Abstract: An ice blasting machine comprising a crusher for crushing water ice; and a crusher-activation mechanism to activate or deactivate the crusher, wherein the crusher is activated to operate in water ice mode and wherein the crusher is deactivated to operate in dry ice mode. An ice-blasting method including activating a crusher to crush water ice when operating in water ice mode and deactivating the crusher when operating in dry ice mode.

Abstract: An ice blasting system comprising a hopper to receive bulk ice and a rotary crusher disposed inside the hopper, the rotary crusher having rotary crusher arms that cooperate with anvils to produce crushed ice from the bulk ice. The system includes a rotary feeder mechanism disposed below the hopper, the rotary feeder mechanism having a rotor that includes ice-receiving pockets for receiving the crushed ice. The rotor rotates against an airtight seal block and delivers the crushed ice into a high-pressure airstream passing through the rotary feeder mechanism to thereby entrain the crushed ice into the high-pressure airstream whereby the ice-entrained airstream subsequently exits the ice blasting system through an outlet.

Abstract: A pressure balancing system for a pump. In one example, the pressure balancing system has: a housing; a first rotor a first shaft, a first face surface; a second rotor, a second face surface adjacent the first face surface of the first rotor; the face of the first rotor, the face of the second rotor, and an inner surface of the housing forming at least one working fluid chamber; an annular ring fitted around a shaft, adjacent a first pressure chamber having a fluid connection through the housing; the annular ring configured to bias the first rotor toward the second rotor when fluid is supplied under pressure to the first pressure chamber; a fluid conduit is configured to convey fluid to a pressure chamber between the housing and the annular ring to bias the annular ring thus biasing the first rotor toward the second rotor.

Abstract: An ice blasting machine comprising a crusher for crushing water ice; and a crusher-activation mechanism to activate or deactivate the crusher, wherein the crusher is activated to operate in water ice mode and wherein the crusher is deactivated to operate in dry ice mode. An ice-blasting method including activating a crusher to crush water ice when operating in water ice mode and deactivating the crusher when operating in dry ice mode.

Abstract: An apparatus for exchanging heat with a fluid includes a heat exchanger having first and second opposing surfaces and a plurality of flow passages permitting axial fluid flow between the surfaces. A manifold having an interface surface is in thermal contact with the first surface and includes a thermally conductive body for conducting heat in an axial direction between the interface surface and a heat transmitting surface. A plurality of feed passages extend through the thermally conductive body in a transverse direction, the passages having an inlet for receiving or discharging fluid. A plurality of distribution passages have ends in fluid communication with at least one of the feed passages and openings distributed over the interface surface. The distribution passages are configured to cause a change in fluid flow direction between a transversely directed flow in the feed passages and an axially directed flow at the openings.

Abstract: Several examples of a pressure balancing system for a pump. In one example, the pressure balancing system comprises: a housing; a first rotor within the housing having a first axis of rotation, a first shaft, a first face surface; a second rotor having an axis of rotation, a second face surface adjacent the first face surface of the first rotor; the face of the first rotor, the face of the second rotor, and an inner surface of the housing forming at least one working fluid chamber; an annular ring fitted around a shaft, adjacent a first pressure chamber having a fluid connection through the housing; the annular ring configured to bias the first rotor toward the second rotor when fluid is supplied under pressure to the first pressure chamber; a fluid conduit is configured to convey fluid to a pressure chamber between the housing and the annular ring to bias the annular ring against a radial extension of the first shaft thus biasing the first rotor toward the second rotor.

Abstract: An apparatus for exchanging heat with a fluid includes a heat exchanger having first and second opposing surfaces and a plurality of flow passages permitting axial fluid flow between the surfaces. A manifold having an interface surface is in thermal contact with the first surface and includes a thermally conductive body for conducting heat in an axial direction between the interface surface and a heat transmitting surface. A plurality of feed passages extend through the thermally conductive body in a transverse direction, the passages having an inlet for receiving or discharging fluid. A plurality of distribution passages have ends in fluid communication with at least one of the feed passages and openings distributed over the interface surface. The distribution passages are configured to cause a change in fluid flow direction between a transversely directed flow in the feed passages and an axially directed flow at the openings.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are several embodiments for shroud arrangements to be used in rotary engines using a plurality of rotors within the shroud arrangement. At least one of the rotors is not fixed to the shroud.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an indexing system for a rotor assembly where in one example the indexing system regulates the rotational location of drive rotors. In one example the rotors are configured to rotate about a shaft.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes the use of involute curves for use in energy conversion devices, as well as timing or indexing gears. Several different embodiments are shown using rotors of several examples of lobe numbers and shapes.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are several embodiments for shroud arrangements to be used in rotary engines using a plurality of rotors within the shroud arrangement. At least one of the rotors is not fixed to the shroud.

Abstract: Provided herein are multiple variations, applications, and variations for producing electrical power from a flowing fluid such as a gas or liquid under pressure, for example natural gas flowing through a pipeline, by means of one or more positive displacement devices that drive one or more electrical generators. The electrical generators may be immersed in the flow stream together with the positive displacement devices as disclosed, or alternately may be isolated from the flow stream, such as by magnetic coupling, in order to promote longevity and to decrease the risk of accidental discharge or explosion of the fluid in the flow stream. To further decrease such risks, the positive displacement devices may isolate the drive fluid from the environment without the use of dynamic seals.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are several embodiments for shroud arrangements to be used in rotary engines using a plurality of rotors within the shroud arrangement. At least one of the rotors is not fixed to the shroud.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are several embodiments of rotors (gears) which utilize spherical involute curves to determine the surfaces of the lobes (teeth). In some embodiments the contact surfaces are radial projections of spherical involute surfaces. In other embodiments the contact surfaces have a root and/or tip of a spherical involute curve, but are barreled or otherwise curved to reduce the point stress on each rotor. The rotors may also be configured where torque transfer is provided at a first set of lobes (teeth) and backlash removal is provided on teeth radially opposed to the first set of lobes (teeth). As the apparatus rotates, the position of torque transfer remains substantially the same, as does backlash prevention/removal, but the teeth providing these operations vary. The rotors may also be used for fluid flow.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an indexing system for a rotor assembly where in one example the indexing system regulates the rotational location of drive rotors. In one example the rotors are configured to rotate about a shaft.

Abstract: An indexing system for a rotor assembly where the indexing system can regulate the rotational location of drive rotors that are configured to rotate about a shaft in one form.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a new multiphase pump with low recirculated volume. This device discloses novel inlet/outlet porting. One of the disclosed improvements is to port the inlet and outlet through the back of the rotors. In the model shown there is only one lobe on the first rotor, and two lobes on the second rotor. The double lobe rotor has the ports provided thru the back, in the lowest point on the buckets between the lobes. If there were more lobes on the two rotors, then the ports would normally be provided in the rotor with the higher number of lobes, preferably in the lowest point on each bucket. The single lobe rotor shown has voids formed in the outer circumference in order to balance the rotor—however, any rotor with more than one lobe may be naturally balanced and these holes may be unnecessary.

Abstract: An input shaft to output shaft coupling including an input shaft having a first wave surface thereupon, wherein the first wave surface comprises mounds and valleys. The coupling additionally comprises an output shaft having a second wave surface thereupon, wherein the second wave surface comprises mounds and valleys. The coupling in one form additionally comprises a housing substantially enclosing the first wave surface and second wave surface, wherein rotational force exerted upon the input shaft is translated through the lobes of the first wave surface to the lobes of the second wave surface and to the output shaft in turn, and wherein the first wave surface and second wave surface transmit rotational force therebetween through any range of angles to a maximum output angle between a rotational axis of the input shaft relative to a rotational axis of the output shaft.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are several embodiments of rotors (gears) which utilize spherical involute curves to determine the surfaces of the lobes (teeth). In some embodiments the contact surfaces are radial projections of spherical involute surfaces. In other embodiments the contact surfaces have a root and/or tip of a spherical involute curve, but are barreled or otherwise curved to reduce the point stress on each rotor. The rotors may also be configured where torque transfer is provided at a first set of lobes (teeth) and backlash removal is provided on teeth radially opposed to the first set of lobes (teeth). As the apparatus rotates, the position of torque transfer remains substantially the same, as does backlash prevention/removal, but the teeth providing these operations vary. The rotors may also be used for fluid flow.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes the use of involute curves for use in energy conversion devices, as well as timing or indexing gears. Several different embodiments are shown using rotors of several examples of lobe numbers and shapes.