Abstract: In a method and apparatus for generating kinetic energy, thermal energy is applied to a cylinder body of a first pneumatic cylinder to result in an expansion stroke of the first pneumatic cylinder and in rotation of a flywheel assembly that is coupled to the first pneumatic cylinder. A second pneumatic cylinder is coupled to the flywheel assembly such that the expansion stroke of the first pneumatic cylinder results in a compression stroke of the second pneumatic cylinder. The first and second pneumatic cylinders are fluidly intercommunicated when the first pneumatic cylinder reaches the end of the expansion stroke, thereby reducing the temperature of working gas in the first pneumatic cylinder and increasing the temperature of working gas in the second pneumatic cylinder to result in an expansion stroke of the second pneumatic cylinder, continued rotation of the flywheel assembly, and in a compression stroke of the first pneumatic cylinder.

Abstract: A fluid, for example, air, is subjected to a high pressure while in a high pressure inducing vessel (101). The high pressure is due to a large mass, such as the ocean. The fluid is then cooled and directed into a depressurized vessel (107), such as a pressure hull, which is at a relatively lower pressure. With this change in pressure, the fluid expands. This expansion is used to generate work/energy using a work producing machine (108), for example, a turbine. Energy from the work producing machine is converted to electricity using a generator (111). The fluid is collected from the work producing machine and again subjected to the high pressure and low pressure to generate additional electricity.

Abstract: A thermoacoustic engine-driven system with a hot heat exchanger, a regenerator or stack, and an ambient heat exchanger includes a side branch load for rapid stopping and starting, the side branch load being attached to a location in the thermoacoustic system having a nonzero oscillating pressure and comprising a valve, a flow resistor, and a tank connected in series. The system is rapidly stopped simply by opening the valve and rapidly started by closing the valve.

Abstract: The invention relates to a gas expansion apparatus which is part of a system for the conversion of thermal energy into motor energy, especially for a hot-water motor.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for depressurizing a gas, comprising at least one cycle of: expanding the gas to a lower pressure and temperature while extracting mechanical energy and converting the mechanical energy to electrical energy; raising the temperature of the gas to ambient temperature through use of heat exchange means; heating the gas with at least some of the energy derived from the step of expanding the gas; whereby the pressure of the gas can be reduced, and the temperature of the gas can be returned near ambient temperature without requiring consumption of chemical energy from the gas. The instant invention also provides a new approach in extracting the potential energy available in the pressure difference between high pressure and low pressure natural gas, while maintaining outlet temperature at reasonable levels.

Abstract: A cycle engine. converting thermal energy to electricity includes a cylinder housing having a piston having two oppositely disposed heads and mounted for reciprocating inside the cylinder. The cylinder is disposed between a hot zone to supply hot gas to one piston head and a cold zone to receive discharged hot gas from another piston head, and to transform the discharged hot gas into a liquid. The hot zone supplies hot gas into the first piston head, while the second head discharges hot gas to the cold zone. This action creates a pressure differential between the two piston heads that causes the piston heads to move in one direction. Thereafter, the hot zone supplies hot gas to the second piston head, while the first piston head discharges hot gas to the cold zone, thereby creating pressure differential between the heads causing the piston to move in another direction. The piston is provided with a permanent magnet coupled to electric coil.

Abstract: A micro miniature solid state mechanical switch device operated by thermal energy for the control of thermal and electrical energy is shown. A gap in an energy path is bridged by an energy conductor that is mechanically moved into and out of operative position with the gap in the energy path.

Abstract: A driving apparatus utilizing thermal expansions and contractions including a high-temperature section (1), a low-temperature section (3) facing to the high-temperature section (1) with a certain gap of the gap section (2) there-between, a bimetal section (4) interposed between the high-temperature section (1) and the low-temperature section (3) by fixing at least a part thereof to the gap section (2), a link section (5) attached to a movable portion (4a) of the bimetal section (4) and rotary driving section (6) connected to the link section (5).

Abstract: This invention uses a body force to trap the liquid component of a fluid in local potential minimums in a continuous cavity in an expander. Shaping of the cavity traps the vapor components of the fluid between these "liquid pistons". In the external combustion embodiment, the cavities have a continuously increasing cross section. Therefore, the surface pressure of the fluid generates an unbalanced force on the containing expander. The cavities are shaped such that components of the unbalanced forces combine to generate a torque, which rotates the expanders. In the preferred embodiment, some of this rotational force is fed back by gearing to revolve the expanders around a rotor axis. This revolving generates a centrifugal body force on the fluid in the expander cavities. In the internal combustion embodiment, the expander stages are preceded by decreasing cross section stages which compress the fuel air mixture. The mixture is ignited and expands in the following stages.

Abstract: A thermal hydraulic engine including a frame. A working fluid changes volume with changes in temperature. A working fluid container houses the working fluid. A cylinder secured to the frame includes an interior space. The cylinder also includes a passage for introducing the working fluid into the interior space. A piston is housed within the interior space of the cylinder. The working fluid container, the interior space of the cylinder, the piston, and the working fluid container define a closed space filled by the working fluid. The engine also includes means for transmitting heat to and removing heat from the working fluid, thereby alternately causing the working fluid to expand and contract without undergoing a phase change. The piston moves in response to the expansion and contraction of the working fluid.

Abstract: Description of a system of a thermodynamic steam pump for water propulsion, its heating, disinfection and sterilization, or propulsion of other liquids, characterized by use of water steam pressure as the propelling media of a liquid mass directly, without intermediate equipment to convert the energy, which is composed of a pressure tank, an electric input valve, steam under pressure provided by an external source and means for introduction by gravity of the liquid mass to be impulsed, with electromechanical elements to control level and flow, including a heat exchanger where recycled steam is forced through a tube panel which over heats the liquid thus eliminating the existing microbes and bacteria or just taking advantage of said heat exchanger to pre-heat and fluidify heavy crude oils or other viscous liquids with no expense of additional energy. This same thermo-hydro-dynamic system installed in a surface vessel (ship) can act as propulsor of the same by the action and reaction principle. (Jet propulsion.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for converting radiation power, especially solar radiation, into mechanical power. A piston is provided that is movable in a cylinder accompanied by the formation of a variable-sized working chamber. During a compression stroke, the piston is used to press a working medium, accompanied by a reduction in the size of the working chamber, into a radiation absorber/heat exchanger that is disposed directly in the working chamber, receives radiation energy, and essentially completely accommodates the working medium when the working chamber is at a minimum. During a working stroke, the working medium, which is compressed by the reduction in size of the working chamber and which is heated up by absorbing thermal energy from the radiation absorber/heat exchanger, is used to move the piston, upon expansion of the working medium, into a position that enlarges the working chamber.

Abstract: A crosshead system for a swashplate engine such as a Stirling cycle type. A plurality of crossheads are constrained to move in a reciprocating fashion by travelling along a pair of parallel guide rods. The crosshead system further includes a mechanism for adjusting a clearance between the crosshead elements and the opposed parallel face surfaces of the rotating swashplate. The adjustment mechanism includes a threaded adjuster cup which is maintained in a lock position through a fastener which drives a conical cone into the conical inside surface of the adjuster sleeve thus fixing its rotated and hence linear position.

Abstract: A closed cycle gas turbine engine has sealed therein a working medium, within a working chamber, a closed exhaust manifold, a gas recirculating path, and a plasma gas generator, with a turbine rotor rotating within the working chamber. High voltage pulses of very brief duration are periodically applied to the plasma gas generator, causing electrical discharges to form a plasma in said working medium, thereby producing high pressure motive gas. Resultant flows of high-pressure motive gas drive the turbine rotor, providing a high level of output power from the engine with no consumption of a fuel. The pressure of the motive gas is reduced in the closed exhaust manifold and recirculated to the motive gas generator through the gas recirculating path for next electrical discharge. The engine is suitable for driving a mechanism such as a vehicle, machine etc.

Abstract: A new and improved electrochemical actuator and method of using it enables a reversible electrochemical generation of gases for inducing a phase/volume change that can produce high actuation forces, long actuation distances, and remain at the last pressure level attained by current flow even after the power is switched off, enabling a zero power hold at any position. The electrochemical actuator includes an electrolyte solution sealed within a substantially constant volume chamber, having electrical contacts disposed therein such that the electrolyte is in electrical communication with the electrical contacts. Passage of current between the contacts through the electrolyte, separates the electrolyte and or electrode material into its component gas or gases, resulting in an increased pressure within the chamber.

Abstract: A class of micromachine linear actuators whose function is based on gas driven pistons in which capillary forces are used to seal the gas behind the piston. The capillary forces also increase the amount of force transmitted from the gas pressure to the piston. In a major subclass of such devices, the gas bubble is produced by thermal vaporization of a working fluid. Because of their dependence on capillary forces for sealing, such devices are only practical on the sub-mm size scale, but in that regime they produce very large force times distance (total work) values.

Abstract: A heat engine (H) has a heat input means (10) and a work output means (20). A property of a first working substance is cyclically changed in a first subsystem forming a property modulator (1). The property modulator is provided with a work transfer input means (3) and a work transfer output means (4), a heat input means (10), a heat transfer input means (5) and a heat transfer output means (6), the sum of said work transfer input and said work transfer output being equal to zero over a cycle of the heat engine. The property modulator (1) is connected to a second subsystem forming an energy converter (2) wherein said change in the property of the first working substance of the property modulator induces a corresponding change in a property of a second working substance of said energy converter.

Abstract: The SMA-CDS engine uses shape-memory-alloy (SMA) means which include at least one stack of conical-disc-springs (CDSs) mounted on a perforated tube. Each CDS has a zero axis, a martensite mode, and an austenite mode. A support structure mounts the CDSs on a tube so as to allow each CDS to reciprocate along the tube's outer wall and to deflect within a predetermined deflection range. A drive shaft is attached through a coupler to the stack of CDSS. Heating and cooling means cyclically heat and cool the stack of CDSs thereby causing each CDS thereof to cyclically transform in response to the heating from its said martensite mode into its said austenite mode, and in response to the cooling to return to its said martensite mode, and during each such transformation cycle each CDS deflects within the predetermined deflection range and generates martensite deflection forces and austenite extension forces of different magnitudes which result in a resultant force that causes the drive shaft to reciprocate.

Abstract: A thermal lag engine has a cooled cylinder and piston connected to a heated chamber. A working fluid in the cooled cylinder and heated chamber is alternately compressed and expanded by the piston. Since there is a thermal lag or time interval before the working fluid entering the hot chamber is heated and the working fluid expanding back into the cooled cylinder is cooled, the working fluid is at a lower average temperature and pressure during compression and a higher average temperature and pressure during expansion to provide net work.

Abstract: An electrothermal actuator includes a housing containing a working fluid and a heater disposed in the fluid within the housing. A piston is slidably disposed in the housing for movement in response to heating and cooling of the working fluid. An output member is coupled to the piston and movable between first and second positions for transmitting a drive force from the piston to a load. A latch mechanism is operatively connected to the output member for releasably latching the output member in the second position without continuously heating the working fluid. The latch mechanism includes a coil and a magnetic member that releases the latch in response to a force produced by a magnetic field generated when a current flows through the coil. The output member can move linearly or rotationally.

Abstract: A microdevice in the form of an electrical switch. A microdevice for providing switching at a high repetition rate, including a cell divided into two chambers by a bistable movable membrane. A charge of gas in the cell and a source for directly heating the gas to increase the gas pressure and move the membrane, the source for heating including a pulsed source for generating transient gas pressure increases, with the cell including an arrangement for cooling the gas for reducing the gas pressure after an increase.

Abstract: The entropic echinoid 2 applies force to an object 6 with the cummulative effect of myriad feet 8 activated by fluid expansion pulses from electrical resistance heaters 30. Each heater lying in a fluid filed socket 10 of a substrate 4 and activated by a signal from a corresponding foot position sensing capacitor 26. The entropic echinoid is useful in high temperature environments for motors, actuators, bearings and clutches.

Abstract: A rotating-liquid piston engine having two or more cylinders that are partially filled with a fixed volume of liquid and are interconnected by two tangentially-connected, unidirectional flow tubes or pipes containing hydromotors. For an internal combustion engine, each of these cylinders has a top and bottom cover and a system for intake of fuel and air and an associated exhaust system. Each cylinder may have either an electric spark plug or work in a diesel mode (via an injector). The liquid in each cylinder is caused to rotate in a circle around the cylinder wall at high speed and create a vortical liquid body with a cylindrical cavity in the middle of the liquid. Rotation is used to totally stabilize the working surface of the cylindrical cavity whose surface is the "top" of the rotating-liquid piston. This cavity is the combustion chamber into which the mixture of fuel and air is injected.

Abstract: A mechanical force amplifier is disclosed including a gas-containing cylinder having one fixed end and one movable end determined by the position of an output power piston. A cold temperature zone and a hot temperature zone are maintained along the axis of the cylinder, the cold zone being adjacent the fixed end and the hot zone being adjacent the movable end. The power piston is resiliently urged toward the fixed end so as to compress the gas.A displacement piston is positionable along the axis of the cylinder within the cold zone and the hot zone and is designed to allow the gas to flow around it as the piston is moved. The displacement piston and the power piston are completely uncoupled from movement with each other except through the gas.

Abstract: This invention concerns a high efficiency piston-cylinder engine whose cylinder is equipped with means to add heat to a working gas in the cylinder. Other important components include: a heat regenerator, one end of which is connected to the cylinder; and piston position controlled valves for timing the flow of compressed working gas into, and expanded working gas from, the regenerator. A quantity of fresh compressed working gas is introduced into the regenerator, with the residual working gas in the regenerator and cylinder being at the same pressure as the compressed working gas introduced into the regenerator. The fresh and residual working gas is then expanded with the addition of heat. The fresh working gas is exhausted after the expansion step, and the residual working gas remaining in the regenerator and cylinder is compressed prior to receipt of fresh compressed working gas for the next cycle.

Abstract: A heat recovery system utilizing the principle of the Stirling engine includes a gas-containing chamber communicating through control valves alternately with hot and cool gas heat exchangers supplied with waste or other source heat fluid and coolant fluid, respectively, and a blower functions to circulate gas in the chamber alternately through the hot and cool gas heat exchangers and thus alternately to increase and decrease the gas pressure in the chamber. This alternate changing of gas pressure is utilized to operate a work-performing device. In one embodiment, a single chamber contains a piston reciprocative therein by said pressure change. In another embodiment, each of a pair of chambers is coupled through a blower selectively with a hot gas heat exchanger and a cool gas heat exchanger.

Abstract: An aircraft fiber optic control device adapted for connecting to a servovalve and the like. The device providing an optical-thermal-mechanical converter for driving a servovalve powered by the aircrafts hydraulic system.

Abstract: An acoustic cooling engine with improved thermal performance and reduced internal losses comprises a compressible fluid contained in a resonant pressure vessel. The fluid has a substantial thermal expansion coefficient and is capable of supporting an acoustic standing wave. A thermodynamic element has first and second ends and is located in the resonant pressure vessel in thermal communication with the fluid. The thermal response of the thermodynamic element to the acoustic standing wave pumps heat from the second end to the first end. The thermodynamic element permits substantial flow of the fluid through the thermodynamic element. An acoustic driver cyclically drives the fluid with an acoustic standing wave. The driver is at a location of maximum acoustic impedance in the resonant pressure vessel and proximate the first end of the thermodynamic element. A hot heat exchanger is adjacent to and in thermal communication with the first end of the thermodynamic element.

Abstract: An external heating system for a heat engine such as a Stirling cycle engine which permits thermal energy to be provided by solar energy or fuel combustion sources. The system employs a complexly shaped heat pipe evaporator section having an enclosed cavity for receiving solar energy and another section forming hollow fins which is exposed to hot combustion gasses. Accordingly, either heat source may be used to evaporate working fluid within the heat pipe which is transferred to the associated heat engine.

Abstract: A closed loop solar collector system includes a fluid receiver for collecting solar heat to vaporize a working fluid therein. A uniflow engine connected to the receiver, is powered by the vaporized fluid to power a water wheel. The engine includes a single piston acting directly upon a pair of normally closed intake valves projecting into the engine cylinder. Under low boiler pressure conditions, a spring loaded connecting rod having depending arms each engaging one of the intake valve rods when in a normally raised position coordinates simultaneous opening or closing of the valves with a detent mechanism, enabling the piston to operate in a nonexpanding state. At high boiler pressures, the connecting rod disengages from the intake valve by means of a transmission rod and follower acted upon by outwardly displaced weights provided on a flywheel powdered by the engine drive shaft so that the piston operates in the expanding state.

Abstract: A thermally regenerated four-stroke cycle internal combustion engine, comprises a cold side cylinder having intake and exhaust valves independently located through cold side cylinder wall, and a cold side piston connected through a connecting rod to a crankshaft; a hot side cylinder having fuel injector and ignitor and hot side piston connected to said cold side piston through the crankshaft; and a regenerator duct for housing a regenerator and for connecting cold and hot side cylinders.

Abstract: A fluid circulating system includes a thermal differential engine having a pair of expansion-contraction vessels each containing an expansion component expansible with heat for discharging fluid to a delivery line when heated and drawing fluid from a return line when cooled. Heated water is supplied alternatively to the pair of vessels to circulate the fluid through the delivery and return lines. The pair of expansion-contraction vessels are identical in volume and other characteristics and have multiple ports connected to anti-convectional valves and change-over valve.

Abstract: A wave generator for a swimming pool, comprising a caisson divided into a plurality of wave-generating chambers. Each wave-generating chamber communicates with the swimming pool through a below-the-water passage and has a sealed portion which extends above the water level of the pool. Each sealed portion of the chamber receives combustive elements which are ignited to produce an increased pressure which directly displaces the water within the chamber, inducing a wave action in the associated swimming pool. Each wave-generating chamber is selectively operated in concert with the remaining chambers to produce a desired wave pattern which propagates across the pool surface. The present wave generator features increased efficiency and fewer components over previous wave-generating apparatus.

Abstract: A thermomechanical-conversion engine, especially an engine working with a low-boiling-point fluid, which is composed of a circuit for the circulation of a fluid having a relatively low boiling point and including a cylinder provided with a position subdividing the cylinder into two chambers connected by a changeover device to an evaporator and to a condenser, the one constituting the hot source, the other the cold source (and vice versa), the changeover device being operated in order to connect the chambers of the cylinder alternately to the source of vapor and to the condenser.

Abstract: A class of heat engines based on an intrinsically irreversible heat transfer process is disclosed. In a typical embodiment the engine comprises a compressible fluid that is cyclically compressed and expanded while at the same time being driven in reciprocal motion by a positive displacement drive means. A second thermodynamic medium is maintained in imperfect thermal contact with the fluid and bears a broken thermodynamic symmetry with respect to the fluid. the second thermodynamic medium is a structure adapted to have a low fluid flow impedance with respect to the compressible fluid, and which is further adapted to be in only moderate thermal contact with the fluid. In operation, thermal energy is pumped along the second medium due to a phase lag between the cyclical heating and cooling of the fluid and the resulting heat conduction between the fluid and the medium.

Abstract: A pneumatic power supply for use in powering servo controls and actuators s a filament wound composite and aluminum ultra-high pressure vessel containing helium within which there is mounted an internal pyrotechnic heat generating element to provide thermal energy to the system. The heater compensates for adiabatic cooling of the gas inventory during blow down, i.e., during delivery of high pressure gas to power pneumatic servo controls and actuators in missiles. At the beginning of the blowdown, the heater element burns at a predetermined rate which adds heat to the compressed gas so that the gas temperature remains relatively constant, effectively increasing run time. The pressurized gas is delivered by means of a pressure regulator from the pressure vessel to the delivery system for use in the pneumatic control system.

Abstract: The draft from a solar heated convection column or series of convection columns is used to alternately draw first heated air from a black body solar collector and then to draw cooled air from a heat sink over the walls of a heat exchanger so that the walls of a sealed cavity in the heat exchanger alternately contacting first the hot air draft and then the cool air draft are first heated and then cooled, thereby first heating the sealed gas or vapor within the cavity and then cooling the gas or vapor within the cavity, the consequent pressure changes in the cavity are converted to mechanical energy by action against the interior walls of a large bellows or on a piston in a cylinder the interior walls of which are part of the same sealed heated and cooled cavity.

Abstract: A closed-cycle heat engine consists of a gas-filled heat-insulated cylinder and a reciprocating piston. The cylinder space between the cylinder head and the piston face contains a spiral in the shape of flat interconnected discs, whereof the outermost disc at each end is heat-conductively attached to the cylinder head and the piston face respectively. About 10% of the discs at both ends of the spiral are of high heat-conductive material and about 80% of the discs inbetween are of a low heat-conductive sheet material. The cylinder head is permanently heated to a high temperature, and the piston is permanently cooled to a low temperature; the gas in the cylinder is alternately cooled and heated by the shifting movement of the discs, which are alternately closely packed adjacent the piston at the end of the compression stroke, and adjacent the cylinder head at the end of the expansion stroke. This shifting between the end positions is performed by an alternately directed gas stream.

Abstract: An inert gas fuel consisting essentially of a precise, homogeneous mixture of helium, neon, argon, krypton and xenon. Apparatus for preparing the fuel includes a mixing chamber, tubing to allow movement of each inert gas into and through the various stages of the apparatus, a plurality of electric coils for producing magnetic fields, an ion gauge, ionizers, cathode ray tubes, filters, a polarizer and a high frequency generator. An engine for extracting useful work from the fuel has at least two closed cylinders for fuel, each cylinder being defined by a head and a piston. A plurality of electrodes extend into each chamber, some containing low level radioactive material. The head has a generally concave depression facing a generally semi-toroidal depression in the surface of the piston. The piston is axially movable with respect to the head from a first position to a second position and back, which linear motion is converted to rotary motion by a crankshaft.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing useful work from available heat at super-ambient temperature. The present apparatus includes a pair of working fluid units which supply pressurized vapor to a utilization apparatus. Each working fluid unit includes a generator for boiling the working fluid in response to available heat, and a recovery vessel for receiving condensed working fluid exhausted from the utilization apparatus after expansion to produce useful work. The condensed working fluid from the utilization apparatus is alternatively returned to the recovery vessel associated with the generator presently receiving heat to generate pressurized vapor.

Abstract: A new solar heat engine is provided in the form of a pressure oscillation generation device having a chamber with two spaced apart walls, means on one wall receiving sunlight through said one wall, means on the other of said walls continuously cooling said other wall, a light absorbing surface on a thermal shield movable between said walls, means for automatically alternating said sunlight absorbing surfaced thermal shield back and forth between said walls whereby a heat expansible fluid contained in said chamber is alternately heated and cooled thereby causing said fluid to undergo alternate expansions and contractions. The alternate expansions and contractions of the fluid are used to produce useful work by pump action, torque action, compression and the like.

Abstract: A generator is operated by stored energy derived from an elongated unit providing expanding and contracting forces when subjected to a temperature cycle within a predetermined range. These forces are utilized to drive a rack which is in mesh with a pinion on a drive shaft connected to at least one generator drive of a type creating, storing, and releasing the stored energy.

Abstract: A modified Stirling cycle type engine (10) includes a pair of cylinders (12,14) in which pistons (16,18) are reciprocably mounted to define a hot and cold side to the engine, a passageway (30) interconnecting the cylinders (12,14) and a regenerator (32) and a cooler (34) in the passageway (30). Exhaust and intake valves (50,54) permit exhaust of working fluid from and supply of fresh air to the hot side. A fuel injector (38) and fuel igniting means (36) are provided for injecting fuel into the passageway (30) adjacent the hot side for admixture with working fluid passing therethrough and ignition within the hot side cylinder (12).

Abstract: A new heat engine is provided in the form of a pressure oscillation generation device having a chamber with two spaced apart walls, means on the outside of one wall continuously heating said one wall, means on the other of said walls continuously cooling said other wall, a thermal shield movable between said walls, means alternating said thermal shield back and forth between said walls whereby a heat expansible fluid contained in said chamber is alternately heated and cooled thereby causing said fluid to undergo alternate expansions and contractions.

Abstract: A solar engine is disclosed in which a fluid, which is first heated and then cooled, forces a piston outward as the fluid is heated, and then draws the piston inward as the fluid is cooled. The piston is connected to a shaft and produces work as it moves outward and inward. A displacer plate moves between an absorber plate and a cooling plate to form an air space between the displacer and one or the other of these two plates for heating and cooling the fluid. The displacer plate is moved from one plate to the other by the displacer push ring as the piston nears the midpoint of its travel on the outward stroke and again on the inward stroke.

Abstract: A fluid pressure motor having a normally used internal electrical heating element which vaporizes internal fluid to actuate the motor. The motor further includes means in heat transfer proximity to the outside of the motor which can be caused to convert its stored energy to sufficient heat to actuate the motor.

Abstract: A metallic bellows consisting of two plates and one or more annular arrays of resiliently overlapping curved flexible radially-oriented strips. Each region of overlap is sealed by means of a silicone elastomer which tolerates high temperature. Overlap resilience of these strips helps accommodate greater volume displacement and long life while maintaining adequate pressure sealing. This bellows can replace the common and more expensive piston and cylinder in an engine such as a Stirling engine where it can reduce or eliminate friction and leakage losses.

Abstract: A motor and especially a thermal motor has a connecting rod assembly comprising two radial rolling surfaces constituted by pairs of cones, one cone of each pair being fixed while the other is carried by a rotatable inclined seat.With this arrangement the position of the pistons of the motor at the end of their strokes is rigidly controlled and centered.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for converting solar energy to mechanical and electrical energy, in which refrigerant composition is alternately evaporated and condensed in a tubing by alternate exposure to heating rays of the sun, comprises two liquid containing reservoirs communicating with the tubing, valve means for alternately directing the evaporated refrigerant composition to displace the liquid from one reservoir to the other, and a pump driven by the liquid as it passes between the reservoirs.

Abstract: A low temperature fluid energy conversion system in which at least two cylinders containing a working fluid which has been heated, for example by solar energy, are alternately supplied with a liquid expanding agent, preferably a hydrocarbon or a fluorocarbon whereby the heat from the working liquid in one cylinder causes vaporization and consequential expansion of the liquid expanding agent which, in turn, forces the working liquid from said one cylinder through a generator or the like device and then to the other cylinder, the cycle then being reversed to return the working liquid to the one cylinder again by way of said generator.