Abstract: A distillation apparatus includes an evaporator-condenser heat exchanger in combination with a compressor. The heat exchanger is mounted to float in an at least partially immersed position in a sump of liquid. The liquid may be a sap, or may be soiled water, and may have suspended solid. Heating of the liquid yield steam, the steam is compressed, and the heated, compressed steam is fed back into the heat exchanger to provide further heat to the liquid. The process yields a concentrated in the liquid bath and distilled water, each of which may be a desired product. The system may include a pre-heater that exchanges residual heat from the hot distillate with the cooler input liquid. The apparatus and process may have multiple stages.

Abstract: A distillation apparatus includes an evaporator-condenser heat exchanger in combination with a compressor. The heat exchanger is mounted to float in an at least partially immersed position in a sump of liquid. The liquid may be a sap, or may be soiled water, and may have suspended solid. Heating of the liquid yield steam, the steam is compressed, and the heated, compressed steam is fed back into the heat exchanger to provide further heat to the liquid. The process yields a concentrated in the liquid bath and distilled water, each of which may be a desired product. The system may include a pre-heater that exchanges residual heat from the hot distillate with the cooler input liquid. The apparatus and process may have multiple stages.

Abstract: A distillation apparatus includes an evaporator-condenser heat exchanger in combination with a compressor. The heat exchanger is mounted to float in an at least partially immersed position in a sump of liquid. The liquid may be a sap, or may be soiled water, and may have suspended solid. Heating of the liquid yield steam, the steam is compressed, and the heated, compressed steam is fed back into the heat exchanger to provide further heat to the liquid. The process yields a concentrated in the liquid bath and distilled water, each of which may be a desired product. The system may include a pre-heater that exchanges residual heat from the hot distillate with the cooler input liquid. The apparatus and process may have multiple stages.

Abstract: A distillation apparatus includes an evaporator-condenser heat exchanger in combination with a compressor. The heat exchanger is mounted to float in an at least partially immersed position in a sump of liquid. The liquid may be a sap, or may be soiled water, and may have suspended solid. Heating of the liquid yield steam, the steam is compressed, and the heated, compressed steam is fed back into the heat exchanger to provide further heat to the liquid. The process yields a concentrated in the liquid bath and distilled water, each of which may be a desired product. The system may include a pre-heater that exchanges residual heat from the hot distillate with the cooler input liquid. The apparatus and process may have multiple stages.

Abstract: A training or exercise apparatus may have a base and an adjacent movable armature or frame that carries a riding member, or shuttle, or carrier. The carrier has an engagement interface with an element of sporting or exercise equipment. The sporting or exercise equipment is engaged by the user, typically by being grasped. The apparatus defines a physical or virtual schedule describing an arc for a swing in the particular activity. The apparatus may include a manual or electronic means of imposing resistance to the motion. This resistance may be adjustable, and may be programmable as a function of one or both of position and speed. The apparatus may include an array of sensors such as may be used to determine the pre-existing stroke, and such as may be monitored during training to assess progress. The apparatus may be operated passively, or it may be operated interactively in a manner in which real-time feedback causes the apparatus to adjust resistance to the motion.

Abstract: A training or exercise apparatus may have a base and an adjacent movable armature or frame that carries a riding member, or shuttle, or carrier. The carrier has an engagement interface with an element of sporting or exercise equipment. The sporting or exercise equipment is engaged by the user, typically by being grasped. The apparatus defines a physical or virtual schedule describing an arc for a swing in the particular activity. The apparatus may include a manual or electronic means of imposing resistance to the motion. This resistance may be adjustable, and may be programmable as a function of one or both of position and speed. The apparatus may include an array of sensors such as may be used to determine the pre-existing stroke, and such as may be monitored during training to assess progress. The apparatus may be operated passively, or it may be operated interactively in a manner in which real-time feedback causes the apparatus to adjust resistance to the motion.

Abstract: A wind turbine blade including a number of segments attached together end-to-end in a predetermined arrangement so that the respective covering subassemblies of the segments cooperate to form a substantially smooth surface of the wind turbine blade. Each segment includes a number of fiber tubes extending along preselected lengths of the segment respectively, the fiber tubes being laterally spaced apart from each other respectively to define gaps therebetween. The segment also includes a covering subassembly at least partially supported by the fiber tubes and at least partially defining an internal cavity.

Abstract: A wind turbine blade including a number of segments attached together end-to-end in a predetermined arrangement so that the respective covering subassemblies of the segments cooperate to form a substantially smooth surface of the wind turbine blade. Each segment includes a number of fiber tubes extending along preselected lengths of the segment respectively, the fiber tubes being laterally spaced apart from each other respectively to define gaps therebetween. The segment also includes a covering subassembly at least partially supported by the fiber tubes and at least partially defining an internal cavity.

Abstract: A material shaping machine has a frame, a work-piece holder and a tool holder, for rotatably holding a tool. A computer performs real-time tool path calculations based upon stored mathematical representations of a desired work-piece surface and stored mathematical representations of an actual tool geometry, by calculating a desired position of a tool cutting edge relative a measured position of the tool cutting edge and a measured position of the work-piece, and adjusting a distance between the desired tool cutting edge and the measured position of the tool cutting edge in a first direction, so that the tool cutting edge reaches the desired position. Manipulation means provide a relative movement of the work-piece and the tool cutting surface in a second direction and a third direction. The manipulation means are operated outside the computer control. Sensors determine the position of the work-piece relative the cutting surface of the tool and send the position data to the computer.

Abstract: A holder having a quick-connect mechanism actuated by inserting a single- or double-ended tool bit, the tool bit engaging means to force deflection of retaining means, where the retaining means actuate means for engaging the tool bit, and released by manual operation of the retaining means, whereby the tool bit is pushed out from the holder so that the user can operate the tool bit holder using one hand only.

Abstract: A holder having a quick-connect mechanism actuated by inserting a single- or double-ended tool bit, the tool bit engaging means to force deflection of retaining means, where the retaining means actuate means for engaging the tool bit, and released by manual operation of the retaining means, whereby the tool bit is pushed out from the holder so that the user can operate the tool bit holder using one hand only.

Abstract: A material shaping machine has a frame, a work-piece holder and a tool holder, for rotatably holding a tool. A computer performs real-time tool path calculations based upon stored mathematical representations of a desired work-piece surface and stored mathematical representations of an actual tool geometry, by calculating a desired position of a tool cutting edge relative a measured position of the tool cutting edge and a measured position of the work-piece, and adjusting a distance between the desired tool cutting edge and the measured position of the tool cutting edge in a first direction, so that the tool cutting edge reaches the desired position. Manipulation means provide a relative movement of the work-piece and the tool cutting surface in a second direction and a third direction. The manipulation means are operated outside the computer control. Sensors determine the position of the work-piece relative the cutting surface of the tool and send the position data to the computer.

Abstract: A device for holding a tool bit and selectively transmitting or releasing torque between a torque generating means and the tool bit, comprises an elongate body having a tool bit holding means at one end and a torque input shaft at the other end, the torque input shaft shaped to be accepted by a drive means of the torque generating means whereby the body rotates about a longitudinal axis with rotation of the drive means of the torque generating means, a sleeve surrounding the tool bit holding means end of the body, the sleeve biased away from the torque input shaft end of the body by a biasing means and the sleeve slidably arranged between a first end position and a second end position, and a sleeve retaining means to prevent the sleeve from sliding past the first end position and the second end position.

Abstract: A holder having a quick-connect mechanism actuated by inserting a single- or double-ended tool bit, the tool bit engaging means to force deflection of retaining means, where the retaining means actuate means for engaging the tool bit, and released by manual operation of the retaining means, whereby the tool bit is pushed out from the holder so that the user can operate the tool bit holder using one hand only.