Abstract:
A power generating device that transforms the energy of vapor under pressure from a volatile liquid into useful rotational power that may be used in a stationary location or to propel a vehicle. The vapor under pressure is generated either by heating the volatile liquid in a confined space by means of fuel, or by utilizing solar energy for this purpose. After the vapor has passed through the power generating device it is cooled and returned to the liquid state. The volatile liquid is, by means of a pump, returned to the confined space where it is again heated to transform to vapor under pressure, with the vapor then being recycled through the power generating device.
Abstract:
Precast wall systems and methods for constructing a high-rise building using the precast wall system is disclosed, in one embodiment, the system includes a plurality of interconnected precast panels, each having a top end plate, a bottom end plate, a plurality of vertical bars disposed between the end plates and a cementitious material encasing the vertical bars and defining a plurality of sides of the respective panel. A first of the precast panels has a first column member half defining a right side of the first panel, a second of the precast panels has a second column member half defining a left side of the second panel such that, when the right side of the first precast panel and the left side of the second precast panel are disposed horizontally adjacent to each other, the first column member half and the second column member half collectively form a column member.
Abstract:
A precast wall system and a method for constructing a high-rise building using the precast wall system is disclosed. The system includes a plurality of interconnected precast panels. Each precast panel has a top end plate, a bottom end plate, a plurality of vertical bars disposed between and attached to the end plates and a cementitious material encasing the vertical bars and defining a plurality of sides of the respective panel. A first group of the interconnected precast panels are arranged vertically on a second group of the interconnected precast panels and the top end plate of each panel corresponding the first group is connected to the bottom end plate of a respective one of the panels corresponding to the second group. Methods for horizontally and vertically connecting the precast panels to each other are also disclosed.
Abstract:
A method for making an impregnated fuel cell edge seal utilizing specialized tooling and modifying the exemplary carbon/graphite impregnant dispersion, which might include, for example, 66 % carbon or graphite by weight, by adding to it a minor amount (e.g., 7 %) of a concentrated solution of ammonium hydroxide (e.g., about 58 % by weight of the NH4OH in water, equivalent to about 28-30 % by weight of NH3 gas added to water to make the solution) to the dispersion, increasing the pH of the impregnant up to a level of about of 10.5 to 11.5, improving the flow characteristics of the dispersion and decreasing the tendency of such a dispersion to solidify during the impregnation process. The modified impregnant is forced into the edge area of the electrode substrate (E.S.) of the fuel cell, producing an integral edge seal, using a specialized tool (10 or 10') having a rigid die (12) or a resiliently yieldable die (12') with a cooperating substantially rigid plunger (11 or 11'), which define between them an elongated chamber or channel (13 or 13') for the impregnant (30; see figs. 1-3 or 5). Such a tool (10 or 10') overcomes the effects of thixotropy, as the volume of the impregnant (30) is constrained by the volume of the chamber (13 or 13'), producing a seal which is uniform in density and dimensionally controlled by the shape of the channel (13), eliminating the varying shear forces of the prior art. The specialized tooling (10 or 10') can also be used to impregnate wetproofing material, particularly a fluorocarbon, into an electrode substrate to form corrosion resistant seals.
Abstract:
A power driven heat transfer device and method of using the same, in which a power driven rotating heat transfer body has first and second portions thereof in physical contact with first and second masses of first and second fluids. The first mass due to physical contact with the rotating body sequentially formed into a first stream of fluid, and the first stream as it is formed concurrently having energy in the form of heat removed therefrom to cool the first stream. The concurrent forming of the first fluid into a first cooled stream thereof is accompanied by transfer of heat from the second portion of the device to the second fluid to heat the latter. The rotation of the device may, if desired, be utilized to sequentially form the second mass of fluid into a second stream thereof, as heat is transferred from the device to the second stream. The heat transfer device is susceptible to numerous uses, such as selectively heating or cooling a confined space, transferring heat from a quantity of circulating fluid to the ambient atmosphere or a desired mass of fluid, and in association with an air foil maintaining a differential in temperature of the air in contact with the upper and lower surfaces thereof to impart a substantial lift to the air foil.