Abstract: A plant pot assembly characterized by a container covered by a substantially impermeable cover such that water may be drawn upwardly through a capillary space between the covering and the container to irrigate a plant disposed within the container. The assembly also includes an outer enclosure which distills irrigation water, and which further aerates the growing medium within the container by forcing vapor saturated air into the medium. Due the combination of a capillary pumping action and an evaporation/condensation cycle, the plant pot assembly provides continuous irrigation for a plant at most ambient temperatures.

Abstract: Apparatus for securing a door of a vessel capable of maintaining pressure therein to its end frame is provided. The apparatus includes a plurality of spring-biased swing hooks pivotally mounted on the end frame which each have a cam surface adjacent the end frame and a hook surface on the opposite side thereof. A corresponding plurality of latch hooks each having a latch surface is provided on the outer portion of the door. A plurality of wedge bars are mounted for horizontal sliding movement on the outer surface of the door toward and away from the corresponding swing hook and are each provided with a cam surface thereon. In the operation of the instant apparatus, the wedge bars are extended toward the respective swing hooks such that the cam surfaces on the wedge bars engage the cam surfaces of the swing hooks thereby rotating the swing hooks against their spring bias.

Abstract: A building drain gutter has a flexible liner disposed in the trough of the gutter and connected in sealed relationship with upper edges of the gutter, the liner being loosely disposed within the trough and conforming to its configuration between the edges. A conduit is connected into the trough and communicates with an air compressor which when activated forces the liner to balloon upwardly out of the trough to remove debris which has accumulated thereon. The liner is a relatively thin plastic film such as vinyl. A downspout connected into the gutter communicates through a hole in the liner which is sealed with the trough about the hole. The liner acts to channel water to the downspout, yet can be lifted by the compressed air when necessary.

Abstract: Spaced elongated ribs each having a tapered end and a concave end are assembled together by means of elongated, spaced members inserted through respective spaced openings in each rib. The tapered ends of the ribs are attached to a common sheet of material which may be inserted underneath roofing shingles to position the entire assembly over a gutter to provide assistance to propel leaves, pine straw and other debris to the edge of the gutter but at the same time preventing the debris from entering the gutter while allowing the water to drain into the gutter. A continuous front member may be provided with clips for attachment to the edge of the gutter or may be omitted.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved adsorbent, essentially impermeable to oxygen and nitrogen but permeable to water vapor, and to sealants incorporating said adsorbent. The adsorbent comprises outgassed zeolite having pores with apertures large enough to permit entry of gases such as oxygen and nitrogen into the pore spaces and having on its surface, covering the pore apertures, a fluid which is essentially impermeable to nitrogen and oxygen molecules and yet permeable to water vapor. The zeolite adsorbent, and sealants prepared from the zeolite, are particularly useful in the fabrication of thermal insulating glazed windows having a sealed air pocket.

Abstract: A building system in which the wet areas are constructed as a module at a construction site and transported to be placed on site for a building to be erected therearound. The modules are constructed to be positioned one on another for multi-storied buildings and incorporated into the floors of the building.

Abstract: Herein disclosed are a generally arched, prefabricated PC shelter structure, a pair of unit half plates for forming an arched unit together to construct the arched shelter structure when a plurality of pairs are fastened together side by side, and a process for prefabricating the paired unit half plates together. The shelter structure is constructed of a plurality of pairs of unit half plates prefabricated of highly strong concrete. Any paired two of the unit half plates are peripherally curved to form the generally arched unit together when they are assembled to have their tops abutting against each other. Peripherally fastening means is incorporated for peripherally fastening the abutting tops of the paired two unit half plates together to form the generally arched unit. Transversely fastening means is also incorporated for transversely fastening a plurality of generally arched units, which are arranged side by side, together to construct the generally arched PC shelter structure.

Abstract: There is disclosed a novel articular pole assembly, comprising: an articular pole which is composed of a continuous series of unit block members connected to one another by pins, the unit members each having a main body formed by bending a relatively tough and hard plate material in such a manner that the main body has a channel-like cross-section, each block member also having a connecting plate pivotally supported by the main body at open terminal portions of the main body, the main body having stepped areas where projected parts are present, so that the projected parts of one block member can be releasably engaged with corresponding recess parts of the main body of the adjacent block member, the main body being provided with notches which can be releasably engaged with the connecting plate, the main body having a teeth portion which can be releasably engaged with a sprocket for driving the articular pole; and a take-up reel for storing the articular pole in a wound or curved state thereon.

Abstract: The disclosure concerns a square die-cast elevated floor plate having a top continuous or perforated panel reinforced underneath by a polygonal tessellation grid of ribs. All of the ribs of the grid, including their integral ejector pin bosses and border flange, are of the same depth; however, concentric rows of polygons in the tessellation pattern have their ribs gradually increasing in thickness from the border flange to the center of the plate. The polygons in the pattern may comprise squares and octagons in which alternate sides of the octagons have a ratio of one to the square-root-of-two, and the sides of the squares correspond to the sides having the square-root-of-two length. The continuous or perforated top panel may be formed integrally or adhered to the tessellation rib pattern. The rib pattern with its integral ejector pin bosses is preferably symmetrical for at least 180.degree. rotation of its die.

Abstract: A product useful for preventing water seepage onto a floor in a structure having a foundation, a footing, a floor and a drain below the floor, including a barrier having a cross-sectional shape which forms conduit portions and contact portions, the barrier being suitable for placement against the foundation and the footing prior to installation of the floor, the barrier having an upper diverter suitable for placement against the foundation, the barrier having a lower diverter suitable for placement against the footing, the upper diverter being connected to the lower diverter at approximately right angles to one another, the lower diverter extending a distance away from the foundation farther than the footing extends from the foundation, the cross-sectional shape providing conduit portions which allow water to travel through the upper diverter conduit portions to and through the lower diverter conduit portions to a point under the floor and away from the footing to the drain under the floor and the cross-secti

Abstract: An adaptor to interface a poke-thru with power cable sets of a flexible wiring system. The adaptor has: an elongated, hollow housing with an axially extending opening; a support inside of the housing having a center section and a head, the center section extending across the opening and the head which has an opening for power conductors extends across the interior of the housing; a wire connector mounted on the center section of the support member and accesible through the housing opening; and a hollow, axially extending barrier inside of the housing and resting the head, the interior of the barrier being in communication with power conductor passageway in the head. The portion of the housing not closed off by the center section serves as an entrance to the adaptor for communication cables. The barrier and the head isolate the communication cables from the power conductors.

Abstract: The invention comprises an improved structural support member, and method for making the same, having bonded wood beam members which are prestressed during the bonding process. The prestressing is such that significant stresses are induced in an outer surface in at least one of the beam members and at least partially retained by the cured bond. The stresses are such that a significant compression prestress is induced at the bottom surface of the structural support whereby it is capable of carrying a much greater load represented by the compression prestress at the bottom surface.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a house which has the external appearance of a conventional bungalow but which can be converted between a single family home and a two family home. The house has two living units including respective living areas which are disposed side by side and separated by a demising wall. The living areas include kitchens disposed in contiguous relationship on opposite sides of the wall and the wall includes a section between the kitchens which is closed when a two family home is required but which can be opened to permit access between the kitchens when the structure is to serve as a single family home. The kitchens then combine into a single enlarged kitchen and provide access between the two living units.

Abstract: A structural cinderblock which has been split into two pieces which are held together by special initial channels which limit heat transmission; with insulating material centered in the block cavities and laid over grating to prevent heat loss due to convection.

Abstract: A window unit has a plurality of adjustable anchors fixed to a bottom rail thereof. When the window unit is mounted in a building opening, a top rail thereof is received in a channel-shaped frame secured to an upper edge of the building opening and the adjustable anchors are each placed on an attachment base plate secured to a lower edge of the building opening. Then the adjustable anchors are adjusted to adjust the window unit in position between the upper and lower edges, and thereafter are welded or otherwise fastened to the attachment base plates.

Abstract: A wall and corner structure for an enclosure that includes vertically disposed, load bearing board members resting on a foundation structure. Horizontal boards are secured to opposed sides of the vertical board members at locations thereon that provide horizontal spaces between the horizontal boards. A double wall corner arrangement is provided by abutting a first set of inner and outer boards against the inner board of a second set located at a right angle to the first set. This allows the second set to extend to or beyond the outer board of the first set. Such an arrangement alternates at the corner in a vertical direction. Mortar material is located in the horizontal spaces between the horizontal board, the mortar extending to the corner to provide a continuous seam.

Abstract: In a solarium construction, glazing is supported on glazing bars to which the glazing is clamped by means of gasket strips. The glazing bars and strips, which are interconnected are divided into complementary mirror image parts. The force which is used to connect the glazing bar parts together causes the strip parts to be forced together and this displaces the strip parts more tightly against the glazing. This enables a force which is applied within the solarium to be effective externally to fasten the glazing in position.

Abstract: An open web structural support member such as a truss is described whose length may be adjusted in predetermined increments and which employs an incremental adjustment means for adjusting the effective length of the end web in order to compensate for adjustment in the length of the truss to maintain a rigid and stable truss. An apertured chord plate is attached to the upper chord member by a pin placed in a selected one of the adjustment holes in such chord plate for adjusting the length of the truss. The chord plate is connected to a mounting bracket at the end of the upper chord member. The incremental adjustment means for the web includes an adjustable link means connected to an end web member to form an end web assembly of adjustable length attached between the mounting bracket and the lower chord member.

Abstract: A truss structure for use in outer space comprises a plurality of module units and can be deployed into a structure having a flat surface or a curved surface. Each module unit comprises members, two pairs of flexible chords and four diagonal members. The members are arranged along the edges of an imaginary rectangular parallelepiped. The flexible chords of the first pair are stretched in that face of the imaginary parallelepiped which defines the flat or curved face, along the diagonals of this face. The flexible chords of the second pair are stretched in that face of the imaginary parallelepiped which opposes said face, along the diagonals of this face. Each diagonal member is provided in the corresponding one of the other four faces of the imaginary parallelepiped, along one diagonal of this face, extending at right angles to the diagonal member provided in the opposite parallel face.

Abstract: Apparatus for vertically regulating the dispensing height of stretchable wrapping material for stretch wrapping a load which comprises carriage means for varying the height of the carriage means between predetermined upper and lower positions, and safety means to prevent the fall of the carriage means to the lower position in the event of a failure of the height varying means. Also, a methods for preventing the accidental downward movement or falling of the carriage means in the event of a failure of the height regulating means which comprises providing safety means to grasp the frame means of a stretch wrapping apparatus when the height varying means breaks or fails.

Abstract: In a device according to the invention, a roll of narrow strip is unwound, fed through a cutting station and severed into discrete lengths which are conveyed forward above the level of the running sheet of wrapping film and at right angles to the direction in which it is run through the machine. The two ends of each discrete strip are picked up by suckers fitted to the projecting ends of a pair of arms which are drawn together through 90.degree., rotating about respective vertical axes, and thus cause the strip to assume a `U` shape before being attached to the wrapping film in such a way as to furnish a carrying handle.

Abstract: The machine works on cases, or upon groups of one or more cases, by effecting an inward-folding operation on the end flaps which fold on the top edges of the transverse side pieces of every case, subsequently effecting a downward-folding operation on the flaps which fold on the end flaps, and gluing the latter to the wings of the longitudinal side pieces of the case so that the machine itself subsequently positions a corresponding lid blank on the case, centering the former both longitudinally and transversly in relation to the case, glues the central portion of the lid blank to the end flaps, folds the side portions of the lid blank until they come into contact with longitudinal side pieces of the case, and finally glues the side portions to the longitudinal side pieces.

Abstract: A screw head on a container-closing machine has jaws that are pivotable on a holder to grasp a closure cap and hold the cap tightly so that the cap can be screwed onto a container. For pivoting the jaws, the jaws are connected to levers, which rest on an actuating cone that is displaceable coaxially in the holder. The actuating cone is integrally connected to a piston of a cylinder-piston unit, which is likewise disposed coaxially in the holder and the piston is operable by a controlled fuel supply.

Abstract: An evacuating pump has a hollow cylindrical body, a cap at one end of the body, and a nozzle at the opposite end. A plunger disposed within the body has a piston attached to an inner end of a reciprocating rod, while the outer end of the rod extends through a bore provided in the cap. When the plunger is withdrawn, a vacuum is created at the nozzle, while on the inward stroke, a check valve flap seats over the nozzle inlet to prevent air from being injected through the nozzle. Air being compressed on the inward stroke escapes around the peripheral edge of the piston.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for forming reclosable storage containers are provided to form and seal pouches containing products such as consumer food products. The film material handled thereby and the pouches thus formed include an access opening assembly having a reclosable closure assembly that is characterized by mating flexible closure strips having interlocking means that permit the consumer to easily open and readily and positively reclose the formed pouch. The apparatus and method engage together mating strips of film material sheeting to form a substantially closed web of sheet material that is generally spread or flattened and otherwise handled in order to minimize the formation of kinks and the like in seals formed by the apparatus and method.

Abstract: An automatic packaging machine has a table with a conveyor mounted thereon to carry a plurality of mandrels. A magazine for cardboard blanks is on a swinging arm which is pivotally mounted on the table, for feeding the blanks toward the mandrels on the conveyor. A pick up includes vacuum cups on a revolving platform which moves the individual blanks from the magazine to individual ones of the mandrels. A circular scale centered on the pivot point enables a swinging of the arm to an azimuth at which the pick up may engage and carry individual blanks. The arm carries a linearly movable fence for holding the blanks in alignment. A linearly moving block is slidably mounted on a pair of guide bars extending perpendicularly away from the swinging arm. A feed screw extends through the block to the arm, whereby the block slides toward or away from the arm responsive to a turning of the feed screw.

Abstract: A horse tack bit comprising: a mouth piece having two ends; two opposed tubular cheek pieces, each of said cheek pieces including an angled shank portion which is attached to an end of the mouthpieces and extends rearwardly downwardly and inwardly therefrom and a flexible portion; a bridle ring disposed at the end of each cheek piece proximate the angled portion thereof; a rein connector; flexible cables extending through the tubular cheek pieces and the ends of the mouthpiece and attached at ends thereof to the rein connector and the bridle reins to hold the bit together; and a spring disposed inside of the flexible portion of each cheek piece. When a set of reins is attached to the rein connector, tensioning the reins in one direction will cause flexion of the bit, thereby turning the head of an animal wearing the bit in the opposite direction of the tension.

Abstract: A riding saddle is provided which distributes the weight of the horse and rider over a large surface area on the back of a horse to prevent bruising and soreing of the horse's back and to provide a shock absorbing quality as the result of their resilient, spring-like material. The saddle includes a tree frame having first and second, spaced-apart, generally parallel bars; first and second flexible skirts each having a surface area respectively greater than the surface area of lower face of the side bars; and fasteners coupling the skirts with the lower face of their corresponding bars. The skirts have flexing portions and flex to conform to the contours of the back of the horse on which the saddle is placed and are biased to return to the unflexed position when the saddle is removed from the horse. Preferably, the skirts include a layer of polycarbonate resin or plastic, a layer of foam rubber, and a layer of fleece-like material.

Abstract: A grass collecting container attached to a walking type grass mower and the like. The grass collecting container has a container body, a mesh member for dividing space inside the container body between a ventilating space and a mowed grass depositing section, ventilating openings defined in right and left side walls of the container body, a convex portion defined in an upper wall of the container body and a handle disposed inside the convex portion for forming a substantially same plane as an upper face of the container body. The mesh member is downwardly inclined at right and left end portions thereof and at the same time the mesh member is placed in secure contact with a face of the convex portion inwardly of the container body.

Abstract: An implement tine for attachment to an implement crossbar having a bracket for mounting to an implement crossbar, with the bracket having a web for engaging an implement tooth and the implement tooth having a hook located on one end to extend around the web in the bracket to provide a mechanical connection between the bracket and tooth with a resilient mount encompassing the mechanical connection of the tooth and the bracket to provide a resilient implement tine.

Abstract: A process is provided for operating open-end friction spinning machines of the type including movable friction surface parts defining a yarn forming region and a suction device for creating a suction effect on the yarn forming region. The process includes reducing the suction effect when spinning operations are interrupted, and interrupting the suction device at a point no later than the return of a yarn end into the yarn forming region. An apparatus for performing the process is also provided.

Abstract: An open end friction spinning apparatus is provided in which there are one or more spinning units with respectively two adjacently arranged rollers, rotating in the same direction, and disposed to form a wedge-shaped slot therebetween for accepting fibers and spinning them into a thread of yarn by a friction effect. Mechanical cleaning devices are provided for cleaning the surfaces of the rollers.

Abstract: The metering device of the present invention is characterized by controlling the simultaneous relative positions of two sliding valve elements so that the degree of opening between fuel inlet and outlet orifices always corresponds to the setpoint of the fuel flow. If the position of either of the two sliding elements in the metering device of the present invention can no longer be controlled for whatever reason, such as being jammed, the other element may always be controlled to move relative to the jammed element such that the fuel flow may be controlled by the other element to correspond to that of the fuel flow setpoint. Thus, the metering device according to the present invention will continue to operate effectively even if the position of either of its slide elements can no longer be properly controlled, either because the element has jammed or because there has been a malfunction in its control system.

Abstract: A velocity controller for a ramjet missile, having a supersonic inlet proximate the peripheral skin thereof for admitting air to a combustion zone of a ramjet engine, is comprised of a variable pitch cover disposed in pivotable engagement within the inlet and an actuator in operative engagement with the cover for adjustably positioning same over an angular range and thereby modulating airflow for the purpose of controlling flight characteristics and, principally, velocity of the missile. A sensing system is provided for detecting a dynamic flight parameter indicative of velocity of the missile and generating an output characteristic thereof for controlling the actuator and, in turn, the pitch of the cover. Methods for improving the flight performance of both solid fuel ramjet missiles and ducted rocket missiles are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: In a double air-fuel sensor system including two air-fuel ratio sensors upstream and downstream of a catalyst converter provided in an exhaust gas passage, an actual air-fuel ratio is adjusted in accordance with the outputs of the upstream-side air-fuel ratio sensor and the downstream-side air-fuel ratio sensor. The adjustment of the air-fuel ratio by the downstream-side air-fuel ratio sensor is stopped when the engine is in a predetermined state.

Abstract: A dual exhaust pipe segment for mounting an oxygen sensor is connected to a dual exhaust manifold of an internal combustion engine. The exhaust pipe segment comprises a communicating portion where the two paths communicate with each other. The communicating portion defines an oxygen sensor mounting location. The exhaust pipe further comprises tapered inwardly facing surfaces upstream of the oxygen sensor installing position. Tapers of the tapered inwardly facing surfaces are determined such that extension of the tapered inwardly facing surfaces tangentially contact an outside surface of the oxygen sensor. As a result of this structure, almost all gas flowing from every cylinder of the engine can contact the oxygen sensor, and the temperatures of gas contacting the oxygen sensor are decreased to an appropriate extent relative to a sensor mounting location inside the dual exhaust manifold.

Abstract: A hydraulic fluid supply assembly for an agricultural or industrial tractor or similar vehicle. The assembly includes a mounting plate which closes an aperture in a back axle casing of the vehicle and which carries a hydraulic pump, a pump feed means, and a filter which is mounted on a filter head formed integrally in the plate. The supply assembly is arranged to be demountable from the casing as a unit. The mounting plate also carries one or more hydraulic valves or other hydraulic consumers which receive fluid from the pump via supply passages formed integrally in the mounting plate and a gear wheel which engages with the vehicle drive train to provide drive to the pump when the mounting plate is secured in position over the aperture.

Abstract: An electrohydraulic system which includes a plurality of electrohydraulic devices individually controlled by microprocessor-based control electronics. A central controller for coordinating operation among the various devices includes a host controller for providing low speed serial and/or parallel output of control signals, and a master controller having a low speed serial and parallel I/O port for connection to the host controller, and a high speed serial I/O port connected by a full duplex bidirectional data bus in common to all of the device controllers.

Abstract: An energy storage device comprising a high pressure liquid accumulator, a low pressure liquid accumulator and at least one pump and motor unit, i.e. a device able to be used as a pump and a motor which is connected to a means, such as the drive train of a vehicle, supplying or absorbing energy as the case may demand and during charging of the high pressure liquid accumulator from the low pressure accumulator functions as a pump and on discharge thereof functions as a motor, at least that pressure line connecting the high pressure accumulator and the pump and motor unit having a shut off valve therein. A piston delimiting the storage space of the low pressure liquid accumulator is connected to a telescoping cylinder bearing against the end plate of the accumulator and the cylinder is connected via an operating pressure line with the high pressure accumulator for pressurization.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a power control for an automatic transmission which consists of two valves, the first of which is a characteristic valve providing a pressure differential linearly proportional to an input speed signal provided by a prime mover driven fixed displacement pump, and a second valve which is modulated by the pressure differential generated by the first valve and by a pressure feedback proportional to the torque transmitted by the transmission. The power control provides a series of linear control curves proportional to input speed and is useful as either an automotive type control or an anti-stall control, or a combination of both.

Abstract: The invention concerns a hydraulic system for supplying a hydrostatic steering system. A central variable capacity hydraulic fluid pump supplies the steering system and a secondary consuming device via separate respective compensated pressure maintaining valves. The steering system and secondary consuming device are controlled by respective load report lines which are brought together at a changeover valve which is operative to permit the higher reported pressure to be delivered to a volume governor for the pump. Upon the secondary consuming device entering a neutral condition or a fluid loss condition, the changeover valve moves to block the load report line to the secondary consuming device; and a control circuit, including a branch line from the feed line to the steering system, maintains a higher pressure in the load report line of the steering hydraulic circuit than in the line of the secondary consuming device.

Abstract: A clutch valve system for use in a static hydraulic continuously variable transmission in which a hydraulic closed circuit is formed between a swashplate type hydraulic pump and a swashplate type hydraulic motor, wherein a first annular oil chamber and a second annular oil chamber are concentrically defined in the pump cylinder adjacent to annularly arranged cylinder bores of a pump cylinder in the hydraulic pump, the first oil chamber being adapted to be connected to the cylinder bores which are in a discharge stroke and the second oil chamber being adapted to be connected to the cylinder bores which are in a suction stroke; a plurality of clutch valves are radially arranged in the pump cylinder for providing the communication or discommunication between both the oil chambers by the radial movement thereof; and a clutch control ring engaged with the clutch valves for relative rotation therebetween so as to surround these clutch valves is pivoted on a fixing structure for pivotal movement between a clutch ON

Abstract: A Stirling engine design which is solar powered is disclosed. A solar receiver converts solar radiation to thermal energy, which is stored in a storage chamber. The engine includes a displacer chamber with a displacer piston which divides the chamber into hot and cold subchambers, the hot subchamber being heated by the storage chamber. A mechanism is provided for cooling the cold subchamber. The engine also includes an alternator chamber with an alternator piston which divides the chamber into working and bounce subchambers, the working subchamber being in fluid communication with the cold subchamber of the displacer. The working fluid circulates through the cold subchamber and the working subchamber and obtains heat from the storage chamber. The working fluid is displaced by the displacer piston to drive the alternator piston, and work output is obtained from the alternator piston.

Abstract: An auxiliary-energy-supplied brake slip control system of a vehicular hydraulic brake system with a brake-pedal-operable master cylinder arrangement (12) and with auxiliary energy supply into the working chamber (16) of the master cylinder. The master cylinder piston (23) portion facing the working chamber (16) is enclosed by a sleeve (58) which is longitudinally displaceable with respect to the master cylinder piston (23) and the master cylinder bore (63). The master cylinder piston (23) having radially extending projections or a collar (66) which, in the brake release phase, rests at the working-chamber-side front face of the sleeve (58) and moves the same back into its initial position. The booster-side front face of the sleeve (58) confines an annular space or a chamber (69) provided in the master cylinder housing and communicates with the booster chamber (21) by way of a pressure line (64).

Abstract: The master cylinder (10) comprises a housing (12) having a longitudinal bore (14), a housing end (16) enclosed by a bearing member (18) which retains a sleeve member (20) within the bore (14), a reservoir (70) mounted on the housing (12) and a pair of pistons (30, 40) received slidably within the bore (14), one piston (30) extending through an end (24) of the sleeve member (20). The one piston has an end (32) which provides seating for a fast fill valving mechanism (110). The fast fill valving mechanism (110) comprises a piston support guide (120) supporting a fast fill seal (150) and seal retainer (160) between the support guide (120) and the surface (23) of the sleeve member (20). The seal retainer (160) engages one end (142) of a spring (140), the other spring end (143) located at the end (32) of the piston.

Abstract: An exhaust gas turbine type supercharger in which a casing of a turbine is divided into two chambers along a flow direction of the exhaust gas to form an open scroll and a closed scroll. The open scroll feeds the turbine with the exhaust gas over a full operational range of the engine. The closed scroll is opened to increase a flow rate of the exhaust gas to the turbine when the supercharged pressure is high as in a high load/high speed operation of the engine. A port is formed through a partitioning wall between the open scroll and a downstream exhaust gas passage of the turbine and an opening/closing valve is interposed thereat to thereby bypass the exhaust gas to a downstream portion of the turbine with the port being opened, when the supercharged pressure becomes high.

Abstract: An engine turbo-supercharger including an exhaust gas turbine provided in the exhaust gas passage of an engine, a compressor provided in the intake passage of the engine and adapted to be driven by the turbine, a variable nozzle being provided in the exhaust gas passage upstream the turbine for changing an effective area of the exhaust gas passage leading to the turbine. The variable nozzle has a first position wherein a smaller effective passage area is provided and a second position wherein a larger effective passage area is provided, a bypass passage being provided in the exhaust gas passage and bypassing the turbine, a bypass valve for opening the bypass passage when the intake pressure of the engine increases beyond a predetermined value so that the intake pressure is maintained below the predetermined value.

Abstract: A turbo compound engine includes a generator for converting the exhaust energy of an internal combustion engine to electric energy and a motor operatively coupled to the output shaft of the internal combustion engine and drivable by the electric energy generated by the generator, so that the energy of the internal combustion engine can be recovered. The torque produced by the internal combustion engine is assisted dependent on the speed of rotation of the output shaft of the engine.

Abstract: A supercharger associated with an internal combustion engine has a rotatable shaft on which there is mounted an electric rotary machine operable as an electric motor or an electric generator. When the motor vehicle driven by the internal combustion engine is braked so as to be decelerated, the rotary machine is operated as the generator to enable the supercharger turbine to act virtually as a load on the exhaust manifold of the engine, thereby increasing the force of an engine brake. When the motor vehicle is to be further decelerated, the rotary machine is operated as the motor to reverse rotation of the turbine impeller for further increasing the load on the exhaust manifold to add to the engine brake force. While the rotary machine is being operated as the generator, electric power generated thereby is used to charge a battery. When the rotary machine is operated as the motor, the stored electric power is supplied from the battery to the rotary machine.

Abstract: A HDR closed loop geothermal steam generating system comprises of three large vertical bores driven in solid rock to a depth of 2 to 3 miles and terminating in an enlarged bottom chamber from which a series of horizontal tunnels radiate. A plurality of small bores are then driven down from each horizontal tunnel to a depth where the rock temperature is high enough for steam generation. A steam generating chamber is placed at the foot of each small bore to which feed water is supplied. Steam is piped from the steam generating chambers to a common header in each horizontal tunnel. Each header feeds into a steam riser in one of the large vertical bores which conveys the steam to the surface. Steam condensate is recycled as feed water without the need of pumps.