Abstract: A flash boiler has a water jacket and a vertically oriented interior passage which includes water tubes or superheating tubes, or both. The interior passage is a hyperboloid surface to induce draft. Water tubes and superheating tubes can be staggered so as to create a helical path for flue gas passing through the boiler. Water tubes and superheating tubes may include, internally or externally or both, heat transfer aids such as pins, fins or vanes, which may also be helices.

Abstract: A flash boiler has a water jacket and a vertically oriented interior passage which includes water tubes or superheating tubes, or both. The interior passage is a hyperboloid surface to induce draft. Water tubes and superheating tubes can be staggered so as to create a helical path for flue gas passing through the boiler. Water tubes and superheating tubes may include, internally or externally or both, heat transfer aids such as pins, fins or vanes, which may also be helicies.

Abstract: A disc turbine inlet collects working fluid, introduces it into the rotor housing at a defined location and imparted at a defined injection angle with respect to the tangential motion of the discs in rotary motion. An injection angle within the optimum range delineated by this invention enables the working fluid to entrain stationary or slowly rotating discs into motion. The inlet design combines smooth sectional transitions and arcuate directional changes to minimize frictional losses. The inlet has a nozzle section which locates precisely into a receiving aperture of the turbine rotor housing.

Abstract: A disc turbine rotor assembly comprised of spaced-apart discs includes means of spacing apart disc members of said rotor assembly, which allow for local variation and radial expansion under various local operating temperatures, without allowing axial deflection, deformation, or excessive warping of the disc material. Spacing means and positioning are provided which maintain desired gaps between planar disc surfaces, and may also establish tangential waves in the disc membranes in order to enhance boundary layer effects. Disc and spacer spokes combine to form a vane-axial type exhaust.

Abstract: A disc turbine has a rotor assembly of spaced apart discs with at least one disc equipped with an annular labyrinth seal whose grooves interdigitate with a corresponding labyrinth seal mounted in the sidewall of the rotor housing. A pattern of aligned through holes in the rotor housing and the rotor housing seal assist in the axial and concentric alignment of the rotary assembly with respect to the stationary assembly, and the inspection of same, and provide access through at least one sensing port to working fluid proximal to the seal entrance.

Abstract: A card edge connector includes an elongated longitudinally extending outer frame defining a reception region adapted to receive a plurality of chiclet modules including contact members and lying in parallel laterally extending planes which, as an assembly, are positioned to connectively engage with mating contacts. Each chiclet module includes an insulative housing having first and second spaced generally parallel elongated passages therein and a card receiving recess for reception therein between the first and second passages of a planar card having opposed surfaces with conductive contact members thereon. First and second contacts are received, respectively, in the first and second passages. Each has a first contact surface positioned, respectively, for engagement with first and second of the mating contacts. The card receiving recesses of the chiclet modules as a group define a longitudinally extending card receiving slot.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a headshell with a first connector for terminating a plurality of electrical leads intended for mechanical and electrical connection with a mating second connector. An elongated latch member is freely received within a passage which extends between front and rear faces of the headshell and has first and second lateral sidewalls, the latch member being simultaneously movable by an external actuator longitudinally and laterally between a first retracted position interfering with connection of the first and second mating connectors and a second advanced position enabling connection of the first and second connectors. When returned to the first position, a grapnel blade on the latch member becomes lockingly engaged with a housing for the second connector. In this condition, the first and second connectors are mechanically and electrically connected.

Abstract: A card edge connector includes an elongated longitudinally extending outer frame defining a reception region adapted to receive a plurality of chiclet modules including contact members and lying in parallel laterally extending planes which, as an assembly, are positioned to connectively engage with mating contacts. Each chiclet module includes an insulative housing having first and second spaced generally parallel elongated passages therein and a card receiving recess for reception therein between the first and second passages of a planar card having opposed surfaces with conductive contact members thereon. First and second contacts are received, respectively, in the first and second passages. Each has a first contact surface positioned, respectively, for engagement with first and second of the mating contacts. The card receiving recesses of the chiclet modules as a group define a longitudinally extending card receiving slot.

Abstract: A disc turbine inlet collects working fluid, introduces it into the rotor housing at a defined location and imparted at a defined injection angle with respect to the tangential motion of the discs in rotary motion. An injection angle within the optimum range delineated by this invention enables the working fluid to entrain stationary or slowly rotating discs into motion. The inlet design combines smooth sectional transitions and arcuate directional changes to minimize frictional losses. The inlet has a nozzle section which locates precisely into a receiving aperture of the turbine rotor housing.

Abstract: A card edge connector includes an elongated longitudinally extending outer frame defining a reception region adapted to receive a plurality of chiclet modules including contact members and lying in parallel laterally extending planes which, as an assembly, are positioned to connectively engage with mating contacts. Each chiclet module includes an insulative housing having first and second spaced generally parallel elongated passages therein and a card receiving recess for reception therein between the first and second passages of a planar card having opposed surfaces with conductive contact members thereon. First and second contacts are received, respectively, in the first and second passages. Each has a first contact surface positioned, respectively, for engagement with first and second of the mating contacts. The card receiving recesses of the chiclet modules as a group define a longitudinally extending card receiving slot.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a headshell with a first connector for terminating a plurality of electrical leads intended for mechanical and electrical connection with a mating second connector. An elongated latch member is freely received within a passage which extends between front and rear faces of the headshell and has first and second lateral sidewalls, the latch member being simultaneously movable by an external actuator longitudinally and laterally between a first retracted position interfering with connection of the first and second mating connectors and a second advanced position enabling connection of the first and second connectors. When returned to the first position, a grapnel blade on the latch member becomes lockingly engaged with a housing for the second connector. In this condition, the first and second connectors are mechanically and electrically connected.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a headshell with a first connector for terminating a plurality of electrical leads intended for mechanical and electrical connection with a mating second connector. An elongated latch member is freely received within a passage which extends between front and rear faces of the headshell and has first and second lateral sidewalls, the latch member being simultaneously movable by an external actuator longitudinally and laterally between a first retracted position interfering with connection of the first and second mating connectors and a second advanced position enabling connection of the first and second connectors. When returned to the first position, a grapnel blade on the latch member becomes lockingly engaged with a housing for the second connector. In this condition, the first and second connectors are mechanically and electrically connected.

Abstract: An electrical connector device or jumper for electrically connecting two or more electrical terminals. The electrical connector comprises a conductive bridging member having opposing first and second ends. The bridging member extends in a first direction. Each of the ends of the bridging member define opposing contact surfaces for making electrical contact with a terminal when it is admitted between the opposing contact surfaces. The contact surfaces are adapted to admit, or to allow removal of, the electrical terminal in a direction generally aligned with the first direction or in a direction generally transverse to the first direction.

Abstract: A motor control apparatus (1) for articulating a probe (3) is constructed with a reversible motor (10) and at least one tension adjusting cable (4) to articulate the probe (3).

Abstract: A latch key mechanism 1 has a rotatable latch key 2, a holder 7 rotatably receiving the latch key 2, a spring 16 connected to the latch key 2 and to the holder 7, the spring 16 biasing the latch key 2 to rotate in a first direction to a desired position aligned with the profile of a keyhole 3 through which the latch key 2 is to be inserted, and the latch key 2 being rotatable against a resilient bias of the spring 16 to a latching position beyond the keyhole 3.

Abstract: A motor control apparatus (1) for articulating a probe (3) is constructed with at least one tension adjusting cable (4) to articulate the probe (3), and reversible motor (10a) and a rotatable torque cable (6) to rotate a device within an articulating tip of the probe (3).