Abstract: A vaporization module is provided that includes a capillary member to convert non-pressurized liquid to pressurized vapor. The pressure is sustained by capillary pressure of the liquid in the capillary member. The capillary member has low thermal conductivity and small-sized pores that permits liquid to travel by capillary action toward the vaporization zone. Often, the pores of the capillary member are substantially uniform in size. The capillary member may comprise ceramic material. The module also includes an orifice plate that has one or more orifices to permit release of pressurized vapor, e.g. as a pressurized vapor jet. The orifice plate is associated with a sealing member to form an at least partial enclosure of the module so that vapor may accumulate and pressure may be increased within the module. In addition, other aspects of the present invention relating to the vaporization and pressurization of liquid are described.

Abstract: A vaporization module is provided that includes a capillary member to convert non-pressurized liquid to pressurized vapor. The pressure is sustained by capillary pressure of the liquid in the capillary member. The capillary member has low thermal conductivity and small-sized pores that permits liquid to travel by capillary action toward the vaporization zone. Often, the pores of the capillary member are substantially uniform in size. The capillary member may comprise ceramic material. The module also includes an orifice plate that has one or more orifices to permit release of pressurized vapor, e.g. as a pressurized vapor jet. The orifice plate is associated with a sealing member to form an at least partial enclosure of the module so that vapor may accumulate and pressure may be increased within the module. In addition, other aspects of the present invention relating to the vaporization and pressurization of liquid are described.

Abstract: A vaporization/pressurization module employs a porous member having a low thermal conductivity and a substantially uniform, small pore size. Liquid feed is introduced to the porous member and is heated, vaporized, and pressurized within and/or on a surface of the porous member to produce a vapor jet having a pressure higher than that of the liquid feed. A substantially vapor impermeable barrier facilitates accumulation and pressurization of the vapor, which is released from the module as a pressurized vapor jet from one or more restricted passages. The vaporization/pressurization module is especially useful for liquid fuel combustion applications.

Abstract: A vaporization/pressurization module employs a porous member having a low thermal conductivity and a substantially uniform, small pore size. Liquid feed is introduced to the porous member and is heated, vaporized, and pressurized within and/or on a surface of the porous member to produce a vapor jet having a pressure higher than that of the liquid feed. A substantially vapor impermeable barrier facilitates accumulation and pressurization of the vapor, which is released from the module as a pressurized vapor jet from one or more restricted passages. The vaporization/pressurization module is especially useful for liquid fuel combustion applications.

Abstract: The invention is a linear electromagnetic motor which operates to reciprocate a pump plunger within a central pump barrel. The motor has a ferromagnetic armature annularly connected to the pump plunger, located in an annular space in the motor core about the pump plunger. The armature is itself annularly surrounded by a permanent polarizing ring magnet located between two motor drive coils. The motor operates by switching the polarizing magnetic flux of the ring magnet by a control magnetic flux created by electric current in the motor drive coils. On its backward end, the pump plunger is biased by a spring in the direction of its forward stroke. However, when the armature is latched by the magnet at its backward stroke location (distance A=0), the strength of the magnet overcomes the bias in this spring.

Abstract: A gearing system includes a pair of gear support plates arranged to rotate about parallel but offset axes with the plates extending parallel to each other in parallel radially extending plates. Each plate includes axially extending teeth in the form of sections of lune shaped elements having concave and convex opposed surfaces. The teeth are interdigited axially such that various pairs of interdigited teeth will be in cooperating surface contact. Rotation of each support plate about its own axis causes the teeth to orbit relative to each other and engage in a driving relationship in a smooth manner, with the convex portion of certain teeth engaging smoothly with the concave portion of adjacent teeth. The gearing system provides a 1:1 speed ratio and has application as an Oldham coupling or synchronizer for a scroll fluid device.

Abstract: A scroll fluid device is provided with a toothed ring synchronizer coupled to sprocket teeth provided of each scroll wrap back plate. The coupling between the teeth does not restrict relative axial motion between the scroll wraps and evenly distributes torque loads resulting from forces tending to rotate one wrap relative to the other between the back plates. The ring synchronizer may include internal or external teeth cooperating with adjoining sprocket teeth provided on the scroll back plates.

Abstract: A reference mirror (50) in an interferometer is fixed in position with respect to a laser (34). A refractive block (40) having parallel upper and lower surfaces is mounted for pivoting about a pivot axis (60) parallel to the reference mirror (40). The refractive block (40) is disposed in the path of the light beam (36) produced by the laser (34), and it includes a partially reflective surface (42) on its lower face that divides the incident beam (36) into two components (44 and 46), which travel along different paths, in which they are reflected from different portions (48 and 54) of the surface of the reference mirror (50) and from different portions (52 and 56) of a reflective surface on the upper face of the refractive block (40). A second partially reflective coating (58) rejoins portions of the two components to form an exit beam (32) in which the radiation from the two beams interferes in accordance with the angle of the refractive block (40).

Abstract: An auto-changer for optical discs. At least one carousel rotatable about a horizontal axis stores a large number of discs. A picker moves into the carousel to grasp a disc in a horizontal position in the carousel and then move the disc to a position outside of the carousel. A transfer arm grabs the disc from the picker and swings the disc in an arcuate path over to a disc player, where it is deposited for playing.

Abstract: A cryogenic refrigerator includes opposing pistons driven by linear electromagnetic machines. Magnetic elements on armatures reciprocate adjacent to first and second flux paths and a transfer of flux between the flux paths with movement of either armature causes the other armature to move in a balanced fashion in an opposite direction. The armatures are driven by coils which transfer the flux from one flux path to the other. Tapers in the flux paths cause the armatures to seek a centered position, or are tailored to minimize compressor input power.

Abstract: In a Stirling cryogenic refrigerator, the movement of the displacer is monitored by sensing the back EMF in the displacer drive coil throughout displacer stroke. The back EMF signal is applied through a feedback circuit to control the phase relationship of displacer movement with a reference signal related to the pressure wave.

Abstract: A gas bearing system for a piston 24 of a linear compressor 20 in which gas from the piston head space 26 is injected into a high pressure reservoir 106 within the piston when the working fluid in the piston head space is at high pressure. In one embodiment, gas from a low pressure reservoir 104 is exhausted into it when the piston working space fluid is at low pressure. Gas flow is directed between high pressure and areas of low pressure during operation of the piston. This gas flow is directed between the piston and its surrounding sleeve 30 in a manner which holds the piston 24 in suspension away from the sleeve 30 to thereby reduce the friction and wear experienced by the piston and sleeve.

Abstract: A fluid pump including a double-entry impeller whose outer boundary is defined by a dissected spherical surface. The spherical surface includes an equatorial region which may be a groove or a cylindrical surface. The impeller is polarized magnetically and forms a dipole whose axis is normal to the plane of the equatorial region. The rotating magnetic field of a polyphase stator winding spins the impeller, and aligns the impeller spin axis along the stator axis.

Abstract: A homopolar machine having a hollow cylindrical conductor integral with an iron magnetic coupler forms a rotor ring which encircles one end of a rotor. The rotor ring spins within a hermetically sealed volume formed by two current collector rings. The volume is filled with a liquid metal under pressure and void free. The liquid metal provides electrical contact between the cylindrical conductor and the current collector rings and also acts as a lubricant for cylindrical journal bearings at each end of the rotor ring. The rotor is fixedly mounted on a shaft and spins on conventional bearings receiving torque and thrust loads from the rotor ring by magnetic coupling.

Abstract: In a cryogenic split Stirling refrigerator, the compressor and displacer are driven by linear drive motors. Each compressor linear drive motor has a plurality of radial permanent magnets 44, 46 mounted to each compressor piston 22, 24. A tapered collet 56 expands an expanding sleeve 42 against the magnets and compresses a sleeve 38 against the piston. A housing 34 hermetically seals the gas about the armature and supports the coil assembly 76, 78. The displacer drive motor includes an axial permanent magnet 202 mounted to the displacer drive piston 192. It is surrounded by a housing 210 which hermetically seals the spring volume surrounding the magnet. The drive coils 216, 218 are supported on that housing. The coils are surrounded by flux returns 222, 224 which can be adjusted to minimize radial forces on the drive piston.

Abstract: A pressure stabilization system for a linear compressor 20 piston 24 in which a check valve 68 and passages 72, 64 within the piston permit communication between a compressor work space and a non-working volume of gas 54 through an orifice 66 in the piston cylinder 30. The check valve and ports allow momentary fluid communication between the dead space volume 54 and the working volume 26. The fluid communication serves to stabilize working volume pressure and counteract the effects of gas leakage about the piston 24 and into the dead volume 54. This fluid communication only occurs when dead volume pressure is greater than working volume pressure and port 66 and 64 are axially aligned.

Abstract: In a cryogenic split Stirling refrigerator, the compressor and displacer are driven by linear drive motors. Each compressor linear drive motor has a plurality of radial permanent magnets 44, 46 mounted to each compressor piston 22, 24. A tapered collet 56 expands an expanding sleeve 42 against the magnets and compresses a sleeve 38 against the piston. A housing 34 hermetically seals the gas about the armature and supports the coil assembly 76, 78. The displacer drive motor includes an axial permanent magnet 202 mounted to the displacer drive piston 192. It is surrounded by a housing 210 which hermetically seals the spring volume surrounding the magnet. The drive coils 216, 218 are supported on that housing. The coils are surrounded by flux returns 222, 224 which can be adjusted to minimize radial forces on the drive piston.

Abstract: A gas bearing system for a piston 24 of a linear compressor 20 in which gas from the piston head space 26 is injected into a high pressure reservoir 106 within the piston when the working fluid in the piston head space is at high pressure. In one embodiment, gas from a low pressure reservoir 104 is exhausted into it when the piston working space fluid is at low pressure. Gas flow is directed between high pressure and areas of low pressure during operation of the piston. This gas flow is directed between the piston and its surrounding sleeve 30 in a manner which holds the piston 24 in suspension away from the sleeve 30 to thereby reduce the friction and wear experienced by the piston and sleeve.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring the angular velocity and speed of a rotating shaft comprises charge storage elements for storing charge. The charge storage elements are capable of being coupled to the rotating shaft so as to be rotatable about a predetermined axis at an angular speed or velocity related to the speed or velocity of the shaft. A charging brush and discharging brush are positioned relative to the charge storage elements so that the charging brush can charge the charge storage elements at a first predetermined angular position of the latter about the axis and the discharging brush can discharge the charge from the charge storage elements at a second predetermined angular position of the latter about the axis.