Abstract: A reflective decoy device for hunting wild turkey employs a glass mirror and strutted gobbler feathers. The turkey decoy device is attached to a hunting weapon, such as a shotgun or compound bow, with its mirror element substantially vertical to the line of fire. A partially transparent, partially reflective one-way mirror, half-silvered sight is incorporated in the mirror decoy for aiming the mirror perpendicular to the line of sight. This device create an illusion of a 3D decoy which may be used as a big game decoy for various animals such as antelope, mule deer, white tail, and elk.

Abstract: An ultrasonic actuator comprises a miniature ultrasonic transducer powered by electromagnetic radiation. The ultrasonic transducer comprises a housing defining a chamber. A liquid mass oscillates within the chamber at a frequency within the ultrasonic range. To cause this oscillation, a source of electromagnetic radiation energizes the liquid mass by exposing a portion of the liquid mass to electromagnetic radiation. The source of electromagnetic radiation thus drives the liquid mass at a frequency within the ultrasonic range.

Abstract: An engine comprises a liquid piston disposed within a chamber of an engine body. The chamber is defined by at least one wall. The liquid piston has one or more free surfaces that are not in contact with the chamber wall. A laser directly heats the free surface of the liquid piston. A gas spring is disposed within the chamber adjacent the free surface of the liquid piston and within the propagation path of the laser energy. The engine also includes a spring mechanism. The spring mechanism is positioned within the housing to exert pressure on another surface of the liquid piston.

Abstract: A piston compression system converts energy from a conventional combustion cycle engine driving a piston to displace a working gas for flow through a turbine for output power. The working gas is derived by diverting a portion of the charge during combustion at near peak combustion pressure (PCP) into a closed working volume. The working gas is maintained at high pressure within the working volume. The working volume has a first displacement compartment and a second displacement compartment, a supply manifold connected for receiving pressurized working gas alternately from the first and second compartments and connected to an inlet of the turbine, and a return manifold connected to an outlet of the turbine and alternately returning working gas to the second and first compartments.

Abstract: An ink ejecting apparatus that rapidly heats a small volume of ink using radiative heating from pulsating laser light radiation (as opposed to surface conductive heating from a thin film electrical resistive heater). The laser light travels through a bubble that has been formed by a previous pulse and is absorbed by the ink (specifically designed to absorb the laser light) in the first few microns of the ink free surface. By radiatively heating the ink at a heating rate above its critical heating limit (for an example, for water at atmospheric pressure, that limit is about 0.25 MW/g), at least substantially, if not all, of the heated portion of the ink is brought to its superheat limit so as to boil instantaneously (i.e., explosively). This heating technique keeps the bubble from completely collapsing between excitations. The result is a bubble oscillating at high frequencies. This new type of bubble formation enables ink jet printers to run at resonance and at very high speeds.

Abstract: An ink ejecting apparatus that rapidly heats a small volume of ink using radiative heating from pulsating laser light radiation (as opposed to surface conductive heating from a thin film electrical resistive heater). The laser light travels through a bubble that has been formed by a previous pulse and is absorbed by the ink (specifically designed to absorb the laser light) in the first few microns of the ink free surface. By radiatively heating the ink at a heating rate above its critical heating limit (for an example, for water at atmospheric pressure, that limit is about 0.25 MW/g), at least substantially, if not all, of the heated portion of the ink is brought to its superheat limit so as to boil instantaneously (i.e., explosively). This heating technique keeps the bubble from completely collapsing between excitations. The result is a bubble oscillating at high frequencies. This new type of bubble formation enables ink jet printers to run at resonance and at very high speeds.

Abstract: An ink ejecting apparatus that rapidly heats a small volume of ink using radiative heating from pulsating laser light radiation (as opposed to surface conductive heating from a thin film electrical resistive heater). The laser light travels through a bubble that has been formed by a previous pulse and is absorbed by the ink (specifically designed to absorb the laser light) in the first few microns of the ink free surface. By radiatively heating the ink at a heating rate above its critical heating limit (for an example, for water at atmospheric pressure, that limit is about 0.25 MW/g), at least substantially, if not-all, of the heated portion of the ink is brought to its superheat limit so as to boil instantaneously (i.e., explosively). This heating technique keeps the bubble from completely collapsing between excitations. The result is a bubble oscillating at high frequencies. This new type of bubble formation enables ink jet printers to run at resonance and at very high speeds.

Abstract: A cryocatheter for treating cardiac arrhythmias comprises a miniature refrigeration system powered by electromagnetic radiation. The miniature refrigeration system is disposed at the tip of the catheter and electromagnetic radiation is delivered to the refrigeration system by a waveguide. The miniature refrigeration system includes an engine that converts the electromagnetic radiation into mechanical work. The engine compresses refrigerant for circulation through microchannels in the refrigeration system. Such compression is achieved by using the electromagnetic radiation to superheat a portion of a liquid mass. The superheating causes explosive boiling in the liquid to propel the mass and compress the refrigerant. While particularly advantageous in a miniature refrigeration system, the engine may also be applied to other types of devices.

Abstract: A cryocatheter for treating cardiac arrhythmias comprises a miniature refrigeration system powered by electromagnetic radiation. The miniature refrigeration system is disposed at the tip of the catheter and electromagnetic radiation is delivered to the refrigeration system by a waveguide. The miniature refrigeration system includes an engine that converts the electromagnetic radiation into mechanical work. The engine compresses refrigerant for circulation through microchannels in the refrigeration system. Such compression is achieved by using the electromagnetic radiation to superheat a portion of a liquid mass. The superheating causes explosive boiling in the liquid to propel the mass and compress the refrigerant. While particularly advantageous in a miniature refrigeration system, the engine may also be applied to other types of devices.

Abstract: An ink ejecting apparatus that rapidly heats a small volume of ink using radiative heating from pulsating laser light radiation (as opposed to surface conductive heating from a thin film electrical resistive heater). The laser light travels through a bubble that has been formed by a previous pulse and is absorbed by the ink (specifically designed to absorb the laser light) in the first few microns of the ink free surface. By radiatively heating the ink at a heating rate above its critical heating limit (for an example, for water at atmospheric pressure, that limit is about 0.25 MW/g), at least substantially, if not-all, of the heated portion of the ink is brought to its superheat limit so as to boil instantaneously (i.e., explosively). This heating technique keeps the bubble from completely collapsing between excitations. The result is a bubble oscillating at high frequencies. This new type of bubble formation enables ink jet printers to run at resonance and at very high speeds.

Abstract: A cryocatheter for treating cardiac arrhythmias comprises a miniature refrigeration system powered by electromagnetic radiation. The miniature refrigeration system is disposed at the tip of the catheter and electromagnetic radiation is delivered to the refrigeration system by a waveguide. The miniature refrigeration system includes an engine that converts the electromagnetic radiation into mechanical work. The engine compresses refrigerant for circulation through microchannels in the refrigeration system. Such compression is achieved by using the electromagnetic radiation to superheat a portion of a liquid mass. The superheating causes explosive boiling in the liquid to propel the mass and compress the refrigerant. While particularly advantageous in a miniature refrigeration system, the engine may also be applied to other types of devices.

Abstract: An improved rotary valve having a gas bearing which prevents contact between the rotating piston and the cylindrical housing. The same working gas which the rotary valve controls is accumulated in an accumulation chamber. Fluid flow passageways, having a fixed flow resistance along their length, connect the accumulator chamber with a plurality of cavities formed on the cylinder wall of the housing. Pressurized gas is thereby pumped into the clearance gap between the piston wall and the cylinder wall, increasing in pressure where the piston wall comes closer to the cylinder wall, and decreasing in pressure where the clearance gap increases. The net effect is a centering force applied to the piston whenever it varies from an equilibrium position.

Abstract: This invention relates to compact, high efficiency foil regenerators for use in regenerative gas cycle (e.g. Stirling cycle, Ericsson cycle, Vuilleumier cycle, Gifford-McMahon cycle, Sibling Cycle and similar) cryocoolers, heat engines, refrigerators and heat pumps. Very thin foil us formed in patterns of slits and slots that produce highly efficient regenerators when the foil is stacked in layers as by rolling it upon itself.

Abstract: A piston-type compressor includes a cylinder having a liner sleeve in which is mounted a reciprocating piston driven by a crankshaft through a connecting rod. The piston forms a dynamic seal with the sleeve with the volume above the piston head defining a first, or compression chamber. Connected between the piston and the compressor cylinder is a flexible sealing element such as a bellows which defines a second, isolating chamber between the bellows and the dynamic seal and which further defines a third, or crankcase chamber between the bellows and the region of the compressor which includes the crankcase. The volumes in the second and third chambers are chosen so that the pressures therein are generally equal. A bypass filter assists in eliminating the pressure differential across the bellows during startup by maintaining the pressure within the intermediate and crankcase chambers substantially equal.