Abstract: A straw chopper includes a pair of shafts supported in a chopping chamber for rotation about respective longitudinal axes extending generally in a forward working direction of the chopper. Chopping blades are supported on each shaft, offset in a direction of the longitudinal axes in relation to the chopping blades of the other shaft so that the shafts can be positioned with a sweep area of the blades overlapping one another. The shafts are rotated in a common direction of rotation such that the blades of one of the shafts are displaced in an opposite direction to the blades of the other one of the shafts at the overlap of the sweep areas. Each chopping blade includes an impeller surface sloped forwardly into a direction of rotation so as to generate a rearward thrust of air in the chopping chamber in the longitudinal direction of the axes from the inlet to the outlet of the chamber as the shafts are rotated.

Abstract: An energy reactor containment system comprises an outer containment chamber and an inner containment chamber supported within the outer containment chamber to define a space between respective walls of the inner and outer containment chambers. Water is contained within the space for generating steam which feeds turbine generators. Fuel for an energy reaction is suspended within the centre of the inner containment chamber by a suitable mechanism. The structure permits the water or another incompressible fluid to be used both for producing usable steam and for absorbing blast impact due.

Abstract: A straw chopper includes a pair of shafts supported in a chopping chamber for rotation about respective longitudinal axes extending generally in a forward working direction of the chopper. Chopping blades are supported on each shaft, offset in a direction of the longitudinal axes in relation to the chopping blades of the other shaft so that the shafts can be positioned with a sweep area of the blades overlapping one another. The shafts are rotated in a common direction of rotation such that the blades of one of the shafts are displaced in an opposite direction to the blades of the other one of the shafts at the overlap of the sweep areas. Each chopping blade includes an impeller surface sloped forwardly into a direction of rotation so as to generate a rearward thrust of air in the chopping chamber in the longitudinal direction of the axes from the inlet to the outlet of the chamber as the shafts are rotated.

Abstract: An aircraft includes a fuselage with a circular airfoil body supported thereabove on a vertical drive shaft mechanism. The airfoil body includes an upper disk forming an upper surface of the body and a lower disk forming a lower surface of the body in which the upper and lower disks are supported at a fixed spacing on the vertical drive shaft mechanism for counter-rotation. Vanes are supported in both the upper and lower disks which are movable between a takeoff position in which the vanes are supported in respective openings in the disk for diverting air downwardly through the openings in the disks as the disks are rotated and a cruising position in which a surface of the vanes are continuous with the respective upper and lower surfaces of the bodies.

Abstract: A water driven turbine has a divergent cone coupled to the exit end of the housing in which diameter of the cone increases with increasing distance from the exit end of the housing. A diverter formed of rigid material surrounds the free end of the cone and defines an annular space therebetween through which a flow of water passes to accelerate the flow exiting the turbine housing. The diverter is shorter in the length than the divergent cone and longitudinally overlaps the divergent cone. The diverter also has straight walls which are sloped to extend in the longitudinal direction away from the exit end of the housing at an inward incline between the leading end and the trailing end thereof.

Abstract: An underwater turbine arrangement is herein described. The water driven turbine comprises a housing having a shaft mounted for rotation about an axis therein. The shaft includes a plurality of flights arranged to drive rotation of the shaft. Mounted onto the housing is a funnel having a mouth greater in size than the housing and a discharge of similar size as the housing. Thus, water entering the funnel is constricted before being passed onto the housing, thereby increasing the force with which the shaft is rotated, thereby increasing the amount of energy produced.

Abstract: A wind turbine has an internal rotor carrying a plurality of turbine vanes in a circular path between an inlet opening and an exhaust opening. The inlet opening includes a stationary dividing vane that delivers one portion of the inlet airflow to a primary flowpath traversing the turbine vanes at two locations. The stationary dividing vane also delivers a second portion of the inlet airflow to a second flowpath which drives the turbine vanes as those vanes move in the part of the circular path from the exhaust opening toward the inlet opening. The turbine vanes may be mounted so as to have variable angular positions in different portions of the circular path. Turbine vane position can be controlled either magnetically or mechanically. Where vane position is varied magnetically, a plurality of permanent magnets with suitable controls adjust the turbine vane position. Where vane position is varied mechanically, a pair of cam arrangements may be employed.

Abstract: A wind turbine for generating power comprising one or more blades mounted to a shaft for rotational movement in response to an airflow, a housing having a generally central longitudinal axis, the housing surrounding the one or more blades and the shaft, wherein the housing includes an inlet opening and an outlet opening, and an adjustable scoop operably associated with the housing to alter the airflow entering the inlet opening.

Abstract: A wind driven turbine installation has a rotatable enclosure with closable inlet and outlet openings. The rotatable enclosure includes a driving arrangement and a wind direction sensor arrangement that monitor the incident wind direction and align the enclosure such that the inlet opening is aligned with the prevailing wind direction. The inlet opening includes an acceleration passage which increases wind velocity and directs the wind to a wind driven turbine device disposed within the installation. The turbine device includes a converging inlet passage, a secondary inlet passage, and an exhaust passage. A turbine rotor is disposed within the turbine device such that wind entering the primary inlet drives the rotor in part by following rotor vanes, and in part by passing across the rotor vanes. Wind entering the secondary passage is redirected toward the primary inlet and drives the rotor in the forward direction.

Abstract: A wind driven turbine installation has a rotatable enclosure with closable inlet and outlet openings. The rotatable enclosure includes a driving arrangement and a wind direction sensor arrangement that monitors the incident wind direction and aligns the enclosure such that the inlet opening is aligned with the prevailing wind direction. The inlet opening includes an acceleration passage which increases wind velocity and directs the wind to a wind driven turbine device disposed within the installation. The turbine device includes a converging inlet passage, a secondary inlet passage, and an exhaust passage. A turbine rotor is disposed within the turbine device such that wind entering the primary inlet drives the rotor in part by following rotor vanes, and in part by passing across the rotor vanes. Wind entering the secondary passage is redirected toward the primary inlet and drives the rotor in the forward direction.

Abstract: An aircraft wheel rotation assembly is mountable on the rim of an aircraft wheel and includes a plurality of vanes which are equally spaced around the rim. Each vane has a generally radially aligned airfoil shaped cross section so that when a passing air current impinges on the vanes, each vane contributes a positive torque to rotate the associated wheel through an angle of more than 180 degress about the wheel axis. The vanes may be deployable and retractable, in which case each vane also has an integral segment gear which meshes with a ring gear carrried by the assembly. Rotation of the ring gear, which may be done hydraulically, moves the vanes in unison from a fully retracted position toward a fully extended position.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine has separate compression and expansion cylinders which are closed by a rotary valve structure. The rotary valve structure controls intake to the compression cylinder, transfer of compressed gas from the compression cylinder to a combustion chamber, transfer of combustion products from the combustion chamber to the expansion cylinder and exhaust of gases from the expansion cylinder. The valve structure is a one-piece rotationally symmetric unit which is synchronized with movement of piston assemblies carried in the compression cylinder and expansion cylinder, respectively. To maximize compression, the piston face is shaped to conform with rotationally symmetric sides of the valve structure. And to expand the combustion products to near ambient pressure, the expansion cylinder and cooperating piston assembly have a larger volume than the compression cylinder and cooperating compression piston assembly.