Abstract: A direct dosimeter for measuring gamma radiation flux having dose rates in excess of 0.1 megarad/hr. The dosimeter includes a gamma heating material such as aluminum or lead positioned in an evacuated housing. A thermocouple measures the temperature of the material when subjected to high levels of gamma radiation. From the time rate of change of the temperature measurements, the absolute value of gamma radiation flux may be determined before the temperature of the material has reached a steady state value.

Abstract: A turbocharger for internal combustion engines comprising a unidirectional energy converter having a closed, continuous loop passageway containing a plurality of freely-movable, unrestrained bodies which travel around the passageway in one direction only. In one region of the passageway, successive bodies are propelled in one direction around the passageway by exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine. In another region of the passageway, the kinetic energy of the propelled bodies is used to compress a gas, which can be mixed with fuel. This compressed gas is then forced into the cylinders of the internal combustion engine; whereupon the bodies are again propelled around the passageway to repeat the cycle.

Abstract: A compound internal combustion engine having an efficiency materially higher than that of an engine operating on the conventional Otto or Diesel cycle. This is accomplished by using the heat of the exhaust gases to compress air, with or without the addition of fuel, which is then injected into the cylinder or cylinders of the engine just prior to ignition. In this manner, less heat is rejected from the overall cycle with improved efficiency. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a portion of the unused heat energy in the exhaust gases is used in a unidirectional energy converter to compress air or an air/fuel mixture which is then injected into the cylinders of the engine. The engine, whether it should operate on the Otto or Diesel cycle, does not compress gas on the upstroke of the piston until the compressed gas from the unidirectional energy converter is injected into the cylinder.

Abstract: A turbocharger for internal combustion engines comprising a unidirectional energy converter having a closed, continuous loop passageway containing a plurality of freely-movable, unrestrained bodies which travel around the passageway in one direction only. In one region of the passageway, successive bodies are propelled in one direction around the passageway by exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine. In another region of the passageway, the kinetic energy of the propelled bodies is used to compress a gas, which can be mixed with fuel. This compressed gas is then forced into the cylinders of the internal combustion engine; whereupon the bodies are again propelled around the passageway to repeat the cycle. The exhaust gases and air or an air/fuel mixture are exhausted and introduced in an expansion space in the converter through substantially immediately adjacent ports.

Abstract: A compound internal combustion engine having an efficiency materially higher than that of an engine operating on the conventional Otto or Diesel cycle. This is accomplished by using the heat of the exhaust gases to compress air, with or without the addition of fuel, which is then injected into the cylinder or cylinders of the engine just prior to ignition. In this manner, less heat is rejected from the overall cycle with improved efficiency. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a portion of the unused heat energy in the exhaust gases is used in a unidirectional energy converter to compress air or an air/fuel mixture which is then injected into the cylinders of the engine. The exhaust gases and air or the air/fuel mixture are exhausted and introduced in an expansion space in the converter through substantially immediately adjacent ports.

Abstract: Method for converting one form of energy into another form of energy by isobarically heating a gas, adiabatically expanding the gas while converting the heat energy of the gas into the kinetic energy of a moving body, converting the kinetic energy of the moving body into another form of energy, and approximately isothermally compressing the gas to a higher pressure. Improved efficiency is achieved by virtue of the fact that this system employs approximately isothermal compression, which is preferably achieved by injecting liquid into an adiabatically-expanded gas, thereby effecting a thermodynamic cycle which more closely approximates the efficiency of a Carnot cycle.

Abstract: Thermal energy is converted into rotational energy by using the expansion of a fluid medium to propel a plurality of pistons within at least one continuous, closed-loop passageway mounted on a rotatable platform. In at least one region of the passageway, the pistons must move inwardly against centrifugal force as the platform rotates. In at least one other region of the passageway, the pistons are moved outwardly under the influence of centrifugal force. Means are provided for imparting force to successive ones of the pistons to propel them against centrifugal force in said one region; while means are provided for converting the energy of pistons moving outwardly under the influence of centrifugal force in said other region into rotational energy. This rotational energy is used to drive gears mounted on the platform which mesh with a stationary gear carried beneath the platform to cause rotation of the platform about its rotational axis.

Abstract: A method of producing porous lithium oxide having an average pore spacing not greater than about 20 microns and preferably not greater than about 10 microns, wherein lithium hydroxide is heated above the melting point of anhydrous lithium hydroxide in an inert atmosphere, cooled to a temperature below its melting point in the inert atmosphere, subjected to reduced pressure not exceeding 2 microns of mercury and heated to a temperature of about 150.degree. to about 200.degree. C. under reduced pressure, to obtain porous lithium oxide. Porous microspheres of lithium oxide can be obtained by passing the molten lithium hydroxide through a small bore vertical tube to form a liquid jet which is disintegrated into molten microspheres, cooled and heated under the conditions described above.

Abstract: Heat pump apparatus employing a continuous loop passageway containing a plurality of freely-movable, unrestrained bodies. The bodies are accelerated around the passageway in one direction by adiabatic expansion of a fluid between the bodies in an expander region of the passageway. The expanded, cooler fluid is discharged from the passageway via one or more vent-intake ports in the passageway beyond the expander region. Warmer fluid enters the passageway via said ports and is compressed between the propelled bodies in a compression region of the passageway, thereby raising its temperature from a first temperature (e.g., the temperature of the outdoor atmosphere or an industrial waste heat stream) to a second temperature higher than the first. The compressed, warmer fluid is thereafter passed through a heat exchanger to extract heat.

Abstract: Heat pump apparatus employing a continuous loop passageway containing a plurality of freely movable, unrestrained bodies. The bodies are accelerated around the passageway in one direction by isentropic expansion of a fluid between the bodies in an expander region of the passageway. The expanded, cooler fluid is discharged from the passageway via one or more vent-intake ports in the passageway beyond the expander region. Warmer fluid enters the passageway via said ports and is compressed between the propelled bodies in a compression region of the passageway, thereby raising its temperature from a first temperature (e.g., the temperature of the outdoor atmosphere or an industrial waste heat stream) to a second temperature higher than the first. The compressed, warmer fluid is thereafter passed through a heat exchanger to extract heat.

Abstract: Improvements in apparatus for converting one form of energy into another form with the use of an essentially closed, continuous loop passageway containing a plurality of freely movable, unrestrained bodies. Force generated by expansion of a gas is applied to successive bodies in one region of the passageway to propel them around the passageway in one direction. At another point in the passageway, at least a portion of the kinetic energy of the propelled bodies is converted into another form of energy. Each body, before being propelled around the passageway, enters a compressor section where it compresses the gas in the passageway, the compressed gas being bled off through a check valve where energy is added to it before it is used to propel a body around the passageway in the expander section which immediately follows the thrustor section.