Abstract: A tethered unmanned aerial vehicle firefighting system includes a firefighting drone, a lifting drone and a tether line coupling the firefighting drone to a control station through the lifting drone. The control station includes a control unit for controlling the firefighting drone and the lifting drone, a fire retardant supply, a pump coupled to the fire retardant supply, and a power supply. The tether line includes a power line coupling the power source to and powering the firefighting drone and a fire retardant hose coupled between the pump and a nozzle carried by the firefighting drone. A lifting tower hold the tether from the control station at a height above ground level, and the lifting drone maintains the tether above obstruction for the firefighter drone. The firefighter drone disperses fire retardant from the nozzle for firefighting purposes and with a substantially unlimited supply of retardant and power.

Abstract: A tethered unmanned aerial vehicle firefighting system includes a firefighting drone, a lifting drone and a tether line coupling the firefighting drone to a control station through the lifting drone. The control station includes a control unit for controlling the firefighting drone and the lifting drone, a fire retardant supply, a pump coupled to the fire retardant supply, and a power supply. The tether line includes a power line coupling the power source to and powering the firefighting drone and a fire retardant hose coupled between the pump and a nozzle carried by the firefighting drone. A lifting tower hold the tether from the control station at a height above ground level, and the lifting drone maintains the tether above obstruction for the firefighter drone. The firefighter drone disperses fire retardant from the nozzle for firefighting purposes and with a substantially unlimited supply of retardant and power.

Abstract: A projectile launcher includes a body having a rearward end, and a forward end. A pair of arms is pivotally coupled to the body and a bowstring extends between the ends of the pair of arms and is movable between a cocked position and a released position. Tubular torsion bars are coupled to the pair arms to store and release mechanical energy. A mechanical energy delivery system couples the tubular torsion bars to the pair arms. The mechanical energy delivery system transfers mechanical energy to the tubular torsion bars when the bowstring is moved from the released position to the cocked position, and transfers mechanical energy from the tubular torsion bars to the pair arms to move the bowstring from the cocked position to the released position.

Abstract: A tubular torsion bar including an elongated inner tube of flexible material having a proximal end and a distal end, an elongated outer tube of flexible material having a proximal end and a distal end, a cylindrically shaped joiner bushing fixedly attached to and positioned partially between the distal end of the inner tube and the distal end of the outer tube with the inner tube and outer tube positioned in coaxial and substantially coextensive concentric nesting positions, external apparatus mounting the joiner bushing to maintain axial alignment of the distal and proximal ends of the inner tube and the outer tube and for limited rotational movement, and a mounting and output system fixedly attached to the proximal ends of the inner tube and the outer tube.

Abstract: A projectile launcher includes a body having a rearward end, and a forward end. A pair of arms is pivotally coupled to the body and a bowstring extends between the ends of the pair of arms and is movable between a cocked position and a released position. Tubular torsion bars are coupled to the pair arms to store and release mechanical energy. A mechanical energy delivery system couples the tubular torsion bars to the pair arms. The mechanical energy delivery system transfers mechanical energy to the tubular torsion bars when the bowstring is moved from the released position to the cocked position, and transfers mechanical energy from the tubular torsion bars to the pair arms to move the bowstring from the cocked position to the released position.

Abstract: A torsion bar pack including a plurality of torsion bars, each torsion bar including at least an elongated inner tube of flexible material having a proximal end and a distal end, an elongated outer tube of flexible material having a proximal end and a distal end, and a joiner bushing fixedly attached to the distal end of the inner tube and to the distal end of the outer tube with the inner tube and outer tube positioned in coaxial and concentric nesting positions, and input/output apparatus connected at the proximal ends. Two or more of the torsion bars connected in one of a torsion bar pack parallel connection or a torsion bar pack series connection and the torsion bar pack parallel connection or the torsion bar pack series connection including the input/output apparatus.

Abstract: A tubular torsion bar including an elongated inner tube of flexible material having a proximal end and a distal end, an elongated outer tube of flexible material having a proximal end and a distal end, a cylindrically shaped joiner bushing fixedly attached to and positioned partially between the distal end of the inner tube and the distal end of the outer tube with the inner tube and outer tube positioned in coaxial and substantially coextensive concentric nesting positions, external apparatus mounting the joiner bushing to maintain axial alignment of the distal and proximal ends of the inner tube and the outer tube and for limited rotational movement, and a mounting and output system fixedly attached to the proximal ends of the inner tube and the outer tube.

Abstract: A tubular torsion bar includes an elongated inner tube of flexible material having a proximal end and a distal end and an elongated outer tube of flexible material having a proximal end and a distal end. A joiner bushing fixedly attaches the distal end of the inner tube to the distal end of the outer tube with the inner tube and outer tube positioned in coaxial and substantially coextensive concentric nesting positions. Mounting apparatus is fixedly attached to the proximal end of the outer tube and a planetary gear system is coupled to the proximal ends of the inner tube and the mounting apparatus and designed to provide a selected torque versus deflection characteristic of the tubular torsion bar.

Abstract: A tubular torsion bar includes an elongated inner tube of flexible material having a proximal end and a distal end and an elongated outer tube of flexible material having a proximal end and a distal end. A joiner bushing fixedly attaches the distal end of the inner tube to the distal end of the outer tube with the inner tube and outer tube positioned in coaxial and substantially coextensive concentric nesting positions. Mounting apparatus is fixedly attached to the proximal end of the outer tube and a planetary gear system is coupled to the proximal ends of the inner tube and the mounting apparatus and designed to provide a selected torque versus deflection characteristic of the tubular torsion bar.