weight of the tendon.

Abstract: A new and improved heat powered heat pump system and method of making same is provided. More particularly, the present invention relates to a heat powered heat pump system which uses standard commonly available refrigerant fluids, supplements pressurizing the refrigerant fluid by use of an external available heat source, enables selective switching between heating or cooling modes, and utilizes a thermal four-chambered compressor having a double piston head that is partially powered by an external heat source. Since the heat powered heat pump system may be made in various sizes and configurations, it may be utilized to cool and heat the interior of vehicles using waste engine heat and an initializing battery powered heating element to provide for immediate heating and cooling.

Abstract: A swivel joint apparatus for supplying utilities to a rotating building rotatable about a central axis has a first, fixed member for securing to a fixed base of the building to extend co-axially with a central axis of rotation of the building, and a second member rotatably mounted on the first member for securing to the rotatable part of the building. The first member has a series of spaced annular chambers and at least one ring seal mounted on the peripheral edge of each flange for rotatable sealing engagement with the outer casing so that the casing forms an outer wall of each of the annular chambers. A lower end wall of the spindle has a plurality of ports for connection to fixed utility lines in the base for fluid supply to and from the building, each port connected through the spindle to a respective annular chamber.

Abstract: Heat transfer systems utilizing the standard vapor/compression refrigeration cycle with commonly available refrigerant fluids are disclosed. The embodiments disclosed provide switching means for selective use of the equipment for cooling or for heating in preferred form. In some embodiments, only the heating or only the cooling capability of a system is utilized. Common to the embodiments is a system for pressurizing the refrigerant fluid utilizing a heat source such as a solar collector, waste heat from a generator, automobile engine or other power plant, or even a small gas or electrical heater or the like. Equipment including a venturi device for drawing refrigerant at low pressure through an evaporator for cooling purposes and for extraction of heat from the atmosphere for heating purposes is also disclosed.

Abstract: A control system for plural circuits having motor-driven hydraulic pumps. As disclosed, a pair of pumps is connected in a hydraulic actuating circuit individual to that pair and the circuit includes an hydraulically operated actuator to be advanced and retracted by fluid under pressure delivered from the pair of pumps of that circuit. A single prime mover drives the pair of pumps and pumps in other circuits, and each circuit has a pressure-responsive control valve which provides for unloading a pump of the first circuit in response to increases in pressure in the various other circuits to a predetermined value at which, in the absence of such unloading, the input horsepower requirement has risen toward a value which would stall the prime mover.Pumps in several of the circuits may be sequentially and selectively unloaded.