Abstract: Radial and axial bearings support an axle shaft attached to a flywheel apparatus to provide rotational support and limit axial movement during rotation of the flywheel. A cage generally surrounding the flywheel and receiving the flywheel within its hollow interior includes a cylindrically shaped side wall positioned adjacent to and concentric with the outside surface of the flywheel to rapidly absorb energy should distortion or shattering of the flywheel occur due to centrifugal force. Means for connecting the flywheel cage to a source of vacuum such as the intake manifold of a thermal engine is utilized to at least partially evacuate the interior of the flywheel cage and thereby increase the ability of the rotating flywheel to store and maintain kinetic energy. A plurality of lubricant passages and reservoirs supply lubricant to the bearings associated with the axle shaft of the flywheel.

Abstract: Magnetic flux from a plurality of permanent magnets interacts between a drive disc and a driven disc to transmit selected power in infinitely variable ratios from the drive disc to the driven disc. Control means operatively connected between the drive disc and the driven disc position the discs to vary the amount of magnetic flux coupled between the discs, thereby infinitely varying the transmitted power and the speed differential between the input and the output of the transmission. The magnetic flux may be selectively coupled from the driven disc to a stationary brake means to restrict movement of the driven disc and to absorb energy from the output of the transmission.

Abstract: A thermal engine and energy accumulating flywheel are operatively connected to propel a vehicle, and a regulating means regulates the thermal engine to generally produce a limited constant maximum quantity of energy marginally in excess of that energy necessary to propel the vehicle under a constant desired operating condition. Sufficient energy accumulates in the energy storage flywheel to provide intermittent quantities of energy in a excess of that available from the thermal engine for propelling the vehicle. In this manner, fuel consumption by the thermal engine is significantly reduced and the amount of pollutants emitted is reduced, since the thermal engine is operated in a relatively constant condition to supply energy slightly in excess of that necessary for propelling that vehicle at a constant desired operating condition.

Abstract: A solar heat collecting plate as part of an assemblage of the plates is adapted to be used in a solar heat collector for solar furnaces and the like and is designed so that the solar collector can be oriented at any angle relative to the angle of the sun. Several embodiments of the heat collecting plate are disclosed but principally each includes an inner plate portion adapted to protrude generally perpendicularly away from a back support wall of the solar collector and an outer plate portion forming an obtuse angle from the outer edge of the inner plate portion. One surface of the outer plate portion is reflective to solar radiation while the other surface of the outer plate portion and both surfaces of the inner plate portion and the back wall of the solar collector are absorptive of solar radiation.

Abstract: A self-contained apparatus for collecting, storing and transmitting solar heat includes an elongated rectangular insulated housing in which a quantity of heat retaining material is confined and a collector on the horizontal and vertical faces of the housing which has only one layer of glass for each face through which solar heat may pass and be collected upon a heat-collecting surface. A conditioning pump is provided within the apparatus to circulate conditioning air through both the collector and the heat retaining material within the housing so that heat is transferred from the collector to the heat retaining material. Specially designed and positioned ducts connect the collector to the interior of the housing in a manner such that air interchange between the collector and the interior of the housing is prevented except during operation of the conditioning pump.