Abstract: A positive displacement pump includes a magnetostrictive actuator. A single actuator drives multiple pumping chambers. The pump may include two pumping chambers driven in phase by the linear expansion of the actuator at both its ends. The pump may include a third pumping cavity, driven by the transverse expansion and contraction of the actuator, out of phase with either cavity driven by the lengthwise extension of the actuator. A pump assembly having multiple pumps each including a magnetostrictive element is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention includes, among its various aspects, an apparatus, method and system in which an electric machine includes at least a portion of a magnetic circuit composed of an electromagnetic material having a Curie temperature, and further includes a heating apparatus for selectively heating the portion sufficiently close to its Curie temperature to thereby regulate operation of the machine.

Abstract: The invention includes, among its various aspects, an apparatus, method and system in which an electric machine includes at least a portion of a magnetic circuit composed of an electromagnetic material having a Curie temperature, and further includes a heating apparatus for selectively heating the portion sufficiently close to its Curie temperature to thereby regulate operation of the machine.

Abstract: The invention includes an electric machine having a rotor, stator and at least one winding in the stator adapted to conduct a current, and a secondary winding, electrically isolated from the first winding and inductively coupled to the first winding, which may be used to control at least one of the output voltage and current of the first winding.

Abstract: The invention includes an electric machine having a rotor, stator and at least one winding in the stator adapted to conduct a current, and a secondary winding, electrically isolated from the first winding and inductively coupled to the first winding, which may be used to control at least one of the output voltage and current of the first winding.

Abstract: A pump includes an outer body; and a wall within said outer body. The outer body and the wall define a pumping cavity and an excitation cavity within the outer body. An excitable medium is contained within the excitation cavity. An excitation source is coupled to said excitable medium. This excitation source is operable to excite the excitable medium and create a standing wave therein. The standing wave acts through the wall to pump said fluid through said pumping cavity. Advantageously, the excitable medium is isolated from the pumped fluid by the wall.

Abstract: A permanent magnet electric machine (i.e.: motor/generator) having a magnetic flux circuit including a stator and a permanent magnet rotor mounted for rotation about an axis relative to the stator. The stator has an electric circuit with windings electro-magnetically coupled to the magnetic circuit. The stator is of material having a Curie temperature, wherein magnetic flux circulation through the stator material is impeded when the stator material acquires a temperature above the Curie temperature. The stator includes heat conducting layers and magnetic flux conducting layers, where the thermal conductivity of the heat conducting layers is greater than the thermal conductivity of the magnetic flux conducting layers. By this means the overall thermal conductivity of the stacked stator assembly is improved and means for quickly effecting shutdown of the electric machine are provided with a heat exchanger thermally coupled to the stator, thereby regulating magnetic flux circulation through the stator material.

Abstract: The invention provides means of limiting maximum current conducted through windings of an electric machine having a rotor and a stator. By encouraging an appropriate leakage flux around a winding, a leak impedance can be achieved which may be used, according to the invention, to limit the maximum current in the winding as a matter of machine design.

Abstract: The invention provides means of limiting maximum current conducted through windings of an electric machine having a rotor and a stator. By encouraging an appropriate leakage flux around a winding, a leak impedance can be achieved which may be used, according to the invention, to limit the maximum current in the winding as a matter of machine design.

Abstract: An electric machine including a magnetic component, forming part of its rotor or stator that loses its magnetic characteristics above a certain chosen temperature is disclosed. This magnetic material forms part of a magnetic circuit that guides flux about the stator. As a result, any magnetic flux emanating with the rotor stops circulating about the stator above this temperature, and the machine stops acting as generator. The component is thermally coupled to windings carrying current from the machine's stator. The material forming the component is selected so that the chosen temperature is lower than the temperature at which the machine would be thermally damaged. This, in turn, limits the operating temperature of the windings, and thus prevents overheating of the machine during operation, typically caused by a fault. Preferably this magnetic material is formed from a ferrite material, such as a Manganese Zinc ferrite material.

Abstract: A pump includes an outer body; and a wall within said outer body. The outer body and the wall define a pumping cavity and an excitation cavity within the outer body. An excitable medium is contained within the excitation cavity. An excitation source is coupled to said excitable medium. This excitation source is operable to excite the excitable medium and create a standing wave therein. The standing wave acts through the wall to pump said fluid through said pumping cavity. Advantageously, the excitable medium is isolated from the pumped fluid by the wall.

Abstract: A pump includes an outer body; and a wall within said outer body. The outer body and the wall define a pumping cavity and an excitation cavity within the outer body. An excitable medium is contained within the excitation cavity. An excitation source is coupled to said excitable medium. This excitation source is operable to excite the excitable medium and create a standing wave therein. The standing wave acts through the wall to pump said fluid through said pumping cavity. Advantageously, the excitable medium is isolated from the pumped fluid by the wall.

Abstract: An electric machine including a magnetic component, forming part of its rotor or stator that loses its magnetic characteristics above a certain chosen temperature is disclosed. This magnetic material forms part of a magnetic circuit that guides flux about the stator. As a result, any magnetic flux emanating with the rotor stops circulating about the stator above this temperature, and the machine stops acting as generator. The component is thermally coupled to windings carrying current from the machine's stator. The material forming the component is selected so that the chosen temperature is lower than the temperature at which the machine would be thermally damaged. This, in turn, limits the operating temperature of the windings, and thus prevents overheating of the machine during operation, typically caused by a fault. Preferably this magnetic material is formed from a ferrite material, such as a Manganese Zinc ferrite material.

Abstract: A pump includes an outer body; and a wall within said outer body. The outer body and the wall define a pumping cavity and an excitation cavity within the outer body. An excitable medium is contained within the excitation cavity. An excitation source is coupled to said excitable medium. This excitation source is operable to excite the excitable medium and create a standing wave therein. The standing wave acts through the wall to pump said fluid through said pumping cavity. Advantageously, the excitable medium is isolated from the pumped fluid by the wall.

Abstract: A positive displacement pump includes a magnetostrictive actuator. A single actuator drives multiple pumping chambers. The pump may include two pumping chambers driven in phase by the linear expansion of the actuator at both its ends. The pump may include a third pumping cavity, driven by the transverse expansion and contraction of the actuator, out of phase with either cavity driven by the lengthwise extension of the actuator. A pump assembly having multiple pumps each including a magnetostrictive element is also disclosed.

Abstract: For collecting data from a water well, down-hole sensors are housed in modules. The modules are arranged to be screwed together in-line to form a vertical string. Mechanically, the modules are secured to each other only by the screw connection. Data is transmitted to the surface on a 2-wire cable, there being no other electrical connection between the modules and the surface. The modules are connected in multi-drop configuration to the 2-wire cable. Data is transmitted using time-division multiplexing.

Abstract: Fluid and fuel delivery systems reducing pressure fluctuations and engines including such systems are disclosed. Such systems use a conduit that attenuates pressure fluctuations. Preferably, the conduit attenuates pressure fluctuations by reflecting a portion of a pressure wave within the fluid flow so that reflected pressure waves within the flow interfere with incident pressure waves within the flow, thereby reducing the pressure fluctuations in one embodiment, such a conduit may be formed as a quarter wave stub, in line with the fluid flow. Advantageously, exemplary of the invention, hoot noise in an engine may be reduced by damping pressure fluctuations in the fuel delivery system to the engine.

Abstract: Fluid and fuel delivery systems reducing pressure fluctuations and engines including such systems are disclosed. Such systems use a conduit that attenuates pressure fluctuations. Preferably, the conduit attenuates pressure fluctuations by reflecting a portion of a pressure wave within the fluid flow so that reflected pressure waves within the flow interfere with incident pressure waves within the flow, thereby reducing the pressure fluctuations in one embodiment, such a conduit may be formed as a quarter wave stub, in line with the fluid flow. Advantageously, exemplary of the invention, hoot noise in an engine may be reduced by damping pressure fluctuations in the fuel delivery system to the engine.

Abstract: An electric machine including a magnetic component, forming part of its rotor or stator that loses its magnetic characteristics above a certain chosen temperature is disclosed. This magnetic material forms part of a magnetic circuit that guides flux about the stator. As a result, any magnetic flux emanating with the rotor stops circulating about the stator above this temperature, and the machine stops acting as generator. The component is thermally coupled to windings carrying current from the machine's stator. The material forming the component is selected so that the chosen temperature is lower than the temperature at which the machine would be thermally damaged. This, in turn, limits the operating temperature of the windings, and thus prevents overheating of the machine during operation, typically caused by a fault. Preferably this magnetic material is formed from a ferrite material, such as a Manganese Zinc ferrite material.

Abstract: An electric machine including a magnetic component, forming part of its rotor or stator that loses its magnetic characteristics above a certain chosen temperature is disclosed. This magnetic material forms part of a magnetic circuit that guides flux about the stator. As a result, any magnetic flux emanating with the rotor stops circulating about the stator above this temperature, and the machine stops acting as generator. The component is thermally coupled to windings carrying current from the machine's stator. The material forming the component is selected so that the chosen temperature is lower than the temperature at which the machine would be thermally damaged. This, in turn, limits the operating temperature of the windings, and thus prevents overheating of the machine during operation, typically caused by a fault. Preferably this magnetic material is formed from a ferrite material, such as a Manganese Zinc ferrite material.