Abstract: A constant velocity joint has an outer part, an inner part, a plurality of torque transmitting balls, and a cage having windows for retaining the balls in the ball tracks of the outer and inner parts. The balls are retained in a plane by the cage and guided by corresponding pairs of outer and inner ball tracks. The outer and inner ball tracks form angles of intersection with respect to an axis where the angles are identical in size but set in opposite directions to one another. The outer part and the inner part operate in a normal axial range, there being at least one energy absorption surfaces located in the outer extended axial range or the inner extended axial range. The energy absorption surface interferes with at least one of the torque transmitting balls when the joint is operated beyond said normal axial range.

Abstract: A propeller shaft assembly includes an inner member having an outer surface with a plurality of splines defining a splined portion, and an outer member having an inner surface with a plurality of splines defining a splined portion. The splined portion of the inner member is capable of being slidably engaged with the splined portion of the outer member to form a splined connection therebetween. One of the inner and outer members includes a tunable energy absorption feature that controls an amount of interference between the inner and outer members. For example, the tunable energy absorption feature can be in the form of a friction ramp on one member that frictionally engages an angled leading ramp on the other member, a raised portion on one or more splines, or splines having different length that can progressively absorb energy during axial deformation of the propeller shaft assembly.

Abstract: Machines useful for wind turbine and ship propulsion purposes include a wind turbine generator or a ship propulsion motor with two concentric air gaps. In one embodiment, the machine includes a rotor with an inner rotor core and an outer rotor core; and a double-sided stator with an inner stator side and an outer stator side. The double-sided stator is concentrically disposed between the inner rotor core and the outer rotor core.

Abstract: The machine includes a rotor with an inner rotor core and an outer rotor core and a double-sided stator with an inner stator side and an outer stator side. The double-sided stator is concentrically disposed between the inner rotor core and the outer rotor core of the wind turbine generator. The double-sided stator is configured to enable at least a portion of magnetic flux to be shared between the inner stator side and the outer stator side. Examples of particularly useful embodiments for the machine include wind turbine generators and ship propulsion motors.

Abstract: A constant velocity joint has an outer part, an inner part, a plurality of torque transmitting balls, and a cage having windows for retaining the balls in the ball tracks of the outer and inner parts. The balls are retained in a constant velocity plane by the cage and guided by corresponding pairs of outer and inner ball tracks. The cage has an outer spherical face guided in contact by an inner bore of the outer part and inner concave face rotatably guided in contact by the convex face of the inner part. The outer part having a normal axial range, an extended axial range, and at least one energy absorption surfaces located in the extended axial range. Wherein the energy absorption surface interferes with at least one of the torque transmitting balls when the joint is operated beyond said normal axial range.

Abstract: A constant velocity joint with an outer part having innerly a normal range, an extended range, and a plurality of outer bores circumferentially spaced between a plurality of longitudinally extending tracks, Each track having a bottom spaced between two oppositely disposed sidetracks. An inner part is disposed within said outer joint part, having a plurality of sides circumferentially spaced between a plurality of trunions, each trunion having a top and an inner race. Also, a plurality of rollers each having an inner bore are mounted on said inner race of each trunion, whereby angular and axial displacement occur between the inner joint and the outer joint. Wherein at least one energy absorption surfaces is located in the extended range on the outer part. The energy absorption surface interferes with at least one of the rollers when the joint is operated beyond said normal range.

Abstract: Machines useful for wind turbine and ship propulsion purposes include a double-sided generator or motor with two concentric air gaps. In one embodiment, the machine includes a double-sided rotor with an inner rotor side and an outer rotor side; and a stator with an inner stator core and an outer stator core, wherein the double-sided rotor is concentrically disposed between the inner stator core and the outer stator core.

Abstract: Improved methods for conducting solid acid-catalyzed, near- or supercritical heterogeneous chemical reactions (e.g., alkylation reactions) are provided which give enhanced product yields and permit longer processing runs. The preferred reactions of the invention are carried out in the presence of a solid macroporous catalyst having a surface area of from about 50-400 m2/g and a pore size of from about 70-150 ?. Product selectivity is enhanced by pressure-tuning of the reaction to promote production and separation of desired reaction products. In continuous processing, the chemical reaction may be interrupted before significant catalyst deactivation, followed by increasing reactor pressure and/or reducing reactor temperature to remove the accumulating coke; when the catalyst is regenerated, the original reaction conditions and reactant introduction may be resumed.

Abstract: A constant velocity joint has an outer part, an inner part, a plurality of torque transmitting balls, and a cage having windows for retaining the balls in the ball tracks of the outer and inner parts. The balls are retained in a constant velocity plane by the cage and guided by corresponding pairs of outer and inner ball tracks. The cage has an outer spherical face guided in contact by an inner bore of the outer part and inner concave face rotatably guided in contact by the convex face of the inner part. The outer part having a normal axial range, an extended axial range, and at least one energy absorption surfaces located in the extended axial range. Wherein the energy absorption surface interferes with at least one of the torque transmitting balls when the joint is operated beyond said normal axial range.

Abstract: A constant velocity joint has an outer part, an inner part, a plurality of torque transmitting balls, and a cage having windows for retaining the balls in the ball tracks of the outer and inner parts. The balls are retained in a plane by the cage and guided by corresponding pairs of outer and inner ball tracks. The outer and inner ball tracks form angles of intersection with respect to an axis where the angles are identical in size but set in opposite directions to one another. The outer part and the inner part operate in a normal axial range, there being at least one energy absorption surfaces located in the outer extended axial range or the inner extended axial range. The energy absorption surface interferes with at least one of the torque transmitting balls when the joint is operated beyond said normal axial range.

Abstract: A constant velocity joint has an outer part, an inner part, a plurality of balls, and a cage having windows for retaining the balls in the ball tracks of the outer and inner parts. The cage retains the balls in a plane. Corresponding pairs of outer and inner ball tracks guide the balls. Corresponding pairs of outer and inner ball tracks that are axially straight alternate with corresponding pairs of outer and inner ball tracks forming angles of intersection with respect to an axis. The outer part and the inner part operate in a normal axial range, there being at least one energy absorption surfaces located in the outer extended axial range or the inner extended axial range of either part. The energy absorption surface interferes with at least one of the balls when the joint is operated beyond the normal axial range.

Abstract: A constant velocity joint with an outer part having innerly a normal range, an extended range, and a plurality of outer bores circumferentially spaced between a plurality of longitudinally extending tracks, Each track having a bottom spaced between two oppositely disposed sidetracks. An inner part is disposed within said outer joint part, having a plurality of sides circumferentially spaced between a plurality of trunions, each trunion having a top and an inner race. Also, a plurality of rollers each having an inner bore are mounted on said inner race of each trunion, whereby angular and axial displacement occur between the inner joint and the outer joint. Wherein at least one energy absorption surfaces is located in the extended range on the outer part. The energy absorption surface interferes with at least one of the rollers when the joint is operated beyond said normal range.

Abstract: Real and reactive power control for wind turbine generator systems. The technique described herein provides the potential to utilize the total capacity of a wind turbine generator system (e.g., a wind farm) to provide dynamic VAR (reactive power support). The VAR support provided by individual wind turbine generators in a system can be dynamically varied to suit application parameters.

Abstract: A multi-piece propeller shaft for use in an automotive vehicle. The multi-piece propeller shaft including a first or front section and a second or rear section. The first section including a first crash feature in the form of a sliding spline. The second section including a second crash feature in the form of a collapsible constant velocity joint. The multi-piece propeller shaft capable of collapsing at predetermined loads and at predetermined times to have a tunable crash absorbing propeller shaft for use in automotive vehicles.

Abstract: Improved methods for conducting solid acid-catalyzed, near- or supercritical heterogeneous chemical reactions (e.g., alkylation reactions) are provided which give enhanced product yields and permit longer processing runs. The preferred reactions of the invention are carried out in the presence of a solid macroporous catalyst having a surface area of from about 50-400 m2/g and a pore size of from about 70-150 Å. Product selectivity is enhanced by pressure-tuning of the reaction to promote production and separation of desired reaction products. In continuous processing, the chemical reaction may be interrupted before significant catalyst deactivation, followed by increasing reactor pressure and/or reducing reactor temperature to remove the accumulating coke; when the catalyst is regenerated, the original reaction conditions and reactant introduction may be resumed.

Abstract: A fault tolerant computer system distributes audit trail files containing audit records, across an arbitrary number of disk volumes. After one audit trail file becomes full, audit records are directed toward a next audit trail file stored on a different disk volume. Storage of newly generated audit rotates through the disk volumes in roundrobin fashion. Full audit trail files are eventually archived and their space becomes available again for renaming and storage of newly generated audit records. The number of audit records available for on-line recovery after a failure is not limited to the storage capacity of any single disk volume. Furthermore, there is no contention for disk access between archiving of full audit trail files and storage of newly generated audit records.

Abstract: A refrigerated compartment is disclosed for food preparation tables. The compartment is generally rectangular and extends laterally across the table and has an access opening at the top allowing exposure to ambient room air. A lower section of the compartment comprises a cold wall pan with air circulation and defines a lower cooling zone. An upper section of the compartment comprises a pair of oppositely disposed heat sink walls defining an upper cooling zone open to the room air. Plural open-top food pans are removably supported side-by-side in the compartment with the pans extending into the lower cooling zone and tops of the pans being disposed adjacent the bottom of the upper cooling zone.

Abstract: A refrigerated food preparation table having an evaporator cooling coil and heat transfer fins which are baffled to create two air flows which are cooled to different temperatures. One air flow passes through a laminar air screen and across an open top of a food container, and the other f low passes along the outer surfaces of the food container, thereby cooling the food container and a volume defined therein. This configuration preferably cools the entire volume within the food container to a temperature below 40' F., yet remaining above 32' F. The laminar air screen may be disassembled and separated for the purpose of cleaning.

Abstract: A fluid pressure regulator adapted to receive a supply of fluid through a check valve system thereof which prevents admission of fluid above a preselected operating pressure, and discharge of fluid from an apparatus served thereby below, a fail-safe pressure upon complete failure of the pressure supply source.