Other

International Patent Development Group, LLC

Newtonian Honeycomb, LLC

Lawrence George Brown

Gregory A M Brown

Brian A Brown

Gregory Andrew MacDonald Brown

This disclosure includes various embodiments of apparatuses for encapsulating and stopping a flowing mass of fluid (e.g., liquid such as water, or gas such as air) to extract the kinetic energy from the mass, and for exhausting the mass once stopped (spent mass, from which kinetic energy has been extracted). This disclosure also includes various embodiments of systems comprising a plurality of the present apparatuses coupled together and/or one or more of the present apparatuses in combination with one or more flow resistance modifiers (FRMs). This disclosure also includes various embodiments of methods of extracting kinetic energy from a flowing mass of fluid (e.g., liquid such as water, or gas such as air) by stopping the mass, and for exhausting the mass once stopped (spent mass, from which kinetic energy has been extracted). This disclosure also includes embodiments of mechanical energy-storage or accumulation devices.

Apparatuses, systems, and methods for extraction and/or storage of energy from moving fluids

An infinitely variable transmission, in which the driver and driven members can exchange their roles&#x2014;with the driver becoming the driven, and vice versa. The initially chosen driver carries within it a number of movable parts, which the driving forces bring into contact with the driven member, in a manner designed to produce a momentary lock between the driver and driven members, at the point of the torque transfer between them. In one embodiment the driven member&#x2014;which can be a flat disc&#x2014;is clamped between two oppositely placed drivers. Infinite variability is achieved by controllably relocating the fixed diameter drivers to smaller or larger diameter points on the so clamped disc. The output can be harvested from the rotation of said driven disc directly. Or one or more driver members like these which are used to rotate said disc, can be brought into contact with different locations on said disc, and become driven by it. In such a case a number of different speeds, or torque levels, can be taken simultaneously as outputs from a single rpm/torque input. In embodiments with a single driver of convex shape input, the preferred driven member is a cone with a concave curvature, to allow for a larger contact zone than two opposing convex parts could provide. Either the flat clamped disc version, or the cone versions, can be stacked vertically or horizontally, with cones nested within each other, to multiply gear ratios and or torques as wished.

Locked contact infinitely variable transmission

Provided is a novel flow control system that includes multiple modifier columns for positioning across a waterway. Bottom ends of the columns are attached to a bottom track extension, for example, at the bottom of the waterway. The columns are sufficiently light so that the buoyancy force pushes their top ends towards the surface forming a 'curtain-like' structure that provides resistance to the water flow. Spacing between the columns and other characteristics may be used to adjust this resistance. The columns may be repositioned along the track to change the spacing and/or to form an open pass. The columns are sufficiently robust and may swivel with respect to their bottom support such that their upper portions contact passing vessels. The system may be used to control flow through energy extracting devices or be a part of flood control systems.

Flow resistance modifier apparatuses and methods for moving fluids

One example embodiment includes a system for extracting kinetic energy from moving fluid masses. The system includes an encapsulator, where a fluid enters the encapsulator. The system also includes decelerator, where the decelerator reduces the velocity of the encapsulated fluid to near zero velocity transferring the kinetic energy originally in the incoming fluid to the decelerator.

Systems and methods for maximizing energy extraction from moving fluids

A water energy conversion system for convening the potential energy of water to electrical or mechanical energy, takes water at an inlet () from a higher elevation source, through a conduit () to a lower location. Then a riser () conveys the water up to nearly the same elevation it had at the inlet. The riser acts as a 'virtual dam', delivering the water with nearly the same head as a dam. The water from the riser is delivered to an energy converter () which comprises a loop raceway () which constrains and guides a plurality of carriage and disc assemblies () connected in a continuous train by links (). An inlet () at the top of the energy converter receives the water where it falls downward through a jacket () that is constrained by the raceway ().

System for relocating and converting potential energy of water without dams

A compact wall fastener () comprises pivotably connected proximal and distal sections where the proximal section has a through hole (). The distal and proximal sections () preferably are flat. The distal section has a cam follower surface (), a point (), and a raised portion () that has the cam follower surface. The fastener is driven into a wallboard () until its proximal surface is parallel to the surface () of the wallboard. An activating pin or screw () is inserted into the entry of the fastener and forced into contact with the cam follower and then past the raised portion, forcing the distal section to bend, thereby causing the distal section to rotate downward until it is in contact with the inside surface () of the wallboard. The result is a secure fastener with minimal damage to the wallboard. In addition, the fastener can be used to fasten layers of delicate or easily displaced materials (). The fastener can be activated by a tool () that applies the activating force to the fastener only, and not the material surrounding it.

Anchoring fastener with movable binding member and method for anchoring an object

According to the present invention, there is provided a foot orthotic including an orthotic base mechanism for underlying a sole of a foot, a first cushioning mechanism, and a second cushioning mechanism. The orthotic base mechanism has a proximal end for underlying a heel of the foot and a distal end for underlying the forefront of the foot. The first cushioning mechanism is operatively connected to the orthotic base mechanism at the proximal end, while the second cushioning mechanism is operatively connected to the distal end of the orthotic base mechanism. Additionally, there is provided a foot orthotic including a first cushioning mechanism and a second cushioning mechanism that are independent of each other. The present invention additionally provides for a method of making the foot orthotic and method of using the foot orthotic disclosed herein.

Foot airthotic

Exercising apparatus for simulating the characteristics of exercise during actual riding of a bicycle comprising a stationary frame device for mounting apparatus components comprising a pedal operated drive system, fly wheel apparatus of relatively small size and weight operatively associated with the drive system and being operable thereby at relatively high velocities simulating momentum during actual riding of a bicycle, and resistance load applying apparatus operatively associated with the drive system for automatically applying variable resistance loads to the drive system in direct proportion to velocity of the drive system to simulate variations in resistance load encountered during actual riding of a bicycle.

Exercising apparatus

A power transmitting system for transmitting power between a power source, such as an internal combustion engine or an electric motor or the like, and a driven device, such as a vehicle wheel or the like, comprising an endless power transmitting device, such as a chain or a belt, and a plurality of pulley devices including at least one variable diameter pulley with clamping devices associated with the variable diameter pulley and the endless power transmitting device to clamp them together during movement of the endless power transmitting device around the variable diameter pulley.

Power transmitting system

Exercising apparatus comprising a flywheel-type energy storage and fan-type resistance load applying system which is connectible to a variety of human force input systems such as a leg-operated bicycle-type system, a hand operated rowing-type system, etc. through a chain-type drive system which may include multiple speed and force multiplying and force controlling devices.

Exercise system

A one way rotary force transmission system comprising a rotary force input means for receiving force from operatively associated drive means to impart an angular input velocity thereto; a rotary output means for rotation by said rotary force input means in only one direction to impart an angular output velocity thereto; rotatable force transmission means having at least one transmission member displaceable relative to the rotary force output means between an input force transfer position of direct positive input force transfer between the transmission means and the rotary force output means and a non-force transfer position preventing transfer of force between the rotary output means and the rotary force input means; and transmission actuating means operatively associated with the one transmission member of the transmission means for causing displacement thereof to the input force transmission position in response to applied force causing an angular input velocity greater than the angular output velocity of said rotary output means and to the non-force transfer position in response to reduction in angular input velocity of said rotary force input means below the angular velocity of the rotary output means and being in substantially non-force transfer and in non-load bearing relationship with the rotatable force transmission means and the rotary output means in the input force transfer position.

One-way transmission system for bicycles or the like

Exercising apparatus for simulating the characteristics of exercise during actual riding of a bicycle comprising a stationary frame for mounting components of a bicycle or the like including at least a frame, a seat, handle bars and a front wheel fork, a rear wheel, crank arms and pedals, and a pedal operated drive system; a driven wheel for frictionally engaging the rear wheel for rotation by the rear wheel to simulate engagement with the ground during the actual riding of a bicycle; a fly wheel operatively connected to said driven wheel for energy storage during rotation of the rear wheel to simulate momentum during actual riding of a bicycle; and load applying resistance operatively connected to said driven wheel in the form of either a cage fan unit or a centrifugal control device for applying variable loads to said driven wheel to simulate variations in load encountered during actual riding of a bicycle.

A brake system and method of braking including brake pads made of an 'anti-friction' material, which may be lubricated, to establish a constant wet coefficient of friction in use with braking force applying apparatus for applying relatively high braking force which may be obtained in part by the energy of the moving member to which the braking force is applied.

Brake system and apparatus and method therefor

An input-output force correlated drive system for driving any driven device such as the rear wheel of a bicycle, a flywheel, or the like comprising: input force applying apparatus for transmitting input force to and causing operation of the drive system; rotatable output force transfer apparatus operable by the input force applying apparatus for transferring output force to the driven device; and input-output force correlation apparatus being continuously operatively connectable to and operable by the input force applying apparatus and being continuously operatively connectable to and operating the output force transfer apparatus for variably changing the rotational speed and circumferential location of the output force transfer apparatus relative to the input force applying apparatus during each revolution in accordance with predetermined input-output force correlation characteristics to be provided by the drive system.

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Honolulu, HI, United States of America

Lawrence George Brown