Abstract: Apparatus and a method accomplished by the apparatus is disclosed for cleaning shards, such as clay pigeon fragments, of debris and contaminant materials for recycling. The apparatus includes a reservoir containing a washing fluid and a moving conveyor partially submerged in the fluid. A screen has an outlet positioned above the submerged portion of the conveyor so that the shards may pass along the screen to the conveyor while some debris and contaminant material falls through the screen and into the reservoir away from the conveyor. The shards are washed in the fluid and are conveyed by the conveyor out of the fluid and past a bank of spray nozzles which spray the shards in a direction against the motion of the conveyor. Preferably, the screen from the bottom of a hopper and the shards are introduced by the hopper onto the conveyor under the influence of a fluid spray. A pump system circulates fluid through the various sprayers. A weir is included to trap buoyant debris.

Abstract: A compact, lightweight, portable cryogenic system for powering small pneumatic hand tools. A unitary manifold for providing a fluid fill path and a fluid vent path is mounted to the upper surface of a small dewar for containing a cryogenic liquid under pressure. The manifold is provided with partially threaded inner passageways for externally mounting a vent valve, pressure gauge and first relief valve, and for internally mounting a fill check valve and an economizer check valve. The economizer check valve is coupled to the inlet of a small heat exchanger comprising a length of finned tubing coiled in a stack about the manifold on top of the dewar and prevents back-flow of fluid to the dewar. A pneumatic circuit breaker valve coupled between the outlet of the heat exchanger and the inlet of a pneumatic hose having a disconnect valve at the outlet enables small pneumatic hand tools to be removably connected to the pneumatic hose and powered by cryogenic liquid vaporized in the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A pollution-free thermodynamic engine system and method for converting thermal potential energy to useful mechanical energy employing an isothermal or quasi-isothermal primary working fluid thermodynamic expansion cycle. A relatively cold primary working fluid is conducted from a low temperature storage tank, through a plurality of engine stages each comprising a heat exchanger and an expansion engine operated on an isothermal of quasi-isothermal expansion cycle, and finally exhausted. A relatively warm secondary fluid is circulated through the engine stages to provide a heat input thereto. The engine stages are connected to the primary working fluid path in parallel to operate on a first isothermal expansion cycle; the engine stages are cascaded to operate on a second serial isothermal expansion cycle.

Abstract: A highly efficient, pollution free thermodynamic engine employing a primary cold working fluid which is conducted in an open loop from a low temperature storage tank, through a succession of engine stages each comprising a constant volume heat exchanger and an expansion engine, and finally exhausted; and a secondary hot fluid which is circulated in a closed loop through successive engine stages and a secondary loop heat exchanger. A plurality of optional preliminary heat exchangers in the primary fluid loop initially heat the primary working fluid before entering the first engine stage to a temperature above the freezing temperature of the secondary fluid to eliminate freezing thereof. A secondary fluid heat exchanger enables transfer of heat between ambient tertiary fluid and the secondary fluid. Each engine stage employs a constant volume heat exchanger which provides an improved thermodynamic cycle with resulting high efficiency.