Other

Moog Gmbh

Q Jet Dsi, Inc.

R. D. Cummins, Incorporated

Carleton Controls Corporation

Richard D Cummins

Jack A Perry

The present invention provides for a flexible connection for connecting train cabins in a train. The connection comprises a first tubular train cabin having an end portion having a first diameter and a second tubular train cabin having a front portion having a second diameter. The second diameter is greater than the first diameter such that the end portion of the first train cabin fits within the front portion of the second train cabin. At least one flexible buffer ring, extending around an outer circumference of the end portion of the first train cabin is positioned as a cushion between the outer circumference of the end portion of the first train cabin and the inner circumference of the front portion of the second train cabin such that when the train enters a curve and the first train cabin turns relative to the second train cabin about a pivot axis. The flexible buffer ring provides a stable cushioned connection between the train cabins.

Joint seal for a flexible train

A junction for connecting first and second adjacent sections in a guideway carrying pressurized fluid comprises female end portions on a first section, male end portions on a second section partially received within the female end portions, and a vessel. The vessel comprises a plenum bounded at one end by a piston. The plenum is in flow communication with a pressure source.

Tube expansion joint

An improved support structure capable of supporting a guideway in the form of a tube or tubes which may in turn carry a train for travel thereupon, which elevated guideway is capable of passing over existing right-of-ways, rolling or mountainous terrain, and rivers of moderate size. The improved support structure provides a uniform vertical thermal expansion and uniform loading deflection (due to the weight of a passing train) thus assuring that the elevated tubes are smooth and straight.

Support structure

An all-weather guided vehicle system having a guideway including a single tube or a pair of parallel tubes capable of storing pressurized air. Vehicles are suspended below, above, or beside the tube(s) by way of carriages to which the vehicles are connected. Arcuate roller tracks between the vehicle and the carriage provide a banking mechanism for cornering. The tube(s) support continuous high-speed rails to receive suspension members extending from the carriage for air or wheeled suspension. Impulse vanes are provided on a vertical rod extending through a slotted opening in a propulsion channel for cooperation with air jet nozzles located within the channel to propel and brake the carriage. Embodiments having a fair-weather vehicle riding atop the deck and tire tracks for suspension and prevention of side sway are also disclosed.

All-weather guided vehicle system

The present invention is directed to an arcuate tilting mechanism for use with a vehicle having a passenger compartment and a carriage traveling on a track where the mechanism comprises an arcuate roller gear divider mounted on the underside of the passenger compartment. An outer carriage roller track is mounted on the upper side of the carriage, so that the arcuate roller gear divider and the outer carriage roller track are in juxtaposed arcuate relation. A first set of roller gears is provided which engage the arcuate roller gear divider and the outer carriage roller track so that when the vehicle enters a turn, the passenger compartment can be angled into the radius of the turn, where the carriage remains parallel to the track.

Arcuate tilting mechanism for high speed trains

The present invention comprises an apparatus for propelling and braking a vehicle traveling along a guideway. The apparatus comprises a plurality of nozzles located along the length of the guideway that direct fluid jets. Strip valves are arranged end-to-end along the guideway. Each of the strip valves controls the fluid flow from a group of the nozzles. A power unit is mounted for travel along the guideway. The power unit opens the strip valves in succession to release fluid jets from the nozzles controlled by the strip values. Thrust vanes on the power unit are arranged to receive impulse energy from the released fluid jets to propel the power unit along either direction of the guideway. The vehicle is connected to the power unit.

Propulsion/braking apparatus for a guided vehicle

A turret hand drill ( ) features a turret ( ) mounted on the drill for swivel motion about a pivot axis ( ) angularly spaced from the tool drive axis ( ) of the drill between a pair of opposite index positions. The turret ( ) includes a pair of chuck assemblies ( A, B) arranged symmetrically about and coplanar with the pivot axis ( ) of the turret ( ) for selective positioning in alignment with the drill tool drive axis ( ), with the idle chuck assembly extending downward out of the way. A spring biased clutch mechanism ( ) allows for disengagement of a chuck shaft ( ) from a drive shaft ( ) of the drill by pulling on the chuck ( ) to switch between chuck assemblies ( A, B). A frusto-conical ramp ( or ) is engaged by a chuck half ( ) of the clutch mechanism as the turret is swiveled to gradually retract the chuck half ( ) against the spring bias so that the chuck half is automatically urged into operative engagement with a drive half ( ) of the clutch mechanism upon alignment therewith.

Turret hand drill

A fluid mixing apparatus for mixing a first fluid with a second fluid and to prevent acoustic hammer effects, utilizing a condensing tube array. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a direct steam injection process heater is provided, having a first body for introducing a first fluid, generally a liquid or slurry, a second body for introducing a second fluid, generally steam, an orifice plate disposed between the two bodies, and a valve member for movement to and away from the orifice plate. The orifice plate has a plurality of frusto-conical holes which are engaged preferably by an equal number of complementary-configured, conically-tipped pins mounted onto the valve member. An actuator moves the valve member relative to the orifice plate such that the pins penetrate and partially or wholly obscure the holes, thus regulating the flow of the second fluid through the holes. The mixing area of the first body is equipped with a condensing tube array, having a plurality of condensing tubes rigidly secured in relation to each other by a plurality of retaining rings and secured in the first body by a plurality of studs. The condensing tubes are preferably arranged such that their longitudinal axes coincide with the longitudinal axes of the pins and the center points of the holes, and such that an annular space exists between the entrance end of the condensing tube and the face of the orifice plate.

Fluid mixing apparatus having a condensing tube array

A vehicle system for high-speed passenger transport between metropolitan centers comprises a guideway having a pair of parallel guideway tubes; a plurality of carriages levitated and propelled by pressurized air stored within one or both tubes; and a passenger car connected to ride atop the carriages and tilt relative thereto. The passenger car and carriages cooperate to define lateral air cushion zones under the floor of the passenger car for supporting and tilting the passenger car by air pressure. The carriages have pluralities of lift cells partially surrounding each guideway tube, with active peripheral skirts for minimizing air leakage. Pressurized air stored within the guideway is used to supply the lift cells and cushion zones, and also to propel and brake the carriages. Ram air is collected during vehicle motion to help supply the lift cells and cushion zones.

Air-levitated train

A fluid mixing apparatus for mixing a first fluid with a second fluid is provided. The fluid mixing apparatus includes a first housing, a second housing, a first actuator corresponding with the first housing, and a second actuator corresponding with the second housing. The first housing is provided with an inlet for supplying a first fluid such as water in the form of steam, and a nozzle outlet attached to a nozzle end of the first housing. The second housing is coupled to the nozzle end of the first housing and includes a inlet for supplying a second fluid such a slurry. A mixing tube, which may be slidable, is contained within the second housing for mixing the first fluid and the second fluid therein before passing the mixture out of the second housing. Alternatively, collar member may be circumferentially mounted around a stationary mixing tube contained in the second housing, or alternatively, around the nozzle outlet of the first housing. Depending upon whether the mixing tube is slidable, or where collar member is mounted if utilizing a stationary mixing tube, a circumferential gap is created between nozzle outlet and the collar member when the collar member is mounted on the mixing tube, and between the mixing tube and the collar member when the collar member is mounted on the nozzle outlet. The sliding mixing tube or collar member is made adjustable via a second actuator which is capable of adjusting the sliding mixing tube or the collar member so as to narrow or widen the gap and to control the pressure of the second fluid introduced into the mixing tube.

Dual control mixing jet cooker

A piezoelectric torque motor (10) includes a body (11), a pair of opposed nozzle assemblies (12,13) mounted on the body, a pair of piezoelectric actuators (14,15) extending upwardly away from the body, and a lever assembly (16) having an upper portion (95) engaging the upper ends of the actuators and having depending leg portions (96,98). A foot plate (94) is mounted on the lower marginal end portions of the lever legs, and is positioned between the nozzles. The piezoelectric actuators are supplied with differential voltages to cause swinging movement of the lever assembly between the nozzles. The improved torque motor may be used in the first- or pilot-stage of a two-stage electrohydraulic servovalve.

Piezoelectric torque motor

A pulse-width-modulated solenoid valve has a body provided with an elongated chamber. The body has inlet and outlet openings communicating with the chamber, and has a seat surrounding the inlet opening and arranged to face into the chamber. An armature is mounted in the chamber for movement therealong toward and away from the seat. A coil is mounted on the body, and is adapted to be selectively energized to move the armature in one direction relative to the body. A return spring is arranged to urge the armature to move in the opposite direction relative to the body. The improvement provides a valve element which is mounted for movement with the armature toward and away from the seat, but also mounted for movement relative to the armature when the element engages the seat, such that the mass of the armature will not exert a substantial force against the seat. According to the improvement, the operating life of the valve may be greatly extended.

Pulse-width-modulated solenoid valve

An improved transfer chamber for a space vehicle has an enclosure mounted on the hull of a spacecraft, and is provided with inner and outer doors. Two bladders are placed within this transfer chamber, and are selectively movable toward and away from one another. Conduits communicate these bladders with an outer reservoir exposed to space pressure, and with an inner reservoir exposed to cabin pressure. The conduits, bladders and reservoirs are all filled with liquid. When it is desired to egress an object from the cabin to space, liquid is pumped into the bladders, which move toward one another and deform about the object. This reduces the volume of air which is lost to space when the outer door is opened.

Growing community of inventors

Orchard Park, NY, United States of America

Richard D Cummins