Abstract:
Engines can never be 100% efficient and some waste thermal energy is always produced that needs to be removed from the engine and is currently dumped into the Earth's biosphere. This invention relates to systems for capturing, storing, transporting and utilising the unused thermal energy produced in engines. For example, having cooled a ship's engine, fig.1, the liquid coolant, eg sea water, may be stored in insulated tanks 7 for removal and transfer for sale or use. The cooling liquid may be taken from on-board tank(s) (11,16, figs.2,3). A road or rail transport vehicle, fig.4, may have a storage tank 11 filled initially with cool liquid 13 which passes through the engine 5 and is stored as hot liquid 14 in an insulated tank 7. Alternatively, cool liquid may be taken from and returned as hot liquid to a single tank (16, fig.5). An i.c. engine/electric hybrid vehicle may be connected, when stationary, to a storage tank (16,fig.6) which receives hot fluid from the engine. Electricity generated in the vehicle is stored in batteries (36) and/or transferred to a remote location via wires (41). Instead of large power station(s), each house (52,fig.8) may have a parked car (53) which forms part of a combined heat and power (CHP) system or a tri-generation system for a number of houses.
Abstract:
In some embodiments of the invention, a security apparatus for a portable electronic device is provided. The security apparatus may include a plurality of interlocking shell portions, wherein the interlocking shell portions are shaped to, when interlocked, wrap around at least part of a perimeter of the portable electronic device, and wherein at least two shell portions comprise an aperture. The security apparatus may also include an attachment device configured to be at least partly inserted into the apertures of the at least two shell portions.
Abstract:
An accessory for a portable device can include a number of selectable operational states. In order to convey information about the current operational state to a user, the accessory can be configured to generate a state signal that is directed to the primary device for the accessory. The state signal can include information, such as a static image, about the current operational state that can be displayed on a display device of the primary device. Where a primary device has multiple states than cannot easily be displayed to a user, an accessory can be used to generate a state signal that can be directed to a secondary device in order to display the state information for the primary device using the secondary device.
Abstract:
A docking assembly including a port replicating apparatus is disclosed. The docking assembly includes a port replicating apparatus including (i) a housing having a major dimension defined by a first terminal end and a second terminal end, (ii) at least one interface for connecting to a portable electronic device, and (iii) a plurality of connectors in the housing for connecting to a plurality of peripheral devices. A base is also included in the docking assembly. It is capable of mechanically coupling to at least the first terminal end of the housing of the port replicating apparatus, such that the major dimension of the housing is vertically oriented.
Abstract:
In some embodiments of the invention, a security apparatus for a portable electronic device is provided. The security apparatus may include a plurality of interlocking shell portions, wherein the interlocking shell portions are shaped to, when interlocked, wrap around at least part of a perimeter of the portable electronic device, and wherein at least two shell portions comprise an aperture. The security apparatus may also include an attachment device configured to be at least partly inserted into the apertures of the at least two shell portions.
Abstract:
A docking assembly including a port replicating apparatus is disclosed. The docking assembly includes a port replicating apparatus including (i) a housing having a major dimension defined by a first terminal end and a second terminal end, (ii) at least one interface for connecting to a portable electronic device, and (iii) a plurality of connectors in the housing for connecting to a plurality of peripheral devices. A base is also included in the docking assembly. It is capable of mechanically coupling to at least the first terminal end of the housing of the port replicating apparatus, such that the major dimension of the housing is vertically oriented.