Abstract: Open and closed cycle lift force turbines are provided. Illustratively, the open cycle lift force turbine operates in an open cycle environment without heat and/or pressure, utilizing asymmetric pressure distribution on lift turbine blades mainly to generate thrust with the normal component of this lift force, while using the tangential component of this lift force to drive a bypass fan providing additional thrust and to drive accessories, provide control to the fluid velocity, and/or provide motivation of the fluid's flow. The open cycle lift force turbine may be utilized to generate continuous thrust, heat and/or electricity for powering vehicles in any atmosphere. The closed cycle lift force turbine may be utilized to generate continuous thrust, heat and/or electricity for powering vehicles at any speed in any atmosphere or lack thereof.

Abstract: A toroidal lift force engine is provided. Illustratively, the toroidal lift force engine operates in an enclosed environment without heat and/or expelling particles of any kind, utilizing asymmetric pressure distribution on lift turbine blades solely to generate thrust with the normal component of this lift force, while using the tangential component of this lift force to drive accessories, provide control to the fluid velocity, and/or provide motivation of the fluid's flow. The toroidal lift force engine may be utilized to generate thrust, heat and/or electricity for powering vehicles, homes, etc.

Abstract: A power generating windmill having a plurality of blade extending radially outward from a central rotor in position to be engaged by a moving fluid stream is provided. Each blade partially overlaps the blade prior to and behind it to increase lift forces on the blades.

Abstract: A toroidal lift force engine is provided. Illustratively, the toroidal lift force engine operates in an enclosed environment without heat and/or expelling particles of any kind, utilizing asymmetric pressure distribution on lift turbine blades solely to generate thrust with the normal component of this lift force, while using the tangential component of this lift force to drive accessories, provide control to the fluid velocity, and/or provide motivation of the fluid's flow. The toroidal lift force engine may be utilized to generate thrust, heat and/or electricity for powering vehicles, homes, etc.

Abstract: A power generation apparatus comprises a rotor rotatably mounted to a support and a plurality of vanes extending radially out from the rotor and positioned to be engaged by a moving fluid stream. Each vane includes a wing-shaped main blade having leading and trailing edges, and a co-extensive conditioner blade having leading and trailing edges. The conditioner blade is spaced parallel to the main blade so as to define therebetween a slot having an entrance and an exit. A lift-varying device boarders the slot to vary the lift produced by that vane inversely to the speed of the moving fluid stream so that the rotor turns at a relatively constant rate. The rotor, driven by wind or water, may be coupled to the armature of an induction motor/generator to produce electric power.

Abstract: A power generation apparatus comprises a rotor rotatably mounted to a support and a plurality of vanes extending radially out from the rotor and positioned to be engaged by a moving fluid stream. Each vane includes a wing-shaped main blade having leading and trailing edges, and a co-extensive conditioner blade having leading and trailing edges. The conditioner blade is spaced parallel to the main blade so as to define therebetween a slot having an entrance and an exit. A lift-varying device boarders the slot to vary the lift produced by that vane inversely to the speed of the moving fluid stream so that the rotor turns at a relatively constant rate. The rotor, driven by wind or water, may be coupled to the armature of an induction motor/generator to produce electric power.

Abstract: A power generation apparatus comprises a rotor rotatably mounted to a support and a plurality of vanes extending radially out from the rotor and positioned to be engaged by a moving fluid stream. Each vane includes a wing-shaped main blade having leading and trailing edges, and a co-extensive conditioner blade having leading and trailing edges. The conditioner blade is spaced parallel to the main blade so as to define therebetween a slot having an entrance and an exit. A lift-varying device boarders the slot to vary the lift produced by that vane inversely to the speed of the moving fluid stream so that the rotor turns at a relatively constant rate. The rotor, driven by wind or water, may be coupled to the armature of an induction motor/generator to produce electric power.

Abstract: A power generation apparatus comprises a rotor rotatably mounted to a support and a plurality of vanes extending radially out from the rotor and positioned to be engaged by a moving fluid stream. Each vane includes a wing-shaped main blade having leading and trailing edges, and a co-extensive conditioner blade having leading and trailing edges. The conditioner blade is spaced parallel to the main blade so as to define therebetween a slot having an entrance and an exit. A lift-varying device boarders the slot to vary the lift produced by that vane inversely to the speed of the moving fluid stream so that the rotor turns at a relatively constant rate. The rotor, driven by wind or water, may be coupled to the armature of an induction motor/generator to produce electric power.

Abstract: Power generation apparatus includes a wing-shaped blade having opposite sides, opposite ends and leading and trailing edges extending between those ends. A lift differential producing device in the blade produces a lift differential at the opposite sides of the blade and that device is switched so that one blade side or the other produces the greater lift. A blade shaft extends along an axis in the blade that is in close parallel relation to the leading edge of the blade and that shaft is fixed to move with the blade. Supports support the blade shaft so that the blade can be positioned in a fluid stream with the leading edge facing upstream and swing about the axis between first and second extreme positions on opposite sides of a neutral position, the blade shaft oscillating with the blade. A coordinating device coordinates the switching of the lift differential producing device with the swinging of the blade so that the switching occurs at the extreme positions of the blade.

Abstract: Power generation apparatus includes a wing-shaped blade having opposite sides, opposite ends and leading and trailing edges extending between those ends. A lift differential producing device in the blade produces a lift differential at the opposite sides of the blade and that device is switched so that one blade side or the other produces the greater lift. A blade shaft extends along an axis in the blade that is in close parallel relation to the leading edge of the blade and that shaft is fixed to move with the blade. Supports support the blade shaft so that the blade can be positioned in a fluid stream with the leading edge facing upstream and swing about the axis between first and second extreme positions on opposite sides of a neutral position, the blade shaft oscillating with the blade. A coordinating device coordinates the switching of the lift differential producing device with the swinging of the blade so that the switching occurs at the extreme positions of the blade.

Abstract: An electronic motor control system includes a brushless DC machine having an armature and a stator with at least three phase windings, a commutation circuit including a DC power supply and switching devices associated with the windings to supply current two selected pairs of the windings and anti-parallel unidirectional current devices which provide current paths to dissipate energy stored in each windings after the supply of current through the associated switching device has terminated, a programmable commutation logic circuit responsive to the current signals in the windings for providing switching signals to the commutation circuit to cause rotation of the armature, a current sensor in circuit with the power supply for sensing the supply current and producing current signals, a controller responsive to the current signals, an additional unidirectional current device connected between each winding and the power supply, the direction of conduction therethrough being opposite to that of the first-mentioned u

Abstract: An electronic motor control system includes a brushlesss DC machine having an armature and a stator with at least three phase windings, a commutation circuit including a DC power supply and switching devices associated with the windings to supply current two selected pairs of the windings and anti-parallel unidirectional current devices which provide current paths to dissipate energy stored in each windings after the supply of current through the associated switching device has terminated, a programmable commutation logic circuit responsive to the current signals in the windings for providing switching signals to the commutation circuit to cause rotation of the armature, a current sensor in circuit with the power supply for sensing the supply current and producing current signals, a controller responsive to the current signals, an additional unidirectional current device connected between each winding and the power supply, the direction of conduction therethrough being opposite to that of the first-mentioned

Abstract: A motorized wheel hub assembly includes a sealed motor section having first and second coaxial shafts extending from the motor section, the second shaft being a rotary shaft and a gear reduction section adjacent to the motor section, the gear reduction section including a pinion at the end of the rotary shaft, a plurality of planet gears rotatably mounted to the housing in meshing engagement with the pinion and a third shaft connected to the motor housing, all of the shafts being separate but coaxial. A hub having an interior surface closely surrounds the motor and gear reduction sections and is rotatably coupled to the first and third shafts. A ring gear formed in the interior surface of the hub is in meshing engagement with the planet gears so that when the second shaft rotates at a selected speed, the hub rotates relative to the first and third shafts at a lesser speed. Preferably, the hub is at least partially filled with oil to conduct heat from the motor section to the outside.

Abstract: A throttle/brake control system has a first member, a second member and a mount for mounting the members for relative movement on either side of a home position, the members being biased relatively to that home position. A variable resistor track having an end is mounted to the first member along with a conductive power track having a gap. A conductive wiper is mounted to the second member opposite the first member, the wiper being arranged to slide along both the resistor track and the power track when the first and second members are moved relatively away from the home position and to repose opposite the gap when the first and second members are in the home position.

Abstract: A collapsible case comprises a closed loop of flexible sheet material for forming the top, bottom and sidewalls of the case, the loop having front and rear edges defining front and rear openings into the interior of the loop. A pair of similar panels form the front and rear walls of the case, each panel including a sheet of flexible material having a perimeter, stiffeners attached to the sheet so as to tension and stiffen the sheet into a selected shape and fasteners for fastening the perimeter of the sheet to the corresponding edge of the loop so that when the panels are fastened to the loop, the loop assumes the selected shape and when said panels are unfastened from the loop and the stiffeners are detached from the sheets, the loop and sheets may be collapsed and consolidated.

Abstract: A contactless electronic control system particularly adapted to drive a motorized wheel hub includes a tubular bracket and a tubular grip member encircling the bracket and connected thereto by a rotary connection so that the grip member can rotate about the bracket. A ring magnet having diametrically opposite poles is mounted in the grip member for rotation therewith and a Hall Effect device is mounted to the bracket. When the grip member is rotated in one direction so as to move one of the poles toward the device, the device produces a proportional positive electrical signal and when the grip members rotated relatively in the opposite direction so as to move the other of the poles toward the device, the device produces a proportional negative signal. Preferably, the magnet is positioned between concentric inner and outer pole pieces and the grip member is biased to a home position which locates the magnets poles on opposite sides of the sensor.

Abstract: A motorized wheel hub assembly includes a sealed motor section having first and second coaxial shafts extending from the motor section, the second shaft being a rotary shaft and a gear reduction section adjacent to the motor section, the gear reduction section including a pinion at the end of the rotary shaft, a plurality of planet gears rotatably mounted to the housing in meshing engagement with the pinion and a third shaft connected to the motor housing, all of the shafts being separate but coaxial. A hub having an interior surface closely surrounds the motor and gear reduction sections and is rotatably coupled to the first and third shafts. A ring gear formed in the interior surface of the hub is in meshing engagement with the planet gears so that when the second shaft rotates at a selected speed, the hub rotates relative to the first and third shafts at a lesser speed. Preferably, the hub is partially filled with oil to conduct heat from the motor section to the outside.

Abstract: A non sinkable, easily re-rightable aquatic vehicle has a lightweight body with a front, a rear, a bottom and opposite sides and contains a seat for supporting a pilot. A pair of front sheaves are rotatably mounted to opposite sides of the body near the front of the body and a pair of rear sheaves are rotatably mounted to opposite sides of the body near the rear thereof. A first flotation track is engaged around and extends between the front and rear sheaves on one side of the body and a second flotation track is engaged around and extends between the front and rear sheaves on the other side of the body. Each said flotation track includes an endless band engaged around a front and rear sheave and a multiplicity of buoyant flotation treads connected to the band at spaced apart locations therealong to form upper and lower series of flotation treads extending between the associated front and rear sheaves.