The present invention is an archer""s broadhead having blade elements supported by a mandrel preferably disposed in a longitudinally extending ferrule. The blade can incorporate a flange portion or a loop. The mandrel preferably comprises threaded portions and incorporates a collar, which collar is adjustable along the length of the mandrel. The ferrule defines a longitudinally extending central cavity and a plurality of ferrule slots extending from and communicating with the central cavity. Upon broadhead assembly, the flange portion (or loop) of the blade is located in the ferrule cavity between the outer surface of the mandrel and the inner surface of the ferrule. The arrowhead tip can engage a top section of the mandrel, a top section of the ferrule, or both, to secure the top of the blade elements and mandrel to the ferrule. The broadhead fixedly secures to an arrow shaft at a mounting component.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an archery broadhead and more particularly to an improved broadhead having adjustable blade retention and replaceable blade elements.
2. Description of Related Art
Many types of arrows are known and available for shooting with an archer""s bow. An archer""s choice of a particular arrow depends on the intended activity or use for the arrow. For example, arrows used for competitive target shooting generally differ from those used for hunting.
The sport of archery includes activities ranging from target practice to game hunting, and the art of providing arrows suitable for each of these purposes has become highly developed. Many types of arrowheads have been designed to serve a particular purpose, each having specific operating characteristics. Thus, arrowheads specifically intended for hunting large, thick-skinned, heavy-boned game such as bear have been advanced as well as those with heads particularly suitable for hunting large, thinner-skinned, lighter-boned game such as deer. Arrowheads also have been developed for hunting fowl, particularly turkey, for hunting squirrels and other small game, and for bow fishing.
Arrows used for hunting typically comprise an arrow shaft and an arrowhead commonly referred to as a broadhead. The broadhead is mounted at a tip end of the arrow shaft opposite an arrow string engaging nock. Conventional broadheads typically comprise a central ferrule that mounts a plurality of broadhead blade elements, each blade element presenting an inclined, razor sharp edge. Broadheads are designed for the purpose of striking and piercing a target, such as a game animal, and consequently the blades are designed to inflict a wound exhibiting profuse bleeding.
Broadhead blade elements typically resemble triangularly shaped razor blades. Two or more blade elements are mounted in longitudinally extending slots formed in the broadhead ferrule. The blades can be fixedly secured in the ferrule slots by several means.
Broadheads are easily damaged during use. The blade elements, and particularly the razor sharp edge defined along portions of the blade element, are susceptible to damage due to missed shots or when the archer makes his shot but the broadhead strikes a large bone of a game animal. If a shot is missed the broadhead may strike rocks or other hard objects that break the blade element or cause severe nicks in the blades"" sharpened edges. Even when the arrow hits its mark, the broadhead may hit a large bone causing the blade elements to break. This usually occurs when the broadhead hits the large bone obliquely and glances off the bone thereby imparting most of the impact energy along one blade element.
One consequence of broken blade elements is that the arrow cannot be used until the broadhead is repaired. This is so because a broadhead with broken and/or missing blade elements are statically and aerodynamically unbalanced. This unbalanced condition prevents a launched arrow from traveling the intended and predictable trajectory. Also, if the arrow with a damaged broadhead does hit its mark, the broadhead may not inflict the type or quality of wound that is humanely desired by bow hunters.
When such a broadhead is attached to the arrow shaft in non-releasable fashion, it is necessary for the archer to have a wide range of arrows, some for target shooting, some for hunting larger game and some for smaller game. Arrows having interchangeable heads were developed in an effort to reduce the number of arrow shafts which might be required, as in U.S. Pat. No. 2,289,284 to Chandler and U.S. Pat. No. 3,910,579 to Sprandel, but such approaches require replacement of the entire broadhead, and therefore have the drawback that a new complete broadhead must be manufactured for each intended use.
Arrowheads with interchangeable blades also have been developed in an effort to increase the versatility of the arrowhead. Systems typical of this general approach are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,940,758 to Richter, U.S. Pat. No. 4,036,479 to Sherwin, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,146,226 to Sorenson. Such systems generally employ a plurality of independent blades each of which can be fitted into a different one of a plurality of slots in the ferrule. Usually, the blades are then clamped by axially-acting clamp members which are separate from the arrowhead body, or the body itself may act as a clamp member.
U.S. Patent No. 3,741,542 to Karbo and U.S. Pat. No. 4,349,202 to Scott illustrate prior art arrowheads in which blade assemblies comprising two or more blades are releasably secured to the arrowhead body. Though such arrowheads represent a distinct improvement in the art, they have the deficiency that, when the blades are of substantial size, the clamping forces are applied to only a limited portion of the blade; therefore, the blade is likely to fracture or distort under the rigors of use. In other approaches, as in U.S. Pat. No. 3,398,960 to Carroll, a blade structure is positioned over a central shaft and locked thereto, but such approaches have the deficiency that the entire blade structure is external and more easily deformed or loosened on impact. While these prior art proposals have achieved significant acceptance in the trade, there has been a continuing need for improvement, particularly in the ease of assembly of the arrowhead and its ability, once assembled, to withstand the rigors of actual use.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,986,550 to Segovia discloses one means for fixedly securing blade elements in a broadhead. Segovia shows a broadhead comprising an arrowhead body or ferrule with longitudinally extending, radially oriented slots for accepting corresponding blade elements. Each blade element includes a central flange from which a sharpened blade extends. The blade flanges have acutely shaped projections at opposing ends. As shown in FIG. 1 of Segovia, one projection fits captively within a cooperating portion of the slot and the other projection is engaged by a cooperating washer, which, when compressed against the ferrule, fixedly secures the blade unit in the slot.
Another blade element securing means is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,210,330 to Kosbab. Kosbab shows, in FIG. 2 thereof, a modular broadhead having a central ferrule with blade engaging slots radially offset from the central axis of the ferrule in planes parallel to planes tangent to the peripheral surface of the ferrule. Each blade includes opposed acute angle projections that cooperate, at one end of the blade, with an annular groove formed in a tip that threaded engages the ferrule and, at the opposed end of the blade, with a ferrule collar. The engagement of the tip and ferrule collar with the acute angle projections secures the blade in captive engagement with the ferrule.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,482,294 to Sullivan et al. discloses an archery""s broadhead having a longitudinally extending ferrule with a plurality of blade elements mounted by and extending from the ferrule. A securing flange extends from the blade body and extends through a ferrule slot into a ferrule cavity. An engaging bar is disposed in the ferrule cavity and engages portions of the securing flange of the blade element. Yet, the Sullivan et al. broadhead has several shortcomings.
As shown in FIGS. 5a-10 of Sullivan et al., the angular space between the outer surface of the engaging bar and the inner surface of the ferrule remains substantially empty upon broadhead assembly. While this configuration may provide a somewhat lighter broadhead, the broadhead assembly as a whole, including the blade elements and ferrule, provides suspect strength upon impact. Upon impact, the blade elements of a broadhead are exposed to significant longitudinal stresses along the length of the broadhead. The Sullivan et al. broadhead arrangement provides only a small surface area contact between the blade elements and the ferrule in a longitudinal configuration, detailing a second disadvantage to this broadhead. The securing flange 72 is truncated adjacent an arcuate side edge 84 which seats into the arcuate portion 62 of the slot 60 when the broadhead assembly 10 is assembled. The arcuate side edge 84 is undercut relative to the securing flange 72, forming a notch 86 which, when the blade 18 is seated into engagement with the ferrule 16, engages the blade support edge 64 of the ferrule 16. The notch 86 seated in support edge 64 only provides a minimum amount of protection to the blade element upon impact. Further, the alignment shoulder 34 of ferrule 16 simply provides alignment of the longitudinal axes of the broadhead assembly 10 and arrow shaft 14. The alignment shoulder is integral with the ferrule and cannot be adjusted longitudinally to further the snug fit of blade elements in the broadhead.
Therefore it can be seen that there is a need in the art for an archery broadhead having replaceable blade elements with adjustable blade retention.
Briefly described, in its preferred form, the present invention comprises a broadhead including blade elements, a mandrel having an adjustable collar, a ferrule and a tip. The present broadhead overcomes the deficiencies in the prior art by providing an archery broadhead having adjustable blade retention and replaceable blade elements that are mechanically and captively engaged: first, between the arrowhead tip and the collar which is in communication with the broadhead mandrel, the tip and collar sandwiching the blades therebetween, limiting longitudinal movement of the blade elements; second, by ferrule slots from which the blades protrude through the ferrule, limiting rotational movement of the blade elements; and third, by removing any void space between the outer surface of the mandrel and the inner surface of the ferrule.
The present invention is an archer""s broadhead having blade elements supported by a mandrel preferably disposed in a longitudinally extending ferrule. Each blade element defines a generally triangularly shaped blade body having a sharpened blade edge, which sharpened blade edge extends from a ferrule slot. A mandrel engaging portion of the blade extends from the mandrel edge of the blade body distal from the sharpened blade edge. The mandrel engaging portion can be a flange portion angularly displaced from the blade body. Alternatively, the mandrel engaging portion can be a loop extending from the mandrel edge.
The flange portion of the blade can extend substantially the entire length of the blade body, or can extend only a portion of the length of the blade. The flange portion also can extend arcuately from the blade body in varying arc lengths. The flange portion of the blade elements are designed to keep the blades in vertical alignment and in surface contact with the mandrel. The flange portion preferably xe2x80x9csnapsxe2x80x9d around an arcuate portion of the outer surface of the mandrel, locking the blade elements in position along the mandrel. Alternatively, blades with loops are retained by the mandrel via the loops through which the mandrel extends.
The mandrel preferably comprises threaded portions and incorporates a collar, which collar is adjustable along the length of the mandrel. The collar is designed as a stop supporting the back edge of the flange portion of each blade element, or supporting the back surface of the loop of the bottom blade element, which loop of the bottom blade element in turn supports the next highest loop of next blade element, and so on. This arrangement further secures the blades from longitudinal movement along the length of the mandrel.
The collar of the mandrel comprises a hard material, supports a substantial portion of the weight of the blade elements, and provides a stop against the longitudinal stresses borne by the blade elements upon the broadhead striking the target. Without the collar, the blade elements typically deform the ferrule body upon impact, thus necessitating replacement of the ferrule. Compounding this problem, the blade itself may also fail, requiring replacement. The present collar lessens such component failure. The hard material forming the collar is defined as a material that will support the impact of the blades upon striking the target without significant deformation to the collar. For example, conventional broadhead constructions support blade elements against an aluminum ferrule, which aluminum ferrule easily deforms upon blade contact with the target. The present invention rests portions of the blades against a collar made of, for example, steel, that can sustain blade impact without significant structural damage. Therefore, if a blade is damaged upon contact, the collar prevents damage to the ferrule and one only need replace the damaged blade element.
The collar of the mandrel is preferably rotationally secured to the bottom portion of the mandrel by threading so the collar can be adjusted vertically along the length of the mandrel, providing secure locking of the blade positions between the collar and the arrow tip. This arrangement provides a level of securing and alignment not achieved in conventional broadhead assemblies. Alternatively, the collar can be formed as an integral part of the bottom portion of the mandrel and the tip adjusted downward along the length of the top portion of the mandrel. In yet another embodiment, a collar may be inserted into the ferrule, then the blades, and then the mandrel. This embodiment can be used when the tip is integral with the mandrel.
The ferrule defines a longitudinally extending central cavity and a plurality of ferrule slots extending from and communicating with the central cavity. Upon broadhead assembly, the flange portion (or loop) of the blade is located in the ferrule cavity between the outer surface of the mandrel and the inner surface of the ferrule. The flange portion of the blade element is arcuate to extend around a portion of the outer surface of the mandrel.
The arrowhead tip can engage the top section of the mandrel, the top section of the ferrule, or both, to secure the top of the blade elements and mandrel to the ferrule.
The broadhead fixedly secures to an arrow shaft at a mounting component. Preferably, the mounting component comprises a ferrule extension, which ferrule extension provides a mounting portion adapted to be secured into a bore in the arrow shaft.
In one preferred embodiment, the broadhead comprises three blade elements, each blade element having a flange portion extending from the length of the blade and approximately 120 degrees around the outer surface of the mandrel. In another embodiment, each blade has a full loop extending from one-third the length of the blade, the loop having an inner diameter incrementally larger than the outer surface of the mandrel. In this embodiment, the mandrel slips within the stacked loops. The loop of the bottom blade rests atop the collar of the mandrel. The loop of the middle blade rests atop the loop of the bottom blade, and the loop of the top blade rests atop the loop of the middle blade.
Each blade can comprise more than one flange portion or loop, providing each separate flange portion or loop occupies a free portion of the length of the mandrel upon assembly of the broadhead. For example, if each blade incorporates more than one loop, this configuration is somewhat similar to the hinge of a door wherein the hinge panels are the blade elements having loops, and the pin is the mandrel.
In another preferred embodiment, each blade element can comprise flange portions running the length of the blade and extending incrementally less than 360/n degrees around the outer surface of the mandrel, where n equals the number of blade elements comprising the broadhead. In this embodiment, the back edge of each flange portion of each blade element rests atop a portion of the top surface of the collar.
In yet another preferred embodiment, the present broadhead assembly can comprise blade elements, a mandrel having an adjustable collar, a circumferential locking assembly and a tip. In this embodiment, the mandrel engaging portions of the blade elements are loops. The mandrel extends through the loop of each blade, wherein the assembly comprises at least two blades, a top and a bottom blade, where the loop of the bottom blade rests atop the collar. The circumferential locking assembly locks the blade elements from rotating individually, so if the blade elements rotate around the mandrel, they rotate as a single unit. The locking assembly can further lock the unity of blade elements from shifting circumferentially around the mandrel once the blades have been placed in proper alignment upon construction of the broadhead. Since the loops of the blades lay one atop another, and since the blades are secured from sliding on the mandrel both circumferentially (by the locking assembly) and lengthwise (by compression between the collar and the tip), this embodiment does not require a ferrule.
It will be appreciated that the present invention may be carried out with the elements forming the present broadhead constructed of various materials. Accordingly, wood, metal or plastics may be utilized and the latter may include glass fiber reinforced plastics. Quite obviously, these elements can be formed of any other suitable material exhibiting sufficient dimensional stability for use in this environment.
The broadhead of the present invention provides numerous advantages over conventional broadhead designs. For example, the broadhead of U.S. Pat. No. 5,482,294 to Sullivan et al. provides a blade support assembly wherein an arcuate side edge of the blade is undercut relative to a securing flange, forming a notch which, when the blade element is seated into engagement with a ferrule, engages the blade support edge with the ferrule. As shown in FIG. 4 of Sullivan et al., the notch 86 supports the blade element in the direction opposite the direction of broadhead travel. See also FIGS. 1, 2a and 2b. As shown, notch 86 provides little structural support for the blade element in this direction. Thus, when the Sullivan et al. broadhead strikes its target, the blade element typically fails at a site in proximity to notch 86.
Unlike the Sullivan et al. broadhead, the present broadhead provides a blade support assembly wherein preferably a substantial portion of the blade body is supported both longitudinally along a portion of the length of the blade, and tangentially along a flange portion or loop.
Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved archer""s broadhead.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a broadhead having blades that are replaceable and interchangeable.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a broadhead in which the blade elements are mechanically secured to the mandrel along substantially the entire length of a flange portion of the blade element.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a broadhead with a mandrel having an adjustable collar.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a blade assembly that better supports each blade from longitudinal stresses when the broadhead hits its target.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures.

Broadhead arrowhead with adjustable blade retention


A system and method is provided to replenish a submarine""s tactical capabilities, e.g., weapons, sensors and communications, while the submarine remains within a hostile environment. One or more Underwater Combat Vehicles (UCV""s) are pre-positioned at strategic locations or are launched from a surface and/or airborne platform. The UCV""s include full tactical capabilities, which can attach to and be integrated with a submarine""s capabilities. To initiate replenishment, a submarine broadcasts a signal, or dispatches one of the UCV""s under its direct control, to make contact with one of the pre-positioned UCV""s or with a central command platform. The pre-positioned UCV""s are programmed to search for and locate the submarine. This can either be accomplished using signals broadcast from the submarine, or using UCV internal navigation systems and a last known position for the submarine. Once located, communication between the submarine and UCV allows docking of the UCV onto the submarine.

There are no related patent applications.
(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to unmanned underwater vehicles, and more particularly to a method using an unmanned underwater vehicle to provide in-situ replenishment of a submarine""s tactical capabilities.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
Recent testing using scale models have demonstrated the potential of programmable, or mission reconfigurable, unmanned underwater vehicles operating in concert with a submarine. Such underwater unmanned vehicles, referred to as Unmanned Combat Vehicles (UCV""s) are hydrodynamically and stealth shaped, and provide an extended sphere of influence for the submarine. Current battle scenarios call for submarine operation in the littoral area. With the shallow depth and generally heavy surface ship traffic in littoral areas, the submarine becomes extremely vulnerable to hostile attack. The UCV can provide detailed intelligence, surveillance and environmental data to the submarine without the need for the submarine to enter the littoral area. The initial concept for UCV use was recited in U.S. Pat. No. 6,118,066 entitled AUTONOMOUS UNDERSEA PLATFORM, by the current inventors and incorporated herein by reference.
Advanced weapons systems on contemplated UCV""s make the platform an excellent standoff weapon system. Artificial intelligence and neural network processing capabilities allow the platform to operate autonomously when provided with general mission requirements and boundaries. In terms of submarine use, a number of UCV""s may be attached to the submarine, each independently launched on a mission and returned to the sub at the completion of the mission. However, in a hostile engagement scenario, the weapons systems aboard the platforms may be depleted. No method or system exists to replenish or reload fully equipped UCV""s at the submarine. Such a method and system for replenishing the weapons systems during such an engagement would greatly enhance survivability of the submarine and its crew.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method and system for replenishing a submarine""s tactical capabilities in situ.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and system to replenish a submarine""s depleted Underwater Combat Vehicles.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more obvious hereinafter in the specification and drawings.
In accordance with the present invention, the method consists of providing one or more UCV""s in addition to those attached, or dedicated, to one particular submarine. These additional UCV""s are either pre-positioned, surface launched, or air launched to rendezvous with a submarine in need of additional tactical capabilities. In the pre-positioned mode, the additional UCV""s are placed at strategic locations in the general vicinity of a potential conflict. As an example, UCV""s may be located at U.S. overseas military bases or friendly ports about the Persian Gulf. If a conflict is imminent, the UCV""s may also be positioned in well-concealed underwater locations near the conflict area. In the pre-positioned mode, the UCV""s are in a standby status awaiting instructions or programming. However, the sensor suites aboard the UCV""s may remain active to provide a sensor network near or within the conflict area. This network may be used by surface, airborne, or other platforms to provide increased surveillance in the area.
Surface or air launches of the UCV""s may be accomplished during a conflict, or at other times when pre-positioning the UCV""s near or within the conflict area would present too great a risk. A launch from a surface ship may be accomplished from a position well removed from the conflict area. The launch can easily be accomplished in a covert manner and the UCV can travel virtually undetected to the conflict site. A launch from an aircraft would not be as covert, but may be necessary where time for replenishment is critical.
The additional UCV""s are programmed to search for and locate the submarine to be resupplied. This can either be accomplished using signals broadcast from the submarine, communications between the submarine and the UCV""s, or using UCV internal navigation systems and a last known position for the submarine. Signals and communications may include electromagnetic or acoustic singles and communications. Once located, communication between the submarine and UCV allows docking of the UCV onto the submarine. To initiate resupply, a submarine may broadcast a signal either to one of the UCV""s on standby, or to a central command. In a battle space environment, such external communication may not be possible. Thus, instead of returning to the submarine, depleted sub-launched UCV""s may be programmed to proceed to a site where they can rendezvous or make contact with a standby UCV, central command, or other platform. Once contact is made, the replenishment UCV can be launched. In a still further scenario, a depleted UCV returning to the submarine may be reprogrammed at the submarine to search for and locate a specific UCV having the ordnance (torpedoes, missiles), countermeasures, sensors, or communications hardware most needed by the submarine. The submarine can also dispatch the UCV to proceed to the contact site as noted above. It can be seen that the method envisioned in the disclosure requires a system of UCV""s traveling in and out of the battle space as required, rather than UCV""s confined to operation in concert with a single submarine.

Submarine launched unmanned combat vehicle replenishment

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy


A gas pressure regulator shall be created that shows reproducible features even at minimum through flow values, and at the same time allows keeping its lock up characteristic. In addition, gas burners operated at a large modulating range shall allow ignition as well, with the internal pressure drop being kept as low as possible. Also, manufacturing expenses and number of gasproof connections shall be kept at a minimum. To achieve this, the inlet-side chamber and the outlet-side chamber are connected to each otherxe2x80x94in addition to the existing passage that is used for pressure regulating purposesxe2x80x94by one or more separate openings with each of such opening forming a seat for a closing body that is individually assigned to said opening and guided in axial direction to its seat, whereat each such closing body is connected to the armature of an solenoid valve assigned to it. The gas pressure regulator, that serves to control the outlet pressure in a gas pipe leading to a gas burner, comes with an additional feature that allows to supply the gas burner with the start gas volume required for the ignition process.

The invention relates to a gas pressure regulator for a gas burner as specified in the introductory clause of the first patent claim.
Gas pressure regulators fitted upstream to gas burners are found in a great number of different designs. Gas pressure regulators that are employed in connection with gas burners operated in on-off mode must maintain a constant outlet pressure at a certain gas flow. In some cases such regulator should have an additional pilot burner and/or a lock up. Gas pressure regulators of commonly known design are well suited for such operation mode as they are able to stabilize a pre-set outlet pressure at a constant level within a certain flow range. If the connected gas burner is switched off, the outlet pressure will slightly rise and through a control diaphragm close the control valve in shut position.
Another application is the regulator""s employment in connection with a modulating gas burner. Preferably, there are two options available: A first option is to stabilize the outlet pressure at a constant value. This can be done by fitting a flow controlling devicexe2x80x94for example, a motor-actuated butterfly valvexe2x80x94downstream to gas pressure regulator, or by using a zero-pressure regulator to maintain the outlet pressure constantly at zero within a permissible variation. The required gas flow builds up depending on the negative pressure downstream to the burner head. A second option is to allow the outlet pressure to change. This can be achieved, for example, by using a so-called balanced pressure regulator by which the outlet pressure is altered through a control pressure that pressurizes the working diaphragm at its upper face (that is to say the flow is again depending on the outlet pressure), or by using an electronically modulating gas pressure regulator in which regulating is by an electric currentxe2x80x94or voltagexe2x80x94that substitutes for the control pressure.
In either case such gas pressure regulator must be able to feed the gas burner with the correct quantity of gas over the full modulating range, and during the ignition process. Gas pressure regulators have the disadvantage that theyxe2x80x94especially when operated at small flow rates compared with the maximum permissible flow ratexe2x80x94tend to show vibrations or pumping or get stuck in a certain position. This behavior is caused by mechanical friction between the final control elements. If this phenomenon occurs adjusting reproducible outlet pressure or gas flow values will be disabled. In order to enable adjusting reproducible outlet pressure or gas flow values, a bypass opening is usually employed. The disadvantage is that in this solution the gas pressure regulator has no longer any lock up characteristic.
In addition to the above, gas burners that are operated with a large modulation range can very often not get ignited under low-load condition as the quantity of gas available is not sufficient to form an explosive mixture. Usually, the gas burner is therefore fed through a separate gas tube to receive the quantity of gas required for starting. This gas tube, branching off from the gas main, requires an additional solenoid vale that serves as so-called start-load valve, a regulating valve that is either fixed or can be adjusted in order to control the volume flow; and a feeder line to the gas burner.
The most disadvantageous feature in this solution is that a separate gas tube must be laid what is not only expensive but also creates additional space requirements. Furthermore, there are several additional connections the gasproofness of which must be secured to the environment.
There is known another solution in which the start-load valve is fixed to a balanced pressure regulator so that laying of a separate gas tubing is no longer required. The start-load valve is connected to the balanced pressure regulator""s casing by two screws. Said screws both have a longitudinal dead-end bore hole and, for the part protruding inside the balanced pressure regulator""s casing, a lateral bore hole; they are screwed into the measuring terminals provided at both the input and output side of the balanced pressure regulator, and this way they serve to control the inflow and outflow of gas. Also in this solution, the gas through-flow is cut off by a solenoid valve of known design. An adjustable aperture provides an additional option to control the volume flow.
Also this solution has the disadvantage that there exist several additional connections the gasproofness of which must be secured to the environment. Moreover, the internal pressure drop is rather high due to the fact that the gas stream must be deviated repeatedly. In addition, the high number of pieces entails high manufacturing expenses. Finally, the distance usable for displacements (for making adjustments) is relatively short which causes the setting accuracy to be inadequate.
The invention is focusing on the issue of developing a gas pressure regulator of the said kind in which the disadvantages of the prior art described herein above are eliminated. This applies in particular to the opportunity of having a reproducible outlet pressure, or through flow, maintained throughout the entire regulating range together with the option to keep said lock up characteristic active. Also, gas burners operating with a large modulating range shall be able to get ignited. Furthermore, the internal pressure drop shall be kept as low as possible. Finally, manufacturing expenses and number of gasproof connections shall be kept at a minimum.
According to the present invention the problem is solved by providing one or more separate openings that connect the inlet-side chamber and the outlet-side chamber in addition to the existing passage that is used for pressure regulating purposes, with each of such opening being provided with a seat for a closing body that is individually assigned to said opening and guided in axial direction to its seat, whereat each closing body is connected to the armature of a solenoid valve assigned to it.
Thus a solution has been found that removes the existing disadvantages of the prior art as described herein above. Further distinguishing features of this solution are above all its simplicity and small production dimensions.
The invention comes with an advantageous arrangement if the gas pressure regulator""s casing and the solenoid valve""s casing are provided in a single-piece design by which the number of gasproof connections can be further reduced.
In addition, the armature""s longitudinal length of stroke can be adjusted so that adjusting the volume flow that is required for the ignition of the gas burner becomes easy.
Another advantageous arrangement of the invention results from the replaceable seat construction. Thus, adjustments to different through flow ranges are possible in a simple manner.
Should, for example, the low-load or start-load conditions be within the non-reproducible regulating range as described herein above this phenomenon can be eliminated by employing a gas pressure regulator of this type with the gas pressure regulator""s regulating valve being kept in shut position as long as the gas volume is small enough to possibly cause vibrations. If the gas volume is rising toward the required level, the regulating valve will open to such extent that a reliable and vibration-free regulating is allowed.
If the gas burner is ignited under low-load condition, also the lock up characteristic of the gas pressure regulator remains active. This is achieved even when the gas burner is ignited under start-load condition where said start-load is smaller than the low-load and only the low-load is failing within the critical regulating range.
If, in contrast to the above, both start-load and low-load are falling within the critical regulating range use may be made of a gas pressure regulator that has two separate openings that are controlled by two separate solenoid valves. After igniting the gas burner, the second solenoid valve opens to supply the required small-load volume. Even in this case the lock up characteristic of the gas pressure regulator remains active.
The gas pressure regulator""s design option with two separate openings, controlled by two separate solenoid valves, is used also in applications where the gas burner is ignited under start-load condition where said start-load is greater than the low-load. For controlling the ignition process the first solenoid valve is switched on and increases the gas quantity until ignition is completed, after which said solenoid valve is closed in shut position. The low-load quantity is supplied through the second solenoid valve, which means that the lock up characteristic of the gas pressure regulator remains active even under such condition.


A system for treating waste water includes a dry-feed hopper and a wetting flume for receipt of dry flocculant and waste water. The dry-feed hopper includes a container with a volume of dry flocculant therein. A manifold receives a nozzle connected to an air source to periodically deliver dry flocculant to the wetting flume. An inline static mixer is provided after the wetting flume. The output of the inline static mixer is introduced into an agitation stage via a constricting nozzle which includes a base support and a cylindrical housing with an outer wall and an, inner wall and is resiliently mounted to the top surface of said base support. A downward spiraling length of corrugated hose is positioned between the outer wall and the inner wall. Waste water from the inline static mixer is introducing into the top entry port of the length of corrugated hose to exit at the bottom exit port of the corrugated hose. The, cylindrical housing and corrugated hose is vibrated during flow of waste water therethrough to encourage the development of large flocs to provide treated waste water suitable for further dewatering and filtering.

The present invention relates generally to waste water from effluent sources such as those generated by chemical manufacturing, food processing, machining, deburring operations, aqueous cleaning and mining. More specifically, the present invention relates to apparatuses and systems for treating such waste water for proper disposal and/or reuse.
Various processes are employed to treat sewage, as well as water for drinking. Some employ very large and complex pieces of equipment, and are utilized in situations involving significant volumes of effluent to be treated. Other processes are accomplished on a much smaller scale. Plants employing small scale treatment processes are often referred to as xe2x80x9cpackage plantsxe2x80x9d, due to the ability to package and ship an entire plant as a unit. In sewage treatment, such plants are used to treat a single residential subdivision or single commercial application without the necessity of transmitting sewage to a large central treatment site. The same is true in water treatment, where small water systems cannot justify large treatment operations.
Also, sedimentation devices which incorporate settling tanks are well known to separate suspended solids from streams of liquid, such as water and wastewater, by gravitational settling. To increase the effectiveness of the liquid-solid separation it is well known to employ various chemical flocculating agents (e.g., polyelectrolytes) or coagulating agents (e.g. mineral salts). When mixed with the effluent, the agents combine with suspended solids to form rapidly settlable aggregates, called flocs.
It is also known that settling of floc particles can be enhanced in certain circumstances by mixing the flocculating agents with inert particles such as clay and sand. The mixing of flocculating agents and inert particles with the effluent is accomplished outside the sedimentation (or settling) tank in a pipe or mixing chamber and, may be accompanied by mechanical stirring of the mixture to provide contact opportunity and time for the resulting flocs to grow.
It is known to use such recirculation and mixing of impurities for floc growth until the flocs attain a size sufficient to settle or for easy removal by further filtration. But there are still short-comings (such as long treatment times, costs, etc.) in the prior art devices that utilize the addition of chemical flocculating agents and sometimes inert particles or that utilize recirculation of impurities to produce flocs.
For example, a common package sewage treatment plant employees a circular tank containing aeration equipment. Effluent sewage is aerated in the tank. In a settling chamber, aerated floc is allowed to settle out and is returned to the tank, usually by pumping. Clarified water is skimmed from the settling chamber and is removed from the tank by either gravity flow or pumping.
In a package water treatment plant, the process is similar. Untreated water is pumped into a circular tank where a flocculant is added, causing solid particles in the water to coalesce. The water is mixed to encourage full utilization of the flocculant. In a settling chamber, the floc is allowed to settle and clarified water is skimmed and removed.
The efficiency of package sewage treatment plants has been questioned, as has the energy consumption of such plants. With increasing effluent quality standards, a need has developed for a more efficient plant which will function adequately under peak loading conditions while consuming a minimum amount of energy.
Various types of aerobic treatment methods are employed in large scale sewage treatment plants. One method which has proven to be highly successful utilizes an oxidation ditch for sewage aeration, whereby a flow of aerated sewage is continuously circulated in a generally oval-shaped ditch. Clarification of the aerated sewage is accomplished in various ways. Some plants use external clarifiers, which are large tanks into which mixed liquor from the oxidation ditch is pumped. Sludge floc is allowed to settle and is pumped back into the ditch for further aeration. Clarified effluent is drawn off the top of the external clarifier or passing through finishing or polishing filters. The external clarifier process is very similar to that used in the prior art package plants.
In view of the foregoing, there is a demand for a water treatment system that can continuously treat waste water. Further, there is a demand for a water treatment system is this compact and inexpensive to manufacture and use while being highly efficient. Moreover, there is a demand for a water treatment system that can be easily installed inline with preexisting filtration equipment.
The present invention preserves the advantages of prior art waste water treatment systems. In addition, it provides new advantages not found in currently available systems and overcomes many disadvantages of such currently available systems.
The invention is generally directed to the novel and unique waste water treatment system with particular application in continuously treating a flow of contaminated, waste or bilge water from a source, such as, for example, chemical processing effluent, jewelry manufacturing and plating, machine shops, food processing effluent or mining effluent.
The waste water treatment system of the present invention includes a dry-feed hopper and a wetting flume for receipt of dry flocculant and waste water. The dry-feed hopper includes a container with a volume of dry flocculent therein. A manifold receives a nozzle connected to an air source to periodically deliver dry flocculant to the wetting flume. An inline static mixer is provided after the wetting flume. The output of the inline static mixer is introduced into an agitation stage which includes a base table support and a cylindrical housing with an outer wall and an inner wall and is resiliently mounted to the top surface of said base table support. A downward spiraling length of corrugated hose is positioned between the outer wall and the inner wall. Waste water from the inline static mixer is introducing into the top entry port of the length of corrugated hose to exit at the bottom exit port of the corrugated hose. The cylindrical housing and corrugated hose is vibrated during flow of waste water therethrough to encourage the development of flocs to provide treated waste water suitable for further dewatering and filtering.
In operation, xe2x80x9ccontaminatedxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cwastexe2x80x9d water is controllably introduced into a wetting flume where dry flocculant is periodically introduced into the flow of waste water. The waste water is then passed through an inline static mixer where further mixing of the flocculant is achieved. The output of the inline static mixer is passed into a vibrating downward spiral of corrugated hose. Through the assistance of gravity and the agitation by use of a motor driven vibrating table, desirable flocs are produced and enlarged to treat the waste water in preparation of further dewatering and by conventional filtration systems.
It is therefore an object of the present to provide a waste water treatment system that can treat a continuous flow of effluent.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a waste water treatment system that is inexpensive and easy to install, manufacture and use.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a waste water treatment system that is easily installable inline with other filtration devices.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a waste water treatment system that is compact yet highly efficient.


A compact, simply structured token counting and sorting apparatus includes a rotary disc 10 which is rotatable by a handle 17. A generally arcuate token transfer track 23 including a token transfer inlet 24 is arranged along the outer circumference of the rotary disc 10. The token transfer track 23 is provided with a plurality of sorting holes 25 for successively sorting and dropping the tokens in the order of increasing diameters as the tokens are transferred from the upstream side toward the downstream side in the transfer direction. A transfer belt 30, which is annular as viewed in plan, is disposed above the outer circumference of the rotary disc 10 for rotation together with the rotary disc 10 to transfer the tokens while pressing the tokens against a surface of the token transfer track 23 A token discerner 31 is provided in the token transfer track 23 between the token transfer inlet 24 and the sorting hole 25 located at the most upstream position for determining the count and diameters of the tokens.

The present invention relates to a token counting and sorting apparatus to which unassorted tokens of different kinds (e.g. denominations), which may be coins as currency or coin-shaped medals used for various game machines, are supplied and which is capable of sorting the tokens based on the kinds (denominations) and counting and displaying the number of the sorted tokens for each kind (e.g. denomination) and the total number of the all kinds of tokens.
Token counting and sorting apparatuses of this kind are conventionally proposed. For example, JP-A-9-500468 discloses an apparatus comprising a rotary disc having an elastic upper surface, means for rotating the rotary disc, and a stationary sorting head in the form of an annular disc arranged in parallel to the upper surface of the rotary disc while being slightly spaced therefrom. An opening for supplying coins is provided at the central portion above the mount disc.
The lower surface of the stationary sorting head includes an alignment region for aligning respective radially outer peripheral edges of coins of all denominations at a common radial position, a plurality of exit passages for receiving coins of different diameters, respectively, and for guiding the coins to the respective exit openings arranged along the outer circumference of the sorting head, and a guide wall extending between at least a selected pair of the exit passages. The guide wall engages the radially outer peripheral edge of a coin, which cannot enter at least a first one of the two adjacent exit passages, for guiding and retaining the radially outer peripheral edge of the coin at the common radial position.
A drawback of the above-described structure resides in the difficulty of machining the alignment region, the exiting passages and the guide wall.
On the other hand, JP-A-63-250792 and JP-A-5-29517 disclose an apparatus which includes a rotary disc rotatable by a driving motor for carrying plural kinds of tokens supplied from a supplying section arranged above. The apparatus further includes a generally linear token discerning track which has an inlet for receiving tokens paid out from the rotary disc one by one and which has a down stream portion bent generally perpendicularly as viewed in plan, and a linear sorting track provided downstream from the token discerning track. A transfer belt which is straight as viewed in plan is disposed above each of the token discerning track and the token sorting track. The token discerning track is provided with a material sensor and a diameter sensor. The transfer belt transfers the tokens one by one while pressing the tokens against a guide member. The token sorting track is formed with a plurality of aligned sorting holes arranged at a predetermined pitch as viewed in plan. An edge portion of each sorting hole on the guide member side is spaced from the guide member by a predetermined amount. The distance between the guide member and the edge portion of the sorting hole on the side farther from the guide member increases correspondingly to the diameter of the token to be sorted at that hole as compared with a preceding sorting hole of the transfer direction. The tokens sorted are dropped into respective storage spaces provided correspondingly to the sorting holes.
However, the token counting and sorting apparatus having the above-described structure is disadvantageously large, because the apparatus includes the token discerning track extending generally tangentially to the outer circumference of the rotary disc, and the generally straight token sorting track connected generally perpendicularly to the curved downstream portion of the token discerning track. Moreover, the transfer belt, which is an endless belt, is disposed so that the lower side thereof is kept facing the upper surface of the token discerning track and the token sorting track. Therefore, the transfer belt rotates in a plane which is perpendicular to the token discerning track and the token sorting track. With this structure, a large space need be provided above the token discerning track and the token sorting track for the arrangement of the transfer belt, which makes the apparatus bulky.
Further, since two transfer belts need be driven, the driving mechanism therefor becomes complicated.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,922,602 discloses a further prior art apparatus wherein a rotary feed disc for tokens is disposed adjacent to a sorter plate which is generally circular as viewed in plan.
The sorter plate is formed with an arcuate outer circumferential rim having an end at which a pointed projection extends radially inwardly from the outer circumference of the upper surface of the rotary feed disc. The upper surface of the sorter plate is formed, at a position radially inwardly from the outer circumferential rim, with a sorting track in the form of a partially cut-away circle adjoining the outer circumferential edge of the rotating feed disc. The tokens on the rotary feed disc are arrested by the pointed projection and guided along the side surface thereof to slide along the outer circumferential rim to the sorting track. A rotary disc is disposed above the sorter plate to cover the sorting track. The rotary disc is provided, at the lower surface thereof, with inner and outer rows of projecting fingers formed of an elastic material such as a rubber. The tokens guided by the pointed projection are pressed by the fingers against the outer circumferential rim to move along the sorting track.
The sorting track is formed with a plurality of generally rectangular openings arranged in a row at a predetermined pitch radially inwardly from the outer circumferential rim. When the distance between the inner surface of the outer circumferential rim and the radially inner edge of each opening is smaller than the diameter of a token to be sorted, the token passes over the opening. Conversely, when that distance is larger than the diameter of the token, the token drops through the opening. In this way, tokens are sorted in accordance with the differences of the diameters. Therefore, the openings are arranged in the order of increasing width from the upstream side toward the downstream side in the transfer direction.
An induction coil for determining whether or not the tokens are proper ones and a trigger sensor for detecting the passing of the tokens are disposed downstream of the token transfer track relative to the base portion of the pointed projection and at the starting end of the sorting track. Further, at the starting end of the outer circumferential rim, a shaft having a notch is provided for rotation by an actuator. Further, the starting end of the sorting track is formed with a discharge hole for discharging improper tokens toward the upstream side in the transfer direction relative to the row of the openings. When the induction coil determines that a token is improper, the shaft pivots about the axis so that the side surface thereof projects radially inwardly from the inner surface of the outer circumferential rim, thereby deflecting and guiding the improper token toward the discharge hole.
This structure is also complicated and the apparatus becomes bulky, because the rotary feed disc and the sorter plate are arranged in side-by-side relationship. Therefore, the object of providing a compact apparatus cannot be accomplished with this structure.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to solve the above-described problems of the prior art apparatuses and to provide a compact token counting and sorting apparatus having a simple structure.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for counting and sorting different kinds of tokens comprising: a rotary disc having an upper surface for supporting the tokens, the disc being rotatable manually or by a driver; a generally arcuate token transfer track extending along an outer circumference of the rotary disc and including a token transfer inlet for receiving the tokens across the outer circumference of the rotary disc; a plurality of sorting holes formed in the token transfer track for successively sorting and dropping the tokens in an order of increasing diameters as the tokens are transferred from an upstream side toward an downstream side in a transfer direction; an annular transfer belt disposed above the outer circumference of the rotary disc for rotation together with the rotary disc to transfer the tokens while pressing the tokens against a surface of the token transfer track; a token discerner provided in the token transfer track between the token transfer inlet and the sorting hole located at the most upstream position in the transfer direction for counting the tokens while determining diameters of the tokens; a controller for calculating results obtained by the token discerner; and a display for displaying the calculated results which include the count of tokens for each kind and a total number of the tokens.
With this structure, an arcuate token transfer track for transferring tokens released to the transfer inlet is provided along the outer circumference of the rotary disc which carries unassorted tokens of different kinds, and a transfer belt rotates within a plane above the arcuate transfer track. Therefore, the apparatus of the present invention can be made smaller than a prior art apparatus both in plan view and in height. Moreover, since a single transfer belt is used, the driving mechanism therefor is simple.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, the token counting and sorting apparatus further comprises a reference guide plate providing an inner circumferential wall of the token transfer track and disposed outward of the outer circumference of the rotary disc. The reference guide plate is arranged so that the inner circumferential wall is close to the outer circumference of the rotary disc at a portion adjacent the token transfer inlet and gradually deviates away from the outer circumference of the rotary disc while approaching an inner circumference of the transfer belt between the token transfer inlet and the token discerner as the inner circumferential wall extends downstream in the transfer direction.
With this structure, each of the tokens released through the transfer inlet and captured by the transfer belt, which rotates in a plane and outwardly from the rotary disc, needs to travel only a short distance before the token comes into slidable contact with the reference guide plate. Further, the diameter of the token can be accurately determined at the token discerner.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the token counting and sorting apparatus, the transfer belt is disposed above the token transfer track. The transfer belt is arranged to be close to an outer circumferential wall of the token transfer track at a portion adjacent the token transfer inlet and gradually approach the reference guide plate as the transfer belt extends downstream in the transfer direction.
With this structure, the tokens can be successively captured by the transfer belt at the token transfer inlet. When the tokens captured are transferred along the token transfer track from the upstream side toward the downstream side, the tokens can be always pressed against the reference guide plate constituting the inner circumferential wall of the token transfer track. Therefore, each of the tokens can be positively and reliably dropped into the relevant sorting hole in the token transfer track depending on the diameter.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the token counting and sorting apparatus, the transfer belt has a lower surface formed with projecting fins which are elastically deformable for pressing the tokens toward an upper surface of the token transfer track.
With this structure, the token can be transferred along the transfer track with only the fin catching the token elastically deformed. The finned structure of the belt, in combination with the annular (ring-shaped) configuration of the transfer belt, contributes to a weight reduction of the apparatus.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the token counting and sorting apparatus further comprises an auxiliary elastic member projecting downward between the outer circumference of the rotary disc and the inner circumference of the transfer belt for rotating together with the transfer belt for preventing stagnation of the tokens at a portion adjacent the token transfer inlet. With this structure, it is possible to prevent the tokens released from the rotary disc from stagnating (stalling) adjacent the token transfer inlet, thereby preventing the token jam.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the token counting and sorting apparatus, the rotary disc and the token transfer track are provided in a lower casing. The transfer belt is mounted to a rotary ring which is rotatably mounted to an upper casing capable of opening and closing movement relative to the lower casing. The upper casing is provided with a token feed opening radially inward from the rotary ring for feeding the tokens toward the rotary disc. The rotary ring is provided with a power transmission unit driven for rotation by a driving mechanism of the lower casing. With this structure, by opening the upper casing, the transfer belt together with the rotary ring can be easily separated from the token transfer track. Therefore, foreign matters entered the token transfer track can be easily removed. Further, the power transmission from the rotary disc to the rotary ring is enabled just by closing the upper casing relative to the lower casing.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the token counting and sorting apparatus, the lower surface of the transfer belt is formed with a multiplicity of projecting fins each of which is inclined toward the upstream side in the transfer direction as the fin extends downward.
Therefore, in capturing the token by the fin of the rotating transfer belt at around the token transfer inlet, the token can be easily introduced to under the fin. Further, when the token is thereafter transferred while being pressed against the upper surface of the token transfer track, the token can be kept in contact with the fin at a large contact area. Therefore, the deviation of the token from the transfer belt can be reduced.
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the token counting and sorting apparatus, the token discerner comprises detection holes respectively arranged at positions for determining the diameters of the tokens, and photo sensors disposed separately from the detection holes and connected thereto via photo transmission cables.
With this structure, bulky components such as photo sensors need not be provided at the positions for determining the diameters of the tokens (detection holes). Therefore, minute-stepwise discernment of tokens can be accurately performed using only a relatively small area of the apparatus. Further, the manufacturing cost for the apparatus can be decreased.
According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, the token counting and sorting apparatus further comprises a storage box or a hopper releasably mounted below each of the sorting holes for collecting and storing the tokens sorted. The hopper is provided with a storage bag removably attached thereto. This structure facilitates the work for collecting the sorted tokens.


The invention is directed to a portable handheld work apparatus such as a brushcutter, edge cutter or the like. The work apparatus has a drive motor which drives a rotatable work tool via a drive shaft (3) journalled in a guide tube (2). The guide tube (2) is held in a housing (5) of the drive motor by an anti-vibration unit (6). The anti-vibration unit (6) includes a clamp (7) which surrounds the guide tube (2) and elastic damping elements (8, 9) which lie between the clamp (7) and the housing (5). The clamp (7) surrounds the guide tube (2) and is fixed form tight on the housing (5).

In work apparatus such as brushcutters, edge cutters or the like, a relatively long guide tube is provided between the drive motor and its housing, on the one hand, and the driven rotatable work tool on the other hand. The guide tube accommodates the drive shaft. With this arrangement, a relatively soft connection is presented between the motor and the work tool. During operation, vibration problems can result in connection with the interaction between the drive motor and the driven work tool.
The guide tube is connected to the motor housing via an anti-vibration element in order to avoid such vibration problems. The occurring vibration problems must be effectively damped by such an anti-vibration element. At the same time, a reliable connection of the guide tube to the motor housing must be provided thereby.
Configurations are known wherein a clamp is fixed with clamping lugs on the motor end of the guide tube. The clamp has clamping lugs, for example, made of plastic or die cast metal. A tubular-shaped damping element made of elastic material is pushed over the clamp. For assembly, the unit comprising the guide tube with the clamp and the damping element is pressed into a corresponding receptacle of the motor housing. The clamping lugs project at the end face beyond the motor housing which requires a correspondingly large amount of space for accommodating the same. The press-in operation requires complex devices and alignment errors in the assembly state cannot be precluded. An exchange of the guide tube, for example, at a service station is difficult without corresponding devices. A guide tube seated with precision during manufacture can become displaced or rotate relative to the motor housing under high or continuous loads. The clamping action between the clamp and the guide tube can deteriorate when the material yields, for example, in the case where the clamp is made of plastic. For an embodiment wherein the clamp is made of die cast aluminum, the clamp is very stiff so that it can adapt to the guide tube only to a limited extent.
It is an object of the invention to provide a vibration-dampening connection of a guide tube to the housing of a work apparatus as well as to improve the exchangeability of a guide tube.
The portable handheld work apparatus of the invention includes a brushcutter and an edge cutter. The portable handheld work apparatus includes: a housing; a guide tube having first and second ends; a drive shaft rotatably journalled in the guide tube; a rotatable work tool mounted at the second end of the guide tube; a drive motor mounted in the housing for rotatably driving the work tool via the drive shaft; an anti-vibration unit for holding the guide tube in the housing at the first end of the guide tube; the anti-vibration unit including a clamp surrounding the guide tube; an elastic damping element disposed between the housing and the clamp; and, the clamp and the housing being configured for fixing the clamp form tight in the housing.
For the above, the clamp, which surrounds the guide tube, is fixed form-tight to the housing of the motor. This affords the possibility to omit pressing the damping element into the motor housing under high pretension. With the form-tight connection, the assembly comprising the guide tube and the anti-vibration unit is reliably fixed on the housing and is secured against rotation or displacement. A rotation or displacement of the guide tube relative to the clamp is permanently avoided by the excellent clamping action between the two. A simple exchange without special tools is possible because of the configuration of the form-tight connection. The form-tight fixation of the clamp on the motor housing is practical in the region where the clamp for the guide tube is secured with threaded fasteners.
It is advantageous when the clamp is configured as an approximately cylindrical clamping sleeve having one or several longitudinal slots and two or more clamping lugs which can be clamped against each other and which extend radially outwardly and are arranged laterally of the longitudinal slot. The housing has an end face at the end thereof facing toward the guide tube and further has a cutout in the end portion in which the clamping lugs of the clamp are accommodated. At the same time, a reliable clamping of the clamp on the guide tube is provided with the clamping lugs with simple means. The clamping lugs project radially and lie in the cutout of the housing and simultaneously also form a form-tight configuration to prevent rotation. The rotation is here prevented without additional devices. The cutout at the end of the housing is advantageously open in the direction of the end face so that the clamping lug can be inserted into the receptacle from the end face for assembly without disassembly of the housing.
In a practical embodiment, the clamping lugs each include a bore for passing through a clamping bolt for which at least one and preferably two openings are provided in the housing for accommodating the ends of the clamping bolt. These openings are aligned approximately coaxial to the clamping bolt. In this way, after assembly of the clamp, the clamping bolt can be guided through one of the two openings in the housing as well as through the corresponding bores in the clamping lugs and then be clamped, that is, threadably tightened. The two ends of the clamping bolt, which lie in the openings of the housing, are then held in a form-tight manner and additionally form also a form-tight connection to ensure against an axial displacement which is in addition to the above-described form-tight security against rotation.
A part of the elastic damping element is advantageously configured in the form of damping bushings surrounding the ends of the clamping bolt. In this way, an effective damping of vibrations in the peripheral and longitudinal directions with respect to the guide tube is given with simple means directly at the form-tight connection of the clamp to the motor housing. The damping bushings advantageously include a peripheral collar with which they are form-tightly fixed in the housing. In this way, they are easy to assemble and protected against dropping out when loosening the clamping bolt. It is practical to arrange the damping bushings so that the clamping lugs of the clamp lie tightly against the end face of the damping bushing and especially against the end face of the collar of the bushing. With this arrangement, no force-transmitting intermediate elements are needed. In addition to an excellent damping action, a relatively rigid connection of the guide tube to the housing is provided.
In a simple and practical configuration, the clamping bolt is configured as a threaded bolt having a head and a nut. A first metal sleeve for accommodating the head is provided in one bushing and a second metal sleeve for accommodating the nut is provided in the other bushing. The metal sleeves are especially made of steel. The steel sleeves can be manufactured in a simple and cost-effective manner and prevent an excessive areal pressing between the clamping bolt and the damping bushings.
In an advantageous embodiment, the sleeves include two flats lying approximately parallel to each other between which the nut is held against rotation. As a consequence thereof, the clamping bolt, which is configured as a threaded bolt, need only be rotated at its head with a suitable tool without it being necessary to hold the nut with a further tool. An arrangement of this kind simplifies the automatization of manufacture as well as the exchange of a damaged guide tube or the anti-vibration unit as may be required.
In a further practical embodiment, the sleeve and the nut can be configured also as one piece whereby the number of parts to be assembled is reduced. The sleeves have a holding slot on the end face thereof into which a screwdriver can be seated as needed. For example, in the case of a thread which has become fixed because of rust, the screw connection of the clamping bolt can be loosened without this being made more difficult by a rotation of the sleeve. It is practical to provide an ensurance against rotation on the sleeve and this can be especially in the form of a hexagon formed thereon. Such an ensurance against rotation is held in the elastic damping sleeve or in a hexagonally-shaped cutout of the clamp whereby the occurring torque is taken up during the assembly of the bolt.
In an advantageous variation, a set nut is pressed into the sleeve. In this way, a fix against rotation is provided by the form-tight connection of a serrated, milled or knurled collar of the set nut.
The clamping sleeve is advantageously surrounded by a damping sleeve as a further part of the anti-vibration unit and of the corresponding damping element. The damping sleeve lies in the corresponding receptacle of the housing for the guide tube. In this way, in addition to the rotation and longitudinal vibration damping, an effective damping against bending vibrations is provided. It is practical when the damping sleeve has a cutout which surrounds the clamping lugs of the clamp. The clamping action between the clamp and the guide tube occurs in the region of the clamping lugs. For this reason, there is here a transfer of force from the guide tube via the clamp in the region of the clamping lugs and via the damping sleeve directly into the motor housing in this region. With an arrangement of this kind, an excellent damping action as well as a relatively rigid and therefore precise connection of the guide tube to the housing can be achieved. For simplifying assembly, the damping sleeve has a lug which projects radially outwardly and this lug projects into the cutout of the housing for accommodating the clamping lugs whereby a rotation of the damping sleeve is prevented.
In an advantageous embodiment, the clamping sleeve is extended in the direction of the motor beyond the region of the clamping lugs. In this region, the clamping action is low but with the extended configuration, a secure guidance of the guide tube during assembly and also during operation is provided. The longitudinal slot extends between the two clamping lugs advantageously over the entire length of the clamping sleeve whereby the assembly is considerably simplified. In this way, the possibility is especially provided to first seat the damping sleeve and thereafter the clamping sleeve in the motor housing in that the clamping sleeve is pressed together at the two clamping lugs and is pushed into position. Thereafter, for example, with a screwdriver or even in an automated operation, the longitudinal slot can be expanded against the spring force of the damping sleeve so that the guide tube can be pushed into the clamping sleeve without developing force.
The clamp is advantageously manufactured as a single piece and is especially made of sheet metal. In addition to a cost-effective manufacture, a reliable clamping of the guide tube is also given thereby because, on the one hand, the sheet metal can adapt to a certain extent to the guide tube and, on the other hand, the developed clamping force can be maintained permanently because of the absence of creep behavior in the material. The clamping lugs are advantageously provided with reinforcing creases whereby, on the one hand, the sheet metal of the clamping lugs can be configured so thin that a desired adaptation to the guide tube can be achieved. On the other hand, the clamping lugs are sufficiently reinforced by the reinforcement creases so that the lugs do not yield because of the development of a clamping force by the clamping bolt.
The damping elements and especially the damping bushings as well as the damping sleeve preferably have a set of slots on the interior side and on the exterior side. Because of these longitudinal slots, the deformability of the elastic damping material is ensured also in the assembled state because the elastic material can deviate under load in the direction of the slots. To support this effect, the set of longitudinal slots on the interior side and the set of longitudinal slots on the exterior side are offset relative to each other in the peripheral direction.
The elastic damping elements are preferably of adapted stiffness. The particular stiffness of the damping sleeve and of the damping bushings can be adapted independently of each other whereby the possibility is provided to optimally dampen the various longitudinal, rotational and bending modes of vibration. Here, the selection of adapted Shore hardness has been shown to be especially practical.


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. The engine's electrical system includes coils and condensers which circle each cylinder, an electric generator, and circuitry for controlling the flow of current within the system.

This invention relates to closed reciprocating engines, i.e., ones which do not require an air supply and do not emit exhaust gases, and more particularly to such engines which use inert gases as fuel. It also concerns such inert gas fuels and apparatus for preparing same.
Currently available internal combustion engines suffer from several disadvantages. They are inefficient in their utilization of the energy present in their fuels. The fuel itself is generally a petroleum derivative with an ever-increasing price and sometimes limited availability. And the burning of such fuel normally results in pollutants which are emitted into the atmosphere. These engines require oxygen and, therefore, are particularly unsuitable in environments, such as underwater or outer space, in which gaseous oxygen is relatively unavailable. Present internal combustion engines are, furthermore, relatively complex with a great number of moving parts. Larger units, such as fossil-fuel electric power plants, escape some of the disadvantages of the present internal combustion engine, but not, inter alia, those of pollution, price of fuel and availability of fuel.
Several alternative energy sources have been proposed, such as the sun (through direct solar power devices), nuclear fission and nuclear fusion. But because of lack of public acceptance, cost, other pollutants, technical problems, and/or lack of development, these sources have not wholly solved the problem.
Moreover, the preparation of fuel for nuclear fission and nuclear fusion reactors has heretofore been a complicated process requiring expensive apparatus.

Inert gas fuel, fuel preparation apparatus and system for extracting useful work from the fuel