Abstract: A system for converting potential energy into electric power from a mixture of gases, such as atmospheric air, including a particular lesser-density-gas, such as nitrogen, and a particular larger-density-gas, such as oxygen. The system includes a gas-separator at an upper-elevation; a gas-flow-conduit that has a gas-exit-port at a lesser-elevation, where the lesser-elevation is significantly lower than the upper-elevation; and an energy-converter positioned on the gas-flow-conduit. The gas-separator is coupled to the gas-exit-port via the gas-flow-conduit. The gas-separator separates the particular larger-density-gas from the gas mixture. The gas-flow-conduit conducts the separated particular larger-density-gas from the gas-separator via the gas-flow-conduit to the energy-converter; and the energy-converter generates electric power from the conducted separated particular larger-density-gas.

Abstract: A system and method for variable frequency voltage regulation is presented. The system includes a variable frequency bus and a variable frequency load directly connected to the variable frequency bus. A plurality of variable frequency gensets are directly connected to the variable frequency bus. Each variable frequency genset includes a genset controller configured to select set points based on a selected frequency response curve of the variable frequency bus. A variable frequency voltage regulator is configured to regulate an electrical output of the variable frequency generator based on the selected set points. The system includes a voltage regulation controller configured to determine a desired bus frequency based on the variable frequency load, and determine an optimal frequency response curve based on the desired bus frequency and a frequency response model of each VFG. The selected frequency response curve is updated based on the determined optimal frequency response curve.

Abstract: A system and method for variable frequency voltage regulation is presented. The system includes a variable frequency bus and a variable frequency load directly connected to the variable frequency bus. A plurality of variable frequency gensets are directly connected to the variable frequency bus. Each variable frequency genset includes a genset controller configured to select set points based on a selected frequency response curve of the variable frequency bus. A variable frequency voltage regulator is configured to regulate an electrical output of the variable frequency generator based on the selected set points. The system includes a voltage regulation controller configured to determine a desired bus frequency based on the variable frequency load, and determine an optimal frequency response curve based on the desired bus frequency and a frequency response model of each VFG. The selected frequency response curve is updated based on the determined optimal frequency response curve.

Abstract: A system for converting potential energy into electric power from a mixture of gases, such as atmospheric air, including a particular lesser-density-gas, such as nitrogen, and a particular larger-density-gas, such as oxygen. The system includes a gas-separator at an upper-elevation; a gas-flow-conduit that has a gas-exit-port at a lesser-elevation, where the lesser-elevation is significantly lower than the upper-elevation; and an energy-converter positioned on the gas-flow-conduit. The gas-separator is coupled to the gas-exit-port via the gas-flow-conduit. The gas-separator separates the particular larger-density-gas from the gas mixture. The gas-flow-conduit conducts the separated particular larger-density-gas from the gas-separator via the gas-flow-conduit to the energy-converter; and the energy-converter generates electric power from the conducted separated particular larger-density-gas.

Abstract: A hollow multi-layered container comprises: an outer layer including a label and an inner layer, which is injection molded. The label has a barrier material that impedes one or more substances that emanate from a product from penetrating through the label, and the label displays information related to the product. The inner layer and the barrier material of the outer layer are substantially coextensive. For a container having a sidewall and an inclined shoulder extending inward from the sidewall, the label includes a primary segment covering the sidewall of the container and a plurality of shoulder pads covering the shoulder in at least approximately contiguous alignment with adjacent said shoulder pads.

Abstract: A hollow injection-molded product has a sidewall that is formed in a mold cavity by injecting molding material. An interior surface of the sidewall includes at least one ridge that is shaped by a flow channel in the mold cavity. The flow channel directs the flow of the injected molding material in the mold cavity. The cross-sectional dimension of the ridge normal to the direction of flow of the molding material that is injected in the flow channel generally decreases in the direction of flow. A label is inserted into the mold cavity prior to injection of the molding material so that the label is on the exterior surface of the sidewall of the hollow product.

Abstract: In an energy conversion system, a flexible conduit is disposed on the outside of a high rise of terrain drawing a stream of heated air through the conduit from a low to a higher elevation, a support structure supports the flexible conduit to maintain a substantially uniform cross-sectional area of the conduit orthogonal to its longitudinal axis. A plurality of longitudinal sections are included that individually include a plurality of lateral modular segments disposed orthogonally about the longitudinal axis of the conduit to laterally enclose the interior of the individual section of the conduit. The conduit has an interior surface of a repetitive varying contour that reduces friction between the interior surface and the air that flows through the conduit.

Abstract: A hollow injection-molded product has a sidewall that is formed in a mold cavity by injecting molding material. An interior surface of the sidewall includes at least one ridge that is shaped by a flow channel in the mold cavity. The flow channel directs the flow of the injected molding material in the mold cavity. The cross-sectional dimension of the ridge normal to the direction of flow of the molding material that is injected in the flow channel generally decreases in the direction of flow. A label is inserted into the mold cavity prior to injection of the molding material so that the label is on the exterior surface of the sidewall of the hollow product.

Abstract: A hollow multi-layered container comprises: an outer layer including a label and an inner layer, which is injection molded. The label has a barrier material that impedes one or more substances that emanate from a product from penetrating through the label, and the label displays information related to the product. The inner layer and the barrier material of the outer layer are substantially coextensive. For a container having a sidewall and an inclined shoulder extending inward from the sidewall, the label includes a primary segment covering the sidewall of the container and a plurality of shoulder pads covering the shoulder in at least approximately contiguous alignment with adjacent said shoulder pads.

Abstract: The dimensions of a portion of an injection molded hollow product formed in a mold cavity between a first cavity surface of a cavity section and a first core surface of a core section are adjusted by adjusting the position of the first cavity surface relative to the position of the first core surface so that the first cavity surface and the first core surface are in a selected relative position when the cavity section is combined with the core section and a protractible and retractable core part is protracted so that a cavity abutment mold part can be connected directly to the protracted core part and the cavity abutment mold part also can be connected indirectly to the protracted core part by a series consisting of abutting mold parts. This series includes a pair of abutting rotatable eccentric rings, which are rotated to adjust the relative positions of the first cavity surface and the first core surface.

Abstract: A wall section of a coherent product, such as a container, includes at least two opposing plastic components. At least a first one of the opposing plastic components is injection molded and includes a wall of non-uniform thickness that defines some ribs and a web located between two of the ribs in a portion of the wall where the wall is less thick than in the ribs. At a cross section of the first plastic component, over the height of the ribs the predominant thickness across each of the two ribs is significantly thicker than the thickness of the web. At least the crest of a portion of the ribs of one of the plastic components directly or indirectly contacts another plastic component, and at least a portion of the web of the one plastic component is apart from the web of the other plastic component.

Abstract: In an energy conversion system, a flexible conduit is disposed on the outside of a high rise of terrain drawing a stream of heated air through the conduit from a low to a higher elevation, a support structure supports the flexible conduit to maintain a substantially uniform cross-sectional area of the conduit orthogonal to its longitudinal axis. A plurality of longitudinal sections are included that individually include a plurality of lateral modular segments disposed orthogonally about the longitudinal axis of the conduit to laterally enclose the interior of the individual section of the conduit. The conduit has an interior surface of a repetitive varying contour that reduces friction between the interior surface and the air that flows through the conduit.

Abstract: A toy building element includes side walls, a top having an upper surface that extends from the side walls, and a plurality of projections extending upward from the extensive upper surface, an open bottom and an interior. The interior is accessible through the open bottom for receiving a plurality of projections of another building element of a set of toy building elements. The interior includes a plurality of hollow members that extend downward from a respective portion of the extensive upper surface that is disposed between two of the projections; and the hollow members are open to the extensive upper surface. The hollow members partition the interior into regions in which a plurality of projections of another building element is received; and the regions of the building element are disposed directly below the projections of the same building element for receiving the projections of the other building element.

Abstract: The dimensions of a portion of an injection molded hollow product formed in a mold cavity between a first cavity surface of a cavity section and a first core surface of a core section are adjusted by adjusting the position of the first cavity surface relative to the position of the first core surface so that the first cavity surface and the first core surface are in a selected relative position when the cavity section is combined with the core section and a protractible and retractable core part is protracted so that a cavity abutment mold part can be connected directly to the protracted core part and the cavity abutment mold part also can be connected indirectly to the protracted core part by a series consisting of abutting mold parts. This series includes a pair of abutting rotatable eccentric rings, which are rotated to adjust the relative positions of the first cavity surface and the first core surface.

Abstract: A solar collector system includes sheets that are disposed to cover portions of channels within a terrain to thereby form air flow passageways bounded by at least the sheet and the sides and bottom of the respective channels. The sheet enables transmission of solar radiation into the channels to heat portions of the sides and bottoms of the channels so that air in the passageways can be heated by absorbing heat from the heated portions of the sides and bottoms of the channels. A heat accumulation system is coupled to the passageways for accumulating heat from the heated air. A stream of heated air is drawn from the solar collector and/or the heat accumulation system by an upwardly sloping tunnel through a turbine of an electrical energy producing system. The air stream rotates the turbine to cause electrical energy to be generated.

Abstract: A method of managing ideas includes the following steps: (a) maintaining a computer database for accumulating ideas for prospectively patentable inventions; (b) systematically establishing contractual obligations by contributors of said ideas to said database to transfer property rights to inventions respectively derived at least in part from said contributed ideas to a proprietor of said database or to a party in concert with said proprietor; and (c) prior to filing any patent applications for inventions respectively derived at least in part from said accumulated ideas, systematically publishing said accumulated ideas.

Abstract: A system for remotely logging into a personal computer includes a controller coupled to the personal computer and a remote control device. The controller memorizes a login password for the personal computer. The remote control device transmits a login signal to which the controller responds by sending the memorized login password to the personal computer. When the personal computer is located in an automobile that includes apparatus for adjusting at least one component of the automobile to provide a plurality of arrangements of the at least one component, the controller controls the adjusting apparatus and memorizes at least a first component arrangement associated with the personal computer; and the controller responds to a first component arrangement signal received from a location remote from the controller by controlling the adjusting apparatus to provide the memorized first component arrangement.

Abstract: In a method of injection molding a plastic product having a base wall and a sidewall (24), wherein plastic injected into a base-wall section of the mold cavity is conducted through a flow guide (28) in the base-wall section and thence into a sidewall section (24) of the mold cavity, a portion of a base-wall section flow guide is shaped by partially opposing a row of successive recesses (33) in a first mold part with a series of successive recesses (34) in a second mold part, with the recesses in the first mold part being so staggered with respect to the recesses in the second mold part as to provide a chain of overlapping recesses that form a sequence of variable-opening throttles (30) having openings that can vary whenever the alignment between the first and second mold parts varies. The recesses (34) in the second mold part are more than the recesses (33) in the first mold part.

Abstract: Management in a database of inventions, ideas, and rights related to inventions including publication of ideas for inventions accumulated in a computer database. A computerized method includes establishing a contractual obligation by a prospective contributor of an idea contribution for the database to transfer property rights of a prospectively patentable invention. The contributor is enabled to view at least some other idea contributions accumulated in the database. The idea contribution is received for the database from the contributor. Ownership of a contractual benefit is provided to the contributor, wherein the contractual benefit is transferred from the owner of the contractual benefit to a new owner of the contractual benefit. The idea contribution from the database is published. Some of the property rights are transferred to a customer to allow the customer to file a patent application and/or remuneration is distributed to the new owner in exchange for the contractual benefit.

Abstract: A method of managing ideas includes the following steps: (a) maintaining a computer database for accumulating ideas for prospectively patentable inventions; (b) systematically establishing contractual obligations by contributors of said ideas to said database to transfer property rights to inventions respectively derived at least in part from said contributed ideas to a proprietor of said database or to a party in concert with said proprietor; and (c) prior to filing any patent applications for inventions respectively derived at least in part from said accumulated ideas, systematically publishing said accumulated ideas.