Abstract: The continuously variable transmission has a rotating drive unit and driven unit sharing a common axis. Splined drive shafts extend radially from the common axis and are rotatably driven by the drive unit. Drive rollers are splined to the drive shafts so that the drive rollers are shiftable along the length of the drive shafts. The drive rollers transmit power directly to the driven unit in forward drive. The shift of the rollers while in forward drive continuously varies the distance between the rollers and the common axis so that the shift continuously varies the torque drive to the driven unit. All the drive rollers in a plurality are always equidistant from the common axis. Elastohydrodynamic oil may be used between the rollers and the driven unit to prevent metal to metal contact.Neutralizing the drive can be done by shifting the drive rollers a certain distance from the common axis at which distance the rollers are disengaged from the driven unit.

Abstract: The conventional crank between the power piston and the crank shaft in a reciprocating engine is replaced by a fixed length moment arm during the power stroke and a scotch yoke during the return stroke.The motion of a power piston is converted to rotary motion at an output power shaft through the fixed length moment arm. The moment arm is the radius of a sector gear which is non-rotatably secured to the output shaft. The piston rod is modified to include a rack gear and a slot. The slot and the output shaft form the scotch yoke.The sector gear engages the rack only during the down stroke of the piston. The sector gear disengages just before the down stroke is completed. The piston is then timely returned to the precise position of its next stroke through the scotch yoke.The fixed length moment arm acts as a lever through the entire stroke of the pistion which reduces combustion pressure and temperature. The reduced combustion pressure permits a smaller combustion charge which saves fuel.

Abstract: This invention uses magnetic levitation in combination with magnetic propulsion (MAGLEV) to accelerate an aircraft of spacecraft--or both crafts as a coupled unit--from standstill along a guideway to the highest possible launch velocity. The acceleration along the guideway is fuel efficient. The craft(s) are brought to launch velocity without using on board fuel. The computer controlled acceleration along the guideway could avoid high g forces to prevent damage to fragile payloads. The guideway may be sectionalized and of any shape. One section, for instance, may be circular to permit a long magnetically accelerated run with a relatively short length guideway. Very heavy crafts and payloads can be launched with superconducting levitation magnets in the guideway which form strong repulsive force fields with superconducting magnets in the MAGLEV vehicle. In another embodiment, the invention includes attraction magnets for the levitation.

Abstract: This invention is an improved modular engine having replaceable power modules wherein the improvement consists of automatically coupling and decoupling the power modules and the engine's power output shaft in response to immediate operating requirements resulting in fuel savings. When a unit is decoupled, it is shut down and does not use fuel or add load to the engine. This feature saves fuel whenever operating requirements permit a reduction in power. The power units may be of several types known to the art. The power units are shown to have a gear which meshes with a gear part of the engine's power output shaft to drive the shaft. A microprocessor is shown to control the dynamic coupling and decoupling between the unit's gear and the power output shaft to keep the invention properly timed and fuel efficient. A flywheel is shown, in combination with the other parts, to store regenerated energy and release the energy to the power shaft upon demand.

Abstract: This invention is an improvement over the arrangement and couplings between the piston rod and output power shaft in an internal combustion engine.The piston rod's reciprocating movement is substantially linear along the center line of the rod and piston assisted by a guide slidably coupled to the rod. The rod has a set of gear teeth along its side forming a rack gear.The output power shaft has at least one sector gear keyed or otherwise affixed thereto. The sector gear engages the gear teeth on the rod only during one direction of the rod's reciprocating movement which is the same direction as the power stroke. The sector gear is disengaged from the rod at the end of the piston's power stroke and remains disengaged, while continuing to rotate, until the beginning of the next stroke with the same direction as the power stroke.